Best Free Single Player Mac Games

This is a list of some of the most popular freeware and free and open-source softwarefirst-person shooter games.

TitleDeveloperRelease dateLast updateOperating systemEngineLicenseNotes
Action Quake 2The Action Team19982003Linux, Windowsid Tech 2FreewareTeam and Deathmatch based very fast FPS
AssaultCubeRabid Viper Productions20062013Linux, Mac OS, WindowsCube Enginezlib License (code), Individual licenses (media)Realistic environments, fast arcade game play, many game modes. Single/Multiplayer.
Black ShadesWolfire games2001Linux, OS X, Windows, Mac OS, iOSWolfire GamesFreewareFree First-person shooter
BZFlagChris Schoeneman, Tim Riker19932016-10-10 (2.4.8)Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows, other UNIXGNU LGPLTank combat
Chub Gam 3D: Director's CutChubGamSoft1998MS-DOSPie in the SkyFreewareSurreal horror single player game
CodeRED: Alien ArenaCOR Entertainment, LLC2004-112011-12-29 (7.53)Linux, BSD, OS X, WindowsCRX EngineGNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media)Science fiction, with single or multiplayer modes.
CubeWouter van Oortmerssen20012005-08-29Linux, BSD, Mac OS, WindowsCube Enginezlib License (code), Individual licenses (media)Quake style multiplayer deathmatch. Single/Multiplayer.
Cube 2: SauerbratenWouter van Oortmerssen20042013-01-04Linux, BSD, OS X, WindowsCube 2 Enginezlib License (code), Individual licenses (media)Quake style deathmatch, includes built in level editor. Single/Multiplayer.
The Dark ModTeam Dark Mod20092015-02-08 (2.03)Windowsid Tech 4 engineCC-BY-NC-SAFirst person stealth game in the style of the Thief (series) games (1 and 2) using a modified Id Tech 4 engine
Fallen Empire: LegionsGarageGames, InstantAction2009-06-302013-06-27WindowsTorque Game EngineProprietary licenseFirst-Person Shooter with Jetpacks, Multiplayer, CTF, Deathmatch
FreedoomFreedoom project2019-10-22 (0.12.1)Linux, OS X, Windows, Android, Mac OS, MS-DOS, othersDoom engineGNU GPL (code), BSD (media)A Doom WAD file intended to be used instead of the copyrighted file from the original Doom and Doom II.
The Glorious MissionGiant Interactive Group2013-06-20WindowsProprietary licenseOnline multiplayer. Developed with the People's Liberation Army of China for use as a recruitment and training tool.
Gore: Special Edition4D Rulers2008-07-04WindowsAMP engineProprietary license
Hidden & DangerousIllusion Softworks, Take-Two Interactive1999-07-292001-11WindowsInsanity EngineProprietary license
.kkrieger.theprodukkt2004WindowsProprietary licenseWon first place in the 96k game competition at Breakpoint in April 2004.
KumaWarKuma Reality Games20042006-07WindowsSource engineProprietary licenseTactical episodic shooter. Single/Multiplayer.
MarathonBungie1994-12-212007Mac OS (original), ported to Linux, OS X and Windows via AlephOneAleph OneGNU GPL (code)Released as freeware and source code.
NexuizAlientrap2005-05-312009-10-01 (2.5.2)Linux, OS X (10.4 or later), WindowsDarkPlaces Quake engineGNU GPLUnreal Tournament style deathmatch. Single/Multiplayer.
OpenArenaOpenArena team2005-08-192012-02-20 (0.8.8)Linux, OS X, WindowsGNU GPLFree software content remake of Quake III Arena. Single/Multiplayer
Point BlankZepetto, NCSOFT2008-03WindowsN/AProprietary licenseFree FPS created by Zepetto in 2009. Close Beta version.
Red Eclipse[1]Quinton Reeves, Lee Salzman20092017-12-21 (1.6.0)Linux, BSD, OS X, WindowsCube 2 Enginezlib LicenseNew take on the first person arena shooter, featuring parkour, impulse boosts, and more.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. build 1935GSC Game World2009-02WindowsxrCore build 1935Proprietary license2004 Alpha build of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Contains content and features cut from the final release. Has a number of bugs but contains a full, playable single player campaign.
Savage: The Battle for NewerthS2 Games2003-09-09Linux, OS X (commercial), WindowsSilverback EngineProprietary licenseHybrid FPS/RTS with both ranged and melee combat
Savage 2: A Tortured SoulS2 Games2008-01-16Linux, OS X, Windows (commercial)K2 EngineProprietary licenseThe sequel to the award-winning game, Savage: The Battle for Newerth.
Smokin' GunsSmokin' Guns Productions and Iron Claw Interactive2009-01-012012-06-08Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows, othersGNU GPL (code/some media) Proprietary license (some media)Western Quake-like FPS. Single (with bots)/Multiplayer.
Starsiege: TribesDynamix, Sierra Entertainment2004 (free release)WindowsDarkstar engineProprietary licenseFuturistic team based combat, released for free to promote Tribes: Vengeance. Multiplayer only.
The DinoHuntersKuma Games2006-04-24WindowsSource engineProprietary licenseAlso a machinima series. Single/Multiplayer.
TremulousDark Legion Development2006-03-312009-12-04 (preview release)Linux, OS X (unofficial), WindowsGNU GPLAliens vs Humans multiplayer team combat with some RTS elements.
Tribes 2Dynamix, Sierra Entertainment2004 (free release)WindowsTorque Game EngineProprietary LicenseFuturistic team based combat, released for free to promote Tribes: Vengeance. Single/Multiplayer.
UberStrikeCmune2010-09-17OS X, WindowsUnityProprietary licenseFree-to-play 'social shooter' on Facebook, MySpace and Apple's Dashboard Widgets.
Unreal TournamentEpic GamesTBA2015-03-09Linux, OS X, WindowsUnreal Engine 4Proprietary licenseCrowdsourced and free first-person shooter.
Unvanquished[2]Unvanquished Development2012-02-292018 (Alpha 0.51.1)Linux, OS X, Windowsmodified ioquake3CC BY-SA 2.5/GPLFork of Tremulous with new assets
Urban TerrorSilicon Ice Development / Frozen Sand2000-08-05 (Beta 1.0)2016-09-30 (4.3.0)Linux, OS X, WindowsGNU GPL (ioquake3 engine), Proprietary license (mod code, media)Fast-paced, Hollywood tactical shooter. Originally a Quake 3mod, now a standalone game.
Warmonger: Operation Downtown DestructionNetDevil2007-11-282009-08-27WindowsUnreal Engine 3GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media)High-end Free-to-play first person shooter with destructible environments..
WarsowWarsow team2005-06-082016-04-14 (2.1)Linux, OS X, WindowsGNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media)Quake style deathmatch focussed on high-paced action and trickjumps.
Wolfenstein: Enemy TerritoryActivision, id Software, Splash Damage2003-05-292015-08-21 (ET:Legacy 2.74)Linux, OS X, Windowsid Tech 3, ET:LegacyGNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media)Intended expansion pack turned freeware. WW2 multiplayer team combat
World of PadmanPadworld Entertainment2007-04-012011-07-16 (1.5.4 beta Windows/Linux), 2011-01-24 (1.5.1 OS X)Linux, OS X, WindowsGNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media)A free Quake 3 like comical FPS game
XonoticTeam Xonotic2010-12-232017-04-01 (0.8.2)Linux, OS X, WindowsDarkPlaces Quake engineGNU GPLFork and direct successor of the Nexuiz Project.
Team Fortress 2Valve2007-10-72019-3-28Windows, Mac OS, Linux.SourceProprietary licenseAlso available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, formerly pay to play, squeal to Team Fortress Classic.

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Freeware clients[edit]

Some free-to-play online first-person shooters use a client–server model, in which only the client is available for free. They may be associated with business models such as optional microtransactions or in-game advertising. Some of these may be MMOFPS, MMOTPS or MMORPG games.

TitleDeveloper, PublisherRelease dateOperating systemEngineLicenseNotes
Blacklight: RetributionZombie Studios2012-04-03WindowsUnreal Engine 3Proprietary licenseOnline multiplayer, futuristic setting.
CrossFireZ8Games2006WindowsLithtech JupiterFreewareModern team based shooter. Lots of game modes.
Mission Against TerrorKingsoft Dalian JingCai Studio, Wicked Interactive / Suba Games2012WindowsProprietary licenseFree-to-play online fps, developed by KingSoft, published by Wicked Interactive / Suba Games.
Fallen Earth?????Online multiplayer[3]
Heroes and Generals?????Online multiplayer[3]
War Rock?????Online multiplayer, features controllable vehicles
Combat ArmsNexon2008-07-11WindowsLithtechProprietary licenseOnline multiplayer, modern setting; microtransaction business model.
CrimeCraftVogster Entertainment2009-08WindowsUnreal Engine 3Proprietary licenseMassively multiplayer online with 3rd and 1st-person perspectives; microtransaction business model.
PlanetSide 2Sony Online Entertainment2012-11-20WindowsForgelight EngineProprietary licenseMassive battles with 2000 players per continent at a time. 3 factions fighting over 4 continents. Player customization, microtransaction business model.
Sudden AttackNexon2005-4-11WindowsLithtechProprietary licenseOnline multiplayer
Tribes: AscendHi-Rez Studios2011-12WindowsUnreal Engine 3 (modified)Proprietary licenseOnline multiplayer; microtransaction business model.

Game engines[edit]

EngineDeveloper, PublisherRelease dateLinuxOS XWindowsotherLicenseNotes
Aleph OneBungie (originally)2000-01-17YesYesYesMac OS, BSDsGNU General Public LicenseAleph One is an open-source project based on the Marathon 2: Durandal code, which was released to the public by Bungie.
Build engineKen Silverman/3D Realms2000-06-20YesYesYesYes[which?]Custom licence, GNU General Public LicenseFirst released by Silverman; 3D Realms later did GPL releases of Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior
Cube EngineWouter van Oortmerssen2001YesYesYesNozlib License (code), Individual licenses (media)FPS with sandbox style level-editor
Cube 2 EngineWouter van Oortmerssen2004YesYesYesNozlib License (code), Individual licenses (media)FPS with sandbox style level-editor
Dim3Brian BarnesNoYesYesNoMIT LicenseDevelopment set
id Tech 1id Software1999YesYesYesNoGNU General Public LicenseKnown as the Doom engine, originally used for Doom, Doom II, and clones
id Tech 2id Software2001-12-22YesYesYesNoGNU General Public LicenseQuake 2, CRX and Qfusion are open-source derivatives
id Tech 3id Software2005-08-19YesYesYesYes[which?]GNU General Public LicenseQuake 3, ioquake3 is an open-source derivative
id Tech 4id Software2011-11-22YesYesYesYes[which?]GNU General Public LicenseDoom 3
Quake engineid Software1996YesYesYesNoGNU General Public LicenseQuake, DarkPlaces is an open source derivative
Torque Game EngineGarageGames2012-09-20YesYesYesNoMIT License
UnityUnity Technologies2009YesYesYesNoPurchasable license for commercial use, iPhone license, Free indie licenseDevelopment set
Unreal EngineEpic Games1998YesYesYesPlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, AndroidProprietaryFree to download and use
Wolfenstein 3D engineid Software1995YesYesYesNoGNU General Public LicenseAlso available from Blake Stone: Planet Strike source release; earlier versions in Hovertank 3D and Catacomb 3D source releases, and further developed in Rise of the Triad source release

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References[edit]

  1. ^Red Eclipse
  2. ^Unvanquished
  3. ^ abList of free MMOFPS games
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_freeware_first-person_shooters&oldid=942823317'
By/Dec. 28, 2017 4:46 EDT

The point of most games is to make money for the people who made them. Originally, the industry did what every other business does: it sold packaged products for fixed prices. And for decades, this worked! Money was made, the industry grew, and games flourished.

But a few recent trends have rocked the boat a bit. First, the digital revolution came along, which allowed gamers to buy a game online and then download it directly: no physical packaging or retail stores required. This led to the concept of downloadable content, or DLC: paid content expansions that were never sold physically, but extended games' revenue streams.

Combining these two ideas–an all-digital product with paid content additions–produced another, more profitable idea: free. Ever since the first pioneers of this business strategy got started, free has made certain games more money than they know what to do with. How is that possible? Because while the game itself may be free, much of the content within it must be paid for. From characters to gear to cosmetic upgrades, players could spend however much they wanted to get more stuff, often spending more than the game would have cost if it were a paid product.

This new free approach has produced some fantastic games that are worth your time. Some are classic titles reborn, while others go toe-to-toe with bigger-budget AAA rivals...and one is the biggest game in the world. These are the best free PC games you need to play right now.

Warframe

Warframe is a third-person action-shooter from Digital Extremes, set against a space opera backdrop within our solar system. The core gameplay loop involves running missions for resources, level up, and progress to other planets. It's a hybrid of Diablo and Destiny, all for free.

What makes Waframe stand out is just how much content there is. There are well over a dozen planets, each with over a dozen missions; all of these are repeatable, and since the levels themselves are procedurally generated, they're different every time. On top of that, there are a huge number of narrative missions and quests that feature unique objectives and levels. On top of that, there are a dizzying array of factions and clans to join or even start for yourself, which unlock new activities and gear of their own. And on top of that, the latest expansion, Plains of Eidolon, introduced the game's first open-world space–which included brand-new systems and activities to explore.

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Moment-to-moment, players will be shooting with a huge variety of guns that all perform differently. Ditto for hacking at enemies with a dizzying array of melee weapons. Plus, each suit of armor, or Warframe, features a unique set of abilities. These aren't the same items with different skins, these are substantively different gameplay mechanics.

As for the money, a player will only really need to pay for two things: aesthetic options, and reduced grind. All in all, that makes Waframe an astounding bargain for no money down.

League of Legends

It doesn't get any bigger than the world's biggest game: Riot Games' League of Legends. A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) inspired by the classic Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients, League of Legends lets players choose from a vast array of champions. Two teams of five battle, trying to destroy the enemy's base while also leveling up their character. The granular balance between offense and defense, damage and healing, tactical precision and long-term strategy elevated the game's popularity above its rivals, many of which are quite good (and feature later on this list).

Granted, for first-time players, League of Legends is notoriously difficult to get into. A key component of the game involves purchasing items to upgrade your character mid-battle, but the list of items is enormous. Learning the game's ins and outs is a job unto itself: certain champions pair well with, or against, others, while the next patch will probably change it all again. Then there's the famously toxic community, which tends to shred other players with insults.

But stick with the game, ignore the jerks, and what's left is a superbly refined MOBA with gorgeous art design and a global community. Plus, League of Legends has one of the biggest eSports scenes ever, complete with its own tournaments and celebrity players. It's not just a game: it's a cultural phenomenon you can join, free of charge.

Of course, if you find a champion that you like to play as, you must unlock that character for future use. You can grind to get the necessary in-game currency for hours and hours... or just pay real-world money.

Hearthstone

Blizzard Entertainment is famous for blockbuster games, from Diablo to StarCraft to World of Warcraft. But in 2014, the studio released a stealth project that nobody had even realized they were working on: a card game called Hearthstone. A fully digital reimagining of the popular Collectible Card Game genre, Hearthstone allowed players to pick a class with unique abilities and cards, and then assemble a deck of spells and monsters to battle another player. And unlike any Blizzard game before it, it was free.

The all-digital format let Blizzard experiment. Randomized card effects, impossible in a physical game, appeared in Hearthstone. Specific minion placement became important, since many abilities would have effects on adjacent characters. Plus, the audio-visual actualization of spells and attacks brought the whole experience to life in a way that could engage viewers, even if they didn't know the game.

Hearthstone exceeded even Blizzard's expectations, garnering over 70 million players and a thriving eSports scene. Continued content updates have kept the meta fresh, and a variety of different modes–competitive multiplayer, single-player campaigns–gives everyone a little something to do. And while you can play on PC, it's also available on mobile. Your Battle.net account will carry over to any device, so your decks will be waiting for you no matter what you play on.

So what actually costs money? Card packs are only earned slowly through gameplay, so you'll need to fork over cash to pick them up faster. And some content expansions, such as single-player adventures, must be purchased separately. But there's plenty there for you even if you never spend a dime.

Team Fortress 2

Valve's Team Fortress 2 is a multiplayer hero shooter with a cartoonish and colorful art style. Players pick from a small range of diverse heroes, but that's the last 'small' thing about the game. An enormous number of weapons, maps, and modes await gamers–and that isn't even mentioning the massive amount of aesthetic items available for customization. How did Valve create all of this content? Short answer: they didn't! Or rather, Valve created the core set of maps, characters, and weapons, but much of the rest has been cooked up by the community itself. Valve has shown an unusual amount of support for the modding crowd, and they've reaped the rewards with their incredible content library.

While the core experience features two teams shooting at each other, there are many variations: Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Payload, and more. A co-op experience against AI enemies was introduced a few years ago. Meanwhile, each hero can be equipped with different weapons, providing variety while still maintaining the class' identity. And with ten years of patches and updates behind it, the game still feels precision-balanced.

While many aesthetic items are for purchase with real money, and certain in-game weapons can be acquired faster, there is a gigantic game ready to play on day one without reaching for your credit card.

Unless you want hats. Then you have to pay. That's how Valve gets you.

Fortnite: Battle Royale

After a decade of dark, dirty warfare against hideous bug creatures in the Gears of War franchise, Epic Games decided to switch gears and do something fun, colorful, and family-friendly. The result was Fortnite, a co-op hybrid of the third-person shooter, survival, and tower defense genres. Players scavenge a post-apocalyptic landscape for parts, then return to their fort to construct massive walls and deadly traps. Waves of AI enemies assault their defenses, and players hope their architectual ingenuity paid off.

Fortnite looks beautiful and drips with personality, setting it apart from the competition. In its collect-and-build mentality, it mirrors Minecraft in some respects. Even still: this unique blend of elements makes for a fresh experience, even if you've seen all the pieces before.

But that's all for purchase as a paid product. Fortnite's true breakout didn't come until it absorbed yet another genre into itself: namely, the battle royale genre popularized by Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. Fortnite: Battle Royale skyrocketed on release, racking up millions of players and over half a million concurrent players, a massive milestone by any metric. Partly, this proves the popularity of the battle royale format. But it also shows the true power of free. Where the original Fortnite remains a paid product, Battle Royale is free for anyone to download.

There's a store for cosmetic items bought with in-game currency, which you can grind for in the game or just purchase for real money. But so far, all the game mechanics are entirely gratis.

Neverwinter

It's a common life-cycle for MMOs: start as a subscription service, watch player count dwindle after a few months, then announce the game is free-to-play. But Cryptic Studios' Neverwinter skipped straight to the end, designed from the ground up to be free on day one. Based on the Forgotten Realms story within the Dungeons and Dragons multiverse, Neverwinter is a more beginner-friendly experience, emphasizing action over inventory management. Story and voice-acting are high-quality, particularly for a genre that doesn't often bother with either.

First released in 2013, Neverwinter has been actively developed since then with both content drops and full-fledged expansions. Many of these take players to cities and areas that have never been visually expressed before, so players familiar with the Forgotten Realms setting can visit these places for the first time. And if the huge open-world spaces and bespoke dungeons weren't enough, Cryptic Studios was wise enough to let players do what D&D players should do: create their own adventures. Any player can custom-design their own quest, dungeon, or even campaign, and then release it for others to play.

The entire game, from beginning to end, is available for free; for monetization, it's just a question of how much you want to reduce the grind. While the leveling system is considered fair by most players, you'll spend a lot more time if you're don't spend your money. Still, in a gorgeous world with compelling stories, maybe time is what you want to spend anyway.

StarCraft II

Blizzard's strategy epic StarCraft II is extremely demanding: it requires a deep knowledge of dozens of units across three different factions, precision micromanagement, and grasp of both short- and long-term decision-making. While this complexity served it well in the professional circuit, where StarCraft II is a top-tier eSport, it has made the game intimidating for first-time players.

In a bid to lure in wary gamers, Blizzard has now made StarCraft II free-to-play. Now, StarCraft II isn't a normal game: it actually consists of three parts. There's the original title, Wings of Liberty, followed by two expansions, Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void. Each of those expansions could be a full game in their own right They add new units to the multiplayer, as well as complete, enormous single-player campaigns. Plus, there's the co-op Commanders mod and the Nova Covert Ops, which are quick single-player missions.

So what went free, and what's still paid? On the single-player side, the original Wings of Liberty campaign is free. This is considered one of the finest real-time strategy campaigns ever created, with a huge diversity of missions. The expansion campaigns, and the Nova Covert Ops, must still be purchased separately. For the multiplayer, the competitive ladder, including all units from all expansions, is free (though you must first win some unranked games to unlock ranked play). For the co-op, all the Commanders (the heroes that you play as) are free up to Level 5; past that level, and you'll have to start paying.

For a AAA strategy title from one of the world's best game studios, that's a pretty great deal for no money at all.

Player

Magic Duels

Magic: The Gathering, the original Collectible Card Game, remains popular over twenty years after its release. Recently, the game has made a successful move into the digital space with its current offering: Magic Duels. While the basic rules in Duels are identical to the physical card game, the total set of cards is limited. But by 'limited,' that still means there are over 1,300 cards to choose from. Even a stripped-down version of Magic is massive.

Players in Duels can use pre-built decks or create their own, exactly like in the physical game (though deck construction rules are altered slightly). The cards themselves represent different spells, which might deal damage, summon creatures, destroy enemy cards, or any of a variety of other possibilities. Players can go head-to-head or two-versus-two to compete for in-game currency, which can be used to purchase either booster packs of random cards, or specific individual cards. Plus, Duels features a robust single-player campaign: five of them, actually, one for each major character.

All of this is free. For monetization, the game allows players to purchase in-game currency. But since you also earn that currency by playing the game anyway, Magic Duels is a really great offer. One of the best card games ever made, for free? That's a lot of bang for no bucks.

Path of Exile

Grinding Gear Games' Path of Exile is an action-RPG in which players take the role of heroes with a diverse array of powerful attacks and spells, who venture forth from central hub locations to battle monsters and demons from a top-down perspective in order to gain loot. Did that sound like Diablo? Let's be real: Path of Exile is a lot like Diablo. However, the central hubs are multiplayer, which makes it easier to find, partner, and trade with other gamers. And also, it's free.

Grinding Gear has made sure to add major content to the game once or twice a year, making Path of Exile an evolving and growing experience. All that content is free, too. What's more, players can choose which areas to run, and at what difficulty, at will. Levels are procedurally generated, so missions never go exactly the same way twice. And while there are different classes, the sheer number of combinations of abilities and modifiers allows every player to customize their own specific hero-type.

The only microtransactions are for cosmetic items and for inventory space. And yes–as a loot game, inventory space is going to be pretty critical. But that's still up to you in an experience that otherwise won't take a penny from you.

Dota 2

Valve surprised everyone when it announced that it was hiring IceFrog, the developer of the famous Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients. Since then, Valve has released the unofficial sequel to the mod, called Dota 2, as a full product in its own right. One of the most densely-complicated games ever made, Dota 2 lets players choose from any of hundreds of heroes, each with unique abilities, weaknesses, and strengths. Two teams of five square off against each other, attempting to take down the others' base. And as the heroes level up and unlock new abilities throughout the match, players can purchase items to enhance their abilities.

Even more so than League of Legends, the sheer depth and complexity of the item list, and the items' near-infinite combinations, provide Dota 2 with enough factors to prevent anyone from ever attaining true mastery over the game. That's propelled Dota 2 into one of the world's biggest eSports; with Valve's financial backing, its tournaments have the highest prize pools in eSports history. Of all MOBAs available today, Dota 2 is considered the most hardcore, difficult, and–for some–rewarding.

Unlike its rivals, Dota 2 keeps all heroes absolutely free: the only microtransactions in the whole game are for cosmetic upgrades. That was a bold move on Valve's part, but given the enormous amount of time players invest into the game, enough people are paying for cosmetics to make Dota 2 a thriving business. For free.