Free-to-play games are enticing options on the PlayStation 5. This category of games has drastically shifted in recent years. With the explosive popularity of titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, many games are adopting a free-to-play formula.

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The best free-to-play games are arguably the ones without microtransactions. Veiled in a cloak of misleading features, pay-to-win games can also be free-to-play. Simultaneously, the benefits of buying into microtransactions might outweigh the cost of a retail game since a regular triple-A PlayStation 5 title can be valued anywhere from $49.99 to $69.99. Here are some of the best free-to-play games to hit next-gen consoles.

Updated July 20, 2021 by Mark Sammut: Free games often sound too good to be true, but sometimes, they live up to their promise. Picking up a PS5 is not only difficult but also expensive, and that investment skyrockets when games are taken into account. When done right, a free-to-play title can deliver dozens upon dozens of hours of gameplay at no cost, and these types of releases are likely to remain a fixture of any modern console's line-up. As the PS5's library expands, more free games will take center stage. Which ones are the best?

PS Plus Free Games For July 2021

Although not free-to-play games, PS Plus provides a monthly line-up of titles as part of its subscription. Here are July 2021 free games:

• A Plague Tale: Innocence (PS5)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (PS4)
• WWE 2K Battlegrounds (PS4)
• Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown (PS4)

These games will be available for download until August 2, 2021.

13 Fortnite

• Release Date: November 11, 2020 (PS5)

Epic Games' Fortnite has never looked better than it does on the PlayStation 5. The game offers DualSense controller support, which creates immersion like no other controller. Loading times are faster, and the game plays in a targeted 4K at 60 frames per second.

Moreover, the split-screen multiplayer offers 60 fps support, providing an unprecedented experience for Fortnite. Fortnite continues to dominate the free-to-play scene, despite having been released way back in 2017.

12 Apex Legends

• Release Date: February 4, 2019 (PS4)

After the proliferation of Fortnite on the online forefront, developer Respawn Entertainment answered back with Apex Legends. Respawn Entertainment's battle royale game differs from Fortnite because it's more focused on combat and doesn't have a building component.

Matches have a 60 player count and pits teams of three against each other, pushing coordination and communication to the forefront. Apex Legends is also a first-person shooter, setting itself apart from Fortnite. Lastly, Apex Legends classifies itself as a Hero Shooter, as it contains various characters who cater to different play styles.

11 Smite

• Release Date: May 30, 2016 (PS4)

From day one, Smite was available for download on PlayStation 5. From developers Hi-Rez Studios and Titan Forge Games, Smite is one of the most addicting free-to-play MOBA games on the market.

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In Smite, players control gods or goddesses from a third-person angle. With unique abilities and team-based combat, players must work together to win multiple PVP modes. It's no wonder why Smite has dominated esports for so long.

10 Spellbreak

• Release Date: September 3, 2020 (PS4)

Ever wanted to become a battlemage in a battle royale game? Spellbreak places players in a large-scale multiplayer arena, inspiring them to unleash their inner mages by coordinating with teammates.

This game has role-playing game elements but is largely considered a battle royale game. Spellbreak plays homage to retro games like Unreal Tournament and Quake but brings enough to the table to distinguish itself.

9 War Thunder

• Release Date: November 17, 2020 (PS5)

Taking its beta stage into account, War Thunder has been around for nearly a decade, although it made its official debut in 2016. Now available on nearly every console not called the Nintendo Switch, War Thunder is arguably the premium vehicular combat game on the market, and that extends to beyond just free-to-play titles.

Through its wide range of modes, War Thunder offers something for just about everyone, regardless of whether they yearn for an arcade or realistic experience.

8 Genshin Impact

• Release Date: April 27, 2021 (PS5)

There are only a handful of role-playing games that are free-to-play. Genshin Impact is rapidly becoming one of the most popular free-to-play games of all time. The game is story-based, but it includes a multiplayer and single-player mode.

To make Genshin Impact stand out, even more, it is an open-world game. The endgame has been criticized, but the gameplay and freedom of exploration are phenomenal. Genshin Impact was released for PlayStation 5 on November 11, 2020, and updates are constantly being released for the game. There is already a ton to do in Genshin Impact and this universe will only expand in the future.

7 Paladins

• Release Date: May 8, 2018 (PS4)

Basically the Overwatch of the free-to-play game world, Paladins is an online hero shooter that is playable on the PlayStation 4, meaning it can be booted up on the PS5. It is set in a world called "Realm," a science-fiction fantasy universe with medieval and futuristic themes. There are two factions, meaning two teams that players can play as. The matches are goal-oriented, and the two competing teams battle it out with five players.

A wide array of game modes like Siege, Onslaught, Team Deathmatch, and Ranked give Paladins tremendous replay value.

6 Warframe

• Release Date: November 26, 2020 (PS5)

Warframe continues to be one of the most played free-to-play games because of its abundance of content. The PlayStation 5 version was ported in November 2020. Developer Digital Extremes has pumped more content into the game post-launch than possibly any other of its type.

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The game's structure revolves around completing quests and upgrading the Warframe armor set. With an in-game currency called Platinum, players can upgrade and customize their spaceship and trade with other players. The clan features of Warframe are exceptional.

5 Astro's Playroom

• Release Date: November 12, 2020

When someone picks up a PS5, the very first game they should play is Astro's Playroom. This free title is largely designed to showcase the console's capabilities, specifically the DualSense controller. Its status as a tech demo might not inspire confidence, but Astro's Playroom pays loving tribute to Sony's PlayStation brand while also being a pretty good 3D platformer in its own right.

Charming, gorgeous, and packed with neat references, Astro's Playroom is close to a perfect free-to-play game.

4 Rogue Company

• Release Date: March 30, 2021 (PS5)

When it comes to multiplayer shooters, the free-to-play scene is not lacking in representatives, which might explain why Rogue Company tends to slip through the cracks. While not exactly breaking new ground, First Watch Games' tactical shooter offers a confident and comforting experience.

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Featuring a solid roster of playable characters called Rogues, teams duke it out on a map as they attempt to complete goals. The combat is enjoyable, the visuals are colorful, and Rogue Company has personality to spare.

3 Destiny 2

• Release Date: November 12, 2020 (PS5)

Developer Bungie's online-only multiplayer first-person shooter made its way to PlayStation 5 with free next-gen upgrades. The free-to-play version of Destiny 2, referred to as Destiny 2 New Light, contains most of the game's content before Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, one of the game's major expansions.

Destiny 2 has been free-to-play since the last video game console generation, and it continues to be a phenomenal shooter on the PS5 at no cost.

2 Rocket League

• Release Date: July 7, 2015 (PS4)

Now that Rocket League has joined the free-to-play club, it is one of the industry's most-played games. It's a vehicular soccer game that has been called a blend of racing, soccer, basketball, and hockey.

With steadier framerates, playing Rocket League on PlayStation 5 might give people a competitive edge. While a native PlayStation 5 version has yet to be released, that will deter only a few from hopping into this sports phenomenon via backward compatibility.

1 Call Of Duty: Warzone

• Release Date: March 10, 2020 (PS5)

The free-to-play battle royal game Call of Duty: Warzone is one of Twitch's most streamed games. While Warzone was followed by another entry in the franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the former continues to be a huge success.

There's an in-game currency called "Cash" that allows players to buy in-game perks and items. Call of Duty: Warzone is criticized for its pay-to-win aspects, yet it's praised for its map designs and various game modes. One can play as a solo, duo, or quad team.

Every Game Coming Out In 2021 (And Beyond)

Free-to-play games are just a drop in the bucket that is the PS5's library, especially when the console's upcoming games are taken into account. Spread across the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and P, there are hundreds of games set to come out in the near (or far) future. For those people contemplating which titles they should spend their hard-earned cash on, these schedulers should help:

• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PS5 And PS4
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Xbox Series X|S And Xbox One
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Nintendo Switch
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PC

NEXT: Awesome Things The PlayStation 5 Can Do (That The PlayStation 4 Can't)