With digital distribution increasing in popularity, free-to-play games have become more and more widespread. You can find
free PC games for just about any genre you’re interested in, all completely legally. Follow this guide to find a free game that suits your tastes, and get paying as quickly as possible.
1
Find a service that hosts free-to-play games. Free-to-play games are games that you don’t have to purchase and can be played legally for free. They typically require you to create an account in order to play. Most free-to-play games have online shops where you can purchase in-game items and bonuses for real money.
- There are free-to-play games available for almost every genre that you could imagine, from first-person shooters, to racing games, online RPGs, puzzle games, and more.
- Some companies offer their game directly from the company website. Others are available through digital distribution platforms such as Steam.
- EA has a large selection of free-to-play games on their website and available through their distribution platform Origin.
2
Use search engines to find the kind of game you want. Enter the genre into a search engine along with the words “free-to-play” and browse the results. Check reviews to make sure that the game is fun, as many free games are designed to extract money through cash shops. Some of the most popular free-to-play games include:
- League of Legends
- Team Fortress 2
- DOTA 2
- Runescape
- World of Tanks
- Planetside 2
- Path of Exile
3
Ensure that the game can run on your system. Check the recommended system requirements and compare that to your own computer. This will save you time if you download a game and it ends up not working.
4
Download the game. There are two main types of free-to-play games: those that are played in a web browser with no download required, and those that are downloaded and installed like a typical program. If it needs to be downloaded, you will be given a file that will be installed on you computer
- If you are using Steam, you will need to create a free Steam account and download the Steam software. You will then download the game using Steam, and launch it from the Steam program.
5
Install the game. The installation process is different for every game, but in general you can leave the installation options at their default settings. If you are using a digital distribution program, the installation happens automatically after the download is finished.
6
Run the game. If you are using a digital distribution program, find the game in your library and run it directly from the distribution program. If the game was installed like a typical program, you can find it in your Start menu.
2015 is receding into the past—goodbye, old friend!—but the inevitable march of time only brings us even more games to play. We got ‘em all in 2016: the kind where you shoot, the kind where you talk, or walk, or fly, and the kind where you do all that but have to take turns. This year, we’ll even have the kind where you’ve got goggles on your face. What a world! Here’s your guide to the best pc games of 2016, loaded into genres for easy browsing.
Free PC Games
All Free Games
Top Games
New Games
Free Computer Games
Free Tablet Games
Free Laptop Games
Windows 8 Games
Windows 7 Games
Windows XP Games
Free Video Games
Free Minecraft Games
Free 3D Games
Free Car Games
Free Bike Games
Free War Games
Free Train Games
Free Shooting Games
Free Defense Games
