In this article, we take a look at the 25 best free PC games of 2023. You can skip our detailed analysis of the gaming industry and go directly to 5 Best Free PC Games of 2023.
Analysis of the Global Digital PC Games Market
The market for digital PC games includes sales made by companies that produce and distribute digital video games that are played on a desktop computer or laptop. Additionally, it also includes earnings from businesses that offer design, support services, documentation, and installation.
An industry analysis report by Research and Markets estimates that the global digital PC games market was valued at $10.86 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach a value of $12.67 billion by the end of 2023, registering a compound annual growth rate of 16.7%. The global PC games market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.0% from 2022 through 2027, and reach a valuation of $22.17 billion by the end of the forecasted period.
The rapid growth can be attributed to the rising demand for PC games available digitally. Players are driven to access PC games digitally due to the convenience, cross-buying, and ease of storage that digital distribution offers. Also, pre-ordering allows players to receive games already loaded onto their devices, giving them rapid access to the titles as soon as they are released. Moreover, a significant development in the market for digital PC games is the rise of cloud gaming. With this ground-breaking technology, the supplier operates the game on its servers, streams back the visuals to the player, and boosts user numbers for pricey games. Additionally, cloud-based game streaming minimizes the requirement for hardware upgrades. As a result, more people are playing digital PC games, which is driving the expansion of the sector.
According to Research and Markets, in 2022, the digital PC games market was dominated by the Asia-Pacific region, and this trajectory is expected to continue over the forecasted period. Rising disposable income and the growing popularity of online gaming will fuel the Asia-Pacific PC gaming industry.
Market Leaders in the Digital PC Games Market
Among the leading companies operating in the digital PC games market are Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), and Valve Corporation.
Known as one of the most innovative and groundbreaking development companies in the gaming business, privately held Valve Corporation has built a solid name for itself.
Now that we are familiar with the global digital PC games market, let’s get to our list of the 25 best free PC games of 2023.
Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash
Our Methodology
For this article, we looked for the top 25 free PC games of 2023 and selected them based on their popularity. The sources we used were r/gaming, PCMag, GameSpot, GamesRadar+, PCGamesN, and several other websites and online gaming communities. Each game received a score based on the number of mentions, so each time a game was mentioned, it received a score of 1. Hence, the more mentions and recommendations, the higher the score and rank in our article.
Best Free PC Games of 2023
25. Aion: The Tower of Eternity
Aion: The Tower of Eternity is developed and published by NCSoft, a South Korean company. A post-apocalyptic globe torn apart by warring races is the setting of this massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
This game particularly excels in how well it balances interactions between both Player versus Player (PVP) and Player versus Environment (PvE).
The popular video games produced by Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) compete with Aion: The Tower of Eternity.
24. The Elder Scrolls: Legends
The Elder Scrolls: Legends, developed by Dire Wolf Digital for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, is an award- winning free-to-play strategy card game based on the world and lore of the Elder Scrolls series.
23. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, developed and published by CD Projekt, is a turn-based card game between two players that can last two to three rounds. At least 25 cards must be owned by each player, who plays one card at a time while deceiving their opponent in order to achieve victory.
22. World of Warships
World of Warships, originally released for Microsoft Windows in 2015, is a free-to-play naval warfare-themed multiplayer online game. It was developed by Wargaming Group Limited and Lesta Studio.
It has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google Play based on 523,000 visitor reviews.
21. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, expansion of the acclaimed Dragon’s Dogma, presents a rewarding action combat experience. It wasn’t released for the PC until 2016. Dark Arisen adds new enemies, areas, and missions while keeping every aspect of the first game’s appeal for fans.
The game is anything but heavy, which is great for slow PCs.
20. ArcheAge
ArcheAge, developed by Korean developer Jake Song, is a 3D sandbox fantasy MMORPG set in the medieval fantasy realm of Erenor, where two factions, Nuia and Haranya, are at war with one another all the time. The player in this game has the option to create and rule his own state, amass fame across the oceans, or assemble allies and build vast empires.
19. SMITE
SMITE, developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios in 2014, is a free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game. In this game, players select a mythological character to control. Ranging from Greek to Japanese, almost a hundred different pantheons are available. Players must select their god or goddess and arm themselves appropriately to be ready to vanquish the opposing team.
18. Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. The game features control of characters from other games from the developer, such as Diablo, Warcraft, and StarCraft.
Its multiple game modes, numerous classes of heroes, and varied battlefields guarantee that players never get tired of it.
17. Paladins
Paladins, developed by Hi-Rez Studios, was released on May 8, 2018. This is yet another fantastic free PC game option in the shooting game genre. It is a first-person game with a brilliant setting in which two teams compete against one another to accomplish certain goals. Among the various game modes of Paladins are siege, slaughter, and playoff.
16. World of Tanks
World of Tanks, developed by Belarusian company Wargaming Group Limited, is a massively multiplayer online game in which the player can control up to 600 mid-20th century vehicles.
15. Spelunky
Spelunky, created by independent developer Derek Yu, is a cave exploration game inspired by classic platform games, where the goal is to grab as much treasure from the cave as possible. Making each playthrough distinct, the caves are procedurally generated.
The game’s initial public release took place on December 21, 2008.
14. Dauntless
Dauntless, developed by Phoenix Labs, is an action role-playing video game. This third person action game is set in an imaginary world where monstrous creatures, known as Behemoths, have been released as a result of a disastrous event and are now posing a serious threat to the remaining mankind.
13. Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2, developed and published by Valve Corporation, is a 2007 multiplayer first-person shooter game. The player must select one of the nine characters in this game, each with specific skills. The goal of the group game, which has more than 30 participants, is to eliminate the opposing team.
12. StarCraft 11: Wings of Liberty
StarCraft 11: Wings of Liberty, a free to download strategy game, transports you to a science fiction setting where the ultimate objective is to rule the cosmos. It was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 2010.
11. League of Legends
League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena video game, is commonly referred to as League. The player in this game controls a character named “champion” with a variety of special skills. Players must pick the most effective tactic to take down the rival team’s base if they want to win.
The game was developed and published by Riot Games in 2009.
10. RIFT
RIFT, released in 2011, is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The player of this game finds himself in Telara, a magnificent realm that is under attack from strong powers through rifts that pop up all over the place. The player’s goal is to protect Telara from the enemy’s invasion as a warrior with superhuman abilities.
RIFT was developed by Trion Worlds.
9. Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnite Battle Royale, developed and published by Epic Games, is a free-to-play battle royale game in which up to 100 players compete to be the last person standing.
It was initially released in September 2017.
8. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, released in March 2014, is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game. Although Hearthstone’s gameplay mostly involves turn-based division, there are a number of game modes. Each player uses cards, which can be magic, weapons, heroes, or minions, to carry out their strategies.
The game was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play based on 1.9 million visitor reviews.
7. PlanetSide 2
PlanetSide 2, released in November 2012, is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game. Up to 2000 players compete in this game to conquer a territory. Remarkably, players can be in vehicles, planes, and even on foot. With thousands of players engaged in simultaneous combat, the overall gameplay is quite enjoyable.
The game was created by Rogue Planet Games and published by Daybreak Game Company.
6. Path of Exile
Path of Exile, a free online action role-playing video game for PC set in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast, was released in 2013. A player can fully develop his character in this game, which is one of its best features.
It was developed and published by Grinding Gear Games.
Path of Exile is in competition with well-known games created by companies like Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA).
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Disclosure: None. 25 Best Free PC Games of 2023. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
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