What We Liked..
Generous free to play model
Large playerbase
Steady stream of updates and content
Great sandbox
.. and what we didn't
Not solo friendly
Lacks content diversity
Large world but feels empty
Genre: mmorpg
Setting: fantasy, historical
Graphics: full 3D
PvP: guild or factions matches or duels PvE PvP
When it comes to free to play sandbox MMORPGs, Albion Online stands out. Its top-down isometric gameplay, low-polygonal graphics, huge game world and immersive sandbox systems are its core strengths that keeps its healthy playerbase coming back for more. In Albion, players will grow their classless characters into farmers, crafters, traders or sell-swords, depending on what you want to do which means there's literally something for everyone. While its progression systems are deep and complex, it offers long-term grinds that are worth the effort. Unfortunately, solo players will find it hard to progress far in PvE if they dislike PvP, while large guilds and factions will dominate the economy in different parts of Albion. Overall, it's a solid free to play MMORPG.
What We Liked..
One of the best space sim MMOs to-date
Plenty of content
ships and players
Huge battles are stories worth experiencing
.. and what we didn't
Can be too complex for new players
Grindy in-between fun moments
EVE Online is a legendary space simulation MMO that first launched in 2003. The game puts players in a compelling visual game world that's all about conquering space for your race, corporation and faction. With almost two decades worth of content and updates, EVE Online offers PvE and PvP that's unique in the genre, where both solo players and large guilds can carve our their own fun and history through huge battles where everything is at stake, in addition to exploration, economy, crafting and more. While it's an intricately complex game to get into for new players, the time investment pays off in the long run if you have an end goal in mind. The game is free to play and its microtransactions aren't that intrusive. Overall, it's still a household MMO title and worth playing even today.
What We Liked..
Interesting premise for a game
Good use of MMO elements
Nice visuals
.. and what we didn't
Poor performance optimization
Lacks control customization
RAM Pressure is a turn-based tactical squad strategy game in the mold of XCOM. It's free to play and players will pick either the USA, Russia or China to represent. In RAM Pressure players control squads of soldiers which contain up to 4 soldiers, each varying in terms of class and weapon-set. The objective will be to complete PvE missions and PvP battles to eventually grow their squads through experience points and better gear.
What We Liked..
Gameplay is simple yet complex enough to keep the player engaged
Accelerated time keeps the game moving and interesting
Graphics are engaging and excellent
.. and what we didn't
Dangerously easy to rely on the game shop
Not good on battery life
Very time consuming as you level up
If orange is the new black, then farming is the new popular app. With games like Farmville and Hay Day, players can immerse themselves into the artificial pleasures of farming. This includes things like growing crops, raising livestock, and delivering goods and services to awaiting customers. Like Farmville, Township got its start on the Facebook platform and evolved into a standalone app. But where Farmville and Hay Day focus strictly on farm-building, Township expands the player's reach into other areas of development, like house-building, factories, restaurants, movie theaters, and even a zoo. It blends farm and city building together into something that's less 'nostalgic farming' and more 'farming metropolis'. The game is also quick to catch on to, with a fairly basic tutorial that relies on simple animated GIFs that show the player exactly how to play, but leaves enough room to let the player explore on their own if they want.
With a fairly basic premise ("Congratulations on inheriting some property!"), a simple-yet-complex gaming structure that keeps you engaged, and amazing graphics, Township remains a top contender in the world-building simulation apps out there.
What We Liked..
Guardian vs. Guardian hook is unique
Plenty of hero builds and customization
Varied selection of heroes with multiple roles to choose from
Regular updates and new content
.. and what we didn't
Cash shop limits hero selection for new players
Matchmaking limited due to limited players
Your team of five must strategically capture points, called power circles, in order to grant your Guardian enough power to attack the enemy Guardian, at which point you get the awesome privilege of seeing your gigantic creature dart across the map to give the enemy a good walloping, causing the enemy Guardian to become vulnerable to damage. If your Guardian overpowers the enemy’s enough, then it will be instantly wounded, and you won’t even need to attack it yourself. Talk about a sense of satisfaction (or overwhelming weight of your failures if you’re on the other end).
The game currently features 21 heroes, with more arriving as time goes on, and three maps, plus the expected assortment of skins for both heroes and weapons.
What We Liked..
Engaging turn-based combat
Rich and immersive storyline
Diverse and detailed environments and lore
.. and what we didn't
No adrenaline with the turn-based combat
Initial learning curve
Honkai: Star Rail is a free-to-play, turn-based role-playing online game developed by HoYoverse, already known for its flagship game Genshin Impact. Set in a vibrant sci-fi universe, players traverse diverse worlds aboard the Astral Express, engaging in strategic battles and uncovering a rich narrative.
Honkai: Star Rail propels players into a universe teeming with adventure, mystery, and a dash of interstellar whimsy, shifting gears from real-time action to a more strategic, turn-based combat system, offering a fresh yet familiar experience for both veterans and newcomers.
The game introduces you to the Astral Express, a cosmic locomotive that serves as your gateway to a multitude of worlds, each with its own unique aesthetic and lore. From the icy expanses of Jarilo-VI to the bustling, futuristic cityscapes of the Xianzhou Luofu, the environments are crafted with meticulous detail, making exploration a visual treat.
Combat in Honkai: Star Rail is where strategy enthusiasts will find their playground. The turn-based system requires thoughtful team composition and skill synergy. Each character brings distinct abilities to the table, and mastering their interplay can lead to satisfying victories against the game’s diverse array of adversaries. The inclusion of elemental affinities and status effects adds layers of depth, ensuring that battles remain engaging as you progress.
Narratively, the game doesn't shy away from complexity. The storyline is rich with interwoven character arcs, political intrigue, and philosophical musings on the nature of civilization and the cosmos. Side quests and character-specific missions further expand the lore, providing a comprehensive understanding of the game's universe.
However, it's worth noting that, like many free-to-play games, Honkai: Star Rail incorporates a gacha system for character and equipment acquisition. While it's entirely possible to enjoy the game without spending money, progression can be slower, and obtaining specific characters may require patience or luck.
What We Liked..
Visceral mech combat
A variety of weapons and modules to tweak your mechs
Gorgeous visuals with the Unreal Engine 5
.. and what we didn't
Similar to its predecessor
Some matchmaking issues
War Robots: Frontiers takes the classic War Robots formula and catapults it into the realm of high-fidelity, physics-driven mayhem. Published by My.com, this third-person mech shooter offers large-scale battles where hulking war machines clash in destructible environments. Unlike its mobile predecessor, Frontiers is built from the ground up for PC and consoles, leveraging Unreal Engine 5 to create more immersive combat scenarios.
The game focuses on team-based, objective-driven battles, where players pilot powerful mechs—called "War Robots"—customizing their weapons, armor, and abilities to fit their playstyle. Whether you prefer agile skirmishers, heavy artillery platforms, or tank-like juggernauts, Frontiers has a mech for you. Combat is dynamic and fast-paced, emphasizing strategy, positioning, and environmental destruction. Buildings crumble under heavy fire, providing both tactical opportunities and chaotic spectacle.
Customization is a big deal here, allowing players to tweak their machines with different weapons, modules, and abilities. The movement system is more refined than in the original War Robots, with smoother animations, better weight distribution, and an overall more polished feel. The maps are large and varied, featuring urban battlegrounds, industrial zones, and open wastelands.
For fans of mech-based destruction, War Robots: Frontiers delivers thrilling, high-octane action, estabilishing itself as one of the best online shooter of 2025.
What We Liked..
Fully free to play
Good dungeons and raids
Plenty of collection systems
.. and what we didn't
Disappointing story and quests
Aging graphics and visuals
Cash store reliant
Blood Rites is a free to play Asian fantasy MMORPG, first released in 2011. The game features a tab-target combat system, four classes and plenty of progression systems to sink your teeth into. These include weapon enchantments and the more popular Elf companion system, which lets you increase attributes with pets. In the content department, the game's PvE dungeons and raids is where you'll have the most fun, as opposed to the unbalanced PvP modes and a bland story and questing experience to level cap. Graphics and visuals doesn't do Blood Rites any favors, but players actively looking for a classic MMORPG won't mind that too much. Elswhere, the in-game cash shop can be obtrusive if you want to be a competitive player, but otherwise the game is completely playable as a free title.
What We Liked..
lots of strategy involved
clean graphical style
easy to pick-up and play
.. and what we didn't
really slow going
lots of gated elements
gold can give too great of an advantage
Call of War: 1942 is a strategy game set during World War 2. You build, you expand, you go to war, and yes – you exploit. Call of War is most definitely a 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) game, and even if that genre isn’t quite familiar to you, you’ve probably heard of another immensely popular 4X game: Civilization. Call of War takes the concepts of a 4X game and applies them to a free-to-play model.
What We Liked..
Fun combat system
Great graphics for a browser game
Not required to buy anything from cash shop
.. and what we didn't
Takes a long time to load graphics
Limited class choices
Repetitive gameplay and questing
Dark Omen is a high fantasy browser-based MMORPG that pits you and other heroes against a demon invasion and you must save your world. The game is free to play and features in-depth MMORPG systems like PvE dungeons, PvP arenas, Guilds and more which is great for browser players.
The game offers limited class choices at launch, but makes up for it with very good graphics and combat mechanics. Content isn't original, but offers enough progression such as upgrading mounts, gear and more to keep players interested at the end-game.