Free-to-play games are enticing options on the PlayStation 5, and this category of projects has drastically shifted in recent years. With the explosive popularity of titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, many games want to adopt a free-to-play formula.
The greatest free-to-play titles can keep someone engaged for potentially months at no cost. Some have visuals and gameplay that compare favorably to full-priced projects; even if those titles are the exception, quite a few freebies are perfect for short play sessions. Here are some of the best free PS5 games.
A few popular PS4 games will be included since they can be played on the PS5. Also, while the rankings are generally based on quality, newly released titles will initially be placed at the top.
Updated April 6, 2025, by Mark Sammut: March ended up not featuring any notable free PS5 games, largely due to FragPunk delaying its console versions to an undisclosed point in the future. That news was a bit disappointing due to it coming out just a few days before the game was set to launch, but PlayStation 5 owners can always turn their attention to the many, many other freebies available in the store.
1 Marvel Rivals
A Marvelous Hero Shooter
Marvel Rivals
- Released
- December 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- Impressive Roster Of Heroes And Villains
- Familiar But Solid Gameplay
Hero shooters have been cold for a few years. However, the genre is still visible enough that one exciting release could turn the tide, and Marvel Rivals is shaping up to be that game. Obviously, the big-name license helps, but the presence of Spider-Man and The Hulk would not matter that much if they were trying to carry an otherwise underwhelming release. Fortunately, NetEase's multiplayer game is built upon a strong foundation that wisely takes lessons from the best hero shooters of all time, primarily Overwatch.
Marvel Rivals: Easiest Heroes For Beginners
For those just starting out in Marvel Rivals, here are easiest heroes for beginners to make use of.
Marvel Rivals looks and plays great, offering conventional 6v6 matches that emphasize teamwork along with the three-class system. At launch, the game has three modes (Domination, Convoy, and Convergence) that are fairly typical for the genre, but they are enhanced by well-designed maps and 30+ recognizable characters who are quite well-defined.
2 Genshin Impact
Ambitious Open-World With Great Combat & Lot Of Content
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- Great Real-Time Combat
- Gorgeous World & Fun Exploration
- A Lot Of Content
- Free Characters Are Generally Enough For The Story
- Gacha Mechanics Can Be Frustrating
There are only a handful of single-player role-playing games that are free, and Genshin Impact is one of the most popular projects of all time. The game is story-based and includes some multiplayer options, but it is largely intended to be played as a solo action RPG experience.
To make Genshin Impact stand out even more from the crowd, it is an open-world game. The gameplay and freedom of exploration are phenomenal, and the game has grown exponentially since its debut. There is already a ton to do in Genshin Impact and this universe will only expand further in the future.
3 Infinity Nikki
A Lovely Stroll
Infinity Nikki
- Released
- December 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Papergames, Infold Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Open-World, Dress-Up, RPG
- Gorgeous Visuals
- Exploration Is The Priority
- So Many Great Outfits
Making the jump from mobile exclusivity to consoles and PC, Infinity Nikki is a glorious triumph and comfortably one of the best PS5 free games. Set in a beautiful open-world, Infold and Papergames' project is a sight to behold even at the worst of times, and it runs pretty well considering its ambition and size. More importantly, the game is the definition of cozy, guiding players through a tension-free adventure that emphasizes exploration, wardrobe customization, and NPC interaction.
Regardless of whether someone is a long-time fan of the franchise or is donning their first outfit ever, Infinity Nikki should have something to offer them, as long as they are primarily craving a slow-life adventure with minimal combat and limited danger. Although it is still in its early days, Infinity Nikki seems like a free project that will be around for a long time.
4 Throne And Liberty
The Big 2024 MMORPG
Throne and Liberty
- Released
- October 1, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- NCSoft
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
- Shapeshift System
- Modern Take On Classic MMO Formula
The MMORPG genre can feel static. New entries are rare since they require such a substantial investment of time and money, all the while coming with a huge chance of failure. Not many releases succeed spectacularly, but the ones that do refuse to die and remain available in some form or another for potentially decades. Although still in its infancy, Throne and Liberty seems set to be a mainstay, offering an exciting modern take on the classic MMO formula found in titles like Lineage. Just to be crystal clear, this free PS5 game is very much a multiplayer experience, to the point that players will need to interact with others through guilds. That's not to say Throne and Liberty does not support solo adventures, but they are not the default or extremely encouraged.
Throne and Liberty: All Available Dash Morphs
These are all the Dash Morphs in Throne and Liberty, and how to get them.
Throne and Liberty manages a few impressive things that make it a worthwhile recommendation for both veteran and new MMO players. For one, the world is gorgeous and quite diverse, containing plenty of incredible vistas and cities. The map is essentially open-world, although it will take a while to gain access to everything. The combat comes with a bit of a learning curve, but it should eventually click; if it does not, players should try out a few different class combos as they can make a considerable difference. Finally, traversal revolves around the ability to shapeshift into various animals, a mechanic that is freeing and arguably the best part of the whole package.
Throne and Liberty's performance on PS5 can be inconsistent.
5 Astro's Playroom
A Celebration Of PlayStation's History
Astro's Playroom
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Asobi
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Short But Sweet
- Tribute To PlayStation's History
There is a perfect chance that Astro's Playroom will be most people's first PS5 game; after all, it comes installed on the console. Despite lasting roughly 3–4 hours, this 3D platformer is the best free PS5 game and one of the best pack-in titles ever. For the most part, Astro's Playroom showcases the DualSense's capabilities, with each of the four zones utilizing different gimmicks that emphasize the controller's immersion and touch controls. Even all these years later, Team Asobi's title arguably still makes the most impressive use of the DualSense.
Beyond functioning as a technical showcase, Astro's Playroom is just a delightful love letter to PlayStation's history. As players run through the vibrant and gorgeous zones, they will gradually unlock artifacts relating to a console generation and discover plenty of cute Easter Eggs. The gameplay is also pretty darn solid and goes through enough changes to remain interesting. The game even has a couple of spectacular boss fights.
6 Rocket League
The Perfect Short-Sessions Free Game
Rocket League
- Released
- July 7, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Perfect Game For Short Play Sessions
- Awesome & Accessible Gameplay
- Can Enjoy Without Spending A Dime
Although initially a premium product, Rocket League eventually went free-to-play, a decision that further cemented it as one of the industry's most successful projects. It's a vehicular soccer game that has been called a blend of racing, soccer, basketball, and hockey. On paper, this concept might sound ridiculous; in execution, it is fantastic. Arguably the best free PS5 game for quick sessions, Rocket League is the ultimate casual option, the type of game that someone can launch when they have 30 minutes to kill but no idea what to play. More often than not, they will have a fun time.
With steadier framerates, playing Rocket League on PlayStation 5 might give people a competitive edge. While a native PS5 version seems likely to never materialize, that should not deter players from giving this sports phenomenon a try via backward compatibility. It runs splendidly and looks pretty good for this sort of project.
7 Honkai: Star Rail
For Those Who Prefer Their Gacha With Turn-Based Combat
Honkai: Star Rail
- Released
- April 26, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Turn-Based RPG
- Stylish Turn-Based Combat
- Each World Has A Well)-Defined Identity
- Gacha Mechanics Can Be Frustrating
Sticking with HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail will likely appeal to most fans of Genshin Impact, although the free-to-play PS5 game is hardly a retread of the developer's smash hit. Dipping into sci-fi territory, Honkai casts players as the Trailblazer, an agent who will find himself visiting a range of planets that each come with their own ecosystems, politics, and storylines. Naturally, the protagonists won't be flying solo during these missions, and they will be accompanied by a couple of free characters along with a fairly robust selection of unlockables.
Honkai: Star Rail – Best Support Characters, Ranked
Discover the top-ranked support characters in Honkai: Star Rail for optimal gameplay.
Similar to Genshin Impact, Honkai is a gacha game, so players will need to spin the wheel to acquire most of the characters (along with equipment). While this can be a time and money sink, the game dishes out rewards at a decent rate, and it is usually possible to play through the core content without having to invest any hard cash. HoYoVerse is also consistent with updates, so there is usually always something on the horizon to look forward to. At the moment, the campaign has three main zones/areas, all of which serve up mini-adventures. None of them are open-worlds or particularly expansive, but they provide some room for exploration.
Unlike Genshin Impact's real-time action, Honkai: Star Rail utilizes turn-based combat that takes inspiration from many JRPG masterpieces while still finding its own voice. Battles are visually stunning, and they tend to move at a quick pace. The system has nuances as well, especially since each character comes with unique strengths, weaknesses, and classes that need to be taken into account when forming a 4-member party.
8 Smite 2
A New Era For The MOBA Genre
SMITE 2
- Released
- August 27, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Titan Forge Games
- PS5 Release Date
- January 14, 2025
- Genre(s)
- MOBA
The sequel to 2014's highly-successful MOBA, Smite 2 has led an uneven life so far, with the game entering open beta to a fairly divisive initial impression. In early 2025, the game made its free-to-play PS5 debut, which was a relatively big deal since Sony's console does not have all that many native MOBAs in its library. For all its polarizing elements, Smite 2 has quite a few strengths in its favor, including a massive roster of gods and a combat system that managed to adapt its predecessor's loop to a 3D perspective.
Now, Smite 2 is still very much a work in progress, and it has more than a few rough edges that will hopefully be removed over the coming months and years. If somebody is not a huge fan of MOBAs, they might not get too much of this sequel. Meanwhile, die-hard fans of the original title will find that Smite 2 retains quite a bit of its charm, but still has a unique identity that might or might not be for them.
9 Valorant
Riot's Tactical Shooter Is Finally On Consoles
Valorant
- Released
- June 2, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Riot Games
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
It took a while to happen, but Valorant finally made its PS5 debut in August 2024. Riot's hero shooter has been a staple of the PC multiplayer scene for a few years by this point, and it is generally seen as a tactical alternative to something like Overwatch. For the most part, that is true, with the project implementing hero-shooter elements with a heavy focus on teamwork and fairly conventional gunplay.
Games To Play If You Love Valorant
Those who can't get enough of the competitive FPS goodness in Valorant, then they will love these similar games.
While obviously popular and somewhat accessible, Valorant has a pretty steep learning curve that can be off-putting at first. Players are expected to coordinate with their teammates, and people who decide to do their own thing will quickly find out that such actions are rarely rewarded. The agents are also quite diverse and require practice to master, so new players might need to spend some time trying out different characters to see which one fits them the best.
10 The Finals
Solid Gunplay & Environmental Destruction
The Finals
- Released
- December 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Embark Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Arena Destruction
- Teamwork
Although it had been coming for a while, The Finals unexpectedly launched during the 2023 Game Awards, offering PS5 owners another first-person shooter they can play for free. The multiplayer market for these types of games is oversaturated, but Embark's title does enough to set itself apart from the crowd. Matches are presented as showcases on a competitive TV show, and the game has essentially two modes that play somewhat differently.
The Finals: Best Medium Weapons, Ranked
The best Medium weapons in The Finals Season 4 meta are well-rounded and heavily dominate competitive play.
One of the options pits four teams against each other as they try to accumulate cash, which involves transporting money to a specific location. This comes in different flavors since The Finals offers both ranked and casual versions. While taking inspiration from popular PvP modes of the past, this take is still fairly unique for the genre, even if it has some issues that will hopefully be ironed out over the coming months. Bank it is somewhat similar, although it is a bit more of a free-for-all.
The Finals will hopefully be around for a long time. The combat and movement are generally fine, although players might want to tweak the settings to find a responsiveness that feels good to them. They should also try all three classes since they play very differently from each other. Along with decent gunplay, the game heavily emphasizes destructible environments, a feature that allows for a more tactical and experimental approach.