The live-service market is full to the brim with games of all shapes and sizes. There truly is something for everyone, whether players are interested in large-scale MMOs or just some quick FPS matches, and with the new year rolling in, now is as good a time as any to jump into some of the best games the space has to offer.
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For many people, live-service games carry a certain stigma, one that revolves around cancellations, closures, and poor product support. However, despite the many struggles and failures, there are still so many great games out there for players to enjoy that will keep them invested for years to come.
While we will mainly focus on existing live-service games, two upcoming titles are also included.
League Of Legends
Patch After Patch
Details:
- Bi-weekly updates ranging from balance changes to content drops
- Constant meta shifts and endless options to choose and learn
League of Legends is a titan in the gaming world, bringing in insane player and viewership numbers ever since it released over a decade ago. There is a lot to learn, and for new players, the amount of items, champions, mechanics, and additional pieces of information can be pretty overwhelming, turning many potential fans away purely from data overload.
However, over the past few years, the game has slowly moved into a far more accessible space, with new features and changes making a lot of the otherwise challenging elements feel a lot more manageable. More recently, the developers have been experimenting with WASD controls, which should make picking up the game a lot easier for players used to the more standard control schemes. On top of this, there are constant patches that bring new content into the game every few weeks, meaning that there will always be something new to try and learn down the line.
ARC Raiders
Defining The Extraction Shooter Space
Details:
- Fresh shooter with a lot of hype and success behind it
- Content roadmaps already in place
ARC Raiders has exploded onto the shooter scene, changing how many people see extraction shooters and live-service games as a whole. With a unique setting and a satisfying gameplay loop, it is pretty hard not to love the game, and while the genre is normally considered pretty competitive and hardcore, the experience is actually tailored far more to casual users than many other titles in the space.
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The reason now is a great time to give it a try is because of how new and fresh the game still is. The initial wave of hype has died down slightly, but the player base is still going strong, helped largely by the outlined content roadmap and the overall enjoyment that comes from every single match. It is clear that Embark has big plans for the game, and for players who may have previously shown no interest in extraction shooters, it is the perfect way of trying one for the first time.
Valorant
If MOBAs Aren't For You
Details:
- Easy to learn yet hard to master
- Iterative changes that offer enough incentive to keep playing
Valorant is Riot's second big IP, but that doesn't mean it falls behind League in any regard. Taking inspiration from many other games in the tactical shooter genre, the game combines class-based abilities with responsive gunplay, delivering an experience that is perfect for both casual and competitive players.
The new calendar year has ushered in yet another season reset, letting players start their climbs again or start their ranked journey for the first time. Also, while the core gameplay remains fairly similar from patch to patch, there are always subtle additions like skins and balance changes that keep the game fresh and enjoyable for players who want to stick around for the long haul.
Counter-Strike 2
The Premier Multiplayer Shooter
Details:
- Best state the game has ever been in
- Stable balance state with so much content to help new players
Persevering at the top of the multiplayer gaming space for another year, CS2 delivers the most well-designed and perfected shooter experience on the planet. The switch over from CSGO may have been rocky, but the game has slowly been brought in line with the expectations of the players, from a gameplay perspective and a visual one as well.
For players who have never even tried CS2, it is arguably one of the best live-service games to get into, as the gameplay is incredibly easy to understand and learn, and the core mechanics have stayed basically the same since the early days of the series. If players prefer a slower, more tactical experience, there is basically no other game that can rival Valve's shooter titan.
Warframe
Taking Sci-Fi To New Heights
Details:
- Large updates year-round
- F2P structure that never leans into paywalls
Warframe has managed to carve out a niche in the shooter world that virtually no other game can even come close to. It is easily one of the best shooter RPGs out there, having everything a player could want from story to epic gameplay, and it only seems to get better with each passing year.
What makes it a great choice in 2026 is the insane amount of content that continues to arrive with every update. The content drops come in waves, some small, but others much larger in scale, which means that new players have an enormous amount of gameplay to get through, and will have so much more waiting for them down the line.
No Man's Sky
Space Has Never Looked So Good
Details:
- Huge additions every few months
- Most cohesive game state after countless updates
Going from one of gaming's biggest mistakes to arguably the best space game ever made, No Man's Sky has gone through the best redemption arc in gaming history. The open universe is hard to describe without experiencing it directly; rather than being empty and devoid of life, it is instead full to the brim of interesting planets and places to discover.
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The product that exists today is magnitudes better than the one at launch, and the developers continue to outline their plans that involve additional mechanics and entirely new ways to play. Right now, the game strikes a balance between depth and accessibility, having enough content to fill a whole lifetime, whilst making it easy to get into for players willing to take the plunge.
Genshin Impact
Your Next Gaming Addiction
Details:
- Frequent releases to satisfy new and returning players
- Expansive story arcs and late-game content
Genshin Impact remains one of the best live-service games on the planet, thanks to its massive, ever-expanding open landscapes that are full to the brim with quests, stories, and real-time events. The gameplay is visually stunning, combining RPG progression with intense action to keep players invested during every single session.
The free-to-play model means that players can experience the whole story and beyond without spending a single penny. It is also very easy to get into and play for dozens if not hundreds of hours, and that's without factoring in the constant drops of content that continue to fill the world with even more things to do.
Fortnite
Changing Live-Service Forever
Details:
- Satisfying gameplay loop with very few barriers to entry
- Cosmetic drops and interesting map changes
Love or hate it, Fortnite is the poster child for how to do live-service design right. No paywalls or DLC aside from cosmetics, and regular changes to the game that can be anything from minor gameplay additions to sweeping map changes that completely alter how the matches play out.
Over time, the game has evolved immensely, with more creator tools and modes that go beyond the traditional battle royale, adding even more ways to play alone and with others. It doesn't matter who is trying the game; there will be something to love and enjoy, all without needing to pay extra or download unnecessary add-ons.
Upcoming Live-Service Game: Highguard
Something New For The Hero Shooter Space
Details:
- Impressive shooter from seasoned developers
- Intriguing setting and world design
Highguard might just be the next big name in the FPS genre. Coming from veteran developers who worked on Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends, the game is looking to bring something new to the space, introducing the world to a whole new set of characters in an entirely new setting.
Unlike other new FPS games trying to make a name for themselves, Highguard is going to be a cut above the rest, thanks to the track record of the developers working on it. So many players have been itching for Titanfall 3, but this game could potentially be exactly what fans have been eagerly waiting for countless years.
Upcoming Live-Service Game: Hytale
Coming back From The Grave
Details:
- Blending sandbox freedom with RPG elements
- Active development from passionate players
Hytale is a name that many people will have heard but completely forgotten about. Development began back in 2015, and after the studio was purchased by Riot in 2020, it seemed like things could only go well for the game when it finally launched. However, in mid-2025, Riot announced its cancellation, sparking a huge community rally to revive the game and bring it into the players' hands after such a long time.
Thankfully, the project has been reunited with the founders and is now ready for early access, with many hoping for the RPG Minecraft-esque experience that was promised all those years ago. Being a brand-new game means that the whole community can rally together and learn the ropes in unison, making it the perfect title for anyone looking for their next favourite RPG.
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