Let’s face it., video games are expensive. If you want a triple-A open-world game, you’ll probably have to drop $60-$70, further destroying your wallet. But don’t worry, there are plenty of high-quality open-world games you can play right now for free.
No one will blame you if you’re a little skeptical when you hear “free-to-play.” The term doesn’t have the best reputation due to all the shovelware out there. But if you look past the stigma, you’ll find plenty of fun titles that let you play for hundreds of hours without spending hundreds of dollars.
10 Piratopia Lets You Conquer The Ocean
- Developer - Adi Zhavo, Project 99
- Platform - PC, MacOS
Here's a great choice if you want some fast-paced pirate action. Piratopia is a top-down adventure game with roguelike elements where the vast open sea is yours to explore and plunder. The goal is to navigate the dangerous waters and steal as much treasure as possible by battling other players.
Any treasure you loot can be used to upgrade your ship and craft special weapons. If you're feeling generous, you can team up with other players to take on bigger pirate ships or massive sea monsters. But be careful because you’ll lose some of your resources if you die.
9 Fishing Planet Is A Relaxing Experience
- Developer - Fishing Planet LLC
- Platform - PS4, Xbox One, PC, Linux, MacOS, Android
With so many action-packed open-world titles, sometimes it's nice to have a cozy experience to break up the pace. Welcome to Fishing Planet, a relaxing game with many serene lakes to explore and catch fish.
This is one of the most realistic free-to-play games you’ll ever find. The environments are highly detailed and stunning to look at. There are over 170 species of fish to catch, each with complex AI that will change the fish's behavior depending on the weather, season, time of day, etc. It's a nice way to unwind after a long day.
8 The Lord Of The Rings Online Is Perfect For Tolkien Fans
- Developer - Standing Stone Games, Turbine
- Platform - PC, MacOS
It's an oldie but a goodie. The Lord Of The Rings Online launched in 2007, and it holds up surprisingly well thanks to its immersive world and lore-accurate plot. Whether you're a casual or dedicated fan of Tolkien's work, you'll love exploring Middle-earth and seeing all the famous locations from the story.
The gameplay is exactly what you'd expect from an MMO. The combat is fast-paced, you can craft weapons and armor, and there are a wide variety of classes and play styles to pick from. The world is enormous and so faithful to the source material that it'll feel like you were sucked into the book.
7 PlanetSide 2 Is An Action-Packed First-Person Shooter
- Developer - Rogue Planet Games, Daybreak Game Company, Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform - PS4, PC
Picture this: thousands of people are dropped on an alien planet for a giant fight to the death with all the weapons and vehicles they could want. That's PlanetSide 2 in a nutshell. It's a Sci-Fi first-person shooter where you and your team battle other players for control of the map.
When you start, you pick one of three factions to join, each with its own backstory and unique arsenal of weapons. Battles are fast-paced and intense, with an extensive lineup of customizable weapons and vehicles you can use to annihilate your opponents.
6 Tower Of Fantasy Is An Epic Adventure
- Developer - Hotta Studio
- Platform - PS5, PS4, PC, Android, IOS
If you like Genshin Impact, Tower Of Fantasy is similar, with some new twists. The year is 2316. Earth is falling apart, so it's up to you to travel to an alien planet and establish a human colony. The world is completely open for you to explore. You can follow the main quest, or venture off to discover the planet's many secrets.
The combat features hack-and-slash mechanics that let you rack up powerful combos quickly. Each weapon has an elemental ability that's either strong or weak against enemies, similar to Pokemon's type advantages. If you like fantasy adventures, this one is worth a shot.
5 Muck Is A Challenging Survival-Roguelike
- Developer - Dani
- Platform - PC, MacOS, Linux
What if Minecraft was a roguelike? That's the premise of Muck. It's a first-person survival game where you hunt for resources to repair your ship while mowing down hoards of enemies. The catch is that if you die, you lose everything.
Muck is perfect if you like games where you can build things. During the daytime, you farm for resources, craft weapons and armor, and build forts. When the sun goes down, the monsters and bosses come out, and they won't stop until you've killed them all. Think you can survive the night?
4 Genshin Impact Is A Must-Play For Zelda Fans
- Developer - miHoYo, Shanghai Miha Touring Film Technology Co., Ltd.
- Platform - PS5, PS4, PC, Android, IOS
Let's address the elephant in the room. Genshin Impact is very reminiscent of Breath Of The Wild. But its anime aesthetic, multiple playable characters, and RPG elements make it stand out. The game shines thanks to its expansive world filled with enemies, secrets, puzzles, quests, and massive bosses.
There are so many characters to unlock, each with unique abilities that open new possibilities for exploration. You can have four characters in your party and switch between them instantly. While the gacha mechanics hold it back a bit, it's still a solid adventure if you like Tears Of The Kingdom or Breath Of The Wild.
3 RuneScape Is A Timeless Classic
- Developer - Jagex
- Platform - PC, MacOS
Anyone who grew up in the early 2000s will remember RuneScape. This classic MMO launched nearly two decades ago, and its community is still alive and well. There are two versions available to play: the classic Old School RuneScape and the newer RuneScape 3.
Both versions offer vast medieval fantasy worlds with a diverse lineup of quests to complete and monsters to destroy. The original one is the way to go if you want a more laid-back and relaxed experience. If you want more enhanced graphics and quality-of-life improvements, the newer version is for you.
2 Trove Is An Outstanding Dungeon Crawler
- Developer - gamigo US Inc., Trion Worlds
- Platform - PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, MacOS
Trove is an excellent action MMO to play with friends. The game combines building and crafting mechanics with dungeon crawling. The world is massive, with many dungeons to explore. You can play this game for hours and never get bored.
The level of freedom you get is staggering. You can explore the world, find new gear, and take on challenging boss fights. Or you can take a break to build a house and do some crafting. Want to make a sword made out of bacon? You can! If you can imagine it, you can probably create it.
1 Star Wars: The Old Republic Is The Best Free Open-World Game
- Developer - BioWare, Broadsword
- Platform - PC
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away came a must-play for Star Wars fans. Set 3,000 years before the films, Star Wars: The Old Republic fleshes out the lore with a compelling story and allows you to explore the universe however you want.
The gameplay is a mix of dogfights and on-foot combat. There are eight classes to choose from, each with a variety of unique abilities. There's just one question left: will you be a Jedi or a Sith? There are plenty of decisions to make throughout the story that will change the course of your path.