Free-to-play games are great at quickly garnering a player base, but those numbers evaporate without an incentive to log in. Sadly, many F2P games mess this part up, and the worst offenders tend not to stick around for long.
On the bright side, a decent selection of free-to-play games offers engaging content that incentivizes grinding. If you’re looking for titles that respect your time without gouging your wallet, here’s a list of games that do it the best.
10Final Fantasy XIV
A Top-Tier MMO
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
Final Fantasy XIVis one of the most popular MMOs on the planet, and while the free-to-play experience is limited, it still offershundreds of hours of content.
FFXIVoffers players a colossal world to explore anddozens of different “jobs"to suit any playstyle. You are the Warrior of Light, and while that title commands respect, there are always bigger, meaner foes who want to take you down.
Combat is addictive, and the grind for better gear offers a great incentive to log in frequently. There are alsofleshed-out side activities, like the Triple Triad card game andfishing.
FFXIVkicks off our list as it does haveone massive caveat. The base game is free, as are theHeavenswordandStormbloodDLCs. If you want to play the rest, you must pay for the expansions and then a monthly subscription.
9Destiny 2
Despite numerous controversies,Destiny 2remains abrilliant looter shooter, and large swathes of the title are free to play.
The best part ofD2is its shooting mechanics.Guns feel satisfying to use, and it’s effortless to weave them into gameplay along with class abilities. Activities are reset each week, giving players the opportunity to grind for exotic gear.
Even as an F2P player, you can access theCrucible PvP mode, and there’s plenty of PvE content to sift through.
LikeFFXIV,Destiny 2is near the bottom of the list because you will eventually have to pay for the “full” experience.Destiny 2hasno monthly subscriptionmodel, but you must purchase expansions likeThe Final Shapeto see the story unfold.
8Guild Wars 2
The Defacto F2P MMO
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2wasmy first MMO, and I hold it in high regard thanks to its stellar new player experience.
Guild Wars 2is also free to play and one of the rare MMOs thatdoesn’t require a monthly subscription. The base game is huge, but you will eventually need to purchase the numerous expansions if you want everything.
That said, the F2P offering is exceptionally generous. You can accessmultiple races and classes, each with unique weapons and skills. Cutscenes are staggeringly beautiful, and the voice acting is some of the best I’ve heard in an MMO.
Dailies missions are simple but fun, and the grind to master every vocation will take a very long time. Some tasks are monotonous, but you’re able to break them up with other activities.
7The First Descendant
Can I Rely On You, Descendant?
The First Descendant
The First Descendantis a stylish F2P looter shooter, and earning every character will takemonths of grindingand dedication.
Looter shooters must nail a satisfying gameplay loop, and I’m pleased to say they succeeded here. Thanks to the grapple hook mechanic,movement feels crisp, and each Descendant looks and feels entirely different.
The grind for new characters andweaponsis tied to systems that only have a small chance to drop what you want.
You get that warm dopamine hit when you hit the jackpot, but you can feel like you’ve wasted your time if things don’t go your way.
There’s a cash shop, but if you put in the time, you’ll never need it outside ofpremium battle passes and cosmetics.
For full disclosure, I adoreThe First Descendantand play it almost daily. I read numerous complaints about the grind, and while it doesn’t bother me, it’s a bugbear for many players.
If you want to dive intoTFD, verify to invest inthe best characters, as some have more utility than others.
10 Best Cozy Games Where Grinding is Fun
Grinding doesn’t have to be boring (or stressful)!
6Honkai Star Rail
Hoyoverse Does It Again
Honkai: Star Rail
If you’ve ever played one, you know it was only a matter of time before aHoyoversegame made the list.
Honkai Star Railis astunning turn-based RPGwith eye-watering graphics, superb voice acting, and anaddictive gatcha systembinding everything together.
The latter is where you can spend, but the game is perfectly playable without investing money. Naturally, you’ll be more limited than a player who opens their wallet, but Hoyoverse games typically havedecent free units, no matter how unlucky you are.
I’ve recommendedHonkai Star Railbecause it’s my favorite, but you can have fun with any of the big three.
Honkaioffers turn-based combat in a sci-fi setting;Genshin Impacthas real-time combat and a high fantasy setting. Finally,Zenless Zone Zerois perfect if you want fast-paced combat and guns!
5Holocure: Save The Fans
Welcome To Bullet Heaven
HoloCure - Save the Fans!
TheBullet Heaven genreis one of my favorites, and one of the best games is entirely free.
Holocure: Save The Fansis aperfect introductionto the addictive gameplayBullet Heaven gamesare known for. Enemies approach from all angles, and you must defeat them to level up and get stronger. You earn new items and weapons, each with unique synergies.
Thecharacter selection is fantastic and varied. New heroes are dished out via a gatcha system, although this one only uses in-game currency, which cannot be purchased.
At this point, you may be wondering,what’s the catch?I questioned this for a long time, but the developer insists they make enough money with their real job and that Holocure is purely a passion project.
Youcan’t spend money even if you want to, and it doesn’t get more commendable than that!
4Marvel Snap
Oh, Snap!!!
Marvel SNAP
Online TCGs have anear-impossible taskwhen it comes to balancing. In many similar titles, if you spend more, you get more, but that’s not the case inMarvel Snap.
In a genius move,Marvel Snapmakes players valuerare art styles and variantseven more than card abilities. Any grinding in the game is fun, as you’ll ultimately complete most tasks bybattling other players.
The best part about those battles is the card pools. You willonly ever face opponents with access to similar cards. There’s a bit of imbalance by the time you reach Pool Three, but you’ll be hooked by then if you’ve stuck around that long!
Marvel Snapis easy to understand, agreat entry point into online TCGs, and you don’t have to spend a penny.
More Than Just A Battle Royale
Fortniteis ajuggernaut in the BR space, but it’s so much more than that, and the game is technically free if you’re patient enough.
Many gamers disregardFortniteas a “dumb game for kids,” and all I can say is thatyou’re missing out.Fortniteoffers a superb Battle Royale, andyou don’t even need to learn to buildanymore if you don’t want to.
The community space is constantly growing, and you can spend hundreds of hours on creative modes likeProp Hunt or evenLEGO Fortnite.
The premium currency is, of course, VBucks. you may purchase these with real money, although they are dished out at a glacial pace through regular gameplay.
It’spossible to save up enough “free” VBucksto buy a battle pass eventually, and you’ll always earn enough VBucks with a pass to buy the next one.
As Fortnite is a platform for so many things, you can “grind” without even realizing it.
2Path of Exile
How Is This Free?!
Path of Exileis ahard-as-nails ARPGin a similar vein toDiablo 4. I make that comparison loosely, as while there are similarities in the gameplay,PoEis far more complex
You will get your butt kicked during your first few attempts, as it’s entirely possible to make dreadful builds that cannot compete.It’s not for everyone, but if you can survive the first hurdle,Path of Exileoffers a phenomenal ARPG experience with the depth of an ocean.
There’s a premium shop with paid items, including stash tabs. The latter will eventually become an issue, but you can do without it for hundreds of hours.
At the time of writing, I’ve not playedPath of Exile 2, and it’snot technically free yet. That said, if GGG carries over the monetization model from the original, free-to-players will have a fantastic time.
Become A Space Ninja
Warframeis an incredible Sci-fi ARPG with fast-paced battles, fluid combat, a fully voiced story, andthousands of hours of content.
Warframeoffers an overwhelming amount of content at the start, but everything will quickly fall into place if you stick with it for a few sessions.
The gameplay loop for most players will be advancing through the star chart andgrinding for new Warframes. Each Warframe has a unique playstyle and abilities, and new additions are constantly added to the roster.
You canpurchase items with Platinum, the game’s premium currency, but this is whereWarframedoes something drastically different from the competition.Platinum can be earned through player trading. If you’re committed, you can amass a fortune without ever investing into the economy yourself.
Whether you want to cut enemies into ribbons or become the Wolf ofWarframe, there’s something for everyone.
Oh, and don’t worry if you get lost. We all did during our first adventures, and the community was mostlywholesome and helpful.
