Games to download

EVE Online is a legendary space simulation MMO that first launched in 2003. The game puts players in a compelling visual game world that's all about conquering space for your race, corporation and faction. With almost two decades worth of content and updates, EVE Online offers PvE and PvP that's unique in the genre, where both solo players and large guilds can carve our their own fun and history through huge battles where everything is at stake, in addition to exploration, economy, crafting and more. While it's an intricately complex game to get into for new players, the time investment pays off in the long run if you have an end goal in mind. The game is free to play and its microtransactions aren't that intrusive. Overall, it's still a household MMO title and worth playing even today.

➔ Main points:

• Deep and immersive space sandbox simulator
• Offers plenty of content for all types of players
• Can be enjoyed for free without pay walls
• Graphics are decent for a 17 year old game

When it comes to free to play sandbox MMORPGs, Albion Online stands out. Its top-down isometric gameplay, low-polygonal graphics, huge game world and immersive sandbox systems are its core strengths that keeps its healthy playerbase coming back for more. In Albion, players will grow their classless characters into farmers, crafters, traders or sell-swords, depending on what you want to do which means there's literally something for everyone. While its progression systems are deep and complex, it offers long-term grinds that are worth the effort. Unfortunately, solo players will find it hard to progress far in PvE if they dislike PvP, while large guilds and factions will dominate the economy in different parts of Albion. Overall, it's a solid free to play MMORPG.

➔ Main points:

• Isometric sandbox MMORPG
• Free to play with optional premium currency and status
• Deep and immersive progression systems
• Grindy but worth the effort especially for PvP end-game
• Large and active playerbase

Shaiya holds a place in many people’s hearts as the first MMO they’ve ever played. And as such, people looking back on it today might be viewing it through those dark-tinted nostalgia glasses which may obscure their objectivity when talking about it.

Over 11 years since its’ release, does Shaiya hold up? In a way (Private servers), yes, but for the most part, Shaiya is as dead as an MMO can get. The way it works with old-school MMOs is they either need to have a large enough player base to keep them going, or they need to modernize with the times to draw in newer players.

Shaiya does neither. Few veterans of the game are left, and the changes that the developers have made to the game over the years have only pushed old-school players away even more. There’s nothing on offer here that the new generation of gamers won’t find somewhere else. Somewhere better. The uniqueness of Ultimate Mode, is little more than a novelty feature now, and the P2W aspects of the PVP just kill the game, despite its’ potential. Shaiya still has its’ high points, but the official game is long past its’ prime.

➔ Main points:

• Downloadable F2P traditional MMORPG
• Good versus Evil, Faction-based PVP battles
• Permadeath Ultimate Mode Difficulty
• Heavily P2W PVP
• Very low player base on official servers, dead community
• Fairly active community on private servers

Honkai: Star Rail is a free-to-play, turn-based role-playing online game developed by HoYoverse, already known for its flagship game Genshin Impact. Set in a vibrant sci-fi universe, players traverse diverse worlds aboard the Astral Express, engaging in strategic battles and uncovering a rich narrative.

Honkai: Star Rail propels players into a universe teeming with adventure, mystery, and a dash of interstellar whimsy, shifting gears from real-time action to a more strategic, turn-based combat system, offering a fresh yet familiar experience for both veterans and newcomers.

The game introduces you to the Astral Express, a cosmic locomotive that serves as your gateway to a multitude of worlds, each with its own unique aesthetic and lore. From the icy expanses of Jarilo-VI to the bustling, futuristic cityscapes of the Xianzhou Luofu, the environments are crafted with meticulous detail, making exploration a visual treat.

Combat in Honkai: Star Rail is where strategy enthusiasts will find their playground. The turn-based system requires thoughtful team composition and skill synergy. Each character brings distinct abilities to the table, and mastering their interplay can lead to satisfying victories against the game’s diverse array of adversaries. The inclusion of elemental affinities and status effects adds layers of depth, ensuring that battles remain engaging as you progress.

Narratively, the game doesn't shy away from complexity. The storyline is rich with interwoven character arcs, political intrigue, and philosophical musings on the nature of civilization and the cosmos. Side quests and character-specific missions further expand the lore, providing a comprehensive understanding of the game's universe.

However, it's worth noting that, like many free-to-play games, Honkai: Star Rail incorporates a gacha system for character and equipment acquisition. While it's entirely possible to enjoy the game without spending money, progression can be slower, and obtaining specific characters may require patience or luck.

➔ Main points:

• Strategic turn-based combat: Assemble a team of heroes and engage in tactical battles against a variety of foes.
• Expansive universe exploration: Travel aboard the Astral Express to diverse worlds, each with unique stories and environments.
• Deep character customization: Enhance your characters with various abilities, equipment, and upgrades to suit your playstyle.
• Rich narrative experience: Uncover an intricate storyline filled with memorable characters, political intrigue, and cosmic mysteries.
• High-quality visuals and sound: Enjoy stunning graphics and a captivating soundtrack that bring the game's universe to life.
• Free-to-play model: Accessible to all players, with optional in-game purchases for those who wish to enhance their experience.

Wuthering Waves is an ambitious open-world action RPG with a heavy focus on fast-paced, combo-heavy combat and a richly detailed world.
Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, players assume the role of a Rover, awakening to explore a world filled with mysteries, powerful adversaries, and intricate lore.

The game stands out for its fluid movement system and engaging combat mechanics.
Players can run, wall-run, and use grappling hooks to traverse the environment swiftly, which complements the dynamic combat style.
The combat system itself emphasizes counterattacks, dodging, and strategic use of skills, providing a level of depth not commonly found in online RPGs.

The world of Wuthering Waves is vast and detailed, featuring various regions like the Huanglong area's city of Jinzhou. Players will encounter puzzles, platforming segments, and plenty of combat scenarios; also, they will be able to collect Echoes from defeated enemies in order to boost their stats, integrating exploration with character progression.

While the story may not captivate, Wuthering Waves' dynamic combat and rewarding progression systems offer plenty of reasons to dive into its world, with potential for improvement through future updates.

➔ Main points:

• Fast-Paced Combat: Engaging, combo-heavy battles with unique intro and outro skills for each character.
• Dynamic movement mechanics: Wall-running, grappling hooks, and smooth traversal enhance exploration.
• Exploration Incentive: The Echo system ties character progression to exploration, rewarding players for hunting down enemies and filling out the map of the vast open world
• Generous Gacha System: A forgiving pity system ensures players can obtain high-quality characters and items early in the game.
• Underwhelming Story: The narrative is bogged down by excessive exposition and unengaging voice acting.
• Balanced Progression: Free-to-play characters and abundant early rewards make the game accessible and satisfying for newcomers and veterans alike.

Call of Dragons immerses players in the fantastical world of Tamaris, offering a blend of strategic combat, kingdom-building, and immersive storytelling.
As a player, you take on the role of a commander responsible for developing a village, training troops, and taming ferocious dragons and behemoths (!) to aid in battles.

The game features a vast 3.88 million square kilometer 3D map filled with diverse biomes and terrains, ensuring endless exploration and strategic opportunities

Players can choose from various factions such as elves, mages, and warriors, each offering unique abilities and strategic advantages. The game’s combat system is both engaging and strategic, requiring players to carefully manage their troops, utilize different unit types, and deploy powerful heroes equipped with magical artifacts​

The game also boasts a robust PvP element, where players can engage in large-scale battles against other players, join guilds, and participate in guild wars.
Additionally, the presence of majestic behemoths like dragons and hydras adds a thrilling layer to the gameplay, as these creatures can be tamed and used in combat, providing significant advantages during battles​.

The real-time strategic combat provides a much-needed distraction from the typical base-building mechanics that could otherwise end up being too repetitive.

➔ Main points:

• Establish Your Dominion: develop your village from humble beginnings and assert dominance across the sprawling realm of Tamaris.
• Epic world map: Explore a massive 3.88 million square kilometer 3D map with diverse biomes.
• Strategic Warfare: Fight against huge monsters controlling your troops in real time, deploy heroes and equip them with magical artifacts.
• Narrative Depth: Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of lore and intrigue, as epic quests and character-driven narratives unfold, influenced by your choices and actions throughout your adventures.
• Visual Splendor: Traverse breathtaking landscapes and encounter intricately detailed character designs, as the vibrant world of Tamaris springs to life with stunning visuals and captivating aesthetics.
• Available for both PC and mobile devices.

Trove is a free to play voxel-based MMO that while inspired by Minecraft, offers tons of features that makes it stand out on its own. Players can play between any of the 16 classes available and jump into sandbox worlds to create, destroy or whatever else they want to do in the game's many modes available. Gameplay is fluid enough to pick up even for casuals, and offers good social systems to ensure that playing together is as much fun as going it alone. The cash store offers no significant advantages, and it's a great alternative to the almighty Minecraft.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play voxel game that's very popular
• 16 classes available to level and swap to on one character
• Non-intrusive cash shop that's also fairly priced
• Great combat system and content available
• Excellent modding support and community

Blood Rites is a free to play Asian fantasy MMORPG, first released in 2011. The game features a tab-target combat system, four classes and plenty of progression systems to sink your teeth into. These include weapon enchantments and the more popular Elf companion system, which lets you increase attributes with pets. In the content department, the game's PvE dungeons and raids is where you'll have the most fun, as opposed to the unbalanced PvP modes and a bland story and questing experience to level cap. Graphics and visuals doesn't do Blood Rites any favors, but players actively looking for a classic MMORPG won't mind that too much. Elswhere, the in-game cash shop can be obtrusive if you want to be a competitive player, but otherwise the game is completely playable as a free title.

➔ Main points:

• Fully free to play without any restrictions
• Only four classes but plenty of growth systems to make up for it
• Aging graphics and game engine
• Fun PvE group content to counter the bland questing

Released in 2013, Panzar is a team-based arena PvP MMO that features eight fantasy RPG classes to pick from, and players can fight on a large variety of maps and modes . Panzar is incredibly polished, and its 3D game play emphasizes on skillful combat that's made interesting thanks to the unique skill abilities of each class that resembles an MMORPG or fantasy RPG game. Expect a group composition to comprise of Tanks, damage dealers, healers and even support roles.

While game play is fun and addictive , the semi-low population causes long queues, especially on non prime time. The in-game cash shop on the other hand is a refreshing take on paying to progress , as Panzar's progression revolves around spending time to enhance your class, and not paying for items outright. Overall, Panzar is still a stellar game that could benefit from a shot in the arm and new players.

➔ Main points:

• PvP team focused arena combat matches
• Offers PvE in addition to lengthy tutorials to help integrate new players
• Eight fantasy style class archetypes to play, each with unique skills and progressions
• No traditional combat targeting which ensures realistic gameplay
• Pay to progress faster as opposed to pay to win

Zula is a full 3D, team-based first person shooter that's been out since 2016, developed by IDC Games. The setting for its matches take place in present modern day era, and players can battle it out on a variety of realistic maps from Turkey to Ukraine, and the battlefield designs are strategic.

The gunplay is incredibly fast-paced and shooting feels excellent as bullet sprays are quick. This means enemy players die quicker, resulting in a hectic and frantic feeling in matches. However, the core gameplay is generic and bland as there are only 5 maps. This is further accentuated by the limited amount of game modes that we've already seen in similar games.

Overall, Zula is a decent free to play first person shooter that delivers fast paced action matches if that's what you crave from your FPS games. It has long haul progression systems for player levels to unlock weapon upgrades, in addition to skins and customization from both in-game and cash store to keep you busy.

➔ Main points:

• Very fast paced gunplay speed that feels incredibly in matches
• Good progression and customization options for players committed to the long grind
• Offers daily missions to diversify daily gameplay offering
• Zero tolerance on cheating and developers take it seriously