Free-to-play games are by nature extremely popular, especially at launch, allowing anyone with the correct gaming platform and an internet connection to download the game and jump straight into the fun, all at no cost.
RELATED:The Best Free-To-Play Games On PC
In recent years many more games have been released as free-to-play or have subsequently made the switch, jumping on the success of the model, which sees money be primarily made from microtransactions and battle passes. As the competition gets even more fierce, and time goes by, many once-popular free-to-play games have seen drastic drop-offs in player counts and are almost dead.
2015
63,740*
129*
Kingdom: Classicis acozy management gamethat harkens back to the times of internet browser games. It is a 2D sidescroller set in a fantasy medieval kingdom, complete with beautiful pixel art.
Players will take on the role of king or queen and must make every coin count as they gallop through the procedurally generated world. While the game once peaked quite high in late 2017, there are now only around a hundred players on at once.
2019
67,724*
824*
There are manygreat free-to-play shooterson the market, which means any new shooters must feature unique twists in order to draw players in. This is something thatSplitgatewas able to achieve with its incorporation of portals, similar to those found in the iconicPortalseries.
RELATED:Splitgate: Best Tips To Win Juggernaut Matches
With portals, players can surprise enemies with flanks and fly high through the map, but sadlySplitgate’s own heights were soon cut short and hardly anyone is playing the game these days.
2020
76,273*
1,197*
Bless Unleashedis an MMORPG that was originally released on consoles, but soon found its way onto PC. Despite enjoying a few months of popularity after release,Bless Unleashedsoon saw its player base decline.
While the game doesn’t have too many faults, there are manyfantastic MMORPGsto compete with andBless Unleasheddoesn’t appear to have offered anything too unique.
2018
104,557*
908*
Realm Royalewas one of the manygreat battle royale gamesto release in the wake of the genre’s big boom. LikeFortnite, it is a third-person shooter with light-hearted cartoonish graphics. However, it differs from the giant in numerous ways.
RELATED:Best Co-Op Games You Can Play On Steam For Free
For example, players can choose from a range of classes, including mage, hunter, warrior, assassin, and engineer, all of which dictate how the game is played. The game also has a fantasy medieval aesthetic which includes mounts players can travel around on. However, despite once enjoying some popularity,Realm Royale Reforgedis now almost dead.
150,179*
1,365*
Z1 Battle Royale, previously known asH1Z1, is considered to be the first proper battle royale game, spawning from a king of the hill mode forH1Z1. For many years it enjoyed great success before it was overtaken by games such asPUBG: BattlegroundsandFortnite.
While the game looked like it would soon be dead, a new management team is attempting to restore the game to its classic roots and a small resurgence in returning players has been seen. Like anyvideo game remakethough, only time will tell ifZ1 Battle Royalewill be able to return to its former glory.
2022
153,044*
467*
MultiVersustook the gaming world by storm back in July 2022 with its incredible cast of crossover characters. In this fighting game, players can play as a whole variety of unlikely heroes from LeBron James and Batman toGame of Thrones’Arya Stark and even Bugs Bunny.
Even complete with themed stages, this was not enough to retain the interests of its player base andMultiVersushas since seen an overwhelming drop-off in player count.
202,254*
2,677*
Dota Underlordsis an auto-battler, or auto-chess game, and uses characters and themes fromDota 2. On launch, the game which was inspired by a community game mode forDota 2, was able to bring in many players, but interest soon dwindled.
One reason whyDota Underlordsis almost a dead game is that it cannot compete with the size and success ofTeamfight Tactics, which isLeague of Legends' take on the genre.TFThas a lot more depth, which players will need advanced tips for.
