Now seems to be the golden age of gaming on the cheap. There are an abundant number of PC games which are Free to download and play but many ruin this by unfairly favouring paying players, usually referred to as pay to win.
In fairness developers need to make money to produce their game and maintain services, but these models are more in line with Free trials as Free players are considered Cannon fodder for paying customers.
I have compiled a list of some high quality Free games online which I think have a fair model for Free players.
Warframe is a fast paced third person action game with guns and swords set in future space. Play as a race called Tenno as a contract mercenary for or against the Grineer or Corpus. While a third faction called the Infected are trying to kill everyone. Play missions in a team of up to four players online. Searching for people to play with is easy and everyone gets their own loot.
Platinum may be obtained through real money or trading with players and can be used to buy almost everything: items, boosts, upgrades and instantly finish cooldowns. Despite Platinum being an advantage, Warframe gives Free players a fair opportunity to find items which are valuable for trade.
Path of Exile is an Action Role playing game inspired greatly by Diablo 2. Quest your way through different areas leveling up to progress your skill tree and loot better weapons and armour. Play in a party of up to four players.
Pay real money for a account features, cosmetic effects and pets which do not provide any significant gameplay advantage.
Team Fortress 2 is a first person team shooter. Stylized as 1940’s wartime propaganda, Team Fortress 2 has various game modes of pitting Red versus Blu with a variety of playable classes. Random chance of dropping crates and weapons which modify looks and effects.
They make money from keys to unlock crates, item trading on Steam and special access passes.
DOTA 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) which the original DOTA pioneered as a Warcraft 3 custom map. Similar MOBA games released which are also free are League of Legends and Blizzard’s Heores of the Storm. These have been made extremely popular because of the competative gaming events with huge prizes up for grabs, particularly League of Legends and DOTA 2.
Hearthstone is a online customisable card game by Blizzard which features Heroes of the Warcraft lore. You battle your deck against an opponent similar to popular real world card games like Magic the gathering.
You can buy expansion packs of card with real money but they can also be earned in game.