The best free games on the PS4
A few weeks ago, we went through and picked out twenty of the best free and free-to-play PC games available. After a few days of full-on F2P immersion, we started thinking about free games on other platforms. After all, the free-to-play model has expanded well beyond the PC and it’s now an important part of the gaming ecosystem.
The selection of free-to-play games on the PS4 is no where near as vast as the selection on the PC, but that’s to be expected. That business model is still relatively new to consoles, and the PS4 itself is still less than a year old. Even so, there are still plenty of good times to be had without opening up your wallet.
To get started, I went to PSN, and downloaded all six of the free-to-play games available. After a few dozen gigs trickled slowly into my console, I was ready to go. I explored all of the free-to-play goodness to get a feel for the value proposition, and I captured some footage on the PS4 itself while I was at it. Embedded above is a short video I made to show off what you can expect from these games, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you see. None of these titles could be described as breathtaking, but I was happy to see how polished these games look despite their price tags.
Blacklight: Retribution
If you’re in the market for a first-person shooter on your new console, you need to download Blacklight Retribution right away. With persistent unlocks, character levels, and customizable load-outs, this is very similar to the Call of Duties of the world. The biggest difference? You don’t have to pay a dime to play Blacklight. Sure, you can buy guns and XP boosts with real money, but the core gameplay is completely free. If you’re on the fence about investing in the same old franchises this year, give this a go before you drop $60 on something you might hate.
DC Universe Online
How about something a little more exotic? DC Universe Online is a full-scale MMORPG that’s designed from the ground-up to work on a console. The game originally came out on the PC and PS3, but the PS4 release brings this comic book-themed MMO to a whole new audience. Unsurprisingly, Sony offers plenty of convenience perks and content packs in the cash shop, but that’s only needed for serious enthusiasts. If you just want to jump in, and play the part of your own custom super hero, DC Universe Online has a lot to offer for thrifty gamers.
The Pinball Arcade
Ever wanted to own your very own pinball table? What about every major pinball table from your youth? Well, you probably don’t have enough room in your house for the real machines, but the Pinball Arcade does an outstanding job of replicating real-world pinball tables on the PS4. You can try out any table up until you reach the first high score, but after that, you’ll need to pony up some cold, hard cash. Still, Tales of the Arabian Nights comes for free as a completely unlocked table, so casual pinball players will have more than enough content to keep themselves busy.
War Thunder
If you’re a huge history nut, you’ll probably get a lot out of War Thunder. This free-to-play title lets you take part in massive online battles set during World War II and the Korean War. Using era-appropriate tanks and airplanes, you work together with your brothers in arms to defeat the enemy by ground or by air. If you find yourself itching for even more tactical warfare, you can spend real money on the expansion packs. Single player campaigns, in-game currency, specific tanks, and specific aircraft can all be purchased on PSN, but don’t let that scare you away. There’s plenty of content available for free in War Thunder. Just jump in, and start fighting the good fight.
Warframe
Prefer playing third-person shooters like Gears of War or Mass Effect? Well, Warframe is a quintessential sci-fi shooter, and it’s free-to-play to boot. Join up with friends, or match up with other random players, and explore the surprisingly detailed universe of Warframe. You can spend anywhere between $5 and $150 a pop on PSN for in-game currency and convenience items, but none of that is necessary. The entire game is focused on cooperative play, so you won’t ever be in a head-to-head situation with a player willing to drop a Benjamin on super-powered gear.
Zen Pinball 2
Another F2P pinball game? Yes, but this is a very different experience from that of the Pinball Arcade. Instead of faithfully recreating classic pinball tables of yore, Zen Pinball 2 is all about new virtual pinball tables based on your favorite franchises. From Star Wars to Street Fighter to Plants Vs. Zombies, Zen Pinball 2 is packed with dozens of unique tables to choose from. Sorcerer’s Lair is completely unlocked for all players, and other tables can be demoed for free. But if you want the full experience, you’ll need to whip out your credit card.Free-to-PlayStation
With the exception of Infamous: Second Son and Destiny, there hasn’t exactly been a flood of noteworthy games coming out for the PS4 this year. Thankfully, the combination of these free-to-play games and the two monthly PlayStation Plus freebies are enough to keep things interesting between the big releases.If you haven’t been taking advantage of these free games, you’ve definitely been missing out. Take a few of these titles for a spin, and I promise you’ll find yourself turning on your PS4 much more regularly.
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