The 7 best free online strategy games you have to play

It’s often the case that when someone hears the words “free game” they’ll assume it’s either utter garbage or totally unplayable without spending a fortune on microtransactions (or both). And putting the words ‘online strategy’ in-between free and game can potentially make the whole thing sound worse. The reality is, of course, that there are some excellent free games out there, particularly ones in the online strategy genre.

Now, online strategy can be a bit of an ambiguous term. For the sake of this list, it covers both MOBAs and classic strategy games that really excel when played online against others. And they all have to be free, naturally. Some may come with microtransactions, but as long as they don’t fall into the pay-to-win category, they’ll meet the requirements.

So, from cards, to space, to fantasy worlds, here are the seven best free online strategy games you just have to play.

7. Starcraft II (arcade)

Starcraft sits alongside the likes of Command and Conquer and even Dune 2 as one of the greatest and most influential real-time strategy games of all time. While there’ll always be arguments whether Starcraft II was the better of the two games (Broodwar's diehard fanbase), one thing it can boast is an excellent custom game scene – and a free one at that!

Not actually a single game, rather a multitude of different titles made by the blizzard community, Blizzard arcade has some excellent fan-made Starcraft II maps (that don't require the base game to play), alongside a load of other very cool strategy games. Check them out at this site.

6. FreeOrion

If you like your strategy games to be turn-based, massively complex and pretty damn hardcore, then you’ll definitely enjoy FreeOrion. Inspired by 1993’s Master of Orion, FreeOrion is a 4X game (for the uninitiated, that’s eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) that puts players at the head of an empire as they explore and colonize an increasingly hostile galaxy.  

FreeOrion does manage to be complex without overwhelming the player. There can be a fine line between 4X titles being fun and feeling like a tax return; FreeOrion falls into the former, despite making the player manage an entire empire. There is a good multiplayer mode (hence getting on this list) which, although not the easiest thing to set up, is a lot more rewarding than playing against an AI opponent.

Tech trees, custom ship designs and more depth than the Mariana Trench; it may not be the prettiest game out there, but if you want a free, open source game that appeals to the mind more than the eye, check out FreeOrion.

5. SMITE

SMITE is the first Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game on this list, but unlike the vast majority of other MOBAs, SMITE uses a third-person camera that places the player right in the middle of the action. Meaning abilities like skillshots require more precision.

In the game, players take control of a mythological God (or some other mythological figure) and engage in arena combat against other player-controlled mythical beings and NPC minions. The main objective in SMITE is the Titan, an offensive NPC that can move from its station and attack enemies. Titans can regain health as long as they are out of combat. The team who destroys the enemy Titan first wins the game.

Basically, SMITE is a great game for both those who have played standard MOBAs before and those who don’t know their creeps from their ganks. There has been a bit of controversy regarding Smite’s pay structure; it is free, but it does have some microtransactions, although everything affecting gameplay in Smite can be earned from playing the game.

Check out how well SMITE transfers to the Xbox One here

4. Heroes of the Storm

Heroes of the Storm is definitely the most casual MOBA on this list. The fact that teams level together, rather than individual hero leveling, can prevent poor players from becoming quickly outclassed in a match.

Some say HotS’s simplified game mechanics mean it just isn’t as rewarding as the likes of Dota 2 or LoL. Often players will complain that their decisions simply didn’t carry the same individual weight as what they would have in other MOBAs.

HotS has a rotation of heroes you can play each week, but leaves the rest locked up unless you pay with in-game currency or real money. Currently, in real-money terms, you would need to spend between $2.00 and $9.99 to permanently unlock a hero that's not featured on a given week.

If you’re new to the genre and want to try the most simplified version of a classic MOBA, then Heroes of the Storm is where you’ll want to start.

Read more about Heroes of the Storm and its mechanics here

3. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Hearthstone can be looked at as Blizzard’s successful attempt to make a much more accessible alternative to Magic the Gathering, and a free one at that.

Like so many free-to-plays, Hearthstone does have optional purchases within the game that allow players to access content quicker. But it honestly is so much fun that you’ll want to play longer and earn those new goodies without using real cash.

One of the best features of the game is that it feels just at home on smartphone or tablet as it does on a desktop PC. So, if you want something that manages to be completely accessible yet incredibly deep and free to play, yet also absolutely engaging and your choice of a total timesink or a quick 15 minute session, then download Hearthstone, now - 30 million people can’t be wrong.

Read how much we love Hearthstone in this review

2. Dota 2

Let’s be honest here, it was always going to come down to these two. If Dota 2 takes up the number two spot in a list that includes MOBAs, then you can pretty much guess what the top entry will be. In all fairness, fans of both titles will go into massive amounts of detail explaining why their particular choice is the better game, but in the end it comes down to personal preference. Ultimately, Dota 2 and League of Legends are very similar games.

So what keeps Dota 2 in the number two position? Mainly it's because the game is a lot less accessible than LoL. Dota 2 is probably the most technical MOBA on this list, and if you’ve never experienced anything in the genre before, this probably isn’t the most fun place to start. Although, unlike LoL, Dota 2 lets you play any of over 100 different heroes with no pay walls.

Dota 2 is a complex game, make no mistake, but providing you can stick around and endure the mountains of verbal abuse you’ll likely receive, that complexity is what makes it such an incredibly engaging, deep game. It may be punishing, but it's also very rewarding.

If you want to want to give Dota 2 a try, then watch some video’s first and bring along a few friends. You may discover why people say it’s more addictive than crack.

Find out what makes Dota 2 is so addictive here

1. League of Legends

Any game that gets over 10 million players logging in on a daily basis must be doing something right.

League of Legends is a bit less complex and intimidating than Dota 2. It’s incredibly fun and very beginner friendly. Unlike Dota 2, there's no deny mechanic, no night and day cycle, and not as steep of a learning curve. There are even several champions in the game designed for new players.

LoL does that very special thing of managing to appeal to both beginners and the hardcore crowd. Sadly, much like Dota 2 (and the vast majority of online games with a chat function, if we’re honest) LoL can suffer from a very toxic community. But this is a problem that all multiplayer online game creators are trying to tackle.

If you manage to avoid the trolls, you’ll find playing a game of LoL with other like-minded gamers is one of the best PC experiences you can have. If you want something relaxing and fun that eases you into the more hardcore experience, this is the one for you. If instead you want a competitive, tense but ultimately more rewarding experience, play Dota 2.

Find out more about League of Legends and its microtransactions in our review here