Summary

  • The Finals, a new first-person shooter, has surpassed big names like Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite, becoming the top free game on Xbox.
  • The game combines innovation and familiarity, appealing to both seasoned players and newcomers, and redefining expectations for top-tier free games.
  • The fast-paced gunplay and comprehensive destruction in The Finals showcase a promising direction for future multiplayer shooters.

The Finals, a new first-person shooter, has surpassed some of the biggest names on Xbox in the United Kingdom and United States. This remarkable achievement comes just weeks after The Finals' surprise release announced during The Game Awards, marking a significant milestone for Embark Studios, the former developers of Battlefield.

The Finals debuted to big numbers and began rapidly carving out a name for itself in the first-person shooter genre. Setting a new standard in competitive shooters, The Finals innovates with a multi-team setup, enhanced by animated crowds and commentators. This unique approach energizes firefights, adding a fresh twist to its Battlefield DNA, even as it navigates some AI voice work critiques.

The Finals has clinched the coveted "Top Free Game" spot on Xbox, surpassing current giants like Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite, and garnering favorable reviews from critics. This acclaim highlights the game's masterful mix of innovation and familiarity that appeals to both seasoned FPS veterans and newcomers. Effectively bridging the gap between innovation and tradition has helped The Finals rise to the top of the charts and redefine what players expect from a top-tier free game on major platforms like Xbox.

Top 5 Free Games on Xbox

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  • The Finals
  • LEGO Fortnite
  • Call of Duty: Warzone
  • Fortnite
  • Roblox

The Finals' game modes like Quick Cash combine strategy and chaos, as teams battle for cash-filled vaults, while comprehensive destruction adds to The Finals' excitement. The standout feature lets players demolish almost any element in the environment, from walls to entire buildings, using an array of gadgets and abilities to navigate and alter the battlefield. For veteran players, the game offers enough new challenges and gameplay twists to rekindle their interest in the genre, while new players find the game approachable due to its intuitive incorporation of classic FPS elements.

At its core, The Finals' ability to stand out with its fast-paced gunplay showcases a promising direction for future multiplayer shooters. However, The Finals' rise to the top hasn't been without challenges like movement speed, reported to be slow, sluggish, and unresponsive, underscoring the need for balancing speed and maneuverability with the game's strategic depth. Addressing these concerns goes beyond simply tweaking the games' mechanics to enhancing the overall player experience in terms of competitiveness and enjoyability.

A slew of new combat-centered content and updates to The Finals' settings will heighten engagement and excitement within the gaming community, as The Finals embarks on its inaugural season. This is a game that has built its identity around fast-paced, strategic combat, and the new updates are expected to deepen these aspects. The developers' commitment to continuous improvement and responsiveness to community feedback could help The Finals evolve from a promising newcomer to a trailblazer in the world of first-person shooters.

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The Finals Tag Page Cover Art

The Finals
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FPS
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 85%
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Released
December 8, 2023
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Violence
Developer(s)
Embark Studios
Publisher(s)
Embark Studios
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Viewers at home, here's the news you've been waiting to hear: THE FINALS is accepting new contestants, and that means YOU! That's right, soon the world could be watching YOU tear apart our newest dynamic arenas and seize everlasting fame!

As you know, THE FINALS is the world's greatest free-to-play combat game show! Our contestants plug in to our virtual world and join teams in escalating tournaments. They fight it out in our beautifully-rendered arenas based on real-world locations that they can alter, exploit, and even destroy.

Sure, you can aim and shoot, but contestants that add our carefully curated virtual environments to their arsenal are more likely to advance, so do anything you can imagine in the name of victory! Burn arenas to the ground! Send wrecking balls crashing into your opponents! Don't just pull triggers - pull down buildings!

Genre(s)
FPS