Putting aside the launch of the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation 5 is the most expensive a Sony console has ever been. That hasn’t stopped it from being a popular system, only lagging behind the Nintendo Switch thanks to its lineup of the best Switch games. There’s no denying that the system is a worthwhile investment for any gamer who wants to experience console gaming at the highest quality for the next several years at least.
Still, that heavy upfront cost can force you to be a little more selective with what games you buy right away. Now that games are regularly costing $70 new, you may end up wanting to wait for the bigger exclusives that you know will be great. That doesn’t mean your PS5 has to sit there gathering dust. There are plenty of free games you can jump into right now for hours of enjoyment without spending a dime. The games on this list cater to all types of players, so check out the best free PS5 games available right now.
You have no excuse not to play Astro’s Playroom if you have a PS5. This game is already installed on every system and is not some cheap pack-in game you can ignore. Not only does it serve as a great way to learn about the unique features of the PS5 and DualSense controller but it’s an amazing little platforming adventure. You will jump, fight, and race through a handful of levels that each introduce a new cute mechanic to experiment with. There’s a reasonable but satisfying number of collectibles and incentive to replay sections for better times. Plus, this is a perfect way to get a taste of what’s to come with Astro Bot.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
65%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Infinity Ward
Publisher
Activision
Release
November 16, 2022
While not quite as popular as another battle royale game we’ll get to later, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is undoubtedly the best-feeling FPS take on the genre. It has the same tight, fast-paced gameplay and high level of precision as you would expect from any other COD title, but shoved into a single massive map with more than 100 players. This new version is the latest iteration of the mode first introduced in 2019, but now has almost all the kinks worked out. Each season brings to weapons, quests, and changes to the map and objectives at a pace and quality only the best Call of Duty games can keep up with.
Rocket League
83%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Sport, Indie
Developer
Psyonix
Publisher
Psyonix
Release
July 06, 2015
Originally launching as part of PlayStation Plus years ago, then becoming a standard game, Rocket League has finally fully switched gears into the free-to-play model. If you somehow aren’t aware of this game, it is a mixture of soccer and rocket-powered cars. Yes, it is as awesome and chaotic as it sounds. Pick your car, team up or play singles, and slam into the ball to try and score on your opponents. Over time, you’ll learn more advanced tactics like aerial maneuvers and trick shots, but even at the lowest levels, Rocket League is a blast to play. The developers have introduced tons of car variants to play with, including some of the most iconic cars from other media like the Batmobile and DeLorean from Back to the Future. If you’re a fan of cars, soccer, or both, then Rocket League is made for you.
Fall Guys
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Sport, Indie
Developer
Mediatonic
Publisher
Devolver Digital, Epic Games
Release
August 04, 2020
For something a bit more silly, Fall Guys is one of the most unpredictable and hilarious battle royale games out there. You compete with a horde of other bean-people in various obstacle courses and challenges where physics are just as big of a threat as your opponents. There are a ton of maps, challenges, and cosmetics to earn. While it wasn’t initially free, now that it is, and is fully cross-play, the competition is as fierce as ever. With more content always on the way, this is a blast to play without taking it too seriously.
Destiny 2
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bungie
Publisher
Activision
Release
September 06, 2017
Live service games are very tricky to get right. The original Destiny was one of the first to even attempt it on a console, and the series has seen its fair share of growing pains up until the current version of Destiny 2. What was never a point of contention was how good the game actually felt to play. Bungie, the original Halo developer, is a master of FPS design. Each gun just feels good to use, and there are a ton of them to collect. The free version contains nearly all the content in the game, with the exception of the latest paid expansions, but even that amount is an incredible value for a free title. You get a huge chunk of story missions across various planets, all the events, several high-end raids, and the PvP crucible for a more traditional competitive experience. Destiny 2 is essentially two or three games’ worth of content given away for free, and is constantly being updated and supported with even more to do.
Warframe
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Digital Extremes
Publisher
Digital Extremes
Release
March 25, 2013
Ninjas in space. That was basically the pitch for Warframe, and boy does it deliver on that promise and then some. This game is basically the grandfather of all evolving games-as-a -ervice titles, but somehow remains a leader in that space. What started out as a fairly simple looter-shooter across various isolated missions with fast and satisfying movement has evolved to introduce open-world areas, spaceships and space battles, and even fishing. Like Destiny, this game is still all about grinding at heart. You’ll grind for blueprints, weapons, armor, materials — basically everything. But, also like Destiny, Warframe is just so much fun to play that the grind doesn’t feel like … well, a grind. Running, sliding, dashing, flipping, and flying around maps while blasting away hordes of enemies with your guns, powers, or melee weapons never stops looking or feeling cool.
MultiVersus
71%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer
Player First Games
Publisher
WB Games
Release
July 19, 2022
There are few examples of fighting games going free to play, and when they do, they tend to be rather aggressive in terms of their monetization models. MultiVersus does things differently by initially offering a rotating selection of free characters, then allowing you to unlock any you want permanently just by playing and earning enough gold. That cast is the main draw, including notable characters like Shaggy, Batman, Gizmo, and even Lebron James as playable fighters. This Smash clone is the first to actually give that original game a run for its money, and if it continues to add new characters and content, it might end up being even more popular one day.
Path of Exile
82%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Grinding Gear Games
Publisher
Grinding Gear Games
Release
October 23, 2013
Before Diablo 3, the true sequel to Diablo 2, at least in the eyes of the fans, was Path of Exile. This is another title where coming in late has major benefits. Originally launched in 2013, PoE had plenty of content right out of the gate. There was a three-act campaign that alone could last well over 20 hours without going into end-game activities, but today has reached 10 acts and an almost overwhelming amount of content to enjoy after completing the story. Then there are the leagues, which regularly add new loot, challenges, and rewards to keep you coming back. Even without leagues, the pure joy of ripping through mobs and mobs of enemies with dozens of spells and abilities has never looked or felt as good since … well, Diablo 2. Everything else — the quests, co-op, hideout customization, and even PvP modes — are just icing on the cake. This style of action RPG is almost nonexistent on consoles, but thankfully we have one of the best with Path of Exile.
Apex Legends
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
If you mashed together the best elements of a battle royale and hero shooter, plus the slick movement from Titanfall, you get Apex Legends. While the basic battle royale formula isn’t completely overturned, it’s all the interesting things around the core concept that make it unique. Each hero has their own set of abilities that lend to a higher level of team coordination and strategy, plus make firefights more interesting than just coming down to who saw who first. It has a more arcadey feel that other battle royales and has become a fan favorite for how deep the movement systems are. If you can master all the tools this game offers, you will almost be untouchable.
Genshin Impact
81%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
HoYoverse
Publisher
Cognosphere, HoYoverse
Release
September 28, 2020
Perhaps the biggest free-to-play RPG to come out in 2020 was Genshin Impact. What made this title stand out from the crowd was just how much content there was to actually experience before the game even began to push its monetization on the player. You get a pretty substantial RPG story to go through, a big open world to explore, side quests, daily and weekly quests, and all the typical free-to-play systems you expect. The gameplay and art style lead many to think of it as a Breath of the Wild clone, but beyond the surface level, the two games aren’t all that similar. Yes, you can climb anything and have a glider, and both have an upgradable stamina meter, but combat, loot, and everything else are fairly different. As an action RPG, you can sink a lot of time into Genshin Impact without feeling the pressure to buy anything. That said, the gacha mechanics they do have aren’t great, so know that before getting too invested.
Paladins
72%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Strategy
Developer
Hi-Rez Studios, Evil Mojo Games
Publisher
Hi-Rez Studios
Release
May 02, 2017
Before Overwatch made the hero shooter genre mainstream, Paladins was already building a great game and community around the same concept. It was in beta up until 2018 and focuses on a cast of characters that combine fantasy elements with modern shooter mechanics. There are a massive 47 champions in the game, and each one is just as unique as the Overwatch cast between their four or more abilities, ultimate, primary weapon, and three talents. Playing for free, you can choose between the six default classes, plus four others that rotate every two weeks. While you can use real money to unlock characters of your choice, you can also use the currency you earn by playing to purchase them over time. If you’ve gotten tired of the bigger hero shooters or need something fresh with a lot of content, Paladins may end up being your new favorite.
Zenless Zone Zero
60%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
HoYoverse
Publisher
Cognosphere, HoYoverse
Release
July 04, 2024
Another HoYoverse title, Zenless Zone Zero is more of a punk-themed action game as opposed to the bright RPG of Genshin. While it isn’t quite on the level of something like a Devil May Cry, you have a good suite of moves between all your characters that look flashy and make running through the story and quests addictive. You do have to be comfortable with the gacha system, however, since it is present here and functions almost exactly as it does in Genshin. If that isn’t a problem for you, Zenless is very generous in the amount of content it offers before even hinting at asking you to pay real money.
War Thunder
74%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
Developer
Gaijin Entertainment
Publisher
Gaijin Entertainment
Release
January 28, 2013
There are plenty of games that put you on the ground level in real and fictional warzones, but not many focus on vehicular combat. War Thunder isn’t just a dogfighting game, but lets you pilot and fight it out in epic battles on boats, tanks, and planes. For the history buffs out there, each vehicle is painstakingly re-created to be as accurate in look and function as their real-world counterparts. You can experience what it was like to take control of historical vehicles from the 20th century all the way up to the most modern war machines. This is also a fully cross-platform game so you won’t ever have trouble finding a chaotic battlefield.
Overwatch 2
65%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
October 04, 2022
Of course, you could always go to the big name and grab the free-to-play Overwatch 2. More of an expansion, this sequel brings everything from the original game forward but is refreshed with a few new maps and characters to start, plus a fresh roadmap and battle pass system. Between the over 30 heroes, different game modes, and seasonal events, there’s a ton to love about this dynamic hero shooter. The change to five-on-five matches is the biggest and also seen as the best. Now you really feel like you play a more important role on your team in every game.
Fortnite
69%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
July 25, 2017
All right, we couldn’t in good conscience have a list of free games without including the king of the entire free-to-play market. By now, just about everyone knows about Fortnite, but if not, it isn’t too hard to grasp. It is a third-person shooter battle royale featuring almost infinitely customizable characters, looting, material gathering, and building. The building aspect is the only real pressure point some people have with the game, since fast and smart building ability is arguably a more important skill than shooting. And it is tough to learn how to do well, especially when you see people instantly construct a two-story base the moment they hear a shot in their direction. On the other hand, you can’t deny all the other reasons the game has to keep you playing, with the recent Marvel crossover event in particular being the biggest in the game’s history. The daily and weekly challenges and battle passes also give you alternative objectives to just killing and winning so you can always accomplish something in a game. Even when Fortnite isn’t leading the charge on innovating in the battle royale genre, they are quick to adopt new features other games have into it, allowing it to stay relevant and fun season after season.
