Live-service games are something that the gaming community can't avoid. They are here to stay regardless of opinion or controversy. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. While many companies have been pushing the idea of 'games as a service,' it doesn't mean that they're all about taking a gamer's hard-earned cash.

Live-service games are a way for a company to continue the growth of a game for years after its initial release. In fact, some gamers have probably played these games and have not even realized they are live-service.

Updated March 16, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Live-service games don't have the greatest reputation in the video game industry. Many titles adopting this moniker are made out of greed rather than passion. So, it's always nice to see games with a lot of effort put into them despite their live-service trappings. These titles let players shoot and fight their way through loads of baddies while acquiring a lot of experience, gear, and money in the process. The best live-service games know how to keep fans coming back for more, offering incredible gameplay and a regular stream of updates to ensure that they stay relevant in the long run.

15 Warframe

Metascore: 64

Warframe has been around for a long time. It originally launched on Steam way back in 2013. This game has been running strong ever since and is one of the most-played games on Steam. This free-to-play game offers a ton of loot for players to craft aboard their ship, new characters to unlock, and tons of story that will keep them busy for hours.

Each update to this game brings in new Warframes, weapons, and story tidbits for players to experience. Not only is there a ton of content, but the game keeps things interesting with multiple game modes and open-world locations. Oh yeah, and the game entirely revolves around space ninjas.

14 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

Metascore: 73

Ubisoft brought a strong competitor to the field when they released Rainbow Six Siege back in 2015. It's been almost six years and the game is still going strong with a large community. This game takes the idea of a team-based shooter and adds a heavy amount of cooperation and strategy to it to help keep it one of the best shooters out there.

Typical shooter games have players running out of the gate and getting mowed down at the sight of the first enemy. Rainbow Six changes the formula with strategic gameplay that rewards players for defending or attacking their objective. Each update brings new operatives into the mix to help keep the game feeling fresh.

13 League Of Legends

Metascore: 78

Although DOTA 2 sees a massive number of players each day on the Steam platform, it's arguable that League of Legends is the more widely-known MOBA, specifically in the West. The title has a massive number of Champions to choose from, and developer Riot is constantly releasing new heroes and villains into the pool of available characters.

League of Legends has become such a household name that the developer has released a series of spin-offs, including a card game in Legends of Runeterra and a single-player turn-based RPG adventure in The Ruined King. Riot continues to grow its immense worlds and offer players a multitude of ways to enjoy this expansive lore.

12 Fortnite

Metascore: 78

Fortnite was once the most popular battle royale game out there when it was released back in 2017. Almost four years later, the craze has died off a little, but that doesn't mean that it isn't still popular. Gamers both new and old flock to Fortnite for its cartoonish look, non-gory fight to the death combat, and constant changes.

The development team behind Fortnite is constantly adding new items, skins, and characters to the game. They are also always making changes to the island to keep players on their toes.

11 Call Of Duty: Warzone

Metascore: 79

Ditching the standard style of multiplayer shooter that Activision has been known for since 2003, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was the first game in the franchise to take part in the battle royale craze. This battle royale became so popular that Activision decided to keep in going with Call of Duty: Warzone which launched in 2020.

Though it is still fairly new, Warzone is one of the leading battle royale games out there. With a large map filled with up to 150 players, gamers can take part in two game modes, battle royale or plunder.

10 Grand Theft Auto Online

Metascore: 80

Grand Theft Auto Online gets updated at least twice a year with new heists, vehicles, and businesses to keep players interested. This game, that released back in 2013, has kept players coming back for years. What started off on the Xbox 360 and PS3 is now getting remastered and enhanced for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The latest update is rumored to add even more heists and businesses to the already massive world. There are even rumors of a new map coming to the game.

9 The Finals

Metascore: 80

The Finals is poised to break into the live-service market in a manner that no one could have expected. The efforts of the ex-DICE developers working at Embark Studios are plain to see in this title.

Shades of Battlefield and Mirror's Edge can be seen in this game, where concise movement and accurate shooting are key to victory. Once players understand the roles they have to play, The Finals can transform into a magical experience.

8 Helldivers 2

Metascore: 82

Helldivers 2 is the biggest name to hit the live-service market in 2024. After ages of trying to nail the perfect live service experience, Sony struck gold with Helldivers 2. Not only is this game selling bucketloads, but its success is also making Sony rethink their stance on console exclusivity.

Fans can't get enough of the cinematic gunplay and fun mission structure of Helldivers 2. The title is suffering from success to the point where the developers are breaking their backs to resolve server issues. This popularity is a testament to how much of a breakout hit Helldivers 2 is.

7 Counter-Strike 2

Metascore: 82

Counter-Strike 2 is one of the most competitive games on the market for players who are on the hunt for first-person shooters. Counter-Strike spawned from a Half-Life mod and has since exploded into one of the most-played shooter games in the world. It is also one of the most popular e-sports out there.

The game is pretty simple to follow. One team of 5 players plays as Counter-Terrorists while the other team of 5 plays as Terrorists. It is the Counter-Terrorists job to stop the Terrorists from placing and detonating a bomb. Of course, a team can also win by taking out the opposing team.

6 Destiny 2

Metascore: 85

There are many out there that prefer the original Destiny but the second release is still trying its best to find a solid identity and give fans the gameplay they've come to know and love from iconic developer Bungie. In its current state, Destiny 2 has seen multiple DLCs and has a new one on the horizon.

The title still manages to generate an extremely dedicated fanbase, thanks to its incredibly addictive gunplay, immersive worlds, beautiful visuals, and grind-heavy content. There is a ton of fun to have with Destiny 2, and the fact that the base game is free helps to draw new players in each day.

5 Path Of Exile

Metascore: 86

Path of Exile wasn't always as popular as it is today. When it was originally released back in 2013, fans were hesitant to give the game a try. Since then it has exploded into what some have dubbed the 'Diablo-killer.'

The game is much like Blizzard's game Diablo and has players traverse dungeons in a quest for loot and glory, but the gameplay and seasonal events outshine anything that Diablo could do. Path of Exile is one of the few live-service games that can be played for free and has no paywalls to stop gamers from accessing the good stuff.

4 Apex Legends

Metascore: 89

Apex Legends is up there in popularity with other battle royale games like Fortnite. With a massive player base that keeps the game alive, Apex Legends probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

This game takes teams of three players and puts them into an arena with up to 60 players and has them fight to the death to be the last team standing. With consistent updates and new characters appearing pretty often, the game has received a ton of support over the years.

3 DOTA 2

Metascore: 90

If Valve is known for one thing (besides Portal and Half-Life) it would be for basically creating the game genre known as MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. DOTA 2 has been around since 2003 and is still one of the most popular live-service games to date. It is also known as the world's biggest e-sport with prize pools in the millions.

The game has so much content at this point that it will take a player months before they understand a large portion of the game. There are over a hundred heroes for players to try out and learn their abilities. It's never too late to give this game a try.

2 Overwatch

Metascore: 91

Overwatch exploded in popularity when it hit the gaming scene back in 2016. Since then, many fans flocked to the beloved team-based shooter game created by Blizzard. It's a shame that a wealth of lackluster updates and the shift to Overwatch 2 diminished the quality of this series, since Overwatch was easily one of the freshest games at launch and arguably gave birth to the hero shooter genre.

Nowadays, the Overwatch brand has been permanently sullied by Blizzard's mismanagement, but that shouldn't take away from the groundbreaking nature of the first game. It was a joy to witness at launch, and many Overwatch fans are still hoping that the sequel can turn its reputation around and become a halfway-decent title to play.

1 Final Fantasy 14

Metascore: 92 (Endwalker)

Final Fantasy 14 got off to a rocky start with its original release but the plan to completely dismantle the base game and rebuild it from the ground up worked to spectacular effect. A Realm Reborn has been entertaining gamers for years now and currently stands as one of the best MMORPGs currently on the market. It's seen multiple expansion packs with a new one on the way in December 2021.

With so many classes to choose from, quests to undergo, and events to keep players engaged, it's no wonder Final Fantasy 14 is still standing tall, while other MMOs fade into obscurity.