There’s no denying that video games are fun. For some competitive grinders, video games provide a welcome adrenaline boost. For others, video games are a cozy escape away from the monotony of real life. However, video games can also be a costly hobby.

Fortunately, there’s been a noticeable shift in the video game market in recent years. While AAA video game developers still like pushing out $70+ price tags for their big franchises, others are seeing the benefit of free-to-play. Activision Blizzard’s free-to-play model is one such example, with the company’s mobile Call of Duty seeing players spend $1 billion worldwide on in-game purchases in 2022. Meanwhile, its free-to-play battle royale, Warzone, recently hit the 125 million player mark in June. Of course, Activision Blizzard isn’t the only one.

Take-Two Interactive’s Grand Theft Auto V said its GTA online platform — free to players who own the base game — has seen its audience grow 49% between 2020 and 2022.

Maybe video game developers and distributors are finally catching on. Gaming is expensive. In our “Next-Gen Ergonomic Gaming Thrones” post, we highlighted the many factors associated with choosing the right gaming chair, some of which can cost between a few hundred bucks and upwards of a thousand. And that’s just the gaming chair. Owning a latest-generation console or a PC powerful enough to run the myriad of graphically demanding AAA titles today also requires a hefty investment from gamers.

Still, gaming shouldn’t be an exclusive hobby for the rich. In fact, if you know where to look, budget gamers can find lots of free-to-play games that fit their gaming needs and preferences. Below, we’ll look at some timeless titles that fit the bill:

Starcraft

Blizzard Entertainment’s alien real-time strategy franchise is more than a decade old by now, and long-time fans still crave a yet unannounced sequel. Released in 1998, Starcraft has retained a loyal player base and esports scene since the last installment in 2017. Today, fans enjoy Starcraft betting as it is a great way to be part of the game’s ecosystem. The game has also recently joined the lineup of 22 games hosted in the inaugural Esports World Cup held in Saudi Arabia. Aside from the fun and high stakes of making Starcraft predictions and potentially winning some extra cash, players enjoy watching Starcraft esports to learn and get better at the game.

One of the key factors contributing to the game’s lasting popularity is undoubtedly its free-to-play model. Unfortunately, this may also be the main reason we’ve yet to see a sequel or remake in the works — Blizzard knows real-time strategy games are hard to monetize through in-game purchases.

Overwatch

Another Blizzard property, Overwatch wasn’t always free-to-play. Released in 2016, the first-person hero shooter game was initially priced at $40, with special editions going up to $120. However, Blizzard announced the game was officially going free-to-play in 2022. Shortly after, the company announced the official sequel to the game — Overwatch 2. Most recently, Overwatch 2 director spoke about the sequel’s progress since its release, including the return of a much sought-after 6v6 mode and a shift back to “player freedom and creativity.” Despite initially releasing to angry and lukewarm reactions from long-time fans of the original, Overwatch 2 may be on its way back to being an esports favorite.

Much like most modern free-to-play titles available today, Overwatch monetizes using in-game purchases for skins and other cosmetic items players can equip for bragging rights and personalization during matches.

Valorant

Another popular free-to-play title worth checking out today is Riot Games’ first-person shooter, Valorant. The game was completely free-to-play on release, with players being able to purchase battle passes, in-game gun skins, and player cards for personalization purposes. Like a lot of free-to-play games, Valorant has a thriving esports scene officially supported by Riot Games. The game recently launched in-game Pick’Ems for fans to make Valorant predictions and earn in-game rewards. This is a fun way for the community to engage with official esports events for the game, as well as a way to support their favorite players and teams.

As another way to support the game’s lively esports community, Riot Games also releases annual Champions bundles containing exclusive gun skins. In 2023, the Champions bundle raised more than $16 million that goes directly to the Champions-qualifying teams.

Fortnite

Finally, if competitive shooters aren’t your thing, you may want to check out Epic Games’ battle royale giant Fortnite. The game has always been free-to-play, albeit with a lot of in-game purchases for cosmetics and “dances” that can be done in-game. Another reason for Fortnite’s unending popularity is its dedication to popculture collaborations. The game has seen real-life artists like Ariana Grande and NBA athletes like Lebron James, as well as popular fictional characters from Thanos to Anakin Skywalker.

Most recently, the game announced its Cybertruck collab, allowing players to use Tesla’s controversial smart truck in the game. While this move wasn’t as well-received by players (and some developers), it’s also further proof that you can expect anything to be put in Fortnite.