As we all know, gaming can be a pretty expensive hobby. Before you know it, you’ve splashed out £200 on a games console, £50 on each game, and then you have all of the add-ons and in-game purchases. When you add all of this up, you can be majorly out of pocket for the privilege of playing the latest Xbox and PS4 games. Sure, they are fun, but are there other options for those who don’t have all of the cash to splash on their hobby?
The truth is, perhaps unsurprisingly, that there are many great free-to-play gaming options out there. But are they as good as their big-bucks counterparts, and will you be eager to get online and try them out? We’ve got the low-down here.
To download… or not to download?
In the online gaming world, there are two different options for players. You can either opt for no download games, or you can choose to download them onto your device. Ultimately, there are a few factors determining which type of game would be best for you if you’re looking to get started with some free-to-play fun.
- Disk space – if you want to play a game that doesn’t take up a lot of your disk space (because you a) don’t have it, or b) you’d just prefer to avoid taking up this space) then opting for no download is probably a better option for you. Of course, if this isn’t an issue then download to your heart’s content.
- Convenience – another thing to factor into this is convenience, and whether you can be bothered to wait around for a game to download onto your device. Sure, it may seem like it isn’t really a long time to wait, but it may be the case that you’re disinterested in playing it once it’s downloaded, and we’re (unfortunately) increasingly dealing with shorter attention spans. Those seriously long download times can be stressful and do get in the way of players and those free games!
What is the quality like?
When you think about free gaming, you may imagine the Nokia snake, or Candy Crush Saga-esque games. Whilst there are plenty of these out there, there are also some pretty impressive options that are hard to distinguish from their Xbox and PlayStation counterparts. It is 2019, and there are more people than you can imagine developing free-to-play games. But which high quality games can you play for free?
- Fortnite Battle Royale
The first free game that we all think about is Fortnite Battle Royale, and it’s for good reason. This isn’t just gaming, it’s a huge part of popular culture, and for a long period of time we all knew somebody who was playing Fortnite (and reaping the benefits of not having to spend a penny). The best Battle Royale game around, the idea is to survive for as long as possible and collect the right weapons to allow you to do so. With just about everybody else being on board, it’s certainly worth a try.
- Pokemon Go
Another game that we’ve all heard of – and most of us have played at some point – is Pokemon Go. Available on iOS and Android, players walk around their local (or non-local) communities seeking Pokemon creatures and attacking or defending gyms. Whilst you can buy extras, you don’t have to splash any cash to get your hands on the game, and with it improving every year, it’s a worthwhile addition to your freebie collection.
Another free game, League of Legends is an option for those looking to embark on a fun gaming session without the price tag. An online battle arena game that was created for Windows and Mac OS, players are transported into a fantasy world that they won’t want to escape anytime soon. If you’re looking for something a little bit more surreal, but with the same battle-type feel, this is certainly one to add to your list.
It’s good for your wallet
Of course, the main benefit of free-to-play games is that you don’t need to splash out if you want to enjoy first-class, popular gaming. Whatever you have on your Christmas list, from personalized number plates to that much-needed trip abroad, you can use the cash that you would have spent on gaming to treat yourself to something else. And that’s the best thing about all of this, right? We definitely think that these things are more enjoyable when you know that they’re not costing you the earth.
There are a lot more players
One of the major benefits of free-to-play games is that they’re accessible to pretty much everybody. All you need is an internet connection (sometimes not even that) and the concentration required to make sure that you’re not defeated by your enemies, and you’re good to go. This means that there are a lot more players out there, with Fortnite Battle Royale boasting an impressive 250 million people going to (virtual) battle since the game was produced. That’s over two thirds of the size of the entire US population!
But… those who can afford upgrades may have an advantage
Though free games do generally make it easier for everybody to get involved in the world of gaming, it is – in some cases – true that those who can pay for upgrades are given an unfair advantage over others. If you can’t afford to spend a bit of extra cash here (or you simply don’t want to) then you could find that some people are winning just because they’re opting for the in-game purchases to boost their chances. Whilst this isn’t always the case, it’s certainly something to be aware of.
In a nutshell…
Free-to-play games have revolutionized gaming, and allow for all of the excitement of traditional games without the hefty price tag. With various high quality choices out there that are accessible to all – and that boast a lot of players – there are many reasons to try out some of these games before you reach for your wallet. Just make sure that you’re not missing out because of the upgrades that others are buying! Happy gaming!
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