free online games for pc 2025

Here are the best free online games for PC in 2025, categorized by genre. These are browser-based or downloadable live-service games that are free-to-play and have strong, active communities. Top Free-to-Play Live Service Games (Downloadable) These are the heavy hitters with deep gameplay, regular updates, and massive player bases. THE FINALS Fast-paced, destructible environment team-based shooter. A standout in the competitive FPS scene. VALORANT Tactical 5v5 character-based shooter from Riot Games. Continues to dominate the esports scene. Counter-Strike 2 The definitive tactical shooter, now completely free-to-play. Apex Legends High-movement battle royale with unique "Legends" (characters) and abilities. Warframe The premier free-to-play PvE looter-shooter. An immense game with endless grinding, crafting, and space ninja action. Path of Exile 2 (Upcoming/2024-25) The highly anticipated sequel to the deepest ARPG on the market. Will be a standalone free game. Genshin Impact / Honkai: Star Rail Beautiful open-world action RPG and turn-based strategy RPG respectively. Gacha-based, but offer hundreds of hours of high-quality content for free. League of Legends / Teamfight Tactics The MOBA king and its incredibly popular auto-battler spinoff. Overwatch 2 Team-based hero shooter. Free-to-play model replaced the original OW1. Destiny 2 The core "New Light" experience is free, offering access to core playlists and some introductory content. Popular Browser-Based Games (No Download Needed) Play instantly in your web browser. Slither.io The modern, multiplayer take on Snake. Simple and addictive. Krunker.io Fast-paced, low-poly FPS in the browser with a surprisingly high skill ceiling. Surviv.io (or similar .io BR games) Battle royale in its simplest, most accessible form. Pokémon Showdown For Pokémon fans, this is the competitive battling simulator with every Pokémon and move. Wordle & Its Clones The daily puzzle phenomenon and its countless spin-offs (Heardle, Globle, etc.). Board Game Arena The best place to play digital versions of classic board games (Catan, Ticket to Ride, etc.) with friends online. Free with a limited game rotation. GeoGuessr The geography exploration game. Free to play with a limited number of games per day. Trending & Upcoming Free Games to Watch in 2025 Deadlock (Rumored) Valve's rumored 6v6 hero-based third-person shooter. If it releases and is F2P, it will be huge. Marvel Rivals Team-based PvP shooter (like Overwatch) with Marvel heroes. Announced as free-to-play. The First Descendant A cooperative third-person looter-shooter with impressive visuals and boss fights. Gaining a lot of attention. Blue Protocol A highly anticipated anime-style MMORPG from Bandai Namco, confirmed as free-to-play. New .io Games The .io genre constantly evolves. Watch for the next viral hit in this category. How to Find More & Stay Updated: Steam: Use the "Free to Play" tab and sort by "Popular New Releases" or "Top Sellers." Epic Games Store: They give away 1-2 free games every week (to keep forever), many of which are online. Itch.io: A fantastic platform for innovative, often free, indie browser and downloadable games. Reddit: Subreddits like r/FreeGames and r/FreeGameFindings are excellent resources. Pro Tip: For downloadable games, always check the official website or trusted platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, or the developer's own launcher (like Riot's or miHoYo's) to download safely. Enjoy your gaming in 2025! The free-to-play landscape is richer and more high-quality than ever.