Best free games for PS5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch – from Wuthering Waves to Valorant-Adam Starkey-Entertainment – Metro

Another wave of free-to-play games looms (Kuro Games)

If you’ve found yourself with a new console over Christmas, here’s some games you can try without any damage to your bank account.

While game consoles are often bundled with free games, like Wii Sports or Face Raiders on the Nintendo 3DS, there’s now an entire subsection of the industry dedicated to offering experiences which are entirely free.

The free-to-play model might represent some of the medium’s worst habits, like egregious microtransactions and other dodgy models of monetisation, but some of them are surprisingly generous in what they offer without having to lay down any cash.

So if you’re looking to try out some free games after picking up a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or Nintendo Switch, we’ve listed some of the best options below. We’ve omitted the usual heavy-hitters, like vanilla Fortnite, Call Of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, and Genshin Impact, to prioritise games released over recent years, but you probably already knew about those anyway.

It’s also worth noting that while these games are billed as ‘free’, in most cases you’ll need an online subscription to play them. The lowest tier for PlayStation is PS Plus Essential at £6.99 per month (or cheaper if bought yearly), whereas Xbox offers Game Pass Core for the same price, and Nintendo Switch Online is the cheapest at £3.49 per month.

Free games on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Astro’s Playroom (PS5)

If you’re new to the PlayStation 5 console, Astro’s Playroom is the perfect introduction to the system’s capabilities. This is a family-friendly platformer designed to show off the DualSense controller, between the haptic feedback on the triggers and the touchpad.

This comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5 console and doesn’t require any online connection, so there’s nothing stopping you enjoying what is still one of the best exclusives on the system. If you’re a fan, its full-priced successor Astro Bot was just released this year.

Marvel Rivals (PS5 and Xbox)

Marvel Rivals has been a big success, so far (NetEase Games)

This 6v6 third-person shooter is largely pitched as an alternative to Overwatch and it’s become very popular since it launched earlier this month. It’s huge roster of Marvel characters boasts big names like Spider-Man and lesser known heroes like Squirrel Girl, all contained within a competitive hero shooter.

Wuthering Waves (PS5)

One of the many rivals to Genshin Impact is Wuthering Waves, which launched on PC earlier this year but lands on PlayStation 5 from January 1 (at 10pm GMT), 2025. The action role-playing core shares similarities with its inspiration, but it has a greater emphasis on combat.

The Finals (PS5 and Xbox)

The Finals launched in 2023 (Embark Studios)

Of all the free first person shooters to drop over recent years, The Finals is one of the few to have some staying power. It’s pitched around a fictional game show, as teams fight to secure cash vaults, but the destructible environment is the big selling point – allowing you to flatten entire structures and turn the tables at the smash of a sledgehammer.

Infinity Nikki (PS5)

If you’re bored of competitive violence, jump into the cuddly world of Infinity Nikki. It’s part open world platformer and part dress-up role-player, pulled along by the impressive detail in its unlockable in-game outfits. This has become a sensation since it launched earlier this month, with a whopping 20 million downloads within its first week.

Halo Infinite (Xbox)

Halo Infinite has a free portion (Microsoft)

While the campaign portion is locked behind a paywall, Xbox players can jump into Halo Infinite’s multiplayer offering without any charge. It hasn’t maintained the longevity past Halo games have managed, but there’s still a healthy amount of players to keep the frenetic matches rolling.

Valorant (PS5 and Xbox)

This first person hero shooter might be the best example of the genre out there, but it’s one best suited for experienced players. It’s essentially a blend of Overwatch and Counter-Strike, so expect a predominantly tactical experience sprinkled with some absurd power-ups.

Zenless Zone Zero (PS5)

Zenless Zone Zero isn’t as open as Genshin Impact (MiHoYo)

Developer MiHoYo have largely cornered the market when it comes to anime-orientated free-to-play role-playing games, and this is the studio’s latest title following Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. Zenless Zone Zero will feel familiar to anyone who’s dabbled in either of those games, but its smaller focus might make it the more welcoming option.

MultiVersus (PS5 and Xbox)

If you want the closest thing to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate without the cost, MultiVersus might be your best option. It takes the same platform fighter fundamentals and applies it to various properties from the house of Warner Bros., ranging from Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, and DC to Adventure Time.

Lego Fortnite (PS5 and Xbox)

Brick Life has arrived in Lego Fortnite (Epic Games)

Fortnite is one of the most ubiquitous properties in gaming today, but in recent years it has added several modes beneath the traditional battle royale. One of the most popular is Lego Fortnite, which now spans various modes between a survival Minecraft-like sandbox and a social role-play experience called Brick Life.

Free games on Nintendo Switch

Pokémon Unite

If you’re looking for a gateway into League Of Legends or Dota 2, Pokémon Unite might be the best route into the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. Its popularity has dimmed since it launched in 2021, but it’s still a compelling title designed for quick 5v5 matches. Three years later, there’s now over 62 playable Pokémon to unlock.

Tetris 99 and F-Zero 99

F-Zero with a modern twist (Nintendo)

We’ve bundled these together because they’re both playable for free if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online. As the name implies, both Tetris 99 and F-Zero 99 pit you against up to 98 other players online in fiercely competitive matches. The latter, especially, is secretly one of the best racing games on the Switch outside of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Super Kirby Clash

If you don’t have the cash for Kirby And The Forgotten Land, Super Kirby Clash might address your cuddly pink ball fix. It’s an action role-playing game where you take on a series of bosses with friends locally or online. It’s far from the best Kirby experience, but there’s some chaotic charm to be found in this bizarre oddity.

Pokémon Café ReMix

This might not rank highly among the overwhelming number of Pokémon spin-offs, but its cute art style might grab younger fans of the series. This simple puzzle game is only playable using the Switch touchscreen though, so it can only be played in handheld mode.

Even monsters need a snack (Nintendo)

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

ArrowMORE: First Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller details teased by insider

ArrowMORE: Nintendo Switch 2 leaks verified by source as new dock details emerge

ArrowMORE: PS5 Portable is real says second source but there’s doubt around one aspect

Entertainment – MetroRead More