Best free FPS games for 2023

Triple image of the games Call of Duty Warzone, Valorant and Splitgate

Triple image of the games Call of Duty Warzone, Valorant and Splitgate

Ready to hit the battlefield? If so, our list of the best free FPS games will prepare you with a bunch of first-person shooters you can enjoy without spending a penny. From futuristic sci-fi battles to grounded historical games, there's something for all shooter fans to enjoy here. So have a browse, determine which one appeals to you, and get ready for war.

We'll run through seven different free FPS games, exploring the perks of each one. From tense mobile titles to photo-realistic war simulators, if you enjoy your shooters, we should have something for you. There are some huge AAA behemoths as well as a few more underground games in the mix if you feel like trying out something a little more niche.

Here are the best free FPS games

Enlisted

Image of a World War II battle in Enlisted.
expand image

First up on our list is a historical squad-based FPS where communication and tactical planning reign supreme. Available on both PC and consoles, the Enlisted takes place across various key battles during World War II, with a realistic sheen faithful to the time period. In terms of gameplay, it's comparable to Battlefield 1, sharing the same focus on working alongside your team.

Yes, Enlisted is best enjoyed with friends by your side, making it one of the most appealing free co-op FPS games. You can have up to nine players in a squad, leading to some sprawling battles where communication is key. Game modes are your regular FPS fare, from your classic Conquest to Invasion, which players similarly to Star Wars Battlefront II's Galactic Conquest mode. If you love historical FPSs but fancy trying something new, Enlisted is more than worth a shot.

CRSED F.O.A.D.

Image of an operator gaining power from a magic hammer in CRSD F.O.A.D.
expand image

If Enlisted takes itself just a bit too seriously for your liking, then look no further than CRSED F.O.A.D., which shares a lot of DNA with the former game. That's because it was made on the same engine by the same developer, initially as an April Fools' joke due to the wackiness of its concept. Well, CRSED F.O.A.D. is a full-fledged multiplayer shooter now, with humour and charm at its core.

Playable in both first and third-person perspectives, the gameplay is fundamentally similar to Enlisted, though the tone and setting are entirely different. It's much more colourful and focuses on battle royale matches rather than objective-based modes. The most unique element is the wacky power-ups you can use, ranging from cigars that boost your health to the ability to summon undead hordes of zombies to fight alongside you. If you like your FPS games a bit wackier but still engaging and skill-based, give CRSED F.O.A.D. a go.

Splitgate

Image of the player opening a portal in Splitgate.
expand image

In the summer of 2021, there was one FPS game that ruled over the others: 1047 Games' Splitgate. Combining the snappy shooting of Halo and the transport system of the Portal series, it does something completely different with traversal and verticality in the FPS genre. Not only are maps layered and versatile, but your ability to open up portals to immediately propel yourself elsewhere is a game-changer.

Whether you open a portal just behind an enemy for a surprise attack or to another part of the map to escape incoming gunfire, it adds a layer of imagination and experimentation to battles. You constantly have to think on your feet - not just to deal with incoming threats but to determine where you should warp to next. No other FPS game game has handled its movement system quite like Splitgate does, meaning its success really is no surprise.

Roblox (Frontlines)

Image of a warehouse map in Frontlines on Roblox.
expand image

While Roblox itself is of course not an FPS game, the user-generated platform plays host to some of the most impressive mobile shooters out there. Few are as impressive as Frontlines, a game developed by Maximillian Studio. It went viral in late 2021 for its photo-realistic graphics, rivalling the likes of Call of Duty with its fidelity.

Even better, Frontlines is being constantly updated with new weapons, decals, and maps. The game still technically remains in an open beta after releasing following the astoundingly positive response to early gameplay, but it should continue to go from strength to strength as development continues. Give it a go and there's no way you won't be blown away by its console-level graphics and sharp gunplay. You'll find it hard to believe you're actually playing Roblox, but Frontlines is proof of the platform's capabilities.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Image of a masked operator in Call of Duty: Warzone.
expand image
Have an opinion on this article? We'd love to hear it!

Next is one that you've more than likely already sunk plenty of hours into. Call of Duty's shift to a free-to-play model in early 2020 was a stroke of genius, with the live service Warzone platform breathing new life into the game as complaints of franchise fatigue grew. After a battle royale mode was toyed with in Black Ops 4, Infinity Ward went fully into it with the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot, spawning a game that now almost eclipses the base CoD entries.

From Verdansk to Caldera to Rebirth Island, the setting of Warzone may change but the basic gameplay loop remains the same. Drop into your map of choice, find the best guns from Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, or Vanguard, and fight to get on the exfil chopper at the end. With constant updates, new weapons, and even crossovers with the likes of Godzilla and King Kong, Call of Duty: Warzone is the battle royale king for a reason.

Apex Legends

Image of an operator looking up at a tower in Apex Legends.
expand image

If you like the last-man-standing formula but prefer your FPS games to be more futuristic, then Apex Legends is more than worth a go. Developed by Respawn and published by EA, it takes the sci-fi operators of Overwatch and combines that concept with a huge map and a fluid movement system. Weapons range from grappling hooks to futuristic lasers, with more than twenty different characters to choose from too too.

Matches in Apex Legends tend to be adrenaline-fuelled and quicker in pace than other FPS games, as the map shrinks more rapidly and the naturally increased movement speed automatically kicks things into gear at an early stage. A new mobile version just launched for free as well, so you can take the sci-fi fun on the go.

Valorant

Image of the player free-running in Valorant.
expand image

Last on our list for now is a far more competitive FPS game that requires your complete concentration and plenty of practice. Developed by Riot Games, Valorant is only available on PC and is reminiscent in terms of difficulty and dedication required to the Counter-Strike series. As a hero shooter,, it places an emphasis on the agent you select, with each having a different speciality. Some are better at sneaking into the bomb site to set off an explosive, while others are great at scoping out enemy attackers from afar.

It won't be for everyone due to the difficulty spike and hardcore player base, but if you're looking for an FPS game to really sink your teeth into, Valorant has hundreds of hours of fun to provide. Totally free to play, you may choose later down the line to invest in a new agent or weapon skin, but the core of its gameplay loop can be enjoyed without spending money. Newcomers may face a rough time to begin with, but Valorant is well worth the initial learning curve.

That's it for our picks of the best free FPS games you can try out right now! Spanning centuries in terms of setting and a range of gameplay styles, it's now your time to pick one and get shooting. First-person shooters are some of the most enduring games for a reason, so enjoy!

Elsewhere, feel free to also check out our lists of the best free shooting games and the best free war games, for even more titles to scratch that military itch. On top of that, we've got a list of the best free multiplayer games if you want to chill out and game with friends after some intense FPS action.

This Article's Topics

Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!

ListsGuides
Have an opinion on this article? We'd love to hear it!