BEST FREE PS5 GAMES

Free-to-play games are enticing options on the PlayStation 5, and this category of projects has drastically shifted in recent years. With the explosive popularity of titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, many games want to adopt a free-to-play formula.

The greatest free-to-play titles can keep someone engaged for potentially months at no cost. Some have visuals and gameplay that compare favorably to full-priced projects; even if those titles are the exception, quite a few freebies are perfect for short play sessions. Here are some of the best free PS5 games.

Updated September 10, 2024, by Mark Sammut: While there are not too many new free PlayStation 5 games to highlight, a popular racing game recently made its debut on the hardware. Click here to jump directly to this entry.

Astro's Playroom

A Celebration Of PlayStation's History

There is a perfect chance that Astro's Playroom will be most people's first PS5 game; after all, it comes installed on the console. Despite lasting roughly 3–4 hours, this 3D platformer is the best free PS5 game and one of the best pack-in titles ever. For the most part, Astro's Playroom showcases the DualSense's capabilities, with each of the four zones utilizing different gimmicks that emphasize the controller's immersion and touch controls. Even all these years later, Team Asobi's title arguably still makes the most impressive use of the DualSense.

Beyond functioning as a technical showcase, Astro's Playroom is just a delightful love letter to PlayStation's history. As players run through the vibrant and gorgeous zones, they will gradually unlock artifacts relating to a console generation and discover plenty of cute Easter Eggs. The gameplay is also pretty darn solid and goes through enough changes to remain interesting. The game even has a couple of spectacular boss fights.

Rocket League

The Perfect Short-Sessions Free Game

Although initially a premium product, Rocket League eventually went free-to-play, a decision that further cemented it as one of the industry's most successful projects. It's a vehicular soccer game that has been called a blend of racing, soccer, basketball, and hockey. On paper, this concept might sound ridiculous; in execution, it is fantastic. Arguably the best free PS5 game for quick sessions, Rocket League is the ultimate casual option, the type of game that someone can launch when they have 30 minutes to kill but no idea what to play. More often than not, they will have a fun time.

With steadier framerates, playing Rocket League on PlayStation 5 might give people a competitive edge. While a native PS5 version seems likely to never materialize, that should not deter players from giving this sports phenomenon a try via backward compatibility. It runs splendidly and looks pretty good for this sort of project.

Genshin Impact

Ambitious Open-World With Great Combat & Lot Of Content

There are only a handful of single-player role-playing games that are free, and Genshin Impact is one of the most popular projects of all time. The game is story-based and includes some multiplayer options, but it is largely intended to be played as a solo action RPG experience.

To make Genshin Impact stand out even more from the crowd, it is an open-world game. The gameplay and freedom of exploration are phenomenal, and the game has grown exponentially since its debut. There is already a ton to do in Genshin Impact and this universe will only expand further in the future.

Honkai: Star Rail

For Those Who Prefer Their Gacha With Turn-Based Combat

Sticking with HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail will likely appeal to most fans of Genshin Impact, although the free-to-play PS5 game is hardly a retread of the developer's smash hit. Dipping into sci-fi territory, Honkai casts players as the Trailblazer, an agent who will find himself visiting a range of planets that each come with their own ecosystems, politics, and storylines. Naturally, the protagonists won't be flying solo during these missions, and they will be accompanied by a couple of free characters along with a fairly robust selection of unlockables.

Similar to Genshin Impact, Honkai is a gacha game, so players will need to spin the wheel to acquire most of the characters (along with equipment). While this can be a time and money sink, the game dishes out rewards at a decent rate, and it is usually possible to play through the core content without having to invest any hard cash. HoYoVerse is also consistent with updates, so there is usually always something on the horizon to look forward to. At the moment, the campaign has three main zones/areas, all of which serve up mini-adventures. None of them are open-worlds or particularly expansive, but they provide some room for exploration.

Unlike Genshin Impact's real-time action, Honkai: Star Rail utilizes turn-based combat that takes inspiration from many JRPG masterpieces while still finding its own voice. Battles are visually stunning, and they tend to move at a quick pace. The system has nuances as well, especially since each character comes with unique strengths, weaknesses, and classes that need to be taken into account when forming a 4-member party.

Valorant

Riot's Tactical Shooter Is Finally On Consoles

It took a while to happen, but Valorant finally made its PS5 debut in August 2024. Riot's hero shooter has been a staple of the PC multiplayer scene for a few years by this point, and it is generally seen as a tactical alternative to something like Overwatch. For the most part, that is true, with the project implementing hero-shooter elements with a heavy focus on teamwork and fairly conventional gunplay.

While obviously popular and somewhat accessible, Valorant has a pretty steep learning curve that can be off-putting at first. Players are expected to coordinate with their teammates, and people who decide to do their own thing will quickly find out that such actions are rarely rewarded. The agents are also quite diverse and require practice to master, so new players might need to spend some time trying out different characters to see which one fits them the best.

The Finals

Solid Gunplay & Environmental Destruction

Although it had been coming for a while, The Finals unexpectedly launched during the 2023 Game Awards, offering PS5 owners another first-person shooter they can play for free. The multiplayer market for these types of games is oversaturated, but Embark's title does enough to set itself apart from the crowd. Matches are presented as showcases on a competitive TV show, and the game has essentially two modes that play somewhat differently.

One of the options pits four teams against each other as they try to accumulate cash, which involves transporting money to a specific location. This comes in different flavors since The Finals offers both ranked and casual versions. While taking inspiration from popular PvP modes of the past, this take is still fairly unique for the genre, even if it has some issues that will hopefully be ironed out over the coming months. Bank it is somewhat similar, although it is a bit more of a free-for-all.

The Finals will hopefully be around for a long time. The combat and movement are generally fine, although players might want to tweak the settings to find a responsiveness that feels good to them. They should also try all three classes since they play very differently from each other. Along with decent gunplay, the game heavily emphasizes destructible environments, a feature that allows for a more tactical and experimental approach.

Warframe

Has Grown So Much Over The Last Decade

Warframe continues to be one of the most played free-to-play games because of its abundance of content. The PlayStation 5 version was ported in November 2020. Developer Digital Extremes has pumped more content into the RPG post-launch than possibly any other of its type.

The game's structure revolves around completing quests and upgrading the Warframe armor set. With an in-game currency called Platinum, players can upgrade and customize their spaceship and trade with other players. The clan features of Warframe are exceptional.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Battle Royale With Focus On Melee

Initially a premium product, Naraka: Bladepoint transitioned to a free-to-play model in July 2023, which happened to coincide with its PS5 launch. Battle royale games are not only a dime-a-dozen but also inescapable in the free scene, but 24 Entertainment's title does an admirable job of distinguishing itself from its competitors. For one, the combat focuses on close-quarter fights rather than ranged battles, with the gameplay sharing more in common with character action games than first or third-person shooters. Naraka: Bladepoint's two maps are both gorgeous and reasonably large without venturing into excess territory.

Matches can be played solo or as part of a trios team, and both versions are enjoyable in their own right. The game also comes with a few different modes in order to keep things diverse and interesting. While players can create their own characters, Naraka also takes inspiration from hero shooters through the implementation of characters, each of which comes with unique abilities. There is even a progression system that allows players to level up their chosen hero.

Path Of Exile

A Complete Isometric RPG That Is Free-Player Friendly

Released for the PS4 and playable on the PS5, Path of Exile is a free-to-play RPG that is frankly too good to not be a premium product. Although players can interact and form parties, most of the game's main content can be readily tackled solo. In fact, someone could easily treat the RPG as a single-player experience reminiscent of something like Diablo 2.

Offering an impressive range of classes, build and customization options, and great world-building, PoE is an expansive game that can stand alongside most $60+ entries in the genre. Narratively, players find themselves stuck on an island inhabited by ancient gods, whom they naturally must kill if they want to make it back to civilization.

Call Of Duty: Warzone

COD Gunplay In A Battle Royale Setting

Call of Duty jumped on the battle royal bandwagon with Warzone, a free project that has been entering new seasons alongside the franchise's mainline entries. As with every CoD, Warzone is either the greatest or worst game ever, depending on the person. In truth, Activision's title is a mixed bag that shines in a few key areas.

For one, Warzone is among the most polished battle royale games on the market. Due to being largely the same as the core releases, the gunplay is fast-paced and satisfying, ranking alongside Apex Legends as the genre's best option in this area. Currently, there are four maps available, which provide a decent amount of variety. Warzone also has a couple of extra modes if someone wishes to step away from the standard and quite difficult battle royale.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

Still A Big Name In The Battle Royale Scene

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds was, arguably, the first great battle royale release and was responsible for launching the genre into the massive space it is today. There are tons of players out there that love the prospect of battle royale and many still come back to PUBG to get their fill of its unique and sometimes punishing gameplay.

Those who want to see and experience the roots of the genre can download the title for free from the PlayStation store and load it up on their PS5. It may not be the most graphically intensive game (especially by today's standards) but it still maintains a level of visual charm that makes it instantly recognizable for most battle royale fans.

Fall Guys

Silly Competitive Fun

Initially launching with a price tag, Fall Guys eventually went free-to-play, which was the best move the game could have made. The battle royale genre is oversaturated, but Mediatonic's title is a wildly different beast than the likes of Fortnite and PUBG. Rather than be a third-person shooter set in a forever shrinking map, Fall Guys consists of essentially obstacle courses. 60 players compete in a series of mini-games as they try to make the cut for the next round, with the ultimate goal of being the last jelly bean standing.

The clever premise is matched by charming visuals and a lighthearted tone that makes rounds fun regardless of whether someone survives or not. Fall Guys is accessible to all ages, and both kids and adults are likely to get a kick out of its wacky but competitive gameplay loop. The mini-games are also varied enough to ensure things do not get repetitive too quickly.

Fortnite

The Definitive Battle Royale

Epic Games' Fortnite has never looked better than it does on the PlayStation 5. The game offers DualSense controller support, which creates immersion like no other controller. Loading times are faster, and the game plays in a targeted 4K at 60 frames per second.

Moreover, the split-screen multiplayer offers 60 fps support, providing an unprecedented experience. Fortnite continues to dominate the free-to-play scene, despite having been released way back in 2017, and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

Apex Legends

Occasional Misfire Aside, Good Team-Based Battle Royale

After the proliferation of Fortnite on the online forefront, developer Respawn Entertainment answered back with Apex Legends. Respawn Entertainment's battle royale game differs from Fortnite because it's more focused on combat and doesn't have a building component.

Matches have a 60-player count and pit teams of three against each other, pushing coordination and communication to the forefront. Apex Legends is also a first-person shooter, setting itself apart from Fortnite. Lastly, Respawn's game classifies itself as a Hero Shooter, as it contains various characters who cater to different play styles.

Asphalt Legends Unite (Or Disney Speedstorm)

A Grindy But Fun Arcade Racer

Asphalt Legends Unite might seem like a new game, but it has been around since 2018. Originally called Asphalt 9: Legends, the racer experienced success on mobile, PC, and the Nintendo Switch. To coincide with its PlayStation debut, the project received an update and was rebranded as Asphalt Legends Unite, a change that brought revamped visuals, cross-play, new cars, and even a new mode. The reaction to this update on mobile devices was very mixed, to the point of being regarded as a step back in several ways, such as performance; however, Unite is well-optimized on consoles and a solid all-around racing option.

In truth, the PS5 does not have all that many free racers, and the ones that do exist tend to have similar structures. Disney Speedstorm and Asphalt Legends Unite were both developed by Gameloft, and they share very similar blueprints when it comes to progression and monetization. Anyone looking to jump into these games must be prepared to grind to unlock anything, and they will need to deal with a fuel meter that limits their runs. Taking Unite as an example, players need to grind to collect enough cards to unlock a specific car, and it could take weeks to develop a garage that is remotely decent by beginner standards.

Still, while the progression loop can be off-putting, Asphalt Legends Unite's mechanics are generally spot on. As an arcade racer, the gameplay prioritizes accessibility and speed, and it delivers on both fronts. Drifts, spins, jumps, crashes, and nitro boosts, the latter of which come in many forms, are satisfying, and the AI provides just enough of a challenge to keep things interesting. While races tend to be quite short, they are visually impressive and quite varied.

Zenless Zone Zero

Gacha Hack & Slash Romp

July 2024's first two weeks were jam-packed with huge free game launches. While Once Human is not on consoles at the moment, The First Descendant and Zenless Zone Zero are available on the PS5, and they are divisive in their own ways. However, the latter certainly enjoyed the more "positive" overall debut, even if it remains to be seen whether the project manages to stand alongside miHoYo's other juggernaut IPs in the long run.

Now, despite sharing a developer and gacha mechanics, Zenless Zone Zero is not that similar to Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail. Unlike those two releases, ZZZ places far less emphasis on exploration; in fact, except for a small hub city, the game mostly consists of linear stages and battle arenas. There is no open-world like Genshin Impact or expansive cities like Honkai. To be clear, that is not meant as a criticism but only as a note to reframe expectations as, ultimately, ZZZ does its own thing.

Dropped into a post-apocalyptic hellscape, players take charge of a Proxy, who is essentially a leader who guides a team of Agents as they enter portals known as Hollows to clear them of Ethereals, which are the game's enemies. Missions combine combat arenas and grid-style puzzles that slow down the pacing, and the latter can be divisive since they are nowhere near as enjoyable as standard fighting. Still, ZZZ showcases miHoYo's familiarity with high-octane hack and slash combat, along with the developer's tendency to prioritize team synergy. Unlocking and mastering different ZZZ characters will dominate most people's time with the game.

Deceit 2

A Monster Lurks Within

Initially launching just on PC, Deceit 2 made its way to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in early April 2024, presenting console players with a decent social deduction option. Cut from the same cloth as board game classics like Werewolf, World Makers' online multiplayer project drops players in an unsettling asylum and challenges them to complete tasks en route to a successful escape. Naturally, survival is far from guaranteed, and one player is actually a monster in disguise who will do everything within their power to ensure that nobody lasts the night.

As far as social deduction concepts are concerned, Deceit 2 plays things fairly straight, offering a classic experience with a couple of fun twists. For one, matches take place across two plains, one of which provides the monster with a clear advantage. Both sides can unlock unique abilities too, so progression is part of the equation as well.

Deceit 2 has its issues, but social deduction games are in relatively short supply, especially on consoles. Consequently, this title not only helps fill a void, but it does a good job as well.

Dauntless

More Than Just A Monster Hunter Clone

Dauntless tends to be regarded as the free-to-play alternative to Monster Hunter, and while Phoenix Labs' game shares similarities with Capcom's franchise, it also does more than enough to differentiate itself. The PS5 version delivers a fast-paced action RPG with plenty of content. Slaying Behemoths is still the main focus, however, Dauntless has steadily added new elements to diversify the gameplay, although updates have slowed down considerably since around 2022.

The gameplay loop revolves around defeating Behemoths to collect the loot necessary to craft new items, and it should be able to keep most people coming back for me. Dauntless is quite accessible as the combat is instantly satisfying and the difficulty level is paced well. However, the mechanics have depth and need to be properly mastered once players face off against the harder Behemoths.

Brawlhalla

Respectable Super Smash Bros Alternative

Super Smash Bros. might not be available outside of Nintendo's ecosystem, but there are some other options out there for those who don't own a Switch. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl made its debut to a decent enough reception and will undoubtedly attract fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Spongebob, and company; however, in recent years, Brawlhalla has established itself as one of the definitive Smash alternatives.

A platform fighter with a solid roster of Legends, including Rayman, Brawlhalla's combat should be instantly recognizable for Smash alumni, although the free-to-play game is not lacking in novel features. For example, movement is a touch less restrictive in Brawlhalla. For those looking to engage in a fun platform fighter, they can do much worse than this title. As only a select few fighters are free, it might be worth investing in the "All Legends Pack" to unlock all the characters.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

The Heart Of The Cards

Be it as a trading card game, manga, or anime, Yu-Gi-Oh! has been a fixture of pop culture for more than two decades. The license has produced plenty of games, most of which flew under the radar or were not even released in Western nations. Master Duel is Konami's most recent attempt to perfect the formula, and it is a solid representation of the franchise.

The free-to-play title eliminates distractions like a story – this is a pure digital trading card game. Master Duel lives up to its title in the fact that it does not simplify the franchise's mechanics; newcomers to the series might find themselves overwhelmed with the options and rules, although a tutorial that goes over the basics is included.

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