gaming
Blizzard Entertainment / Epic Games / miHoYo / ONE37pm
By: Elton Jones
Published Oct 26, 2023
It always feels great and a bit overwhelming whenever you take a trip to the free game section within the digital PlayStation Store. Now that the PS4 console lifecycle is winding down, a ton of games that you can download at no cost are available at the press of a button. First-person battle royale shooters, third-person competitive shooters, party games littered with hilarious (and infuriating!) obstacle courses, and more make up the wide gamut of downloadable titles that can be enjoyed without ever having to spend a single dime. We've chosen to shine a light on 22 of the best free games on PS4 to make sure you have plenty of great multiplayer and co-op games at the ready without you having to spend some digital dough to obtain them.
RELATED: The 25 Best Free Games on the Epic Games Store
Best Free Games on PS4
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1. ‘Overwatch 2’
Free-to-Play
Blizzard Entertainment's 5v5 first-person shooter has entered into its 2.0 state and has put forth new heroes that provide a nice mix of varied abilities that give players their own chosen playstyles to master alongside their teammates. Overwatch 2's quality modes of play and seasonal content updates continually freshen up its overall package and give players all the more reason to keep grinding it out online. The new PvP mode called "Push," in which two teams battle for control of a massive robot that pushes a team's payload to the opponent's side of the map, is the main attraction of this colorful shooter.
2. ‘Destiny 2’
Free-to-Play
Now's the best time to dive into the content-rich Destiny 2, which features a wealth of great content and is set to receive even more as the game's lifecycle continues. The perfectly amalgamated first-person shooter and MMORPG elements of this game's living universe guarantee you'll be addicted to it for a long time to come. You'll get plenty of playtime simply out of upgrading your chosen "Guardian" and taking on missions that involve battling with extraterrestrial foes on various neighboring planets. Teaming up with fellow Guardians for super tough raids and engaging in thrilling multiplayer skirmishes will certainly keep incoming players busy. Destiny 2 main campaign, competitive online multiplayer, and its huge offering of expansions/updates will throw first-timers into a vortex full of awesome content.
3. ‘Apex Legends’
Free-to-Play
Apex Legends has risen out of the Titanfall universe to become one of the most successful spinoff games ever released. As the reigning king of the battle royale first-person shooter subgenre, this 3v3 multiplayer experience knocks it out of the park thanks to captivating characters, an ever-expanding battlefield, and well-tuned FPS gunplay that feels, sounds, and looks amazing in action. Twenty teams of three-player squads go to war in Apex Legends' main gameplay mode, while the game's version of Team Deathmatch offers a more traditional mode of play for old-school FPS heads.
4. ‘PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds'
Free-to-Play
We've got another battle royale shooter to recommend to you all. But this one is firmly entrenched in the world of third-person running and gunning. You could even attribute PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds to kicking off the whole battle royale trend before Fortnite and Apex Legends took the baton and ran far with it. Even still, PUBG is still worth spending some time with as its looting and shooting across vast maps against 99 other gun-toting survivors plays like a dream.
5. ‘Brawlhalla’
Free-to-Play
Blue Mammoth Games' free-to-play platform fighter provides theSuper Smash Bros.vibes you've come to enjoy. This clever take on the popular sub-genre of fighting games features 2D stylized art, bite-sized warriors, and some fast & furious gameplay. On top ofBrawlhalla'shuge base roster is a nice gathering of guest character skins from the Rayman,Tomb Raider,Shovel Knight, and so much more. If you want a more casual fighting game experience that emphasizes fun over hardcore play, thenBrawlhallashould keep you entertained. This "freemium" multiplayer brawler is a top choice for gamers on the lookout for the best free games on PS4.
6. ‘Warframe’
Free-to-Play
You have to hand it to Digital Extremes - the publisher/developer has done a bang-up job when it comes to constantly improving upon the content suite ofWarframe. The most current iteration of the sci-fi third-person shooter/melee game looks so different from its initial state. Choosing to hop in now means you'll be treated to the very best version of a game that pushes forth slick and incredibly fast traversal across vast battlefields. You'll grow to love your mega-powerful and graceful "Warframe" battle class as you hunt down the opposition and hit extremely high speeds atop your trusty hoverboard.
7. ‘Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel’
Free-to-Play
The collectible card game that had kids in a chokehold during the mid-2000s has gotten plenty of video game adaptations. The most recent one and arguably the finest one to date is this free-to-play card battler. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel features single-player gameplay chapters that act as tutorials that bring you up to speed on the card game's complex mechanics. Then there's all the multiplayer fun you can get embroiled in as you compete against other online competitors to prove who has the most powerful deck and strongest game-winning strategy.
8. ‘Genshin Impact’
Free-to-Play
Chinesedevelopment studiomiHoYo deserves all the credit in the world for creating a quality open-world action RPG that has zero price of admission.And that's pretty crazy when you consider the high production values of the game in question. Genshin Impactis aBreath of the Wild-like experience that throws players into a gorgeous open world that's full of fun locales, dangerous foes, and intriguing secrets to uncover. The massive collection of playable characters you can unlock and the dev team's devotion to creating regularly updated content forGenshin Impactmeans you'll never run out of things to do. This anime-action RPG is a solid game worth hopping into when you're searching for the best free games on PS4 to play.
9. ‘Fortnite’
Free-to-Play
You know the deal here, folks - Epic Games' monumental battle royale third-person shooter has and still is dominating the scene. After years and years of gameplay updates, the addition of recognizable character skins, and exceptional seasonal events, Fortnite has morphed into a juggernaut of a game that has a huge mainstream presence. If you haven't given this one a shot already because you're not too keen on all the fort building, "Zero Build" mode will easily appeal to all you multiplayer shooter traditionalists.
10. ‘Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout’
Free-to-Play
This obstacle course-filled party game with the jelly bean avatars will make you laugh, piss you off, and make you feel like a world conqueror when you finally emerge as the last bean standing! Getting bumped into a bottomless put before you reach the finish line will happen a lot, we won't lie. But the thrill that comes from making your way through every assorted party game and emerging as the biggest winner of them all is this game's version of the attainable carrot that's always a little bit out of reach.Fall Guys' catchy tunes, cutesy art style, and lively game types are hard to step away from.
11. ‘Call of Duty Warzone 2.0’
Free-to-Play
Call of Duty's acclaimed and newly updated battle royale mode has been injected with the same dynamic gunplay that propped up the first version while introducing a brand new map to freshen things up. Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 lets you shoot it out with a bunch of other militant fighters in a bid to be the last soldier or team standing. You still have the opportunity to get back into the game after getting killed by winning in the "Gulag," plus signature modes such as "DMZ" and "Resurgence" inject fun variations on the battle royale blueprint for a nice change of pace.
12. ‘Splitgate’
Free-to-Play
Splitgate's Haloinspirations will become evident to you as soon as you see the game's swift gameplay in motion. Its armored warriors and arena-style multiplayer gameplay focus point to the game's development team having a huge appreciation for Bungie's iconic FPS. What sets this game apart from Halo is the focus on using portals, which add a nice wrinkle to the furious PvP matches as you use them to drop into different areas of the battlefield to get the drop on the opposition. Using those portals to quickly escape from the brink of death is also a useful maneuver that makesSplitgate'smultiplayer mechanics so clever and masterfully implemented. When the topic of the best free games on PS4 in the FPS genre comes up, Splitgate will always get a mention.
13. ‘SMITE: Battleground of the Gods'
Free-to-Play
If MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) games dominate much of your playtime, then we're pretty sure you gave this game a try already. But if you haven't, do yourself a favor and spend some time with it since it's still prominent thanks to its passionate community of hardcore players.SMITE: Battleground of the Godsfeatures a playable roster of gods from several pantheons that fall under different combat classes. What makes this MOBA stand apart from the rest is its third-person camera viewpoint, which brings you ever so closer to the furious action that happens across the game's five awesome modes.
14. ‘Star Trek Online’
Free-to-Play
"Live long...and prosper." That goated catchphrase always angers Star Trek fans since it brings up warm memories of the adventures Captain Kirk and Spock have embarked on. If you've been dreaming of becoming a captain of your very own starship and surfing among the stars,Star Trek Onlinewill provide you with everything you desire. Set 30 years after the events of the movieStar Trek: Nemesis, this MMORPG throws you into the captain's chair and tasks you with managing your crew, leaving that same chair to engage in on-foot laser battles, and making sure all of your ship's systems are running well. This galactic epic has all the makings of the next title you consider on your playlist of the best free games on PS4.
15. ‘Rocket League’
Free-to-Play
Speeding across a huge grassy field lit up by neon colors and fighting to score a soccer goal is an activity closely tied to the playable phenomenon that is Rocket League. In the years since its original 2015 release, the game has garnered a massive fanbase and been outfitted with tons of seasonal updates that inject familiar cars into the fray. Competing in hotly-contested tournaments, completing weekly and seasonal challenges, and zipping across brand-new battlegrounds all equal up to an experience that'll please both racing, car combat, and sports fans.
16. ‘Rogue Company’
Free-to-Play
If you and the homies bring up a collection of recommended competitive third-person shooters,Rogue Companyshould be a part of that conversation. This hero shooter features a roster of 25 "Rogues" that rely on varied abilities that can be put to good use during a variety of objective-based game modes. After skydiving onto the map, you'll have to run 'n gun as efficiently as possible as you compete in the 4v4 "Extraction," "Demolition," and "Strikeout" modes, plus the 2v2 "Wingman" mode.
17. ‘Paladins: Champions of the Realm’
Free-to-Play
Hero shooters may not dominate the competitive multiplayer scene as they once did whenOverwatchtook over the world of gaming. But there are still a bunch of rewarding titles that stick to that style of team-based multiplayer, such as this one that's based in a fantastical medieval realm full of magical elves, dwarves, dragons, and more.Paladins: Champions of the Realmfeatures four separate modes, 5v5 tam-based matches, and a whopping 58 "Champions" to master during your time spent competing in this game.
18. ‘Sky: Children of the Light’
Free-to-Play
Thatgamecompany is responsible for crafting indie gaming gems that pull at the heartstrings of gamers and also make them embrace unconventional gameplay concepts. Sky: Children of the Light embraces the co-op fun of Journey, but this time players are tasked with flying through the friendly skies throughout a kingdom's seven realms. Allying yourself with fellow sky dwellers as you make shocking discoveries, amass tons of collectibles, and reach your ultimate goal of restoring the fallen light tied to the constellations hanging in the sky by being a reliable helper.
19. ‘World of Tanks’
Free-to-Play
In the case of World of Tanks, the main focus here is team-based battles erupting with the usage of real-world armored vehicles. Pre-World War II right up until Cold War-era tanks are at your disposal here, so you'll have plenty of options to choose from when the time comes for you to blast your opponents to Kingdom Come. This invigorating team-based multiplayer shooter lets you go crazy via 15v15 battles, which should convince you to participate in one of the most explosive best free games on PS4.
20. ‘World of Warships: Legends’
Free-to-Play
Astounding naval warfare battles regularly erupt in World of Warships: Legends, which includes game modes that cater to fans of both competitive and co-op play. If you're willing to embrace the slower and more tactical pace of warring naval ships, then you'll enjoy your time spent with this dedicated war game. You can hop into this one to get involved in some grand Standard battles, Domination mode, Arms Race mode, and Epicenter mode (which plays out like an even more epic version of Domination).
21. 'Roblox'
Free-to-Play
We know you've spotted Roblox everywhere whenever you spot a little kid sitting down in their seat glued to their iPad screen while playing it. If you're down to see what all the hype is about, then it's definitely worth checking in with it now that it's finally playable on PS4. Roblox is pretty much a massive online game platform that gives players all the freedom in the world to craft their own games and customizable avatars. Fighting games, racers, first- & third-person shooters, asymmetrical multiplayer horror games, and every other genre imaginable come to life here in one of the largest virtual playgrounds gaming has ever seen. Roblox is definitely one of the best free games on PS4 thanks to its huge community of players and immense levels of creativity that it offers them.
22. 'Tower of Fantasy'
Free-to-Play
The China-based Hotta Studio is comparable to miHoYo as both development houses created smash-hit action RPGs that have amassed tons of diehard followers. Hotta's Tower of Fantasy throws you and tons of other players into a gorgeously animated anime realm called "Domain 9," which plays host to all sorts of enemies to engage in co-op combat with, mysterious puzzles to solve, and tons of secrets to uncover within a vast array of biomes. Prepare to venture into vast sci-fi wastelands, deserts, cyberpunk metropolises, and underwater worlds as you master 30+ weapons and grow into the strongest "Wanderer" there ever was.
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