Gaming is an expensive hobby, but the best free-to-play games let you have a ton of fun without needing to open your wallet – at least to start with. Better yet, they now usually include cross-platform multiplayer so you can frag with friends in Fortnite, set up amazing team plays in Rocket League, or go questing in Destiny 2 for nothing.
Whether you’re playing on PC, console, or sometimes even mobile, there’s a free-to-play, cross-platform game you can jump into right now with your friends and have a blast. Here are some of our absolute favorites.
The best free cross-platform games
Fortnite
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Fortnite was once a PvE game, then a battle royale, and now it’s almost impossible to describe. Epic’s all-conquering shooter pulls in crossovers galore from Power Rangers, to The Simpsons, to South Park, but perhaps its greatest achievement is that it’s become a destination for gamers to build their own experiences. Whether you’re playing No Build Battle Royale, racing cars in Rocket Racing, or jumping into one of hundreds of custom experiences made by the community, you’re almost always rewarded for your time.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Undeniably one of the best Call of Duty games, Warzone dropped the 2.0 from its name after an ill-fated turn through Al-Mazrah, ditched the extraction shooter DMZ mode, and shored up the foundations. Many who play will concede that perhaps its best days are behind it, but we still keep logging in to loot, shoot, and try to get that all-important victory. Slick shooting, great movement, and plenty of weapons mean Warzone will have us enraptured for a few more years yet.
Destiny 2
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
After making all the best Halo games, Bungie jumped from Microsoft to Activision for Destiny in 2014, then released Destiny 2 in 2017 before going independent, later being snapped up by Sony. Why the clamor for the studio that gave us Master Chief? Destiny 2 is that rarest of things: A ‘game as a service’ that will seemingly continue forever. That’s because it’s one of the best-feeling shooters around, and while the new-player experience leaves a lot to be desired, for those that have thousands of hours in it, there’s still nothing like it.
Overwatch 2
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
It remains a controversial decision to transform the original game into what Overwatch 2 is, but the one good thing almost anyone can agree on is the move to a free-to-play model. At this point in the game’s life, there are dozens of heroes to learn and master. Each one has a unique design, personality, and ability set that keeps every round intense and unpredictable. There are plenty of other great hero shooters out there, but there’s a reason Overwatch 2 has lasted this long as the most popular.
Path of Exile
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
In the long, long gap between Diablo 2 and Diablo 4, fans of this action RPG series had nothing to fill that very specific void. That was until Path of Exile came around and not only delivered what the community wanted but did it better than Blizzard in many ways. Even though Path of Exile 2 is here in early access, this original game is still supported and packed with hundreds of hours of content you can play solo or with a team for maximum enjoyment. Whisper it, though – the sequel might eventually surpass the original.
Rocket League
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Is Rocket League the best racing game, or is it the best sports game? It might just be both! The easy way to describe Rocket League is to call it soccer with rocket-powered cars, but there is a huge skill ceiling in this game. Anyone can hit the gas, ram the ball, and have a good time, but you need to put in the time to start doing trick shots and pulling off team plays. No matter what skill level you’re at, there’s no better party game for a group of friends.
Marvel Rivals
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Like the idea of Overwatch 2 but want some more recognizable heroes to play as? They don’t come much more familiar than the Marvel roster, and Marvel Rivals is only growing. Whether you want to run-and-gun as Punisher, swing into action as Spider-Man, or tank it out as Venom, the game just keeps getting better. Hero shooter fans are in a really good spot right now.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
So many people have only watched the show and never actually played the real card game. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel will prove that playing the game yourself can be just as exciting as the anime. This digital version of the game makes learning the rules and building your deck a much easier experience, not to mention a cheaper one. You will obviously have the ability to duel other people online on all platforms, but there’s a meaty single-player mode too if you need to sharpen your skills first.
War Thunder
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Don’t let the name fool you — War Thunder isn’t just a plane combat game but encompasses all war machines on land, sea, and air. With over 2,500 vehicles to pick from, you can fight in the air, on the ground in a tank, or in a massive boat all in one epic battle. Anyone who likes an authentic experience won’t find a more realistic and detailed representation of these classic and modern military vehicles, but casual fans will have just as much fun participating in these massive battles that feel like a real warzone.
Warframe
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Warframe is a PvE, looter-shooter of sorts, but to describe it as such almost does it a disservice. It’s grown from a relatively modest action game into one that spans an entire solar system, adding open-world areas, ship-to-ship content, prequel quests, and so much more. Perhaps the best part is that almost everything in-game can be earned for free, so long as you’re willing to grind for it. And, since it’s just as snappy to play as ever, it’s easy to recommend that you do just that.
Genshin Impact
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Even after the release of Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, we are still addicted to Genshin Impact. Mixing a world reminiscent of the best Zelda games — Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild — but with a massive cast of characters and a world that keeps getting bigger, there’s almost too much to do. Teaming up to run difficult missions with friends on console, PC, or mobile makes it the perfect game to pick up whenever you have a free moment.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS
Another card game on this list, Magic: The Gathering Arena is a great way to not only play the long-running card game, but also learn it. Its tutorial is better than any starter set, it caters to an array of formats, and there’s a pretty generous selection of free decks to play with right from the jump. With new sets to come this year (including a return to Middle-Earth for The Hobbit), it’s a great time to check out Arena.
