The best free games of 2023
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
Gone are the days when free games were equated with puzzle games and imitation games that had a price. These days, thanks to in-app payments and the ease of offering both a sample of a title alongside its full version, there are actually plenty of great games to play without spending a dime. Following the continued success of titles like Fortnite, the level of quality on mobile, PC and consoles has never been higher. Put away your map and consider this your starting point.
Genshin Impact
Hoyoverse
At launch, many of us assumed that Genshin Impact was a tenuous copy of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with awesome anime graphics and not much else. But it turned out to be a very different game from Nintendo's action-RPG, with over 50 characters, at this point, to play. The world is rich and varied. It's also a huge achievement for a free-to-play game that has found a large chunk of its audience on smartphones.
While battles with enemies are an important part of the game, much of the joy and satisfaction comes from customizing this army of characters, building up a collection of loot and strengthening it . While there's a whole microtransaction system built into the game, much of the game is playable (and enjoyable) without having to spend a dime. Did we mention it's totally gorgeous?
Play Genshin Impact Monitor 2
Blizzard Entertainment
Even though Blizzard improved the launch pad for new players this time around, Overwatch 2 still has a steep learning curve. Stick with it, though, and you might be able to indulge in the best team shooter around. Overwatch 2 has a deceptively simple objective: stand on or near an objective and keep the other team away long enough to win. It is much more complex in practice. To the untrained eye, matches can seem like colorful mayhem, but Overwatch 2 has a deceptively simple objective: stand on or near an objective and keep the other team away long enough to win.
It's much more complex in practice. Blizzard reduced the number of players on each team from six to five. This, along with character tweaks across the board, made gameplay faster and more enjoyable than the original Overwatch. The focus is more on individual impact, but you'll still need to work well with your teammates to achieve victory.
With now a cast of over 30 heroes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles, you're sure to find a few Overwatch 2 characters to connect with. The first batch of new heroes are a joy to play. There are also plenty of awesome new (although often quite expensive) skins to equip them with. The game also looks and sounds great, thanks to Blizzard's level of polish. At least until you know how to play Overwatch 2, you can marvel at its beauty.
Play Overwatch 2 Fortnite Battle RoyaleAll products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
Gone are the days when free games were equated with puzzle games and imitation games that had a price. These days, thanks to in-app payments and the ease of offering both a sample of a title alongside its full version, there are actually plenty of great games to play without spending a dime. Following the continued success of titles like Fortnite, the level of quality on mobile, PC and consoles has never been higher. Put away your map and consider this your starting point.
Genshin Impact Hoyoverse
At launch, many of us assumed that Genshin Impact was a tenuous copy of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with awesome anime graphics and not much else. But it turned out to be a very different game from Nintendo's action-RPG, with over 50 characters, at this point, to play. The world is rich and varied. It's also a huge achievement for a free-to-play game that has found a large chunk of its audience on smartphones.
While battles with enemies are an important part of the game, much of the joy and satisfaction comes from customizing this army of characters, building up a collection of loot and strengthening it . While there's a whole microtransaction system built into the game, much of the game is playable (and enjoyable) without having to spend a dime. Did we mention it's totally gorgeous?
Play Genshin Impact Monitor 2Blizzard Entertainment
Even though Blizzard improved the launch pad for new players this time around, Overwatch 2 still has a steep learning curve. Stick with it, though, and you might be able to indulge in the best team shooter around. Overwatch 2 has a deceptively simple objective: stand on or near an objective and keep the other team away long enough to win. It is much more complex in practice. To the untrained eye, matches can seem like colorful mayhem, but Overwatch 2 has a deceptively simple objective: stand on or near an objective and keep the other team away long enough to win.
It's much more complex in practice. Blizzard reduced the number of players on each team from six to five. This, along with character tweaks across the board, made gameplay faster and more enjoyable than the original Overwatch. The focus is more on individual impact, but you'll still need to work well with your teammates to achieve victory.
With now a cast of over 30 heroes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles, you're sure to find a few Overwatch 2 characters to connect with. The first batch of new heroes are a joy to play. There are also plenty of awesome new (although often quite expensive) skins to equip them with. The game also looks and sounds great, thanks to Blizzard's level of polish. At least until you know how to play Overwatch 2, you can marvel at its beauty.
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