It's really no secret that free games can be extremely hit or miss. For one thing... well, they're free, which often suggests a significant lack of quality. But that's not to say that all aren't worth your time. In fact, some are surprisingly fun, provided you keep your expectations in check.
Sure, they won't be The Last of Us or anything, but then again, you don't expect that level of quality from a free game. You simply expect an enjoyable way to spend x amount of minutes (for free), and to that, these games deliver.
These are five free games for the PS4 worth downloading (and five that aren't).
10 Worth: Dauntless
Dauntless is an action RPG developed by Phoenix Labs, published by Epic Games, and released in May 2019 for Windows, the Xbox One, and PS4. The gameplay sees you taking on the role of Slayers, a band of fighters who do battle with Behemoths, massive, monstrous creatures that prey on humans. The game is heavily focused on loot, which is used to craft and upgrade weapons, and combo-style combat. It can also be played cooperatively with up to four people and is fully supported by cross-platform play, ensuring that no one misses out. Those looking to play Monster Hunter but aren't willing to fork over the cash could do a lot worse than Dauntless.
9 Not Worth It: AdVenture Capitalist
AdVenture Capitalist doesn't really sound like a whole lot of fun, and... yeah, it really isn't. The game was originally released for Android and iOS back in 2014 and 2015, and it made the jump to the PS4 in 2016 for some reason. There really wasn't any reason for it to do so, but do so it did. You start by investing in a lemonade stand, and you must then use your accumulated funds and investments to... invest in more stuff. And make more money. We suppose it's a good way to learn about capitalism, but really, who wants to spend their free time learning about capitalism? Besides, Monopoly also exists.
8 Worth: Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla can essentially be boiled down to "Super Smash Bros. lite." It's a fighting game developed by Blue Mammoth that plays very similar to Super Smash Bros., as the goal is to gradually weaken your opponent and knock them off the stage. Not only that, but random weapons fall from the sky, including swords, cannons, and bows. OK, yeah, it's pretty much a direct rip off of Nintendo's seminal franchise, and while it's obviously not as good, it still contains a massive roster, lots of interesting game modes, and a great balance between casual and competitive gameplay. It won't be the next big fighting game, but it's certainly enough to pass the time.
7 Not Worth It: APB: Reloaded
Unlike AdVenture Capitalist, APB: Reloaded actually sounds like fun - it's an open world, massively multiplayer online shooter, and it sees two sides battling over specific objectives. On one side are the Enforcers, the group assigned to keep order in the city of San Paro. On the other side are the Criminals, the, well, criminals.
This game was originally released on the PC way back in 2010, and many people were hoping that the port to consoles would serve as a kick in the butt for the developers. It wasn't. The game is still a technical mess, from glitches to poor graphics to horrible frame rate issues and lag. Maybe it'll be worth playing someday, but certainly not today.
6 Worth: Paladins: Champions Of The Realm
Paladins has been endlessly compared to Blizzard's Overwatch, and for good reason. The game is a first-person shooter, and players can choose between a variety of characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. These include "front line" (the high-health tanks), "damage" (high damage), "support" (healing capabilities), and "flank" (traversing). Developer Evil Mojo has denied the Overwatch semblances, instead pointing towards Team Fortress 2 as their primary influence. Either way, if you like those types of games, you are sure to enjoy Paladins, because it's pretty much more of the same.
5 Not Worth It: Defiance 2050
Defiance was originally released back in 2013 and served as a tie-in game for the now-canceled Syfy show of the same name. It's a (brace yourself now) persistent world massively multiplayer online third-person shooter and science fiction-themed game about the chaotic aftermath of The Pale Wars. A free to play remake titled Defiance 2050 was released for the PS4 in July of 2018, but it's really not worth playing. Sure, it's OK for a couple of hours, but eventually the horrendously outdated graphics, lack of polish, and repetitive, grindy gameplay eventually deplete morale. Don't even bother with this one.
4 Worth: Apex Legends
Many people originally wrote off Apex Legends as just another battle royale game, but it is so, so much more than that. The game was developed by Respawn Entertainment, the same team behind the Titanfall series, and it contains their signature fast-paced gameplay and professional polish. In fact, the game plays better than a majority of AAA releases today, and it contains a surprising amount of depth in terms of characters and gameplay. It has also received a good amount of additional content, and season 3 is set to launch in October of 2019. When it comes to free to play games, few are as polished as Apex Legends.
3 Not Worth It: Growtopia
Growtopia is an alright time on mobile platforms. It's an MMO sandbox game very reminiscent of Minecraft, as players punch and break blocks and use their wrench to wrench various items and edit properties. For some bizarre reason, this mobile game from 2013 was ported over to all the major consoles in July of 2019, and the results were less than stellar. It played, well, like a mobile game on consoles, and that is even less fun than it sounds. Primitive graphics and gameplay mechanics and excruciating wait/loading times make this a real pain to play on modern consoles. Stick with mobile if you absolutely have to have your Growtopia.
2 Worth: Fortnite Battle Royale
Yeah, yeah, we know, you're sick of hearing about Fortnite by now. But there's simply no denying just how influential and impactful this game has become. This was arguably the first BIG, immensely popular free to play game, and it helped launch the business model that many games (including the ones on this list) and now emulating.
It has become a cultural phenomenon, having sold billions of dollars in revenue, being endorsed by high profile celebrities, and becoming THE game to watch on Twitch and other streaming platforms. It's the biggest game of the late 2010s, and it doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon.
1 Not Worth It: Guns Up!
Guns Up! was originally released for the PS4 back in 2015, and the gameplay sees you both creating bases and accumulating armies to attack other players' bases. It's essentially a console version of Clash of Clans, but nowhere near as fun as that actually sounds. It's repetitive as all get up, and while the initial burst of gameplay may prove intriguing (especially if you're new to RTS titles), you'll soon grow weary with the game's repetitive gameplay and obvious reliance on microtransactions. It's a scummy game in terms of business practices, but worst of all, it's just plain boring.