PC Shooter games are a dime a dozen. The multiplayer scene is absolutely stacked with first-person or third-person shooters, and these games or franchises tend to have a long shelf life. While some titles such as Overwatch and Arma 3 require an initial investment, some of the best shooters on PC are free-to-play.

Gaming is an expensive hobby, regardless of whether someone prefers to spend their time on consoles or computers. PC gamers might have access to deeper sales, but sometimes the free option is the way to go. Therefore, let's take a look at the greatest FPS or third-person shooters that are currently free on PC.

Updated November 28, 2023, by Mark Sammut: Free shooter games do not debut every week, but the ones that hit the bullseye tend to stick around for a very long time. One of the genre's most decorated releases received a sequel in September 2023.

Destiny 2 is not included because it is difficult to recommend solely as a free-to-play experience.

Counter-Strike 2

Metascore: 82

Counter-Strike has been around in some form since 2000, and Valve's multiplayer-driven series has always performed well. The franchise garnered unprecedented success with the launch of 2012's Global Offensive, a free-to-play FPS game that spent roughly the next decade as the most active title on Steam. Despite barely losing any popularity, CS: GO obviously started to show its age after a while, prompting Valve to finally work on a modern version called Counter-Strike 2. Debuting in September 2023, this sequel/update introduced a new engine, improved gunplay, and other notable changes, although its launch was not flawless.

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Some aspects of the game are not quite as fleshed-out as they could be, and the map selection is very limited. Still, Counter-Strike 2 largely retained its predecessor's player base, and it will likely dominate the free shooter scene for the next decade. The fact CS:GO is no longer on Steam has not hurt its sequel's chances either.

Enlisted

Metacritic User Score: 5.8

Debuting in March 2021, Enlisted is currently in its beta phase, although the game already offers a significant amount of content. A squad-based MMO shooter, Enlisted gives players their pick of a range of classes and the battles combine infantry with ground and aerial vehicles. The game currently has four campaigns on PC, along with a range of modes including Conquest and Invasion.

Enlisted is a work in progress, but the game has plenty of potential and will hopefully only get better with each passing month. For those looking for a free-to-play World War 2 shooter, Enlisted is a valid option.

War Thunder

Metascore: 81

Variety is the spice of life, and War Thunder offers something quite different from traditional shooters. Focusing exclusively on vehicular combat, War Thunder allows players to engage in battles using either tanks, planes, or ships. Dividing its arsenal of destructive vehicles into separate nations, War Thunder caters to a wide audience through its modes, some of which are designed to simulate realistic battles while others are arcade-style affairs.

War Thunder has progressed quite a lot since its introduction, developing into one of the most consistent free-to-play games on the market. For those looking for something other than on-foot gunplay, War Thunder is one to keep in mind.

Call Of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Metascore: 80

Activision has dropped its sequel to Call of Duty: Warzone, with the 2.0 edition launching with a fresh map named Al Mazrah, a revamped Gulag, and a new mode called DMZ. The battle royale game has big shoes to fill as its predecessor was among the genre's most popular entries, and while it is still too early to definitively state that Warzone 2.0 will be an improvement, the game does introduce its share of interesting twists to the formula.

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Unsurprisingly, Warzone 2.0's gunplay is tight and responsive, setting the stage for plenty of fierce firefights. Al Mazrah is shaping up to be a decent launch map, and the new 2v2 Gulag ramps up this mechanic's intensity even further.

Valorant

Metascore: 80

Riot's Valorant has steadily established itself as a juggernaut of the free-to-play market, particularly on platforms like Twitch. The hero shooter was a bit late to the game since it trailed behind Overwatch, however, Valorant has done a decent job of building momentum since its debut.

Featuring a diverse array of modes and a frequently updated roster of Agents split into four classes, the FPS has strong foundations and a development team committed to sustaining its relevance. That said, Valorant is far from perfect and has had issues with performance and balancing.

Warframe

Metascore: 86

Once it got over some growing pains, Warframe evolved into one of the best free-to-play games on the market. Blending melee and shooter combat, Digital Extremes' title has always offered fun gameplay, however, the campaign's scope and presentation felt limited in the game's early years.

Nowadays, Warframe has blossomed into an expansive experience that can keep somebody entertained for years. Incorporating open-world environments that enhance immersion while also serving this universe's lore, Warframe delivers a truly epic sci-fi adventure.

Apex Legends

Metascore: 89

Respawn surprised the world with the release of Apex Legends, a shooter that combines multiplayer subgenres and does it well. Love a good hero shooter? Apex Legends doesn't lack colorful characters. Prefer shooters with a tactical component? Apex Legends' squad-based gameplay rewards coordination and planning. Feel like a battle royale? Apex Legends drops teams into a large map and cuts them loose. Want precise gunplay? Respawn's Titanfall background shines through Apex Legends' gameplay.

Apex Legends is polished, addictive, and constantly evolving. This free-to-play shooter is here to stay.

Fortnite

Metascore: 85

Fortnite exists alongside the likes of Minecraft and Pokemon as a license that transcends gaming. The battle royal version has been inescapable ever since its debut, and its ubiquitous nature has naturally led to some backlash. At this point, someone would be forgiven for thinking Epic's title is more meme than game, and the former has certainly helped in extending the release's lifespan. However, underneath all the dances and emotes lies a polished and addictive third-person shooter that balances accessibility and complexity incredibly well. Make no mistake, Fornite is fantastic.

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On the surface, the gunplay is rather simplistic, but it is still satisfying and complements the fast-paced nature of battle royale modes. Fortnite's nuance comes from its building mechanic, which can be surprisingly robust if a player is willing to really explore its options.

Team Fortress 2

Metascore: 92

Valve released Team Fortress 2 in 2007; in 2021, the game still averages more than 65,000 concurrent players. Setting the standard for hero shooters, Team Fortress 2 is overflowing with personality and style. Its cartoonish visuals have allowed the game to age gracefully, and the gameplay is welcoming to newcomers while still containing plenty of nuance and depth for veteran players.

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Team Fortress 2's classes are well-balanced and varied, and they have remained relatively constant since the game's launch. The gameplay is plainly fun, even after all these years.

Farlight 84

Metascore: N/A

Something would be amiss if a new battle royale game did not hit the market every other month. Currently in early access, Farlight 84 leaves a respectable first impression, even if it struggles at times to differentiate itself from the titles that inspired it. The team-based shooter splits 40 players into groups of 4 and tells them to survive until the end.

The core gameplay sticks close to the standard battle royale formula, albeit with a few interesting twists like early-match respawns, sci-fi vehicles, and hero-shooter elements. While it will probably never dethrone Fortnite or Apex Legends, Farlight 84 has hit the ground running and is worth keeping an eye on for the future.

PlanetSide 2

Metascore: 84

PlanetSide 2 has been around since 2012. Like most MMOs, the first-person shooter's popularity has organically ebbed and flowed over the last decade, however, the game has remained active enough to be worth recommending in this day and age. 2020 was an especially strong year for PlanetSide 2, with the Escalation and The Shattered Warpgate updates bringing a renewed interest in the MMO.

When it comes to large-scale warfare, PlanetSide 2 is arguably the best free-to-play option on PC. Split into multiple factions, players battle it out to gain control of Auraxis.

Halo Infinite (Multiplayer)

Metascore: 87

In November 2021, Microsoft released Halo Infinite's multiplayer for free, entering the game into open beta on PC and Xbox consoles. Halo Infinite is a graphical powerful; each map comes with detailed and lavish environments that can be awe-inspiring at times.

As pretty as the game is, Halo Infinite's strongest asset is undoubtedly the gunplay. Halo Infinite caters to veterans of the franchise while also incorporating tools to make the experience inviting to newcomers. The maps are smartly designed and decently balanced, the modes are varied enough to stand out from each other, and there is even a competitive option for those who want it.

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