The Xbox One was released back in 2013, and games have regularly come out for the system since. So, by this point, there is an abundance of titles to play on the console. Most of them require your money to play, but not all of them.
The Xbox One has a healthy collection of free-to-play games for those who want to have fun while saving money. And this isn't referring to the temporary Games With Gold ones. The titles in question are free to download at any point in time. Yet, they aren't all winners. Therefore, to get an idea of what the best free games are, here are the greatest ones according to Metacritic.
Games that only offer one episode or only a little of its content for free aren't eligible.
Updated November 9, 2022 By Ben Jessey: There are a litany of Xbox One games out there spanning all different genres. But most of them ask you to hand over your hard-earned money to play them. Thankfully, that's not the case for every game on the system, though. There is also a collection of enjoyable titles that you can download for free.
When we created this list, we put the best free-to-play games on it, and ranked them according to their scores on Metacritic. Now, we've added some more that have either came along since or were missed previously.
13 World of Tanks - Metascore: 76
Released in 2010, World of Tanks is one of the most successful vehicular combat multiplayer titles of all time. The first of Wargaming's trilogy is still going strong today, with regular updates and events to keep the experience new and exciting. Players take control of individual tanks, tasked with either destroying all of the opposition or taking control of the enemy base, depending on the gamemode.
You can sit back and fire from a long distance, or roll gung-ho into the opposition's area for close-quarters combat, whichever you find more fun. The game's progression system allows you to unlock better tanks the more you play, with over 600 total tanks available to unlock, all based on their real-life counterparts.
12 Call of Duty: Warzone - Metascore: 78
Most Call of Duty games aren't available for free, but the battle royale known as Warzone is the exception. The premise is simple, you pit yourself against 149 other gamers around the world, across multiple platforms, in a battle where only one remains.
This game appeals to players who prefer team games as well, with a Plunder gamemode consisting of 34 teams of 3. Warzone keeps things interesting by regularly cycling in new temporary multiplayer gamemodes, so the combat won't run dry. It may not be your cup of tea, but if you love the franchise or the genre, there's no sense in not giving this free game a chance.
11 War Thunder - Metascore: 80
Gaijin Entertainment's War Thunder is a cross-platform vehicular combat game, released in late 2016. The title won numerous awards during its beta in 2013, including the Best Simulation Game award at Gamescom, and the Best Game aware from KRI. War Thunder combines the three mediums of war on Earth: land, air, and sea combat to create a realistic war experience with a little something for everyone.
Gamemodes vary in realism from the very simplistic Arcade Battles for casual players, to the hyper-realistic Simulator and Realistic Battles for more experienced players, where respawns don't exist, players don't have unlimited ammunition, and camera angles are restricted to only what the militants would actually be able to see.
10 SMITE - Metascore: 80
One of the hottest, most competitive MOBAs available now, Titan Forge's SMITE can be purchases for the low, low price of absolutely nothing. Players control Gods and Goddesses in third-person, 5v5 battle arena combat, with 111 unique characters to choose from, with many new additions being made regularly.
Players looking to unlock and reach the Ultimate Prestige for every God will be kept occupied for many hundreds of hours in fast-paced arena action. SMITE's battle format is atypical in the MOBA genre, making for a unique general experience, while the numerous possibilities of God match-ups make for a different 30-40 minute experience every match.
9 World of Warships: Legends - Metascore: 82
Wargaming's follow-up to the massively successful World of Tanks and World of Warplanes, World of Warships takes the combat to the sea with PvP and PvE combat. World of Warships is a much slower-paced shooter than many modern multiplayer titles, so gamers looking for a casual low-intensity title to relieve stress need to look no further than this.
Players can control destroyers, battleships, and cruisers, all based on real warships from the early to mid-20th century, perfect for players with an interest in war history. Numerous challenges and campaign missions bring a plethora of unique experiences and stories to the game, to keep players engaged at length.
8 Dauntless - Metascore: 82
Phoenix Labs' action-RPG, Dauntless takes place in a post-cataclysmic world that has been overrun by a breed of creatures called Behemoths, which prey on human beings. Players control Slayers, humans who live amongst the Shattered Isles, the floating islands that remain of their destroyed worlds, drifting through endless space. The game appeals to both fans of single-player and cooperative play, allowing up to four gamers to play together across multiple platforms.
Teamwork is key, as Dauntless' third-person combat is designed for those who strategize, and will not take it easy on button-mashers. Players must learn to properly combat Behemoth attacks, learn their moves and patterns and strategically take out monsters with well-executed combo attacks to avoid becoming ground beef.
7 Path of Exile - Metascore: 83
Path of Exile is one of the best action RPGs available on the Xbox One console. Developed by Grinding Gears Games, the title throws players into randomly generated worlds, packed with numerous quests and landmarks.
The central encampments of the game can be freely explored by all players on a server. However, the outer areas are unique to each player or party, allowing players to explore and battle without the worry of outsiders intervening in their adventures or stealing their loot.
6 PUBG: Battlegrounds - Metascore: 85
When it comes to free-to-play games, battle royales are usually among the most well-received. So, it's only fitting PUBG is one of the best-reviewed free games, as it really helped popularize the battle royale genre. In fact, it was one of the first of its kind and set the template for others to follow.
That said template involves dropping a bunch of players onto an island and having them fight to the death. Or at least that's the principle - you can also spend most of your time hiding instead of fighting.
5 Fortnite Battle Royale - Metascore: 85
Fortnite, the game which most certainly did not fly under your radar has been the undisputed poster child for the battle royale genre that took the gaming world by storm this past decade. Whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny that it is one of the most important video games ever released, completely redefining what it means to bridge the gap between video games and other forms of media entertainment.
Drop in with 99 other players into a 100-man battle royal fight to the death, or pair up in groups of 2 or 4 in Duos and Squads to battle to be the last team standing, in fast-paced gamemodes that appeal to both casual and competitive gamers. Epic Games regularly updates the game with new map features and items, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting for players looking for a long-term game.
4 Destiny 2 - Metascore: 87
Bungie's sequel to the massively successful Destiny, Destiny 2 was made free-to-play a couple years after its initial release. An online-only multiplayer shooter, Destiny 2 features both PvP and PvE combat game types, in multiplayer arenas in the Crucible and in the open world, so whether you prefer cooperative multiplayer over competitive multiplayer, or vice versa, there will always be something for you.
Players take the role of a Guardian and can team up with others to tackle various raids, strikes or weekly events, or they can work through the story themselves in a solo campaign with a story that more than makes up for the lacking narrative in the predecessor. The abundance of tasks available to you is overwhelming, and you certainly won't find yourself without something to do for a long while.
3 Rocket League - 87
Rocket League proves that games don't have to be complicated to have longevity. At its core, the game is simply football (aka soccer) with vehicles. Yet, people have been playing the game for years due to its smooth gameplay and stylish visuals.
It helps that more content has been added to the title over the years, including a few new game modes to keep things fresh. Yet, it remains a simple game to understand, even if it takes some skill to master it.
2 Halo Infinite - 87
Not all of Halo Infinite is free, as the campaign must still be bought. But the entire PvP multiplayer portion of the game is available for nothing.
If you've played a Halo title before, you know what to expect. There's plenty of fast-paced FPS fun to be had here, which includes using fancy weaponry and vehicles. And there are plenty of different multiplayer modes to try out, from Capture The Flag to King Of The Hill. Where this entry differs from previous instalments is the live service element. So, the developers drop additional content every now and then to keep things fresh.
1 Apex Legends - Metascore: 88
Apex Legends reigns supreme as the best battle royale shooter on the market. Respawn Entertainment took many of the gameplay mechanics from the groundbreaking Titanfall games, a series that revolutionized movement mechanics in modern shooters, and merged them with the already massively successful battle royale genre.
The response was a hit, with the game rightfully dominating the gameplay charts for months after release. The fast-paced, parkour-filled gameplay makes for an incredibly satisfying experience, while the twenty-teams-of-three format grants much better odds of winning than the average battle royale.