The Best Free Xbox One Games of 2019
With so much money being generated by high-profile free-to-play games, it’s unsurprising to see the industry taking the model seriously on every major platform. We’ve done our share of groaning about the nickel-and-diming tactics found on the App Store and Google Play, but there’s still much to enjoy about the free-to-play model when it’s done well.
Apex Legends After a messy split with Infinity Ward, two of the C-level executives formed Respawn Entertainment. This new company went on to create the critically-acclaimed Titanfall series, and that leads us directly to Apex Legends. Set in the same universe as Titanfall, this free-to-play battle royale game has been wildly successful for Respawn. It's not likely to overtake Fortnite, but it has done well to establish its own distinct fanbase quickly. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV This throwback beat 'em up serves as a fantastical prequel to the 15th mainline Final Fantasy title. It offers about two hours of classic pixelated fun in the world of Eos, and since it's basically a marketing tool for Final Fantasy XV, it's actually completely free. No subscription needed – no micro-transactions in sight. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Roblox At its core, Roblox is about creation and community. If you'd like to make something of your own from scratch, Roblox has all of the tools necessary to make some legitimately entertaining games. And even if you don't have the time or patience for DIY game dev, you can enjoy countless projects made by the Roblox community. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Fable Fortune It's been nearly a decade since a full-fledged Fable RPG was released, so if you're itching for a little bit of Albion in your life, this CCG is worth checking out. Revisit some of your favorite places, play with friends in the co-op mode, and work on building perfect decks for every situation. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Path of Exile Path of Exile continues to be one of the most impressive free-to-play games ever made. You'll be able to make your own custom character, explore a massive world, and enjoy a well-balanced ARPG built on the concepts popularized with Diablo. And since the for-pay aspects are pretty much relegated to cosmetics and advanced quality of life features, free players won't be at a disadvantage. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Fortnite Epic's Fortnite has been nothing less than a phenomenon. In fact, there's a good chance you've already witnessed a tween performing a Fortnite-adjacent dance at a grocery store or restaurant. And since Fortnite is free-to-play, you can jump in and start flossing today! Or, you know, actually play the well-supported battle royale and creative modes. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Lies Of Astaroth Designed as a hybrid of collectible card games and MMOs, this title from Shanghai's IFree Studio is trying to draw in both the WoW and Hearthstone fans among us. There's a significant amount of enjoyable content in here, but we're hearing a lot of grumbling about the pressure to buy-in with real money. It's definitely worth checking out, but be prepared to bail out if the Crystal economy is a little too manipulative for your tastes. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Skyforge Co-developed by the well-known RPG studio Obsidian Entertainment and the Russian Allods Team, this action-heavy MMORPG blends sci-fi and fantasy together in the fascinating world of Aelion. Instead of locking yourself into one of the "big three" classes like you would in The Old Republic or WoW, Skyforge lets players dynamically switch between each one of the unlockable 14 classes. If that kind of flexibility sounds appealing, you can slowly unlock all of them by playing or invest $12.99 in a specific class to unlock it right out of the gate. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Pinball FX3 If you like pinball, Zen Studios has a treat for you. With Pinball FX3, you can play dozens of tables featuring some of your favorite franchises. From Marvel superheroes to Back to the Future to Jaws, Pinball FX3 sports an incredible amount of variety, and rewards skilled play with a superb leaderboard system. And if you know other pinball enthusiasts, you can compete asynchronously against each other for the top spot. And if you only have a passing interest in pinball, the free Fish Tales table is more than enough to satiate your desires. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Gwent If you spent any time with The Witcher 3, you're undoubtedly familiar with Gwent – the in-world collectible card game. Not only does its existence add depth to the fantasy world, but it's also fun on its own. As such, CD Projekt Red has decided to spin it out as a stand-alone free-to-play game. The mechanics are just as solid as before, and now you can play with your friends – not just the AI. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Phantom Dust Originally released exclusively on the Xbox in 2004, Phantom Dust was a commercial failure that has earned renown as an overlooked gem. In 2014, a sequel/reboot was announced at E3, but development stalled within a year. Fans were crushed, but Microsoft didn't give up on the franchise. After a long period of uncertainty, an updated version of the original game made its way onto the Xbox One with improved graphics, rebalanced systems, and a free-to-play model. We're still waiting for a true follow-up on modern hardware, but this re-release will keep us busy for the time being. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Paladins Overwatch reinvigorated the team-based shooter genre, so many similar games are benefitting from the surge in popularity. Hi-Rez Studios has earned significant acclaim with their take on the formula, and since it's free-to-play, this is a great alternative if Overwatch's price tag has been keeping you away. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Crossout Car combat was incredibly popular in the 1990s and early aughts, though it hasn't fared well in the realm of modern gaming. But by melding an over-the-top shooting experience with crafting mechanics and an MMO structure, Targem Games has made a viable option for those of us looking for an outlet for our Twisted Metal nostalgia. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Killer Instinct This classic fighting franchise has returned to the limelight, and this time it's a free-to-play release on the Xbox One and PC. After being dropped by its original developer, the folks over at Iron Galaxy stepped in, and now the game has benefited from two additional seasons worth of content updates. Without dropping a single cent, you get to play as a rotating cast of free fighters, and you can slowly unlock more content by playing the game. Alternatively, you can simply buy the Definitive Edition with all of the content for just 40 bucks. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Star Trek Online This MMO from Cryptic Studios has been around for a whopping nine years now, and it's still kicking. Explore planets, work with your ship's crew, and enjoy loads of referential goodness from each and every part of the Star Trek franchise. And since access to the base content is free, you'll have plenty of excitement without laying down any cash. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Fallout Shelter Starting its life as a surprise iOS release at E3 2015, this adorable free-to-play strategy spinoff of the wildly popular Fallout franchise has made its way to the Xbox One. As a Vault Overseer, you're tasked with building out your bunker, managing the denizens, and dealing with an ever-growing threat from the outside in this colorful 2D strategy game. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Hawken If the idea of fighting in your own custom battle mech excites you, Hawken is the game for you. Originally released on the PC half a decade ago, this free-to-play first-person shooter works well on the Xbox One. Go up against other players in any of six modes, earn experience, and alter your mech in any way you desire. We recommend you jump in, play the tutorials, and get familiar with the combat. If you enjoy yourself, throwing 10 or 20 bucks towards new upgrades will make your experience much smoother. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
World of Tanks Is tank combat your jam? Well, you'll definitely want to try World of Tanks. Jump into 30-person online skirmishes, and explore what tank warfare is all about. With different historical tanks from around the world, even the most finicky of tank enthusiasts will find something to love. And since this is compatible with the Xbox 360 version of the game, you can play along with friends (and enemies) who refuse to invest in newer consoles. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Smite Multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) are incredibly popular, but most of them require a keyboard and mouse to stay competitive. Smite takes the fundamental concepts of a MOBA and makes them fit the console experience. Instead of a bird's eye view, the camera is over the shoulder. And instead of point-and-click controls, you have direct control over your character. As it turns out, that works surprisingly well. For $30, you can instantly unlock all current and future god characters in the game. If you find yourself spending a lot of time playing Smite, that's an entirely reasonable purchase. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
AirMech Arena Real-time strategy games have traditionally been PC-focused, but we've seen numerous excellent attempts at representing that genre on consoles. Red Alert 3 and Halo Wars worked surprisingly well on controllers, so it's no surprise that AirMech Arena has made its way to the Xbox One. And truth be told, it's a lot of fun. It's definitely more limited than something like StarCraft II, but this snappy RTS is well worth playing for fans of the genre. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Magic Duels If collectible card games are more your speed, Magic Duels is a good place to start. Set in the popular universe of Magic: The Gathering, this installment is available on iOS, Steam, and the Xbox One. And since you can either earn gold by playing the game or by simply spending real money, this is a perfect entry point for players new to the Magic setting — a minuscule barrier to entry. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Neverwinter Made by Cryptic Studios (the developer that brought us City of Heroes and Star Trek Online), this action-based MMORPG is set in and around the city of Neverwinter. By combining the popular Forgotten Realms backdrop, fierce action gameplay, and the free-to-play model, the description alone is enough to get a certain subset of fantasy enthusiasts frothing. Aimed at tackling the World of Warcraft market, this MMO has you teaming up with friends to explore a truly beloved setting. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Powerstar Golf Up for a few holes of golf? Take a look at Powerstar Golf from Zoë Mode, and you'll find a stylish golf game with a lot to offer. As you play, you can unlock new clubs and balls to improve your stats and turn your character into a real pro. This persistent golfing experience tracks how well you're doing, and easily allows you to challenge your friends to beat your score. For free, you get access to a hole from every course, and all of your progress is saved. Play as much as you like, earn experience points, and unlock new gear. And if you want more, a single $20 purchase unlocks the rest of the holes. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
Warframe Join up with a team of friends, and blast away at the enemies to your heart's content with this third-person shooter from Digital Extremes. Warframe allows you to sink tons into in-game currency, but don't feel like any of that is required. You can play the game without spending a dime, and thoroughly enjoy yourself without ever feeling overwhelmed by big spenders. (Download for free on Xbox Live)
I’d buy that for a dollar
While console gamers have grown accustomed to dropping $60 (or more) on a game, it’s good to see more variety in the marketplace. And just like a large price tag may not fit a small-scale indie game, it’s important to remember that the free-to-play model isn’t one-size-fits-all either.
F2P is definitely here to stay, but not at the expense of other business models — in conjunction. Poorly made free-to-play games can easily leave a bad taste in your mouth, but it’s not fair to dismiss the entire concept outright. After all, we’ve seen numerous free-to-play games on the PC garner massive critical acclaim, and the concept is still relatively novel on consoles. Give these games a chance, and you might just find a game that you really love.
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