The digital PC games market covers sales made by companies that create and distribute digital video games for use on a desktop computer or laptop. It also includes earnings from businesses that provide design, support, documentation, and installation.
According to a Research and Markets industry analysis report, the global digital PC games market was valued at $10.86 billion in 2022 and is predicted to reach $12.67 billion by the end of 2023, representing a compound yearly growth rate of 16.7%. From 2022 to 2027, the global PC games market is expected to develop at a compound yearly growth rate of 15.0%, reaching a valuation of $22.17 billion by the end of the forecasted period.
The quick rise can be ascribed to the increasing demand for digitally downloadable PC games. Players are drawn to digital distribution of PC games because of the convenience, cross-buying, and ease of storage that it provides. Furthermore, pre-ordering allows players to obtain games that are already loaded into their devices, allowing them immediate access to the titles when they are launched. Furthermore, the rise of cloud gaming is a key development in the market for digital PC games. The supplier operates the game on its servers, broadcasts back the visuals to the player, and increases user numbers for expensive games using this groundbreaking technology. Furthermore, cloud-based game streaming reduces the need for hardware upgrades. As a result, more people are playing digital PC games, which is fueling the sector’s growth.
According to Research and Markets, the Asia-Pacific region will dominate the digital PC games market in 2022, and this trend is projected to continue over the forecasted period. The Asia-Pacific PC gaming market will be fueled by rising disposable income and the growing popularity of online gaming.
Market Leaders in the Digital PC Games Market
Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), and Valve Corporation are among the main businesses in the digital PC games sector.
Valve Corporation, a privately held company, has established itself as one of the most original and breakthrough development organizations in the gaming industry.
Now that we’ve covered the global digital PC games market, let’s move on to our pick of the top 25 free PC games of 2023.
Best Free PC Games of 2023
1. Apex Legend
Apex Legend, which was published in 2019, is a free battle royale game in which players form teams of two or three individuals and choose from a range of characters, each with a unique power that impacts the team’s tactics. Its two gaming styles are Battle Royale and Arenas.
It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 752,000 visitor ratings on Google Play.
2. DOTA 2
Valve Corporation’s DOTA 2 is a huge multiplayer online game in which two teams of five players battle against each other. It was first released in 2013.
3. Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a multiplayer tactical first-person shooter game that was launched in August 2012. It includes new maps, characters, weapons, and game modes in addition to updated versions of classic Counter-Strike content.
Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment collaborated in its creation.
4. Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is a free online role-playing game developed by ArenaNet that features fast-paced action combat, full character customization, gorgeous scenery, a complex universe of engrossing stories, and PvP modes.
5. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a free-to-play MMORPG that places you at the center of your own story-driven narrative. It was released in 2011.
6. Path of Exile
Path of Exile was published in 2013 as a free online action role-playing video game for PC set in the dark fantasy land of Wraeclast. One of the game’s biggest aspects is the ability for the player to fully build his character.
Grinding Gear Games created and released it.
Path of Exile competes with popular games developed by corporations such as Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA).
7. PlanetSide 2
PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game that was launched in November 2012. In this game, up to 2000 people strive to capture a territory. Surprisingly, players can go by car, aircraft, or foot. The overall gameplay is pretty enjoyable, with thousands of people engaging in simultaneous fighting.
Rogue Planet Games designed the game, which was published by Daybreak Game Company.
8. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game that was released in March 2014. Hearthstone’s gameplay is primarily turn-based, but there are a variety of game variations. To carry out their strategies, each player employs cards that can be magic, weapons, heroes, or minions.
Blizzard Entertainment created and released the game. Based on 1.9 million visitor reviews, it has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play.
9. Fortnite Battle Royale
Epic Games’ Fortnite Battle Royale is a free-to-play battle royale game in which up to 100 people strive to be the last person standing.
It was first released in September of 2017.
10. RIFT
RIFT is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was published in 2011. The player of this game finds himself in Telara, a majestic kingdom under attack from powerful forces via rifts that appear all over the area. As a warrior with superhuman skills, the player’s mission is to defend Telara against the enemy’s invasion.
Trion Worlds created the game RIFT.
11. League of Legends
League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena video game that is also known as League. In this game, the player controls a character named “champion” who possesses a number of special abilities. If players wish to win, they must choose the most effective approach for taking down the opposing team’s base.
Riot Games created and released the game in 2009.
12. StarCraft 11: Wings of Liberty
StarCraft 11: Wings of Liberty, a free strategy game to download, transports you to a science fiction scenario where the ultimate goal is to dominate the universe. Blizzard Entertainment created and released it in 2010.
13. Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is a 2007 multiplayer first-person shooter game developed and released by Valve Corporation. In this game, the player must choose one of nine characters, each with unique abilities. The group game, which features around 30 participants, aims to eliminate the opposing squad.
14. Dauntless
Phoenix Labs’ Dauntless is an action role-playing video game. This third-person action game takes place in a fantastical universe where enormous animals known as Behemoths have been unleashed as a result of a terrible occurrence and are now posing a severe threat to the remaining humanity.
15. Spelunky
Spelunky is a cave exploration game inspired by traditional platform games, created by independent developer Derek Yu, in which the goal is to collect as much wealth as possible from the cave. The caves are procedurally constructed, making each experience unique.
The game was first made available to the general public on December 21, 2008.
Read More: 20 Best Video Games 2023
16. World of Tanks
World of Tanks is a massively multiplayer online game produced by the Belarusian business Wargaming Group Limited in which the user can manage up to 600 mid-century vehicles.
17. Paladins
Hi-Rez Studios’ Paladins game was launched on May 8, 2018. This is yet another excellent free PC game in the shooting game category. It is a first-person game with a fantastic atmosphere in which two teams compete against each other to achieve specific goals. Paladins’ different game types include siege, slaughter, and playoff.
18. Heroes of the Storm
Blizzard Entertainment created and published Heroes of the Storm. Control characters from the developer’s past games, such as Diablo, Warcraft, and StarCraft, in this game.
Its different game modes, numerous classes of heroes, and diverse battlefields ensure that gamers never get bored.
19. SMITE
SMITE is a free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game created and distributed by Hi-Rez Studios in 2014. In this game, players control a mythological character. There are about a hundred different pantheons accessible, ranging from Greek to Japanese. To defeat the other squad, players must choose their god or goddess and arm themselves correctly.
20. ArcheAge
ArcheAge is a 3D sandbox fantasy MMORPG developed by Korean developer Jake Song set in the medieval fantasy land of Erenor, where two factions, Nuia and Haranya, are constantly at odds. In this game, the player can form and manage his own state, acquire fame across the oceans, or gather friends and develop gigantic empires.
21. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, the acclaimed Dragon’s Dogma expansion, offers a gratifying action battle experience. It wasn’t available on PC until 2016. Dark Arisen introduces new foes, areas, and tasks while retaining all of the first game’s attraction for fans.
The game is lightweight, which is ideal for slow PCs.
22. World of Warships
World of Warships is a free-to-play multiplayer online game based on naval combat that was first launched for Microsoft Windows in 2015. Wargaming Group Limited and Lesta Studio collaborated in its creation.
On Google Play, it has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 523,000 user reviews.
23. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, created and marketed by CD Projekt, is a two-player turn-based card game that can run two to three rounds. Each player must own at least 25 cards and play one card at a time while misleading their opponent in order to win.
24. The Elder Scrolls: Legends
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is an award-winning free-to-play strategy card game based on the world and story of the Elder Scrolls series, developed by Dire Wolf Digital for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.
25. Aion: The Tower of Eternity
NCSoft, a South Korean firm, created and published Aion: The Tower of Eternity. This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is set in a post-apocalyptic world split apart by warring races.
This game shines in its ability to balance interactions between Player versus Player (PVP) and Player versus Environment (PvE).
Aion: The Tower of Eternity competes with popular video games developed by Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Sony Group Corporation (NTSE:SONY), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA).