2025 was a solid year for free-to-play game releases, with a handful of titles across genres consistently drawing players in. However, many free-to-play titles often decline significantly after the initial surge of interest upon release.

With 2025 being such a good year for new free-to-play games, it may be worth thinking about which ones are worth investing time in or perhaps even trying out for the first time as a new player. Here’s a roundup of the absolute best free-to-play releases of 2025 and how much value both new and returning players can get from them now, a year later.

Well, technically Marvel Rivals came out before 2025 and entered the hero shooter realm in December 2024. However, there is no doubt that from the start of 2025 and throughout the year, Marvel Rivals has easily been one of, if not the best, free-to-play team shooter available.

Marvel Rivals was an almost instant success, entering the hero shooter space when its biggest competitor (Overwatch) was at a low point. As a result, both hero shooter fans and those familiar with the Marvel IP flocked to the game. There were plenty of positives too – almost short wait times, a very generous roster at launch, full of recognizable characters that gave the game instant appeal.

The downsides were pretty minor, with the biggest issue being starting balance issues as many heroes felt pretty overwhelmed. Still, this game got off to a very good start right from the start, full of seasonal content updates, new hero releases, and cross-platform play.

Now, is Marvel Rivals worth playing in 2026? Absolutely! Even though initial player numbers have dropped significantly, this is normal for hero shooters and the game has definitely built a dedicated community of frequent players. Queue times remain significantly shorter than other titles in this space, and there are very frequent content updates with new seasons, heroes, maps and events.

The only slight downside is that the learning curve between new players and those who have played the game frequently is much, much more difficult. However, as long as you’re willing to put in the effort, it’s more than possible to catch up (especially for those who have experience with other hero shooters).

There’s a lot to enjoy for frequent players, and as long as new and long-time regulars are willing to put in the effort, they too will enjoy it just as much. Most importantly, Rivals is extremely generous with purchasable currencies and free unlockable skins via events. You can end up buying most of the same (unlimited-time) skins that players would have spent real money on by simply saving up units earned for free in every event and Battle Pass – and it’s the little things like this that count.

Gamers around the world were extremely excited for the release of EA Skate, a reboot of the popular “Skate” series and the first entry in the series since Skate 3 in 2010. Skate is very popular and is praised for its exceptionally entertaining gameplay, an accurate representation of skateboarding culture, a great soundtrack and satisfying tricks and missions.

Skate was a breath of fresh air at launch, offering a fun new option where players could gather in groups and shred skateparks together, complete co-op missions, and unlock cosmetics to customize their skater. There were also some pretty good songs on the soundtrack and some very fun skateparks like The Church and Rolling Waves. However, many players criticized the lack of content compared to older games as well as microtransactions for paid items. Still, the game enjoyed a decent community in its early stages, considering it was only in Early Access.

Unfortunately, EA Skate only had more problems as development progressed. There have been some nice updates along the way, including new tricks and some huge improvements to lighting and atmosphere, but unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives. The biggest issue is in-game microtransactions, particularly for features that the developers had previously claimed weren’t paid for, the introduction of one of the most tedious in-game battle pass systems I’ve seen to date, and the community’s general feeling that they as players weren’t valued and their feedback wasn’t being taken into account for further improvements.

Unfortunately, in 2026 it won’t be worth playing Skate long-term for most players. Much of the player base has declined quite significantly, and while there are still content updates, they are mostly minor – rotation of community parks (which were often riddled with bugs and major layout issues), new cosmetics, and very rarely new areas to skate. It can be fun to pick up for a check-in session every now and then, but I can’t recommend it for players looking for something for their main rotation unless you’re into skateboard sandbox gaming.

Splitgate: Arena Reloaded has the classic arena shooter atmosphere that so many players enjoy, complete with a unique portal mechanic that makes the IP special. The combination of portal techniques and high movement creates high levels of skill with the potential for some truly incredible moves. The game also seems to have some pretty strong nostalgia appeal for those who grew up with Halo, with many referring to the formula as “Halo with portals.”

However, Splitgate always seemed to have a smaller player base compared to other well-known shooters in the industry. Due to the mechanical skills the game requires, the learning curve is also quite steep, which can make getting into the title difficult for the first time.

Whether Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is worth playing in 2026 is somewhat uncertain. For players who enjoy games with portal mechanics and high skill expression, it may still prove to be a valuable choice. However, there are also things to consider such as a smaller matchmaking pool due to a generally smaller player base, some questionable graphics issues on some PCs, and very expensive skins despite having a smaller marketing reach/chances for collaborations and new content, as is the case with other games. It can be a decent game if you’re very interested in the mechanics, but it’s definitely more of a niche title, so you’ll need to keep that in mind if you’re planning on picking it up or jumping back in during 2026.

Delta Force is a hybrid FPS based on large-scale tactical warfare and extraction shooter mechanics. There are multiple game modes for players to try out, such as large conquest battles, extraction modes, and PvE/hybrid missions, so this flexibility can be a plus. The weapon implementation and recoil have been praised by players, and access to machines and vehicles such as helicopters and tanks offers even more possibilities to each game. These numerous game modes and the variety of weapons are one of Delta Force’s greatest strengths.

However, Delta Force also has some flaws, with issues such as map inconsistencies with empty terrain sections and long travel times proving to be problems. Some players have also complained that despite some strong mechanics, the game overall feels quite generic and repetitive. It was criticized for a lack of style or a strong visual identity, with the game not feeling “bad” so to speak, but not clearly standing out compared to other titles in the field. With all the different game modes, there’s also a lot going on that can be overwhelming for new players trying to get their head around the basics.

Even in 2026, Delta Force can still provide fun with the variety of game modes available, fun weapon customization, and beautiful graphics. However, there are currently significant issues that make it difficult to recommend people get started or to get started as a newbie. Most significantly, the community has reported an extremely sensitive cheating issue that is ruining the fun of the game for the dedicated community.

It’s the kind of game that can be fun if you grab a few friends and throw yourself into the mayhem, but it also has a learning curve, bot-inflated matches, and the infamous cheating problem. If you’re open to it, I recommend giving it a try, but don’t expect too much – you’ll probably have the most fun and have more pleasant surprises this way, as long as you can avoid the scammers.

A unique twist on your classic hero shooter, FragPunk utilizes a unique shard cards mechanic that ensures every round of combat feels completely fresh and different. The game is based on fast-paced gameplay with quick rounds, making it easy to jump in and play a few games. FragPunk also features a very stylized aesthetic that makes it unique. This bright, eye-catching neon style makes the game feel truly vibrant and immersive, which goes well with the quick rounds, ever-changing shard card play and fast-paced combat.

However, for some players, shard cards, as cool as they may seem, can be rather frustrating. They are also quite inconsistent, with some having the power to completely influence rounds, making players feel like the outcome of a game is sometimes out of their hands. There’s also a much smaller player community compared to other big hero shooter names, perhaps because the game prioritized newness over competitive depth – this isn’t for everyone, and many hero shooter fans grew tired pretty quickly and returned to the titles they were used to rather than making it part of their rotation.

In my opinion, FragPunk is only really worth picking up as a new or returning player in 2026 if you’re really bored with other well-known hero shooters on the market and are looking for something fun, chaotic and just a bit random that you don’t take too seriously. However, if you’re looking for more consistent updates, better balancing, and a more structured competitive experience, then you’re probably better off playing games like Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, Valorant, or Deadlock. If anything, FragPunk probably works best as a second pick that you add to your rotation for occasional play, rather than something you dedicate a lot of time to for the rest of 2026.