In summary
- Video game consoles are expensive, with the PlayStation 5 costing at least $450 and many additional games costing $70.
- Free games are a great option to find something fun without spending more money.
- Some of the best free games for the PlayStation 5 include Astro’s Playroom, The Finals, Fortnite, Genshin Impact, Path of Exile, The Sims 4, and Warframe.
Video game consoles are expensive. To take home a PlayStation 5, you should spend about $450 at least. While there was probably at least one game that made you buy the console in the first place, the other games out there are expensive, with many of them reaching $70.
And that game you bought with the console—even if it’s a super long game like Horizon Forbidden West, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, or Metaphor: ReFantazio—eventually is going to feel old enough that you’ll want something new. But you don’t have to spend another wad of money to find something fun to play right away.
That’s where free games come in. There are tons of them out there. Many of them are still pretty forgettable, but there are some gems that are worth the time they ask you to invest. Most of these games offer in-game purchases in the form of additional characters, outfits, and feature expansions, although the best free ones give you plenty to play and enjoy without spending a dime.
Here are our favorite free games for the PlayStation 5 right now.
(Editor’s note: All games on this list are traditional “Web2” games without crypto elements. However, if you are looking for an interesting cryptocurrency game on PS5, Off the Grid just released in early access and could be a future contender for this list.)
Astro’s Playroom
In the old days, game consoles often came with a game included to sweeten the deal of paying a few hundred dollars. That’s not usually the case anymore, but Sony launched its latest console with a free game that you shouldn’t miss.
Astro Playroom is a small but fun game designed to highlight the features of the PlayStation 5 and the DualSense controller, showing off features like resistive triggers and haptic feedback. On top of that, it’s a fun and cute game that takes you through the history of PlayStation.
If you like it, the developer team at Team Asobi recently released a full-sized game in the same vein, titled Astro Bot, which received widespread positive reviews. Astro’s Playroom is also a complete package, there’s nothing extra to buy here even if you want it.
The Finals
The Finals is an online multiplayer first-person shooter that frames its action as a kind of virtual tournament. Teams of three players drop onto a map, which is often designed as a city or a particular environment, and are tasked with something like capturing a point on the location.
The novelty, however, is that almost everything on the map is destructible. If someone is on the other side of a wall you want to go through, just throw a grenade and start shooting. Of course, that can also work against you. It brings a new kind of creativity to an often exhausted genre.
Fortnite
Sure, everyone and their little brother plays Fortnite. But there is a reason for that. Take it from someone who resisted the thrill for a few years and now plays at least three nights a week. It helps if you have a sibling or some friends to play with, but a competitive spirit is also enough.
Fortnite is not just a battle royale shooter: it is a game in constant evolution. Weapons come and go every couple of months, plus exciting ways to move around the map as Spider-Man’s gloves, Iron Man’s boots, cyberpunk swords, and Attack on Titan’s Omni-Gear gear arrive to shake things up. Weapons and cars can be modified, new modes appear regularly, and there are also additional things like Fortnite Festival, Rocket Racing, and endless user-created ways to play the game.
Genshin Impact
Sure, your friends with Nintendo Switch consoles could be enjoying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. But if you have a PlayStation, the best alternative is Genshin Impact, a free anime-style action RPG that emphasizes exploration. The game has hundreds of hours of content, including a dedicated campaign that can be played alone.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile is an isometric, always-online action game in the style of the Diablo series. There are plenty of ways to spend money on it if you want, but you can complete the campaign without spending a dime if you prefer. The game has a hugely intimidating skill tree that will give you almost endless options if you like experimenting with character classes and builds.
The Sims 4
However, not all games need to have guns and swords and combat. For a couple of years now, The Sims 4 has been a free-to-play game available on a variety of consoles and platforms. The base game offers everything it had at launch, so you can live your digital life without spending anything. If you like it, EA has lots and lots of extras, from expansions that add important features to item packs that simply add new furniture.
Warframe
Warframe is a difficult game to explain. At its most basic, it is a third-person action RPG with stealth elements. But since its release, the game has received great support from its developer, with updates that have added lots and lots of lore (game backgrounds such as stories, data, characters, etc.) to consume and explore. The game features deep customization options for your Warframe – basically a biomechanical ninja suit – and fun combat mechanics, including a fan-favorite dash move.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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