10 best free-to-play shooter games in 2024

Sourav Banik
an image of best free-to-play shooter games

Are you wondering what some of the best free-to-play shooter games to play solo or with your buddies are in 2024? Well here are the 10 best free-to-play shooter games you have to try out.

Single-player games can be pretty fun with all the beautiful stories, graphics, comprehensive characters, and more. However, the adrenaline rush and feeling of winning a match in a shooter game remains unmatched.

However, getting that feeling doesn’t always need to cost you a fortune as there are plenty of shooter games in 2024 that are completely free-to-play. So, if you are in search of some free-to-play multiplayer shooters, you’re in the right place as we have some great recommendations.

Apex Legends

Apex Legends characters running and aiming offscreen

Apex Legends might be on the lower end of the Battle Royale spectrum, but it’s still one of the best free-to-play shooter games to play in 2024. With a plethora of characters known as Legends and a continuous flow of content every couple of months, Apex Legends is now bigger than ever, making now a perfect time to join in the fight.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Warzone character looking through binoculars

Call of Duty: Warzone is another Battle Royale title that falls under the best free-to-play shooter games category in 2024. It’s been four years since it was released and still stands as one of the most enjoyable competitive shooter games out there. Combine fast-paced gameplay with a multitude of weapons and tactical realism, and the action that you get out of Warzone remains unmatched.

Counter-Strike 2

CS2

Counter-Strike 2 is the latest 5v5 competitive shooter from Valve that took over after CS:GO, carrying on the legacy that initially started as a Half-Life mod. CS2 is completely free-to-play and has both casual and ranked modes, serving as a perfect battleground for having fun and testing your skills to the fullest. If you get skilled enough, squad up with your friends and compete to become the best esports team on the planet.

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 player using Wish-Keeper bow in Starcrossed exotic mission.

Moving away from competitive free-to-play shooter is Destiny 2. This game is based on a “mythic science fiction” world and has both PvE and PvP elements. It has a rich lore and although the expansions need to be purchased, Destiny 2 potentially maximizes your team’s coordination, thanks to its in-depth and lengthy Raids.

Fortnite

Fortnite character aiming a sniper rifle

Epic Games’ popular game, Fortnite, has a more casual approach to the battle royale genre when compared to Warzone and PUBG: Battlegrounds. But don’t be deceived by the looks of this free-to-play shooter as one of its core mechanics comes with a steep learning curve. However, if you want to chill in Fortnite, it has a Zero Build mode too that eliminates a stressful aspect.

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite Master Chief

Halo Infinite was released in 2021 as a first-person shooter game with a free-to-play multiplayer mode for Xbox consoles and PC. It started out pretty strong and its playerbase fell off since then, but it still is one of the best modern-day multiplayer games for all the Halo lovers out there. With a plethora of game modes, it’s sure to keep you engaged for a long time.

Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 Heroes coming at the camera

Overwatch 2 is the free-to-play sequel to Blizzard’s 2016 competitive shooter and is one of the most popular games in 2024. In Overwatch 2, you get to choose from three roles, Tank, DPS, and Support. These classes have a multitude of heroes you can select and start playing without paying anything.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

pubg

Although PUBG: Battlegrounds has dropped down in popularity, there’s no denying that it used to dominate Twitch during the 2017 to 2020 era of video gaming. PUBG is now a free-to-play shooter but still has the X-factor that made the game popular back then. Being free-to-play means you and your buddies can hop on anytime and experience a realistic Battle Royale.

The Finals

The Final concept art of character holding pistol against red background

Embark Studios’ The Finals is the new kid on the block that brings a fresh perspective to the shooter genre and is completely free to play. It’s chaotic and fun but the best thing about the game is you can cause mass destruction, unlike other games mentioned earlier. Like Overwatch 2, you can choose from three classes and squad up from different platforms as it has full crossplay support.

Valorant

an image of some Agents from Valorant

Valorant is another 5v5 free-to-play shooter that Riot Games released in 2020, and it has a feel similar to CS2. To start with, there are multiple characters to choose from, known as Agents, with unique abilities that are crucial to win you rounds if used correctly. It’s also one of the most popular Esports titles right now along with the likes of Counter-Strike 2 and Overwatch 2.

XDefiant

XDefiant characters holding guns

XDefiant is the latest First-person shooter developed by Ubisoft. The game is meant to tackle the likes of Call of Duty, CoD players even praised the game calling it a “promising competitor.” Xdefiant also features factions featuring various agents from different Ubisoft games such as Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and The Division making it a promising game for fans of Ubisoft titles.

If multiplayer games aren’t your cup of tea you can check out the best single-player games to play in 2024 or the best Souls games if you like punishing games with a vast lore. We also have a list of the best games to play on your mobile if you don’t have access to a PC or console.

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