Which are the best free Xbox games? Good question! We’re here to give you a solid list of recommendations that you can start playing today without spending a penny. Whether you’re still playing on an Xbox One, or prefer the power of an Xbox Series X, the games on this list will work on any platform.
We’ve tried to offer a diverse selection of games across all genres. On the one hand, there are bright platforming games like Fall Guys, and the other there are gritty war games like Enlisted or Call of Duty Warzone. Whatever your taste in games, we’re sure there’s something you can enjoy here – and even if you get one and don’t like it, all you’ve lost is some memory space that you soon get back.
Here are the best free Xbox games:
Enlisted
At this point, there are absolutely loads of WW2 shooters, but what sets Enlisted apart is its focus on working as a team. If you play with a group of other players, you can each choose a character with a different job role, and work together to ensure that you’ve got the right strategy to route the enemy. You can also control the squad yourself, and jump between different characters so that you’re deploying the right job class when you need them.
Gaijin, the game’s developer, has tried to make the game as historically accurate as possible. That means that everything from the weapons you use, through to the maps you do battle on, are all drawn from historic battles and events. While other F2P games often tend to go down the route of wacky crossovers and events, Gaijin has largely stuck to its vision and it’s well worth trying for that very reason.
Enlisted offers cross-play across Xbox and PC, so you can get started on PC and continue on Xbox next time you’re on your console.
World of Tanks
Where Enlisted is all about being strategic on the battlefield – World of Tanks is about tanks blowing each other up. There are loads of different maps to choose from in this game, many inspired by the locations of real battles – meanwhile, you also have a huge variety of tank models drawn from many different countries and eras of history. There’s a lot in this game to appeal to history buffs.
World of Tanks, however, does not limit itself to historical accuracy and has done loads of fun crossovers and events over the years, including tie-ins with Warhammer: 40,000 and Terminator 2. It’s the best of both worlds, really. The game supports crossplay across PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and you can also connect accounts to the PC versions, so you can sign up to get started now.
Fragpunk
We’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves here, as Fragpunk has yet to be made available on Xbox – though it is scheduled to do so in the near future and it is already on PC. On a surface level, this new hero shooter might look like it’s offering the same kind of experience as Valorant or Overwatch, but dig a little deeper and you’ll see that it has some pretty unique features on offer.
The most interesting thing about it is the addition of Shard Cards. Apply one of these during battle, and you’ll gain extra strengths or abilities. Some Shard Cards just give you more health, which is pretty standard, but then you also have cards that will give you exploding bullets, boost your movement speed, or even enlarge the size of your enemy’s heads to make headshots easier (it’s DK Mode gone wrong!). These add a whole extra layer of fun, chaos, and strategy to a game that is already fun without these cool features. Get started on PC today so you’re all ready for its Xbox launch.
War Thunder
Enlisted is all about strategically deploying troops on the battlefield, and World of Tanks is all about driving big boy tanks around – meanwhile, War Thunder goes one further by offering a range of vehicles for you to take into battle. Yes, you can still drive around in tanks here, but there’s a huge amount of gameplay variety available, as you can also do battle at sea by taking control of a warship, or in the skies by piloting a plane.
This is another of those war games that likes to provide a hefty dollop of realism. There are over 200 vehicles for you to choose from and each of them is either currently used by real world armies, or at least was used at some point in history. You can also choose between playing alongside a team of friends (or strangers), doing battle with other players, or simply playing by yourself. War Thunder offers cross-play with PlayStation and PC gamers, so why not download the game now and get started?
Genshin Impact
Looking to lose yourself in a beautiful, sprawling world? Genshin Impact originally drew a lot of inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, so that should give you an idea of the kind of experience you’d get with this game. In the years since its 2020 release, it’s continued to add lots of new content, from playable characters to new areas to explore.
There are two main things that help set it apart from the game that inspired it – the first is multiplayer. Breath of the Wild is a solitary experience, but the game lets you explore its breathtaking locales with your pals. The second point of difference is the wide selection of playable characters (unlocked via gacha mechanics) who also provide a different approach to battles and problem-solving. With new content added all the time, this is one that remains as fresh now as ever. If you already playing, and want the latest updates, then PCGamesN has the new Genshin codes, and all the new Genshin characters.
Halo Infinite
While Halo Infinite is not free in its entirety, this game sets itself apart from its predecessors by letting you access its multiplayer mode for free, which is fantastic news for anyone who never cared much for the single-player campaigns anyway.
Since it’s the only part of it that’s free, we’ll only talk about the multiplayer. Anyone with fond memories of the earlier installments will be pleased to find that at its heart, it is true to the spirit of those original games. You’ve still got to wear down your opponents’ shields before you can deliver that finishing blow, but this time you’ve just got much nicer visuals, plus a larger variety of weapons and arenas. Check the PCGamesN guide to Halo Infinite ranks.
Fall Guys
A lot of free Xbox games are based around war in some way or another, but that’s not the case with Fall Guys. In this game, you take control of some quirky bean characters who have to make their way through various obstacles, usually in a race to the finish line against a team of other players doing the same. It’s essentially a competitive F2P spin on 3D platforming.
Aside from its morish gameplay and charming presentation, part of the fun comes from its endless crossovers. You can dress your bean however you like, and while there are lots of unique outfits, there are also those based on existing IP from Yooka-Laylee and The Muppets, to Alien and Skyrim. Seeing all those characters overcoming these obstacles together makes for an enormously fun time. Check this 8/10 Fall Guys review.
Call of Duty Warzone
Call of Duty was one of the biggest multiplayer FPS games for years, so it was only a matter of time before it branched into the F2P world. While some fans were initially skeptical of this new venture, it has since cemented itself as one of the most beloved F2P shooters around.
What sets it apart from earlier Call of Duty games is its focus on Battle Royale-style gameplay. The game drops you and up to 150 other players into an enormous map, and then it’s your job to see if you can be the last person standing. It takes some of the hectic nature of Fallout, but nicely combines it what the slightly grittier look and aesthetic that people expect from COD.
Check out PCGamesN’s guide on the best Warzone VPN if you want to ensure you’re getting easier lobbies and not being paired with players who far out-rank you.
Rocket League
“You know how people love football? And you know how people love cars? Well, what about if there was a game that had both of those things?” I’m sure there was a conversation along those lines which eventually led to the creation of Rocket League. For those who don’t know, it’s a game where you take control of cars in a giant game of football.
This game is available on practically every platform, making it very easy for friends to play together through cross-play. The biggest, most appealing aspect of this game comes from just how satisfying the cars are to control – crashing head-first into the ball and watching it fly through the air into your opponent’s goal feels fantastic. It offers a couch-play mode as well, which is great because the gameplay is really well-suited for that.
Fortnite
At this point, I’d be surprised if you don’t know what Fortnite is (that’s why it’s at the bottom of the list), but on the off-chance, allow me to explain it: you and 100 other players get dropped onto a map (which is consistently shrinking) and it’s your job to kill everyone else and become the last person standing.
Or at least… that’s all it was at first. Since then, it’s grown exponentially and become a smorgasbord of pop culture. The core gameplay that started it all is still super fun, but since then it’s grown so much that it has something for everyone. You can watch a digital Mariah Carey concert while playing as All-Might from My Hero Academia, alongside Family Guy’s Peter Griffin, and a bunch of Star Wars characters – and there are absolutely loads of game modes now. It’s honestly quite fascinating to see how it’s grown.
For more free games, check out the list of the best free PC games over on PCGamesN and the list of the best mobile games from Pocket Tactics. PCGamesN also has a handy list of the best crossplay games for anyone who likes to play across platforms.
