Best free PS5 games 2024

Call Of Duty Warzone
Call Of Duty Warzone (Image credit: Activision)

So, you've finally managed to acquire a PS5 — now it's just an issue of finding games to play. While different paid titles are all over, you might want to relax with something free to play if your budget is a little tight. So, we've rounded up the best PS5 games that can be played for free. There are a lot of shooters and cross-play games, but everyone can find something they'll want to check out. Some are even updated to take advantage of the PS5 DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. 

Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom is a charming adventure title that takes players down a nostalgic trip of PlayStation hardware while showcasing the different advanced features of the DualSense controller. Best of all? It's entirely free and comes preinstalled with your PS5.

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Astro's Playroom

An excellent launch title, Astro's Playroom features solid platforming, impressive haptic feedback, and some nostalgic easter eggs. Well worth your time.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/IP9100-PPSA01325_00-PREINMASTER00000" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Apex Legends

Apex Legends

(Image credit: Respawn)

With Apex Legends, Respawn Entertainment took the lessons learned from two Titanfall games and carried them forward into a unique battle royale. Smooth first-person combat is mixed up with special character-based abilities, so the balance of what your team can do makes or breaks your chances at victory. New seasons are being added all the time, bringing additional characters, changes to map selection, new modes, and more.

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Apex Legends

Respawn Entertainment's first-person combat transitions beautifully to battle royale. Pick your favorite characters from a wide cast and compete in a fast-changing, team-based tournament where only one crew can become Legends.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0006-CUSA12540_00-APEXLEGENDRSPWN1" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is one of the biggest free-to-play battle royale games around, with 150-player matches available. You can hop in solo or with some friends, thanks to full cross-play support. Verdansk, Rebirth, and Caldera are maps providing different experiences, but you can expect frenetic action regardless of which one you choose. Call of Duty: Warzone also brings together weapons and gear from Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Vanguard, with the upcoming Modern Warfare II also being integrated upon its release.

There are many modes available alongside the standard battle royale mode, including Plunder, Resurgence, and Payload; giving variation to the gameplay experience. With updates coming frequently, there will often be something new to dive into. Call of Duty Warzone is one of the most satisfying and polished battle royale games around. 

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Call of Duty: Warzone

This ongoing Call of Duty experience allows players to jump in and experience the latest guns, modes, and Operators. You can earn rewards through free items sprinkled into the Battle Pass, so you don't have to pay anything to unlock neat cosmetics.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0002-CUSA08829_00-CODWARZONE000001" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Dauntless

Have you ever wanted to play Monster Hunter in a bright, cartoon-like atmosphere? That's where Dauntless comes in. You and your team of Slayers hunt down other Behemoths, with cross-play ensuring platforms aren't a dividing factor. Upgrade your gear with newly crafted weapons and armor while working together.

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Dauntless

As a Slayer, take down the Behemoths threatening the world. Join guilds, use your rewards to craft new equipment, and enjoy this expansive free-to-play action RPG.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1477-CUSA15429_00-DAUNTLESSGAME000" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is such an expansive shooter from Bungie that it borders on being an MMO at this point. As Guardians, defend the Last City on Earth against the Darkness and other threats. New expansions aren't available for free, but the base version, referred to as New Light, allows you to try out a generous amount of Destiny 2's  content and figure out if it's your style of game.

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Destiny 2: New Light

Interested in seeing just what Destiny 2 is all about? You can try some free missions and side content in the "New Light" base version. Jump into strikes and year one content before committing to the large expansions. 

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0002-PPSA02409_00-DESTINYTHEGAME02" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Fortnite

Fortnite barely even warrants an introduction. It's ingrained into popular culture at a level few other games can match. Crossover characters like Darth Vader or Marvel superheroes are added on a limited basis, and huge events shake up the map. Fortnite isn't just battle royale — it's a cultural icon.

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Fortnite

While you'll be limited to the more basic skins and emotes, Fortnite doesn't require you to spend anything if you just want to have fun trying to become the victor in 100-player battle royale matches.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1477-CUSA07022_00-FORTNITETESTING1" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact has rapidly risen to become one of the best free PS5 games, with free content and new events constantly being added alongside a massive cast of characters to try and collect.

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Genshin Impact

You might not be able to get the characters you want easily, but if you're OK rolling the dice on unlocks, you never need to spend a penny to enjoy the adventurous world of Genshin Impact.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP6262-PPSA02562_00-OSRELSIEAGENSHIN" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

MultiVersus

Following in the footsteps of the popular Super Smash Bros. series, MultiVersus features a host of beloved characters from Warner Bros., including Batman, Shaggy and Bugs Bunny. The game debuted with excellent combat and huge potential, with more characters likely to be added in the future. 

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MultiVersus

With a host of well known characters and engaging combat, MultiVersus is an exciting fighting game that will surely keep growing over time. 

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1018-PPSA03189_00-MULTIVERSUS00000" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Rocket League

Rocket League is one of the most popular free-to-play games, and it continues to grow with new seasons bringing constant updates for players to enjoy. The game also received an update allowing it to run at 120 FPS on PS5.

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Rocket League

It's soccer meets cars. Rocket League is easy to understand but difficult to master, making it the perfect free game to try out if you're looking for a multiplayer game where you don't feel pressured to spend money.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2002-CUSA01163_00-ROCKETLEAGUENA01/" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Splitgate

Taking inspiration from the likes of Halo and Portal, Splitgate is a well-crafted sci-fi multiplayer shooter with a twist. Originally released on PC but revamped for PS5, players can interact with portals to get across the map quickly and flank enemies. Weapons can also be fired through them, with the game offering much more than simply shooting an opponent.

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Splitgate

Splitgate has a fun learning curve, with portals adding a unique element to a sci-fi shooter. Its player base grows extremely quickly, and updates are coming thick and fast.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP5988-CUSA26225_00-SPLITGATEPS40000" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

Warframe

Warframe places you in the role of Tenno, high-tech warriors who operate different Warframes. While it started small, this completely free-to-play sci-fi adventure has grown quite a bit thanks to Digital Extremes and is often considered a great alternative to Destiny 2.

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Warframe

Warframe isn't your traditional looter-shooter, but its dedicated audience has grown tremendously over the past few years. That's helped by the fact the entire game is free-to-play.

Buy From: <a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2097-CUSA00080_00-WARFRAMEFINAL001" data-link-merchant="store.playstation.com"">PlayStation

PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus isn't any one particular free game, obviously, but it is a subscription service that grants players access to PlayStation multiplayer for any paid games and offers a rotating variety of free games every month. 

So if you're looking for new free games to play and you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, make sure you check the monthly offerings. Higher tier packages will allow you to access bigger libraries of games for a specific month, while PS5 owners also get access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, a selection of PS4 games that are free and don't expire as long as you're subscribed.

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PlayStation Plus 1-month subscription

PlayStation Plus is a paid subscription, but it gives you new free games every month. It's a great way to save some cash if you're looking for a variety of stuff to play.

Buy From: <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=169923&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FPlayStation-Plus-Month-Membership-Digital%2Fdp%2FB017V6YVDC%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Amazon

Have fun!

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No matter what you choose to grab, there's tons of fun to be had on your PS5 without spending anything, with these top picks being great to play in between the best PS5 games. These expansive free-to-play games don't demand extra cash to get hundreds of hours of fun, and there are always new events or content coming. If you haven't got a new console yet, don't despair — PS5 restocks are constantly happening, so while supply is limited, your chances of grabbing one will only go up as time goes on.

Samuel Tolbert

Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on PlayStation on Android Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert