For PC gamers, there has never been a better time. There isn’t a day when a new game isn’t published. Isn’t this going to be expensive? But have no fear. There are many great free PC games to select from.

Indeed, there are so many free games to select from that deciding how to spend your time might be difficult. Here are the best free PC games for 2020, and all of the “Genre Alternatives” are also free to download.

1. Battle Royale

Epic Games‘ Fortnite Battle Royale took the world by storm in 2017. Since then, it hasn’t stopped, acquiring more players and viewers and being released on new video game systems.

The battle royale market for free is crowded. Regardless of what other development teams bring, Fortnite’s combination of fierce cartoon-style action and accessibility is unrivaled.

Fortnite is also kept interesting by Epic Games. New content is introduced to the game regularly, drawing players in quest of better skins, weaponry, and, of course, Fortnite’s iconic winning dances.

Not only that, but Epic Games is constantly modifying the Fortnite setting, which helps to advance the game’s narrative.

For example, approximately halfway through one season, a large meteor appeared in the sky over the gaming map. The asteroid approached slowly before crashing into Dusty Depot, turning it into Dusty Divot and dispersing smaller craters over the terrain.

Since then, Epic Games has won numerous awards for its innovative narrative techniques, and the Fortnite storyline has continued to develop.

Check out our Fortnite fundamentals cheat sheet to learn more about the game. You might be a pro-streamer in no time!

2. Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress is the most intriguing, captivating, and infuriating game ever developed. Bay 12 Games, the makers of Dwarf Fortress, continue to update it for free. So, what is it exactly?

Dwarf Fortress is a roguelike, management simulator, exploration story, etc. That’s because you have an almost limitless number of options for keeping your dwarven colony alive, happy, fed, and productive.

The original artwork is unattractive. There’s no need to be ambiguous, and the extensive (and often fussy) controls are difficult to get used to. On the other side, several amazing community tilesets turn the original Dwarf Fortress into a brighter, more approachable experience.

3. Exile’s Journey

Path of Exile will appeal to fans of Diablo and other dungeon-crawling RPGs. Path of Exile, first released in 2013, is currently a top-ranked free-to-play game with frequent updates.

The plot isn’t particularly compelling, focusing on classic RPG tropes like being washed up on the beach, stranded, dressed in rags, and battling to become the ultimate beast slayer. On the other side, Path of Exile stands out due to its massive skill trees, plentiful loot, and frequent additions of new enemies, game systems, and play styles.

4. Arena of Magic: The Gathering

The iconic Magic: The Gathering (MTG) game comes to your PC in the form of Magic: The Gathering Arena, a free digital collectible card game.

MTG Arena isn’t the first digital version of the hugely popular tabletop card game. However, it is the first digital version of MTG to match the tabletop meta, allowing players to construct decks that correlate to its expansions.

In this way, MTG Arena is quite similar to an actual MTG game. You can still use land cards to produce mana, customize your deck, and find new and rare booster cards by opening packs.

MTG Arena is a free-to-play game with in-app purchases and booster pack purchases. While you may occasionally run across someone with a premium deck, most MTA Arena players rely on free decks, booster packs, and the like.

Furthermore, even though the game closely resembles the physical game, there is no requirement for prior expertise to begin playing. The game includes several tutorials that explain how the various game mechanics work and some basic skills.

Another aspect of MTG Arena that we appreciate is the animations. MTG was a static tabletop game for a long time, and MTG Arena now brings your cards to life with dazzling explosions and spinning summoning.

5. Destiny 2

In 2019, Bungie’s online-only first-person shooter Destiny 2 became free-to-play, allowing anybody to play it. Bungie simultaneously upgraded weapons, armor classes, content drops, and the power level ceiling to lure existing and new players to try out the new content. New Destiny 2 game modes were also launched, and new interplanetary destinations to explore.

The outcome is a large-scale space shooter in which three rival factions vie for control of the Destiny 2 universe. Check out our beginner’s guide if you’re new to Destiny 2.

Even if you don’t plan on going deep into Destiny 2, the game’s often mind-blowing scenery, and magnificent dungeons are worth exploring. Oh, and riding the Sparrows is also a lot of fun.

6. StarCraft II 

In 2017, Blizzard handed away StarCraft II for free. As a result, one of the best real-time strategy (RTS) games ever created is now freely available. The single-player campaign from StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is included in the free-to-play edition, but not the sequels Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void, or Nova Covert Ops.

The free edition of StarCraft II includes the ranked multiplayer league tables. We’re not sure why you’d subject yourself to such an ordeal, but each to their own.

7. Heroes of the Storm

Blizzard has a lot to offer, from its all-conquering RTS to the game it doesn’t consider a MOBA. If Characters of the Storm isn’t a MOBA, it sure looks like one:

  • Five-on-five combat
  • Lanes
  • A vast selection of heroes (taken from other Blizzard games)
  • A focus on four unique roles

League of Legends and Dota 2 are significantly more accessible than Heroes of the Storm. The audience appears to be more open, the roles are clearer, and the game options variety each combat, making it more intriguing.

8. Planetside 2

Planetside 2 is an online multiplayer first-person shooter in which you fight for control of various locations across continental areas. With up to 2,000 concurrent players in the game, Planetside 2 knows a thing or two about epic size. You can spend hours in a single fight, then log off for a few hours before returning to the same battle.

The biggest difference for gamers coming from Battlefield or Call of Duty is the time it takes to perfect and level up weapons and skills. Such exact abilities require a long time to develop, and it’s not a grind because the battles ebb and flow, and you’re not restricted to attacking from a single direction (or vehicle, for that matter).

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is the ninth game in the series.

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex was released in 2016 to coincide with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, and it has stunning cars, courses, and environments. The first Forza game released on a desktop PC was Forza Motorsport 6, and Forza was formerly only accessible on Xbox.

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex pays true to the series’ reputation for expansive circuit designs and impressive car models. A total of 63 vehicles will compete in 12 different events.

10. Warframe

Even being a free game, Warframe contains a lot of material. The hoverboard skating mode is the last but not least. However, there is a lot to take in when it comes to running and gunning (as opposed to hacking and slashing in Path of Exile) and the vast array of weaponry, load-outs, and play styles.

There are large open-world locales to explore, a rich storyline, and periodic content releases. At first, the sheer volume of information available can be overwhelming. Learning the many game elements takes time, and figuring out crafting and blueprinting can also be difficult.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions; the Warframe community is one of the friendliest on the internet. It’s almost certain that this question has been posted before.

11. EverQuest

Return to one of the original MMOs, where you can build your character via 110 levels, 500 zones, and various questlines. After more than two decades, EverQuest is still going strong.

The Burning Lands expansion was the game’s 25th content expansion, introducing new zones, raids, quests, and spells. It was released 19 years after the first game in 2018.

EverQuest keeps up in so many ways, even if the visuals are dated. Thousands of hours of questing around Norrath await you and your companions.

These are the 11 best free PC games to play in 2020