There are times when you are simply not looking for anything revolutionary. You’d rather enjoy a certain, well-established style of gameplay. Of course, in such situations you might prefer to not spend money at all. Fortunately, we are in the mighty world of the Internet, where you can find exactly what you are looking for without losing a dime.
I am not talking about piracy, of course! There are alternatives that will fulfill your desire for a specific game style, and might even convince you to invest in them when you are sure you like it. So, here are some of the best free ‘substitute’ games for when you are not really sure you want to buy anything.
1 – Path of Exile
Alternative to: Diablo III
Hard to disagree that Diablo III is an absolute modern classic. There is a kind of aura surrounding the game – one that does not fade, no matter how much time has passed. It’s not that surprising, considering that the game was already a legend 10 years before its release.
But as we spoke before, maybe glamour isn’t what you’re looking for. You just want to play a game with similar dynamics, appreciate a good challenge and enjoy a good story. In this case, Path of Exile is absolutely perfect. The game design and even the characters are similar to Blizzard’s classic. You will not be disappointed.
2 – Brawlhalla
Alternative to: Super Smash Bros
If you don’t mind the absence of your favorite game characters, such as Mario, Pikachu, Megaman, Samus, etc., but still love the Smash Bros game style, you should definitely try Brawlhalla. Basically everything, from the gameplay to the arena styles, is similar or inspired by Nintendo’s game.
3 – Paladins
Alternative to: Overwatch
While doing my research for this article, I’ve read the following description of Paladins: “Overwatch for poor people”. I’d rather say it’s Overwatch for people who don’t want to pay when they have a free alternative readily available. Anyway, I don’t have to explain it further, do I?
4 – Warframe
Alternative to: Destiny 2
Destiny was a big and ambitious project that promised to completely change the way we see Shooters. Yet, one full year before its release, in 2013, a free game stole its spotlight. Warframe is a beautiful shooter with dynamics, classes and themes similar to the ones from Bungie’s bestseller. And while Destiny 2 is absolutely a game worth playing, if you just want to casually complete some missions and have fun, Warframe will do the job.
5 – Unturned
Alternative to: DayZ and/or Minecraft
At the first sight, it may seem absurd to compare a game that looks like an uglier Minecraft to one of nowadays’ most beloved survivals. But believe me: you will be surprised by how much this game has to offer. What it lacks in the graphics department, it compensates in details and gaming experience.
6 – Expendabros
Alternative to: Broforce
It might be a little odd to talk about Expendabros, which is basically an advergame for the movie The Expendables 3, but the result is so awesome that it would be unfair to ignore it. Free Lives, the producer of Broforce, made this alternative to their masterpiece using characters coming straight from Stallone’s film. It was a clever move, as it advertised Expendables to the gaming community as much as it provided publicity to Broforce.
Don’t get it wrong: Expendabros is a full game by itself. It’s just that, at the end, you will feel the urge to get more of this crazy, chaotic and brilliant gameplay. That’s how, on the same day, you will end up watching The Expendables and buying Broforce. Congratulations to Free Lives, their advertising skills deserve a 100/100.
We’ve explored alternatives to well-known paid games, but there are other cool free titles that offer a unique experience. Expect a list of them in the near future.
For now, what do you think about this list? Do you know any other game that deserves to be here? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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