If you were disappointed by 2019’s video game offerings, you can now wipe off that frown on your face! 2020 is just getting started with DOOM: Eternal, Half-Life: Alyx, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and so much more. There are more awesome video games along the way that are slated for release for the rest of the year—even the free ones. Of course, among those are some top anticipated titles that ought to be memorable and intense.
Consequently, just as there are great free video games, there are also those relegated to the shadows that don’t seem to be worthy of our attention, even if they cost nothing. That, or they just had a rough start with some apparent developmental problems that could lead to disappointment from the players. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what the free-to-play category has on offer this 2020.
10 Looking Forward To: Caliber
Are you tired of first-person shooters that require twitch-perfect reflexes and reaction times as well as the perfect mouse and monitor? It’s not hard to miss the good old-fashioned days of methodical combat where communication is the best weapon a team can have. That’s what Caliber is bringing back into the FPS genre.
It’s similar to Battlefield, but it requires more teamwork and transparency with your actions instead of just running around and gunning anyone that shoots at you. In that regard, you can bet that Caliber is going to attract a more niche-type of audience. Nevertheless, you can’t fault it for being a somewhat radical and strict shooter game in a sea of shallows ones with arcade mechanics.
9 Not: League Of Legends: Wild Rift
One look at the MOBA ection of Google Play or Apple AppStore, and you’ll notice that there is no shortage of titles. From Marvel Super War to Mobile Legends, it sure looks like a saturated market and genre already, much like battle royale. That’s why League of Legends: Wild Rift‘s entry might be a little too late. It’s essentially a mobile version of League of Legends.
After all, Mobile Legends already has a solid player base and years of refinement for mobile ahead of it. League of Legends entering the market hoping to get a big slice of the cake should have been done a little earlier. Besides, people are already too distracted by the pre-existing games, anyway.
8 Looking Forward To: Kartrider: Drift
Take a good look at that. It’s Mario Kart but on the PC and Xbox One with a free price tag. If that doesn’t get you sold, then we don’t know what will. Anyway, Kartrider: Drift looks promising and cute. You can’t just say that for any video game today, especially a free one. Kartrider: Drift also spared no expense on its graphics engine, utilizing the Unreal Engine 4 successfully for a fast-paced game.
Make no mistake, the races are bound to be as wacky and as exhilarating as Mario Kart—but without the Nintendo characters, of course. The developers also apparently promised to not implement paywalls or pay-to-win mechanics, which can ruin the fun and immersion as well as create a divide among the player base. Let’s see if they can adhere to that.
7 Not: Valorant
Ever since Overwatch from Blizzard blew up in popularity, more and more clones have popped up. The most notable among them was Paladins, which appears to be doing well even with the free-to-play price tag. Now, Riot Games, the same developer for League of Legends, wants a slice of that action.
They have announced and showcased Valorant, which appears to be a mashup between Counter-Strike and Overwatch. It’s also free, but we can’t help but feel worried for Valorant, especially since it’s trying to delve into a genre that’s already dominated by better-looking games.
6 Looking Forward To: Magic: Legends
If you’ve played Magic: the Gathering and have familiarized yourself with the Planeswalkers, you’ll often wonder why there isn’t a game about them yet, cool as they are. Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore, as Magic: Legends is expected to arrive this year and will let you play as a Planeswalker.
It’s a massively multiplayer online game that utilizes a top-down isometric view similar to Diablo games. Being a Planeswalker, you’re also given a chance to mix and match between two mana colors and even customize your spells like you customize your decks in a real-life Magic preparation.
5 Not: Galaxy In Turmoil
There is nothing quite like Galaxy in Turmoil in the free-to-play category. The closest thing you can compare it to are Battlefield games or Planetside (though this one appears bigger than that). That means it’s an ambitious combined-arms combat video game where you can see dozens of players fighting on multiple fronts and methods of warfare.
Be it ground warfare with vehicles and infantry to space dogfights with fighter ships and lots of vacuum fireworks all over the place. Sadly, it was supposed to be released last year but got pushed back indefinitely due to the scope of the project. To save yourself the disappointment, it’s better not to look forward to this one yet.
4 Looking Forward To: Neon District: Season One
Cyberpunk 2077 is still going to take a while before release in September. So, if you want your cyberpunk genre fix but also want to save up for AAA games at the same time, then Neon District: Season One can give you the best of both worlds. It’s a cyberpunk turn-based RPG fill with all the tropes of the genre.
That includes morally grey and questionable characters with edgy postmodern clothing as well as cybernetic limbs. The title also incorporates trading-card mechanics into the gameplay, making things more strategic compared to your usual run-of-the-mill turn-based RPG. Expect this one to arrive in July 2020.
3 Not: Ascent: Infinite Realm
This game was announced as far back as 2017, but, to this day, has not had an official Western release. In fact, it’s still in beta and is only available in select regions in Asia. The steampunk massively multiplayer online roleplaying game does look massive, but one has to wonder what’s taking the development team too long.
What makes it worth waiting for is that the developers are also the same ones responsible for TERA one of the longest-running action MMORPGs that is still active even today. At this rate, however, there is no news about Ascent: Infinite Realm being slated for release anytime this year though there is still a chance… for an official Asian release. The Western release is a different story.
2 Looking Forward To: Path Of Exile 2
One of the most generous free games on this list, Path of Exile is on a roll this year with multiple leagues and updates in addition to an expected Path of Exile 2 beta release for 2020. Now, this can be confusing; Path of Exile 2 will not use a new game release but will be built on top of the already existing Path of Exile game as an additional campaign.
This means there’s no need for players to have two installations of different games. Path of Exile 2 can be accessed in the base game. It also improves upon the base game itself. This is one of the most progressive and intricate sequels ever made and it’s still all free.
1 Not: Lost Ark (Western Release)
Lost Ark wowed many action RPG fans once its South Korean developers started featuring gameplay videos with the most cinematic ARPG cutscenes ever. Sadly, that was years ago, and, while the South Koreans and some parts of Asia and Russia have enjoyed the game, those in the West are still left drooling.
There are expectations of a release in 2020 for the West but if we were you, we wouldn’t hold our breath just yet. There’s no telling what could cause a delay or a change in the winds to prevent or hinder its Western release… that seems to happen every year.
