Are you looking for something new to play with friends and don’t want to spend money on it? Then we suggest 5 games here that you should take a closer look at.
What kind of list is this? In the following list, we will show you 5 games that are great to try something different than what you currently have in your catalog: The download of the games is free and friends can join right away.
We looked at the current top games on Steam (as of February 11, 2022). Here you will find 5 games that currently have an average player count of at least 30,000 concurrent players (via SteamCharts) and achieve at least a 90% positive rating in total reviews. In addition, they must be free and playable with friends.
Lost Ark
Released: 02/11/2022 | Developer: Smilegate RPG | Genre: MMORPG | Page on Steam
What kind of game is this? Lost Ark is the newest game on this list but has made a significant impression on Steam directly. Lost Ark is a free-to-play MMORPG that visually resembles Diablo.
It offers various activities alongside the story that can be completed together:
- Looting and Leveling
- Quests
- Dungeons
- Raids
In Lost Ark, you can choose from a variety of classes to explore the beautifully staged open world and engage in exciting battles.
This is how it’s currently doing on Steam: The launch on Steam had a lot of players involved: Currently, Lost Ark has an average of about 350,000 active players according to SteamCharts, peaking at around 507,000.
Lost Ark has just recently been released and has so far received approximately 2,000 reviews (as of 02/11/2021). With a positive rating of 96%, the MMORPG has made a good first impression. How this will develop in the coming weeks remains to be seen.
Who is this for? If you generally want a new MMO or just want to dive into the MMO madness, then Lost Ark is a good choice because of its F2P component.
If you are looking for a game to invest time in and that offers action-packed combat, you are in the right place. If you prefer complex crafting or can’t deal with the isometric top-down perspective, it might not be for you. Also important: The game is controlled with the mouse, which you may need to get used to.
If you want a closer insight into Lost Ark, check out the experiences of Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner:
- Author Mark Sellner is completely thrilled with the game and reports here about his first hours in Lost Ark
- Editor Alexander Leitsch has a few critiques for the game
Team Fortress 2
Released: 10/10/2007 | Developer: Valve | Genre: Shooter | Page on Steam
What kind of game is this? Team Fortress 2, released in 2007, is now considered a “classic,” but the team hero shooter has maintained steady presence in the Steam charts to this day.
Team Fortress 2 is a shooter with a comic style that offers various modes that you can tackle together. You can compete with your teams in the “Arena,” play “Capture the Flag,” or fight for victory in “King of the Hill.”
There is also a co-op mode called “Mann vs. Machine.” Here, you have to fight against computer-controlled robots in a six-person team, upgrade your weapons, and prevent enemies from placing a bomb in your base.
This is how it’s currently doing on Steam: Team Fortress generally counts on a current average of between 60,000 and 70,000 active players. The peak in the last 30 days was 85,992 players.
In the reviews of the last 30 days, 90% are positive (out of about 8,000 reviews, as of 02/11/2021), all reviews have a rating of 93% (out of approximately 846,000 reviews).
Who is this for? Team Fortress 2 is primarily praised in Steam reviews for its entertaining gameplay, but there is criticism regarding bots and cheaters. Overall, it’s a shooter with a cartoonish style that does not take realism too seriously. The focus is on quick, fun matches.
If you’re looking for something more serious or want to play a story, this is not the place for you. And the graphics are obviously not up to current standards today either.
Path of Exile
Released: 10/23/2013 | Developer: Grinding Gear Games | Genre: Action-RPG | Page on Steam
What kind of game is this? Path of Exile is an exciting option if you enjoy games like Diablo but don’t want to spend money on the download and perhaps even enjoy a bit more complexity. Path of Exile is a game with numerous customization options that you should utilize considering its sometimes challenging difficulty level.
A new expansion for Path of Exile just recently released, giving the game a considerable boost on Steam and catapulting it back into the charts.
Additionally, a sequel to the popular ARPG is also in the works. However, the release of Path of Exile 2 will take some more time.
This is how the game is currently doing on Steam: Path of Exile has just reached a personal record on Steam with 158,140 players at peak and currently fluctuates between 40,000 to 80,000 concurrent players on average. Such waves have occurred frequently with Path of Exile, usually in anticipation of larger expansions.
In total reviews, Path of Exile currently achieves exactly 90% positive ratings (about 178,000 reviews, as of 02/11/2021), while recent reviews rate it at 89% (with about 1,700 reviews).
Who is this for? For Diablo fans, Path of Exile could be an exciting free alternative. However, you should expect a challenge as there is both praise and criticism equal for complexity and difficulty: Many players enjoy diving deep into the game, while others find the entrance too hard.
Warframe
Released: 03/25/2013 | Developer: Digital Extremes | Genre: Co-op Shooter | Page on Steam
What kind of game is this? Warframe is a multiplayer online shooter that uses a third-person perspective. The game focuses on high speed and exciting combat, which offers plenty of variety thanks to different combat suits — the “Warframes.”
You can shoot through various story quests together, engage in space battles, and unlock progressively better loot and abilities. The game offers a lot of depth but can be overwhelming at first for newcomers.
However, with some time, you can get into Warframe and discover one of the best current multiplayer shooters available.
This is how the game is currently doing on Steam: At present, Warframe has about 40,000 concurrent players on average. In overall ratings, it achieves a positive rating of 91% (out of about 466,000 reviews, as of 02/11/2021), while recent reviews come in at 89% (from about 4,700 reviews).
Who is this for? Do you enjoy fast battles, loot gathering, and a third-person perspective in shooters? Do you want quick movement via jetpack and an interesting story? Then you’re in the right place.
However, the entry can seem quite overwhelming, especially if you think you can just dive into the game. Also, during gameplay, Warframe can require a lot of grinding. If that scares you, you might want to try something else.
Unturned
Released: 07/07/2017 | Developer: Smartly Dressed Games | Genre: Survival | Page on Steam
What kind of game is this? Those who see Unturned for the first time may quickly be reminded of Minecraft – the block graphics are reminiscent of the building classic. However, Unturned is a survival game with zombies, where you must fight for survival.
Together, you gather resources and defend yourselves from your base against the undead threat. You can rely on a variety of weapons at your disposal.
If you aren’t put off by the graphics, Unturned is one of the best free survival games on Steam.
This is how the game is currently doing on Steam: Unturned currently has about 36,000 concurrent players on average on Steam. In total reviews, it has a rating of 91% (out of about 467,000 ratings) and 90% in recent reviews (about 5,100 ratings, as of 02/11/2021).
Who is this for? Many players describe Unturned as a “Minecraft-DayZ hybrid.” The game is for you if you are looking for a way to experience an adventure in a zombie setting with friends that is not too scary due to its graphics.
Collaboration can help you advance by working together to secure your hideout. However, if you can’t stand the very simple blocky graphics, you might want to choose another game.
Are you looking for more games that you can play together? Then find our top co-op games in the rankings here.
