Everyone knows Xbox for their brand establishing titles such as Halo and Gears of War. But their free games are also the reason fans log in every day to get lost in a vast multiplayer shooter or fantasy MMORPG. I fondly remember going to a friend's house as a kid and playing Dead or Alive 3 on his original Xbox.

Even the memory of booting up Halo 2 and hearing those heavenly harmonious hums will forever be etched into my mind. To this day, Xbox remains a staple in the gaming community and continues to serve gamers around the world with their fantastic games. On that account, here are our personal favorite free Xbox games downloadable in the Xbox Microsoft Store.

Updated by Chad Thesen on December 31st, 2023: This article has been updated to bring it up to a higher level of quality. This will enhance the reader's experience and make the article more engaging thanks to the inclusion of metacritic scores, bullet point facts, and special tags under each entry that readers can make use of. The majority of entry text has also been rewritten and an additional entry in the form of Fall Guys has been added.

11 Brawlhalla

Metacore: 6.3

• Brilliant 2D visuals
• Unique platform fighting controls

Looking for a competitive platform fighter that will test your combat prowess without needing to sink money in one of the AAA titles? Then this entry in the massively popular subgenre may be just what you're looking for. In Brawlhalla, choose between an array of characters, all with unique stats and abilities. Then smash your opponents off the stage in a wonderful display of technical skill and brute force.

This game features lots of beautifully drawn 2D visuals that a lot of fighters just don't have these days, and it also features cross-progression capabilities. This means you will be able to keep playing on the same account through your phone when you go off on a long trip and do not have access to your console.

10 Hawken

Metascore: 73

• One of the best First person mech piloting experiences.
• The atmosphere helps to really immerse players in the warfare.

If enormous, rapid-moving mech suits armed with heavy artillery is something that sounds appealing to you, then Hawken is one of the best mech game options for you to explore — all whilst being entirely free to play. Even better is that there are no pay-to-win elements around to spoil your fun or make it feel like other players boast an unfair advantage over you.

Hawken gives you the option to grind the game and unlock all of its content for no extra fees. Brave the battlefield and feel the power of those high explosive rounds, as they turn your opponents into nothing more than a heaping hot pile of molten metal. This is a really captivating and unique experience, and with no paywall blocking players, is a game many should download just to see if it is a game that they can truly become engrossed in.

9 Killer Instinct

Metascore: 73

• Very brutal combat
• Feels like a free-to-play Mortal Kombat

Killer Instinct pulls no punches and rivals even the most violent fighting games in recorded history. What really got the ball moving for the game was a free-to-play option for players looking to try out the game before committing to a paid option. The free option had a lot of shortcomings, which is why its ranking is so much lower than the paid definitive edition that would come later.

The game has a huge line-up of amazingly designed characters to choose from, as well as many different stages to demolish your enemies in. Whether it be a humongous sword or good ole fisticuffs, each fight feels brutal and is a real spectacle to be a part of — regardless if you are the one unleashing the carnage, being on its receiving end, or even watching from the sidelines as a spectator.

8 Paladins

Metascore: 74

• Action MOBA combat in an arena shooter environment.
• Timing when to use abilities is a lot more important than similar games.

If ability shooters pique your interest, then Paladins cannot be recommended enough. Firstly, you don't have to reach for your wallet to enjoy the experience of completing objectives, taking zones, and escorting payloads. Different character roles mean one player providing some support can go a long way in others dealing enough damage to wipe the opposing team before they do the same.

This game was released when its biggest competitors were all available behind paywalls. However, the rise of the Free to Play model has left this a game filled with only the most loyal of long-time fans. It is worth noting that Overwatch's competitive scene and ranking systems leave Paladins in the dust.

7 Fortnite

Metascore: 85

• Sensationalized the battle royale genre
• One of the most played games in the world

This colorful and fantastically chaotic PvP took the world by storm shortly after it hit the public, and has continued to grow in size and popularity to achieve a height that few games will ever be able to reach. Fortnite introduced countless features and mechanics that have become staples of the genre and built off of the foundation that Player Unknown's Battlegrounds established.

Fight for the 'Victory Royale', and feel nothing but a symphony of adrenaline, relief, and pure joy come over you. So, pull out your glider and loot everything you can the moment your boots hit the ground because every opponent will be getting more dangerous with each passing minute.

6 Roblox

Roblox Serves As A Hub For Countless Games Of Different Caliber

• Can create anything one can imagine.
• Limitless free games to discover.

Roblox serves as a hub for infinite creativity thanks to providing both a player client to discover and play a near infinite well of games, as well as Roblox Studio to create those games. It boasts tons of content made by the Roblox community, ready to be played and enjoyed.

It's no wonder why kids are glued to this game, as you can also spend hours scouring to discover your next favorite game. Players will also be able to use any cosmetics they purchased from the store with any of the games they jump into. This allows them much more freedom to express their own individuality in all manner of different genres without needing to buy cosmetics in each individual game.

5 Call Of Duty: Warzone

Metascore: 80

• One of the best Free Call of Duty experiences out there
• Plenty of character development over time

Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2019) was truly a first-person shooter's dream come true. Not to be outdone by competitors, the Call of Duty franchise decided it would also venture into the frontier of the battle royale genre with its own title — Call of Duty: Warzone. Now fans of the franchise can play the series they have come to know and love in what is still one of the most played genres of shooters.

Additionally, the game is filled with tremendous visual and auditory design that will keep players coming back for more. There's no such thing as an overabundance of guns, explosions, and high thrills when playing one of the many Call of Duty gems.

4 Fall Guys

Metascore: 81

• Extremely fun and addictive gameplay
• Feels like you're in an adorable, yet deadly, gameshow.

Fall Guys dared to be different by being a Battle Royale game without being a shooter. It accomplishes this by pitting countless players against each other in various gameshow-style platforming challenges — each trying to be the last player standing and take home the crown.

This game did not start off as a free-to-play title, but it was so popular and so successful that they could afford to make it a free-to-play title down the line. That shows just how much it is worth trying out. Fall Guys is best enjoyed with friends to compete with and can be just as addictive and infuriating for players who enjoy challenging their friends to platform fighters and kart racers.

3 Destiny 2

Metascore: 83

• One of the best free-to-play shooters around
• Lots of loot to collect and try out

This futuristic, open planetary universe will keep you occupied for eons due to how much content you can lose yourself in. With a plethora of weapons to be found and treasure to be looted along the way, Destiny 2 is a game that has continued to show an ever-impressive amount of support throughout its lifespan, constantly offering new expansions and content, both paid and completely free.

Advance through an arrangement of visually stunning planets to raid, loot, and complete objectives. Explore numerous worlds with friends online, and you are sure to find an intergalactic item worth picking up. Some items will help players a lot more through the PvE portions of the game, while others are worth grinding over to dominate the PvP arena.

2 Rocket League

Metascore: 87

• Features ball sport inspired matches by driving cars
• A large plethora of different game modes to explore

Blast down the pitch, or court, of a sport-inspired arena in a high-octane car and then launch through the air in an attempt to score goals using an oversized ball. Rocket League is a game made to test your midair maneuverability and how fast you can get yourself across the field at a moment's notice against equally speedy opponents.

There are numerous game modes and levels to explore, with no clear winner of which one of them is the best one to play. This allows players to switch up the game at any time, requiring them to completely rethink their strategies and how the game's physics will need to be accounted for.

1 Apex Legends

Metascore: 88

Once again, the battle royale genre gets another entry capitalizing on its popularity — this time set in the Titan Fall universe. Apex Legends is an open-world Battle Royale style game, providing many thrilling fights and fast engagements that can last less than 5 seconds if you aren't careful. Each weapon has the capability to blow your enemies away, and every character is suited to various play styles.

If extensive lore, vibrant characters, and unique maps excite you, try out this mix of first-person shooting, unique abilities, and strategy. This game put a much greater focus on squad play than others of the same genre when it was first released, and this helped it build a strong community and bring random strangers together as friends.