Free games come in many shapes and sizes. Battle Royales and Hero Shooters may be the most saturated games of the moment, but genres like MOBAs and MMOs aren’t going away anytime soon. The last species that dominate the scene are often big names, but every now and then they get new properties that are able to stay a year or two later.
Free-to-play open world games are not very common, with most examples falling within the realm of MMORPGs. Simply put, these projects are a huge investment from developers and publishers, so you rarely go the free-to-start route unless you’re specifically targeting multiplayer. However, not all MMOs are open world, and those that qualify for this description cover a wide range of quality. What are the best free open games in the world?
Throne and Liberty
An MMORPG inspired by the classics of the genre
Systems
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox S Series
- PC
Published
October 1, 2024
Developer
NCSoft
Good things
- Animal changes
- Large size
- Classic MMORPG structure
Even if it’s not always a complete success, the launch of a new MMO is always exciting because it promises content that could last for years. Throne and Liberty have been available in some parts of the world for a while, but their Western debut (free) is on October 1, 2024; Currently, the NCSoft project is in good and interesting shape, showing great promise to be around for a long time.
Players new to Throne and Liberty should avoid the following mistakes Now, Throne and Liberty is designed to be a classic-style MMORPG, which means a heavy emphasis on multiplayer and gang fight. Therefore, this game requires players to be social, and it is difficult to recommend it to those who mainly want to be alone.
Note: Throne and Liberty also has PvP.
More importantly for the theme of free open games, the map is divided into areas like traditional MMO games. Although very open, Throne and Liberty is not a sandbox game, and players mostly work their way through each area rather than freely exploring the entire map. Although it is not aimed at everyone, the game has many good things, including amazing graphics, fun navigation, a customizable class system, and good combat. Customization is good too.
Human Hour
An open world survival game with co-op support
Game type: survival, shooting, open world
Systems:
Published: July 9, 2024
Developer: Starry Studio
Pros:
- Deep survival and crafting tools
- Fun monster design
- A collection of animals
Disadvantage:
- Combat is weak due to easy enemies
- Performance can be difficult
- The server system can be improved
Once Human is an ambitious game that combines many mechanics in a large open world. While not without its faults, Starry Studio Project can be a lot of fun, whether played alone or with some friends. Because of a strange substance called Stardust, Earth has fallen into dark and apocalyptic times, leaving a corrupted landscape full of mutants who were once humans (or something else entirely).
Aside from following a story that investigates the organization responsible for this case, Once Human is primarily an open-world survival game with a third-person shooter and system fun creature collectibles. Players must collect resources, shelter craft and tools, fight monsters, and even collect items to help them.
Although not very special, the open world has good graphics and creative creature designs that encourage exploration. The crafting and building mechanics are among Once Human’s strongest features, as they are both relatively deep. The shooting is also good, even if the enemies don’t offer much of a challenge.
Warframe
The combination of linear and open spaces is wonderfully executed
Game type: Third-person shooter
Systems:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox S Series
- Xbox Series X
- Change
Published: March 25, 2013
Developer: Digital Extremes
Pros:
- A big fight
- Amazing graphics
Disadvantage:
Warframe and Destiny 2 have a similar approach towards open worlds. Usually, games focus on quests that are done in limited thematic areas, but players can freely visit open spaces designed for exploration, which contain various quests and content. Basically, they are broad pivot areas and are not immediately available. New players have to pass a very long introductory section before reaching these landscapes. However, it is well worth the effort and adds a lot of substance to the overall experience.
Unlike the limited options in Destiny 2’s free-to-play system, Warframe is easy to access and doesn’t punish players for not investing money. The campaign can be a little tiring, but the combat and the story are enough to keep the excitement going. If someone is looking for an open project to play right away, Warframe is not the best choice; But those who like open worlds to be part of a great puzzle should try this free game.
