Let’s face it., video games are expensive. If you want a triple-A open-world game, you’ll probably have to drop $60-$70, further destroying your wallet. But don’t worry, there are plenty of high-quality open-world games you may play right now for free.

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No one will blame you if you’re a little skeptical when you hear “free-to-play.” The term doesn’t have the best reputation due to all the shovelware out there. But if you look past the stigma, you’ll find plenty of fun titles that let you play for hundreds of hours without spending hundreds of dollars.

10Piratopia Lets You Conquer The Ocean

Here’s a great choice if you want somefast-paced pirate action. Piratopia is a top-down adventure game with roguelike elements where the vast open sea is yours to explore and plunder. The goal is to navigate the dangerous waters and steal as much treasure as possible by battling other players.

Any treasure you loot can be used to upgrade your ship and craft special weapons. If you’re feeling generous, you may team up with other players to take on bigger pirate ships or massive sea monsters. But be careful because you’ll lose some of your resources if you die.

Piratopia - Three Pirate Ships Sail The Ocean

9Fishing Planet Is A Relaxing Experience

With so many action-packed open-world titles, sometimes it’s nice to have a cozy experience to break up the pace. Welcome to Fishing Planet, a relaxing game with many serene lakes to explore and catch fish.

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Fishing Planet - A Person Fishing At A Peaceful Lake Surrounded By Trees.

This is one of the most realistic free-to-play games you’ll ever find. The environments are highly detailed and stunning to look at. There are over 170 species of fish to catch, each with complex AI that will change the fish’s behavior depending on the weather, season, time of day, etc. It’s a nice way to unwind after a long day.

8The Lord Of The Rings Online Is Perfect For Tolkien Fans

It’s an oldie but a goodie. The Lord Of The Rings Online launched in 2007, and it holds up surprisingly well thanks to its immersive world and lore-accurate plot. Whether you’re a casual or dedicated fan of Tolkien’s work, you’ll love exploring Middle-earth and seeing all the famous locations from the story.

The gameplay is exactly what you’d expect from an MMO. The combat is fast-paced, you’re able to craft weapons and armor, and there are a wide variety of classes and play styles to pick from. The world is enormous and so faithful to the source material that it’ll feel like you were sucked into the book.

The Lord Of The Rings Online - A dark knight riding a black horse toward the screen.

7PlanetSide 2 Is An Action-Packed First-Person Shooter

Picture this: thousands of people are dropped on an alien planet for a giant fight to the death with all the weapons and vehicles they could want. That’s PlanetSide 2 in a nutshell. It’s a Sci-Fi first-person shooter where you and your team battle other players for control of the map.

When you start, you pick one of three factions to join, each with its own backstory and unique arsenal of weapons. Battles are fast-paced and intense, with an extensive lineup of customizable weapons and vehicles you can use to annihilate your opponents.

PlanetSide 2. Poster of different characters, all wearing variations of armor.

6Tower Of Fantasy Is An Epic Adventure

If you like Genshin Impact,Tower Of Fantasyis similar, with some new twists. The year is 2316. Earth is falling apart, so it’s up to you to travel to an alien planet and establish a human colony. The world is completely open for you to explore. you’re able to follow the main quest, or venture off to discover the planet’s many secrets.

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The combat features hack-and-slash mechanics that let you rack up powerful combos quickly. Each weapon has an elemental ability that’s either strong or weak against enemies, similar to Pokemon’s type advantages. If you like fantasy adventures, this one is worth a shot.

5Muck Is A Challenging Survival-Roguelike

What ifMinecraftwas a roguelike? That’s the premise of Muck. It’s a first-person survival game where you hunt for resources to repair your ship while mowing down hoards of enemies. The catch is that if you die, you lose everything.

Muck is perfect if you likegames where you can build things. During the daytime, you farm for resources, craft weapons and armor, and build forts. When the sun goes down, the monsters and bosses come out, and they won’t stop until you’ve killed them all. Think you can survive the night?

Tower of Fantasy - The Party Members Preparing For Battle

4Genshin Impact Is A Must-Play For Zelda Fans

Let’s address the elephant in the room.Genshin Impactis very reminiscent of Breath Of The Wild. But its anime aesthetic, multiple playable characters, and RPG elements make it stand out. The game shines thanks to its expansive world filled with enemies, secrets, puzzles, quests, and massive bosses.

There are so many characters to unlock, each with unique abilities that open new possibilities for exploration. you’re able to have four characters in your party and switch between them instantly. While the gacha mechanics hold it back a bit, it’s still a solid adventureif you like Tears Of The Kingdomor Breath Of The Wild.

Muck - The Main Character Running In A Golden Field While Holding An Axe

3RuneScape Is A Timeless Classic

Anyone who grew up in the early 2000s will rememberRuneScape. This classic MMO launched nearly two decades ago, and its community is still alive and well. There are two versions available to play: the classic Old School RuneScape and the newer RuneScape 3.

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Both versions offer vast medieval fantasy worlds with a diverse lineup of quests to complete and monsters to destroy. The original one is the way to go if you want a more laid-back and relaxed experience. If you want more enhanced graphics and quality-of-life improvements, the newer version is for you.

2Trove Is An Outstanding Dungeon Crawler

Trove is an excellent action MMO to play with friends. The game combines building and crafting mechanics with dungeon crawling. The world is massive, with many dungeons to explore. You can play this game for hours and never get bored.

The level of freedom you get is staggering. You can explore the world, find new gear, and take on challenging boss fights. Or you can take a break to build a house and do some crafting. Want to make a sword made out of bacon? You can! If you can imagine it, you can probably create it.

Genshin Impact - The Main Cast Standing Back To Back

1Star Wars: The Old Republic Is The Best Free Open-World Game

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away came a must-play for Star Wars fans. Set 3,000 years before the films,Star Wars: The Old Republicfleshes out the lore with a compelling story and allows you to explore the universe however you want.

The gameplay is a mix of dogfights and on-foot combat. There are eight classes to choose from, each with a variety of unique abilities. There’s just one question left: will you be a Jedi or a Sith? There are plenty of decisions to make throughout the story that will change the course of your path.

Runescape - A Bustling Town With A Dragon Statue

Trove - A Blue background with many different Trove characters shown.

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Official Art Depicting The Main Cast Preparing For Battle