1. Dota 2
Based on the popular Warcraft III mod called Defense of the Ancients (DotA for short), Valve’s Dota 2 is a model free-to-play game. Without spending one red cent, you get access to the entire gameplay experience. Of course, Valve makes a tidy profit from selling cosmetic and ancillary items. The Bellevue company is well-versed in the realm of free-to-play games, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself buying new loot for this “free” game once you’re hooked.
2. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Is all the hype surrounding the new movie kickstarting your interest in Star Wars? If so, check out BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG. All of the core story content is free-to-play, but if you’re interested in even more gameplay, you can pay for expansions ($20) and a higher tier of service ($15 per month) that will net you more currency and more perks. This game isn’t as popular as World of Warcraft, but it offers a lot more content before hitting the paywall.
3. Warframe
This sci-fi third-person shooter from Digital Extremes has a lot to offer for thrifty players. You can spend dozens of hours shooting and slashing away with other players online, and you don’t have to invest anything other than your time. Of course, you can spend real money on in-game currency and items, but it’s definitely not necessary to have a good time. Even better, it works surprisingly well on older systems, so almost anyone with a dedicated graphics card can join in.
4. StarCraft II
StarCraft is by far the most popular real-time strategy franchise in existence, and now you can have a taste of the game at no cost. You’ll get to play four single-player missions, have access to two challenges, and try out custom battles against the AI. All of your progress is saved, and if you spend the $20 to upgrade to the full game, you can pick up right where you left off.
5. Grand Theft Auto V
We’ve been forced to wait over a year for it to arrive, but now Grand Theft Auto V is here on PC we've got the best version possible: huge resolution textures, heavier traffic, more wildlife to hunt, a first-person view, and framerates that don't bog you down. GTA’s satirical Los Angeles is huge, and it looks phenomenal on PC.
It’s also a great game too, perhaps the best GTA Rockstar have made. Three distinctly different protagonists that you can swap between at any point drive the action, and the missions on offer never fail to entertain. And then there’s GTA Online that will become your weekend multiplayer go-to; a sandbox to get together with friends in and run amok, rob every bank in the state, and buy a sweet penthouse.
6. Pillars of Eternity
Leading a pack of nostalgic RPGs in 2015 is Pillars of Eternity, Obsidian’s spiritual successor to the Forgotten Realms games of yesteryear. Headed up by RPG superstar Chris Avellone, the Pillars of Eternity team have created a brand new universe with untold stories, unseen races, and unexplored dungeons. This is perhaps the most exciting element of Pillars of Eternity; it’s bespoke. Virgin. Fresh.
With that new world comes the promise of complex RPG systems and real-time combat that embraces all the possibilities of multi-character parties. The combinations and timing of attacks will be vital to making it through Eternity’s encounters alive. It’s a challenge that no doubt has Icewind Dale veterans grinning with glee.
7. Heroes of the Storm
It wasn’t going to be long until Blizzard entered the MOBA fray, and Heroes of the Storm is their stab at taking on Dota and League of Legends. Yet this 5v5 arena game isn’t just another Dota clone. Instead Blizzard are making a game that appears to be vastly more accessible than your regular MOBA, whilst still tightly holding on to the core characteristics of the genre such as complex heroes and memorising skill sets.
The heroes in question are favourites chosen from Blizzard’s IPs - Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft - and bring their unique approaches to battle arenas that not only ask teams to defeat each other, but also complete side-quests. Heroes of the Storm has multiple maps, each with unique themes and quests built in to divide up your attention. One requires you to power up a golem that can rampage through your enemy’s base, whilst another allows you to transform into an unstoppable Dragon Knight if you capture a shrine. Not only does this provide variety, but it’s intensely fun. And that’s what will be Heroes of the Storm’s key appeal when it finally hits in 2015.
8. Assassin’s Creed
2015 will of course see an Assassin’s Creed game release, and it feels like we could be heading back to the high seas. Edward Kenway was the series’ best received Assassin since Ezio, and the ability to sail the open oceans was absolutely liberating. Unity’s Paris feels tiny in comparison, but we’re willing to bet that the smaller scale is just a testing ground for the new graphics tech. With all the bugs worked out and the developers comfortable with the new engine, a shiny sequel to Black Flag must surely be on the cards. Co-op naval battles? Yes please.
9. Call of Duty
It’s Treyarch’s turn to take up the Call of Duty reigns again, and this time will have the added freedom of the new three-year development cycle Activision have adopted. Treyarch work within their own universe, but we’re expecting them to move on from the Black Ops storyline to compete with the newness of Advanced Warfare. There will most certainly be a new gimmick; we’ve recently had a dog and Kevin Spacey so there’s a lot to live up to. We also hope that they’ll revisit Strike Missions; non-linear branches to the main campaign that never worked in Black Ops II, but is a glimmer of innovation the series sorely needs.
10. Neverwinter
Want to get nerdy? Check out this free-to-play MMORPG based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Without spending a single dollar, you can play through this fantasy world with your friends, and soak in the decades of lore built-up around the Forgotten Realms. However, you need to be careful of what you buy because you can easily drop $200 on a single pack of in-game content. Still, the more reasonable $20 packs are nothing to turn your nose up at if you’re having a good time.
Comments
Post a Comment