Paladins
Genre: Shooter | Developer: Hi-Rez Studios, Evil Mojo | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Release Date: May 8, 2018 | Model: Free2Play
What is Paladins? Paladins is the second work of the SMITE creators Hi-Rez and is aimed at shooter fans.
Paladins is, like Overwatch, a team-based hero shooter. You take on the role of different champions and equip them with a talent to customize them to your playstyle.
Different modes, such as escorting a bomb or holding control points, provide plenty of variety.
Unlike Blizzard’s Overwatch, the hero cannot be changed during the ongoing match. You must ensure that you have a balanced team from the start and then make the best of what has been chosen.
You can choose from now 44 champions and play in 3 modes.
- In Team Deathmatch, the goal is to take down as many opponents as possible.
- In Siege mode, you must secure and escort a bomb and push back the opponents.
- In Onslaught mode, you just need to capture and hold control points.
In between, there are also events in Paladins, which mainly occur at the release of new champions. In these events, you can usually earn special rewards or complete cool modes like Jump&Run levels.
The Free2Play Model of Paladins
How free is it really? Paladins can be downloaded and played for free on any platform. New champions can be unlocked with Crystals or Gold that you earn in the game.
If you find that too slow, you can buy Crystals in the in-game shop. Entire character bundles can also be purchased. A paid Battle Pass also ensures that you are constantly rewarded with new items as you level it up.
Every new level in the pass unlocks rewards, including:
- Skins
- Mounts
- Gold
- Crystals
- Spray Logos
- Voice Packs
- Loot Boxes
- Emotes
A Season Pass unlocks all associated champions directly and brings additional skins, mounts, and crystals.
If you do not want to spend money, you do not have to. All content can also be unlocked in Paladins without spending. It just takes a little longer.
The Pros and Cons of Paladins
Who is Paladins suitable for? Paladins is especially suitable for fans of hero shooters like Overwatch. But shooter fans in general can have a lot of fun in Paladins as well.
The different heroes and their abilities invite experimentation, and the fast-paced action battles provide the right kick.
Those who cannot handle the anime or comic style and prefer more realistic shooters should stay away from Paladins.
Lord of the Rings Online
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Standing Stone Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: April 24, 2007 | Model: Free2Play
What is Lord of the Rings Online? Lord of the Rings Online is an MMORPG set in the world of Hobbits. You wander through Middle-earth and experience the story up close.
From 6 different races such as Hobbits, Dwarves, or High Elves, you create your character and can then choose from 10 classes. Variety is guaranteed.
On your adventure through Middle-earth, you will visit many familiar locations, meet well-known characters like Gandalf, and fight nasty enemies. While the starting areas seem rather peaceful, you will feel Sauron’s influence in the increasingly dangerous regions as you progress.
Lord of the Rings Online offers many dungeons and raids that you can complete together with friends. Main missions guide you through the entire story, while side quests tell incidental stories. The story even goes beyond that of the books.
The focus of this MMORPG is clearly on PVE content. Thus, the social aspect is also important. Players regularly meet to celebrate festivals and make music. Throughout the game, you can acquire your own house and furnish it according to your taste. In PVP, on the other hand, monsters face off against heroes, with heroes only selectable by players with a PVP pass.
Only at the end of 2019 was the expansion “The Lord of the Rings Online Minas Morgul” released. Developer Standing Stone Games plans to continue providing content for the title over the next 20 years.
In early 2021, the probably most controversial change in 11 years was released.
The Free2Play Model of Lord of the Rings Online
How free is it really? Basically, Lord of the Rings Online is free to play, but with significant limitations. This starts with the character slots. As a free player, you are only allowed to create one character per server.
But you also have to deal with various restrictions in the game. Not all quests are available to you, there is a cap on gold, and the inventory is limited.
For €12.99 per month, you can purchase a VIP account that removes all restrictions and provides you with additional bonuses. This includes access to your mail, no matter where you are, a 100% experience bonus, and 500 HdRO points monthly. The PVP pass is also unlocked with this, which you can otherwise purchase separately.
You can then use these points to buy various items in the in-game shop. You can also buy HdRO points for real money and earn them in the game as a reward for completed quests. The shop offers many opportunities to spend the points. Among other things, you can increase your inventory slots, raise the gold limit, buy mounts, and much more. If you don’t mind the grind, you can also unlock all expansions and DLCs for free with HdRO points.
You can also buy a character boost to level 50 if you have enough points. This boost would be valued at nearly €50.
Once you have completed the base game of Lord of the Rings Online, you can purchase 6 expansions in various editions (Standard, Collector, Ultimate-Fan-Bundle).
Currently, developer Standing Stone Games is offering all expansions for free until April 30, 2020.
The Pros and Cons of Lord of the Rings Online
Who is Lord of the Rings Online suitable for? This clearly addresses the Lord of the Rings fans who are already captivated by the books by J.R.R. Tolkien as well as the films.
But also MMO fans who focus on PVE content, a good story, and player interactions will be happy with Lord of the Rings Online. HdRO is one of the games that have defined the “online role-playing game.”
Those who expect modern graphics and the best performance will be disappointed. Additionally, the shop and the limitations of free accounts could be off-putting.
Brawlhalla
Genre: 2D platformer, fighting game | Developer: Blue Mammoth Games | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Switch | Release date: October 17, 2017 | Model: Free2Play
What is Brawlhalla? Brawlhalla is a 2D platform fighter where up to 8 players compete in an arena.
From nearly 50 original and additional guest characters, you choose your fighter and dive solo, locally, or online into 2D combat against others. The dynamic, fast-paced battles are perfect for a quick match.
Your task in Brawlhalla is to knock your opponents out of the arena. A similar game principle was followed by Super Smash Bros. by Nintendo. To achieve this, different weapons are available in the arena, including axes, hammers, swords, or blasters.
The almost 50 original characters are quick and precise to control and come with cool abilities. In addition, there are numerous guest characters you may know from TV shows or movies. So you can play not only characters from Adventure Time or Steven Universe, but also well-known characters like Lara Croft, Hellboy, or stars from the wrestling genre like Dwayne the Rock Johnson and The Undertaker. The selection is certainly huge.
The Free2Play Model of Brawlhalla
The Pros and Cons of Brawlhalla
Team Fortress 2
Genre: Shooter | Developer: Valve | Platform: PC | Release Date: October 10, 2007 | Model: Free2Play
What is Team Fortress 2? Team Fortress 2 is a hero shooter by Steam developer Valve.
You choose your character from 9 classes and face off against other players in various modes.
The gameplay and style in Team Fortress 2 feel like they are from a cartoon. It’s colorful, chaotic, and thus provides a lot of fun. The entry is easy and you have all 9 classes available from the start.
The classes differ in their weapons, abilities, and health points. There is the Sniper, who shoots from a distance with a sniper rifle and has low health points, or the Heavy, who comes with a minigun and has high health points, acting as a tank.
In 8 different game modes, like Arena, King of the Hill, or Capture the Flag, you can face your opponents. For playing, you receive rewards such as cosmetic items that you can equip on your characters.
What’s special here is that for many game pre-orders you own on Steam, you get exclusive items. For example, there is an ugly alien hat if you pre-ordered Alien: Isolation.
According to an insider, Valve has allegedly put further development of the title on ice as other games are more important. Nevertheless, Team Fortress 2 still offers a lot of content.
Team Fortress 2’s Free2Play Model
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Team Fortress 2
Tera
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Bluehole Studio | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S | Release Date: May 3, 2012 | Model: Free2Play
What is Tera? Tera is an MMORPG with an action combat system in an Asian look, where you defeat tough boss monsters, tackle cool dungeons, and complete raids.
PVP also plays an important role in Tera. There are frequent battles between players or wars between guilds in the open world.
Tera offers action-packed confrontations with impressive bosses with its combat system. You must actively participate in the fight, attacking and dodging. Simply targeting the boss and pressing a few buttons won’t work here.
In the open world, you receive many quests that tell the story. The picturesque backdrops invite exploration, and even after 8 years, Tera still looks fantastic. Apparently, Tera 2 is already in the works.
With its 7 races and 13 classes, Tera offers the right character for every taste, which are elaborately and uniquely animated. Every attack feels powerful and the effects constantly provide “wow” moments.
Regularly, major content updates are released that add or even remove new dungeons from the game. Thus, there is always a certain rotation of the content. Events with special rewards are also regularly active. In 2020, a larger update was released, which comprehensively improved the MMORPG and provided tons of content.
The Free2Play Model of Tera
How free is it really? Tera has been available for free since early 2013 and generates revenue through the in-game shop.
However, all content can be played without spending real money, and the shop is mainly limited to cosmetic items, mounts, pets, or the purchase of an elite status.
The elite status grants you various advantages for a monthly fee of €14.99:
- 15 EMP points daily, which you can exchange in the shop for cosmetic items
- The limit for dungeon and raid visits is doubled
- 100% EXP bonus
- Gold boost
- A mount from level 1
- A buff item that can increase your critical power and reduce your attack cooldowns
- And much more
The benefits of elite status are enormous, but they are not necessary to reach the endgame in Tera and still have fun afterwards.
The Pros and Cons of Tera
Who is Tera suitable for? All MMORPG fans who enjoy stylish graphics, a cool action combat system, and impressive bosses will be happy with Tera. The Asian look is not exaggerated and should also satisfy Western gamers.
Tera is also excellent for console players, as the controller controls, despite much action, are intuitive and quick to learn.
If you’re looking for a long adventure with lots of exploration, grinding, and brawling, Tera is a great choice.
Are you looking for more Free2Play games? Then we of course have the right article for you with more great games that might be even better suited to your environment and needs: The best Free-to-play MMORPGs compared.
