We bring you a list with the best free games for PC, Steam, Epic Games Store and more of this 2020. We explain how and where to play them and much more.
You may have seen this report on the Meristation pages and have been encouraged to enter, but most likely you are here because one idle afternoon you have searched the search engine for “free games” and (fortunately) you have landed here. In any case, apart from welcoming you, we want to offer you something a bit different. Almost all video game magazines have free game reports (this same magazine has in fact published several over the years) it is a popular topic that always arouses interest and curiosity in a wide range of veteran and new players. But most reports of this type are limited to releasing a more or less long stream of names -almost all the same-, with a description, and that’s it. Without detracting from the work that these texts carry and their usefulness to thousands of readers, we want to do something different with this article.
We will give some proper names, yes, but in addition to that we will explain the different alternatives that the PC player has to play for free, the places of reference, the differences between the paid models and, in short, we will not only leave a list of names, we are also going to “teach how to fish”, leaving the means for the reader to start their own search for free games and find what they are looking for, since the alternatives are many and go beyond Fortnite or the DOTA on duty.
“Free” does not mean the same everywhere
For those who are brand new and unfamiliar with this topic, some basic notions. The first thing is that, yes, with a computer you can play thousands of games completely free (legally). But there are different types of “free” that could be classified by their English name: “Free to Play”, “Pay What You Want” and “Free”. The “Free to Play” or “F2P” are games that you can play for free, but that have payment options, either to access certain content, to unlock characters or skins, or to progress faster, depending on of the game and its model, which is something that must be investigated well before investing a lot of time in it. The “Pay What You Want” are titles with voluntary payment of an indie and experimental cut, made by developers who are learning, experimenting or who simply wanted to embark on a small and fast project, without all the baggage that comes to the market; They are completely free but, optionally, if you are very satisfied with the experience or just think they deserve it, you can leave them a tip for the work done. In the third category are the “free” or freeware games, free games without more, which can be titles that their creators have left for free for any reason – search for notoriety for future projects, love of art … – or games that were of payment in the past but that now its managers leave as free when understanding that its commercial cycle has ended.
Doom was the great flag of the shareware movement
They are not the only alternatives to play for free on PC. In the past, what came to be known as “shareware” became very popular, codes that were distributed for free with a portion of the game available and that left the possibility of unlocking the full game by payment if the interested party had enjoyed the experience; Classics like Doom were born as part of this phenomenon. Its current equivalent would be in some MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV, which allow you to play for free with up to a certain level before starting to ask for a monthly fee to continue. Then there are the demos, very popular a few years ago even for large productions, but now they have remained in a smaller role – although they remain an interesting alternative to try a great variety of modest productions. And finally there is the most current iteration of the demo, which are limited in time and do include more commercial games and multiplayer in nature – on Steam there are usually one or more of these temporary demos every weekend. In any case, remember that in the demos chapter, during these days you can access Steam to be able to play different games that will be available in a limited way on games that will arrive soon. This is the case of the Windjammers 2 demo, which is available until June 22, but more will be published during these summer days. The best way to access this type of content is to be attentive to the news that is announced in the different related events that are coming out during these weeks.
The most popular free PC games
These are some of the most played and popular free games of the moment, with those names well known by many but that should be kept in mind for new readers who join and want to know immediate options.
Fortnite: Battle Royale
- To play
A true phenomenon that brings together millions of players and spectators every week. Fortnite is actually made up of two parts: Save the World, the original paid concept, which is a mix between team shooter and Minecraft, and Battle Royale, which is the free part (already played by the vast majority of the user base), which is a 100-player free-for-all in which the goal is to be the sole survivor. Its carefree tone, its dynamism, how easy it is to start playing and the great flexibility that the construction system provides are some of the features that distinguish it from the rest. The Battle Royale mode is, as we said, free with purely aesthetic micro-payments.
League of Legends
- To play
The game that unleashed the MOBA fever, taking advantage of the popularity of the Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III and reinterpreting its ideas to bring them to the general public. From that root, a game with a global reach has been born, whose world and characters continue to constantly expand conceptual and aesthetic. It’s a demanding game to start with, as you team up with four other players and face off against five others, choosing from a wide range of characters with unique abilities, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities, details to learn, and the own pace of battle. Of course, once inside, it is a title that leaves you trapped for years. It is free and you can play for years without paying a euro, but you have to accumulate “blue essence” ingame, or pay, if you want to play with a specific champion. The selection of free champions is changing and it is perfectly functional to play with them, but to be able to choose you need time or the fast way to pay.
DOTA 2
- To play
IceFrog, one of the main creatives behind the Defense of the Ancients mod, signed on with Valve to create DOTA 2, League of Legends’ great rival in the MOBA genre and the more established alternative to it. The concept is the same: two teams of five facing each other on a map, with the aim of destroying the rival defenses and destroying their base. It is even more complex than its rival, more strategic and with many concepts that must be learned to be competitive, but equally irresistible once it is mastered and you have a stable team to play with. Unlike LOL, in DOTA 2 and you can access any champion among the 117 out there without putting money, paying a monthly subscription has certain advantages such as access to the paid amateur tournament Battle Cup and a game assistant that can mark the difference when making good decisions in your game and trajectory – it is not essential at all, but if you are clear that you are going to play DOTA 2 for a long time, it can be a useful service.
SMITE
- To play
Dota 2 and League of Legends are the two great alternatives within the MOBA / ARTS, but they are not the only ones. SMITE has managed to gain a niche by betting on its own values that make it a solid and sufficiently independent alternative. A different camera and control system, more focused on giving direct action to the player, give the title a different personality compared to the quasi RTS action of the previous two. It is also more colorful and spectacular, with great powers displayed by the protagonist gods in the fighting. The game follows a model similar to that of LOL, with a “free rotation” that allows us to play for free with a part of the squad, as well as the possibility of paying to get direct access to all the characters.
Hearthstone
- To play
Blizzard surprised with its intense card game, a benchmark in the genre. Fast, sometimes fleeting games that always leave you wanting “one more”, a multitude of possibilities to configure your deck, a style of play in which the right card at the right time can change the course of the game – although virtue this is debatable among the most advanced players-, and an effective presentation on both PC and tablets. A player can advance reasonably without paying, but those who pay can complete decks earlier, have more options, and access the latest strategies faster than those who do not. But at the same time, many of the most powerful decks historically are made up of cards that are quite accessible playing for free – with a few exceptions. So it is an open debate, although everyone can agree that to start and thinking about a casual game, it is a title that can be considered free.
World of tanks
- To play
Another classic played by millions of users is the Wargaming title, which continues to be as topical as ever – accompanied in addition to its “cousins” World of Warplanes and World of Warships. This F2P goes through a fast, immediate accessible and fun formula, with a large number of tanks of different types at our disposal with which to compete in tense battles against other players. In addition, although it does not have the pretense of a simulator, it includes a certain attraction for lovers of war history because it includes locations and tanks typical of World War II. With money you can unlock “premium” tanks, buy equipment and special ammunition that give you, technically, an advantage over other players, but none of that will give you a victory against a veteran player, or that is the theory at least.
Warframe
- To play
Another F2P that is very worth trying is this futuristic action title in which we handle what can be defined as “space cyber-ninjas”, performing solo or cooperative missions against enemies controlled by the AI. We have a wide variety of classes with different abilities, but characterized by their great agility that allows us to walk on walls, slide and perform all kinds of pirouettes to avoid enemies or dodge their attacks, a characteristic that gives it a distinctive air of the front. to other shooters more focused on shooting. With a very effective aesthetic and a very considerable amount of ever-growing content, Warframe is a different and high-quality game that can keep us entertained for dozens of hours.
Destiny 2
- To play
Destiny 2’s move to a base F2P model is great news for all those who are looking for a quality shooter to play in their spare hours. With the Bungie seal, which guarantees polished and fun action, Destiny 2 offers a wealth of content, an interesting story told at the level expected of a AAA, very high production values and extensive possibilities of play both solo. , competitive or competitive. If you decide that the base experience has convinced you, you can decide to purchase the expansions: Forsaken and Shadowkeep, which are paid.
Dauntless
- To play
Clearly inspired by Monster Hunter, Dauntless is an F2P alternative to Capcom’s game cut under a similar pattern: a group of player-driven hunters against a large and powerful creature. With each completed hunt we will have more resources with which to continue advancing and progressing, opening different styles of combat depending on our equipment. It also has the advantage that it is crossplay with practically all systems -including mobiles in the near future- so it is easier to be able to play with your group in any circumstance.
Path of Exile
- To play
The game that, for many, has managed to dethrone Diablo from the top of the genre. Path of Exile is an F2P developed by fans of the genre, and it shows. It captures like no other that essence of Diablo II that Blizzard itself missed in its sequel, it has a huge amount of content, a huge development tree and a payment model that can be considered “fair” and that does not prevent you from enjoying it without putting a euro. In addition to the large amount of content it already has, Path of Exile 2 will arrive in the future, as part of the same game and with a new campaign, also free. A true jewel that represents the best of the Free to Play model and a must for ARPG lovers.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- To play
The umpteenth recreation of the Star Wars universe, in turn second attempt to bring it to the terrain of the persistent worlds, takes us back to the years of the Old Republic and the wars between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Bioware has been in charge of putting into practice what was learned with the two Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic installments, initially responsible for the idea being carried out. Star Wars: The Old Republic allows us to create a character choosing between several different species and visits dozens of planets in personalized stories for each of the roles, with partners to talk with and decisions to make. The free content is very generous, it can be played alone without major problems and the story holds great moments (the only downside is that it is not translated into Spanish, so you have to know English to enjoy it).
Paladins
- To play
For those looking for an F2P alternative to Overwatch, Paladins is one of the most obvious options. A 5vs5 team hero-shooter with several game modes, more than 40 champions to choose from with their own abilities and a game system that is quite friendly for the player who wants to play for free – yes, you can pay to unlock all the champions present and future at a stroke, and to obtain a Season Pass with exclusive resources and skins.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
- To play
Almost two decades after Counter Strike dominated Internet cafes around the world, the game remains extremely popular thanks to the strategy of making it F2P, which catapulted it to become the most played title on Steam today, with numbers. constants that touch one million concurrent users. Being such an established game, the introductory experience can be complicated and requires patience, time and dedication before you can feel that you are doing something relevant – for this, as in any team multiplayer game, it is always better to go with friends- . The game is free, but by paying you access games with other paying users and various extras in the form of skins and objects.
Roblox
- To play
With more than 90 million active users, Roblox is usually less present on video game pages than, for example, Fortnite (which has a similar number of users), probably due to its chaotic nature, which is also what gives it its charm. Roblox is not really a game, there are many, an infinity of them, it is a shared engine in which the most creative can devise their own worlds and games, ranging from small spaces to simply be and chat with friends to ambitious simulations of all kinds. There are all kinds of bets, Battle Royales, mini-GTAs, things like (unofficial) Dragon Ball games and endless options, although each game may have individual payment options if it has reached a certain popularity.
Dungeon Fighter Online
- To play
One of the most popular multiplayer games in the world, DFO is a brawler in the style of Final Fight or Street of Rage, but under an MMO progression system, which makes it have a wide variety of characters, classes, subclasses and skills. It has the advantage of a certain immediacy over other F2P MMOs, since the approach is quite straightforward and has a long way to go once you begin to delve into the story. It has a PVP, cooperative mode and a payment system that will give you exclusive items, help with progression and get powerful items before non-paying players. As usually happens in this kind of games, it is a matter of spending money or being patient, it all depends on the priorities of each one. The game is available on Steam, but direct use is advised.
Apex legends
- To play
The F2P of Electronic Arts and Respawn is the bet of the great software giant not to be left behind compared to other alternatives in the popular Battle Royale genre. With a more serious and focused cut than Fortnite, Apex is popular with those who want to play a shooter with some foundation against the chaotic games of the festive Epic title. Its payment model focuses on cosmetic elements for characters and weapons, loading screens, music and other elements that can be acquired either through battle pass or through microtransactions, so there are no competitive advantages compared to players who do not wish to pay. .
Call of Duty: Warzone
- To play
The very popular Call of Duty had made inroads into the world of Battle Royale before, but Warzone is the main assault: a completely free and independent game, without dependence on buying other games, crossplay between PC, PS4 and Xbox One and 150 players spread over a huge map, but with the clear spirit of Modern Warfare in its gameplay and staging. A new weighty alternative in the F2P scene.
Valorant
- All about Valorant
What’s new from the creators of League of Legends aims very high, presenting record numbers in its early days. This reformulation of Counter Strike combined with elements of hero shooter is a return to the tactical and cerebral shooter, with a clear and evident vocation to become a reference esport that is already free for any player who dares with his demanding bet .
Team Fortress 2
- To play
Valve’s classic shooter has been with us for so long that it is taken for granted but it is still one of the most regularly played games on Steam and is still a suitable option for all kinds of players thanks to its nine different classes and a large amount of content free and paid with which to customize your experience both aesthetically and playably. Some veteran players may argue that the game needs some major changes, or a sequel directly, but for the new player, Team Fortress 2 is a world to discover, with an active community to accompany it (and without the initial demand from others. games like Counter Strike).
Brawlhalla
- To play
The closest thing to a Super Smash Bros in F2P and multiplatform model. Baptized as a “fighting and platform game” in the always hard work of classifying titles into genres, the truth is that Brawlhalla is very popular for two fundamental elements: as a game it is very complete; it has a host of game modes, a good competitive scene, and a nice difficulty curve where anyone can start without feeling useless. Further. The other element is an uncomplicated F2P model: the free game incorporates a limited number of characters in rotation each week and you can pay or accumulate points in-game to have access to more or for aesthetic changes in them, in a similar way to League of Legends. It is also one of the few free fighting alternatives and can be played both offline with friends / family and online against players from all platforms.
War thunder
- To play
Lovers of war machinery have in War Thunder a good alternative with which to unleash their fantasies. Collecting vehicles from WWII to the Cold War, Gaijin Entertianment’s game spans planes, tanks, and ships of different forces and eras. It has good graphics, excellent models of war machines, is playable well, has a wide variety of modes and an expansive community thanks to its crossplay between different platforms, but the first hours with it will be difficult and the pace of progression will be slow. paying is very frustrating – a long time to unlock not just a vehicle, but a module for it that makes it moderately competitive against other players. The best thing is to try it for yourself and have a little patience to see if it may interest you.
Dead or Alive 6
- Play DOA 6
One of the great references in the world of fighting found a new life when it embraced the F2P model. We can download and play a basic version called Core, with four characters and several game modes. From there there are different options to increase your range of characters and costumes, although for a price that is sometimes a bit disconcerting and clearly designed for players who have a pain in their hands. But, to test and take a few hours, the core version does its job.
Killer Instinct
- Play Killer Instinct for free
It seems far away, but Killer Instinct was one of the exclusive standard bearers of the current Xbox One, resulting in a good fighting game that lacked the critical mass of players to be able to succeed. Far from giving up and adopting Microsoft’s new strategy of treating the PC and Xbox as part of the same family, the original Rare reinvention of the game had two sides: character expansion and improvements on the one hand; Launch a free version by another to increase its popularity. Playing this version, without multiplayer, requires Xbox Live and is part of the Play Anywhere seal, so it is playable from PC or console. To enjoy the complete pack, the Definitive Edition, you can pay € 39.99 or have the recommended Game Pass, of which it is a permanent part.
SoulWorker
- Play SoulWalker for free
If you like anime aesthetics and want to enjoy a hack’n slash with online elements, SoulWalker can be a great alternative to play alone or with friends thanks to its cooperative groups of four. It has an interesting story and a combat system that is not limited to mashing buttons or always making the same attacks without thinking, requiring some precision to perform well -although that does not mean that it has its part of grinding, as is expected of a Korean game by now.
Genshin Impact
- To play
We are loving it. It is free, it has a lot of content, its world is exciting and, in short, it is not so similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The new MiHoYo is called to be one of the most popular free to play in recent years, a free ‘gacha’ game available on PS4, iOS, Android and computer that bases its gameplay on the exploration of huge scenarios with a system of JRPG combat in real time. All the options that its gameplay offers us, both in exploration and in story and character development, or how well planned its map is, compensates for the fact that it is a game with microtransactions (not abusive, for the moment). Of course, sometimes it can be uphill having to grind too much.
Garena Free Fire
- Play (with Bluestack)
Free Fire is one of those games that is incredibly popular in certain parts of the world and completely unknown in others, but globally it is one of the most played games on the planet with a peak of 100 million users. His presence is such that it has even been allowed to include the figure of a “cyberpunk” Cristiano Ronaldo as a brand image and game skin, which is said soon. It is a Battle Royale that conceptually competes with Fortnite with some virtues of its own, such as the fact that it has very low requirements and can work on a very wide range of devices. Its natural habitat is on Android and iOS mobiles, but we can play it on PC using the legal Android BlueStacks emulator.
Among us
- Play (with Bluestack)
Although Among Us in its native version on PC is paid (although it is very cheap) and we recommend that version for convenience, if you want to test what the multiplayer sensation of the year is about, you can do it by emulating the F2P version of Android using Bluestack. The developers get paid out there through advertising and ingame purchases so they are delighted that you play it one way or another.
Plus? Much more
These are just some of the most popular names, but there are many other alternatives that we will try to review in a more summarized way, in order to have a broader perspective of what you can find.
Card games and strategy F2P
We have mentioned Hearthstone as one of the more established card game options, but there are other options. The most obvious is the recent Legends of Runeterra, Riot’s League of Legends-based card game that is starting to go into open beta. If we want to play the father of all, we have the F2P option of Magic The Gathering Arena, a game that drinks from the classic card title and one of the richest and most complete options that exist, although those who do not want to pay have a long way to go. ahead before you have truly powerful decks. Also a solid and powerful option is Gwent, the precious F2P card game set in the universe of The Witcher that offers its own rhythm and mechanics that make it a good alternative.
There are many other proposals. For example, lovers of anime aesthetics have Shadowverse, the card game from the house of Granblue Fantasy, which comes with beautiful art and a very well measured game, generous with players who do not want to invest money – although we will always have some frustrating clashes with opponents with loaded decks – and an engaging campaign that guarantees a good time even if you have no intention of competing. Also with a remarkable campaign would be Hex, another game that is a good option to spend a few hours entertaining alone, although not to invest time in its multiplayer. We also do not want to forget The Elder Scrolls Legends, a good card game based on the Oblivion and Skyrim universe, but for which, unfortunately, there will be no new content in the future, which does not prevent you from enjoying the content you already have. . And, as a final alternative, we can target Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, a very solid, clear and enjoyable version of Konami’s card game, with a very active community and a fairly reasonable free progression (although, as usual, to advance faster you have to pay), in addition to having the plus of the characters and the setting of the classic manganime.
Outside the cards, the two most obvious and popular options are the so-called “auto chess”, an offshoot of the MOBA (League of Legends, DOTA2) that combines elements of chess with the mechanics of this class of games, resulting in an experience deep and with endless possibilities, which can also be enjoyed playing alone (they are individual duels, not by teams like the matrix games). The two references in this recently invented subgenre are Teamfight Tactics (TFT), which would be the game based on LOL, and DOTA Underlords, based on Valve’s game. Both are free, they have similarities and differences, but they propose a long-lasting kind of game, which can occupy our free time for months.
Trading games that are now free
In the previous section we have failed to mention another proposal, but which is also perfect to illustrate this point: Starcraft 2. RTS may have lost popularity compared to yesteryear, but Blizzard’s game is surely one of the best ever made. and now you can play a good portion of it for free. The first of the three campaigns, Wings of Liberty, is available to anyone, an excellent alternative to enjoy a great campaign of real-time strategy (game of the year in Meristation). Continuing with the other two campaigns already requires payment, but it is a good example of what we explain in this category: titles that were originally paid but that for one reason or another can now be played for free.
Otro RTS clásico completamente gratuito es Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, que además puede ser jugado online gracias al trabajo de la comunidad cncnet. Otra opción atractiva es The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, el abuelo de Skyrim y un gran RPG por derecho propio, aunque requerirá un esfuerzo por adaptarse a las mecánicas de antaño. En GOG, la tienda digital que oferta juegos sin DRM, podremos encontrar un listado de clásicos disponibles para cualquiera que se cree una cuenta, incluyendo tres muy recomendables para los amantes de la aventura gráfica: Beneath of a Steel Sky, Lure of the Temptress y Flight of the Amazon Queen, que comparten espacio con el shoot’em up Tyrian 2000, el excelente FPS Shadow Warrior o varias entregas y spinoff de la saga Ultima, entre otras opciones.
MMO F2P
Anteriormente hemos hablado de World of Warcraft y Final Fantasy XIV, que tienen periodo de prueba gratuita limitado pero no se pueden considerar “gratuitos”, y de The Old Republic o Dungeon Fighter Online, que sí son F2P. Pero hay muchas otras opciones de calidad si te atrae la idea del juego online permanente, ya que la gran mayoría de los que están en el mercado en la actualidad siguen este modelo, con más o menos éxito pero sin cuotas mensuales ni pagos iniciales obligatorios. Entre los mejores podemos encontrar Guild Wars 2, un título de gran calidad con una gran cantidad de contenido, excelentes valores de producción y una buena alternativa a los mejores del género. Si eres fan de Star Trek o de El Señor de los Anillos, hay también dos buenas opciones en este espacio.
Desde Corea tenemos una amplia variedad de títulos persistentes, con diferentes sabores y fortalezas, entre los que destacamos a Blade and Soul, con un sistema de combate más dinámico que la media, muy vistoso gracias a su arte, con una magnífica banda sonora y una temática de artes marciales muy vistosa. Tera es otra opción popular y establecida, con unos servidores activos y una notable comunidad hispana. Fuera del país asiático y por completar este repaso, mencionaremos tres nombres: Runescape, un MMO atemporal que ha sabido renovarse a lo largo de casi 20 décadas; Eve Online, el gran sandbox espacial y uno de los juegos más fascinantes que existen por sus épicos conflictos PVP, que puede ser jugado de forma gratuita (aceptando limitaciones en la progresión); y por último, el ejemplo más reciente: Albion Online, un MMO F2P sandbox muy interesante y completo, cuya mayor pega es la falta de servidores europeos y los problemas que eso origina en PVP para los jugadores fuera de USA.
Roguelikes
Un reportaje sobre juegos gratuitos no estaría completo sin un género que ha dado incontables horas de juego gratis a millones de aficionados a todo el mundo. Creados por aficionados pero con una influencia masiva en la historia del videojuego: sumamente aleatorios, profundos, difíciles y rejugables en extremo. Son los RPGs primigenios, cuya influencia llega a nuestros días, desde la creación de Diablo a la incontable cantidad de roguelikes y roguelites que se pueden encontrar en nuestros días.
No es el género más accesible que existe y el hecho de que usen gráficos generalmente ASCII hace que sean duros a la vista, pero una vez que entiendes sus posibilidades son juegos que pueden dar cientos y miles de horas de diversión. Entre los más populares está TOME, anteriormente conocido como Tales of the Middle Earth y que posteriormente se tuvo que transformar en Tales of Maj’Eyal, un masivo RPG aleatorio con un mundo gigantesco, rico en lore, multitud de clases y un sistema táctico profundo que hace que cada incursión sea un reto (tiene una versión de pago con gráficos más agradables pero la versión base es y será siempre gratuita, con un trabajo acumulado que abarca casi dos décadas de continuado desarrollo y creación. Otros nombres propios son Nethack, DCSS, CDDA o UnReal World (que tambi’en tiene versión de pago en Steam), todos con sus propias características, capaces de funcionar en cualquier ordenador y sistema operativo.
Y, por supuesto, qué decir de Dwarf Fortress, un juego tan importante que fue expuesto en el museo de arte metropolitano de Nueva York. Toda una vida dedicada a un juego en el que cada partida supone la creación de un mundo, con su historia, su propia mitología, sus naciones que crecen y caen, sus guerras, desgracias y milagros. Un título que ha dado millones de anécdotas, con una simulación tan demencialmente detallada que simula aspectos corporales independientes de las criaturas vivas que lo habitan y toda clase de comportamientos, estados de humor e interacciones, independientes del jugador. Tanto en el modo fortaleza, en el que deberemos construir una fortaleza enana, gestionarla y lograr que prospere -o fracasar espectacularmente en el intento- o en el modo aventura, en el que encarnamos a un solitario protagonista en un vasto mundo, Dwarf Fortress es un juego total, en constante evolución y que sería capaz de entretenernos una vida si sólo pudiéramos jugar en él. En el futuro tendrá una versión de pago con gráficos y un interfaz más accesible, pero hay opciones competentes para empezar a jugar y, una vez dominados algunos conceptos, se hace simplemente irresistible.
“Paga lo que quieras”
Al margen de los grandes juegos F2P, una manera de jugar gratis a incontables títulos lo encontramos en la comunidad indie reunida alrededor de itchi.o. Podría parecer que Itchi es otra tienda digital, como Steam o GOG, pero además de vender juegos sirve como punto de reunión para la comunidad más independiente, la que hace juegos por aprendizaje, diversión o competición a través de las múltiples jams que se celebran al año -torneos en el que hay que crear juegos en una cantidad limitada de tiempo y competir con otros proyectos-. Estos juegos, muchos destacables, se encuentran normalmente alojados en este servicio y se pueden encontrar verdaderas joyas a poco que le dediques un poco de tiempo. Simplemente hay que ir a la sección de juegos gratis y empezar a explorar las distintas categorías a través de los tags, que te permitirá explorar por géneros, popularidad, tiempo o incluso presentarte juegos de forma aleatoria. Una vez en la página dedicada al título, tendrás una descripción y un botón de “Download Now”, en el que podrás poner una cantidad de dinero voluntaria para el autor o pulsar en “No, thanks” para descargar el juego directamente (aunque si, a posteriori, resulta que un juego en particular te ha gustado mucho, nunca está de más volver para dejar esa propina).
Otras alternativas
Por último, por repasar todas las opciones, hay algunas alternativas más que merecen consideración. Por ejemplo, en Archive.org hay un fantástico repositorio de juegos de MS-DOS que se pueden jugar directamente desde el navegador, incluyendo grandes juegos de siempre como Prince of Persia, Sim City, The Oregon Trail o The Secret of the Monkey Island, funcionando desde el navegador con sólo pulsar un click. En Steam hay una categoría de juegos gratis en la que se juntan más de 3000 F2P y títulos completamente gratuitos -algunos excelentes como el reciente Star Fetchers-. La tienda de Epic reparte juegos gratuitos cada semana sólo por tener una cuenta. Y no nos olvidemos de las demos, más de 3000 disponibles en su categoría dentro de Steam, que es también otra manera de disfrutar de horas de contenido gratuito – y, de paso, conocer algún juego que te pueda interesar para el futuro-. También merece mención el proyecto Flashpoint, un intento de preservar más de 38.000 juegos creados para el formato Flash en navegador, en riesgo de perderse por la retirada de ese formato, una librería demencial entre la que se pueden encontrar horas de diversión.
Conclusión
Con el tiempo iremos actualizando este reportaje para añadir novedades relevantes, pero después de todo este repaso, esperamos que el mensaje quede patente: hay ilimitadas posibilidades de jugar gratis en esta plataforma, de experimentar, de descubrir y de contribuir a una comunidad creativa que está siempre activa. Como usuarios, no podemos más que estar agradecidos y valorar toda la gigantesca oferta que tenemos a nuestra disposición. Sólo hace falta un poco de interés para descubrir el juego apropiado para cada uno.
