15 Games Like Team Fortress 2
Our collection of games like Team Fortress 2 (TF2) promises other free to play shooters with a focus on light-hearted games with multiple classes.
Team Fortress 2 (TF2) originally launched as a paid title in 2007 but since 2011 has been a free to play experience that is available through Valve’s popular Steam platform. The game stands out against other multiplayer shooters because of its light-hearted and humorous approach to gameplay.
The maps and class options that Team Fortress 2 offers is also well ahead of most first person shooters (especially free to play ones). Class options not only have a different gameplay style but also their own voice acting, backstory and distinct visual appearance.
In regards to gameplay elements Team Fortress 2 is not that different to other alternatives with players able to choose different weapons with their own strengths to dispatch the opposing team or secure the objective on the given map. Where gameplay does take a unique turn though is the item drop and crafting systems which is responsible for a player’s available weapons.
The games like TF2 on this page include free and paid alternatives for players looking for a new first person shooter. This list focuses on providing options with a similar light-hearted approach to gameplay although some are included simply for their strong multiplayer communities.
Warframe
Warframe is a free shooter available for PC and the PlayStation 4. It’s co-operatively focused and uses a third person perspective, the game gained lots of traction after a 2013 release. The game has a sci-fi twist with players talking control of a Tenno warrior who has come out of cryosleep after centuries. The world isn’t as they remember leaving it and now they find themselves at war on all sides (against three factions). As masterful warriors though this race has a few tricks up their sleeve...[Read Review]
Blitz Brigade
Available for both mobile devices and Windows Blitz Brigade is a simple team based shooter that supports up to 6v6 battles. If you enjoy the team based battles and classes of Team Fortress 2 and want something similar for mobile Blitz Brigade will tick that box. Featuring 6 classes and a multitude of armory options Blitz Brigade is big on choice for a game designed for the mobile environment. Blitz Brigade allows players to test their skills in the single player challenges before stepping into t...[Read Review]
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
The wacky Plants vs Zombie themed shooter is back with a sequel that introduces new characters and plenty of single player content for those that don’t want to solely focus on the multiplayer scene. With Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 players can expect a similar overall experience as you take control of various plants and zombies in third person while conquering the objective focused gameplay. Game design wise most of the core features have remained the same with Plants vs. Zombies:...[Read Review]
Blacklight: Retribution
Set in a cyberpunk world is Blacklight: Retribution, a free to shooter available for both Windows and PlayStation 4. Offering massive weapon customisation and strong graphics it is on the higher quality spectrum of free to play shooters. Blacklight is all about combining the futuristic technology on offer to create an ideal loadout for your character. While switching options in and out is easy the costs can quickly add up so it is often more advantageous to focus on a single playstyle first. Ite...[Read Review]
Block N Load
Block N Load blends sandbox with the class based shooter to create a strategic 5 on 5 FPS where you’ll get to remake the environment to meet your needs while also playing as a host of colourful characters. With the ability to reshape the game maps every single time you play Block N Load offers more map variety which is limited only by the creativity of players. Gameplay in Block N Load is split into two distinct game phases; the build phase and then the attack phase. During the first of th...[Read Review]
S4 League
S4 League is a stylish fast paced shooter with sci-fi and MMO elements at the heart of the game experience. With a catchy techno soundtrack combining with small map designs it offers a less tactical approach to the genre where you can jump into a game and instantly be in the thick of action. This highly stylised and quick paced experience has made S4 league a popular casual option but also goes beyond the casual crowd at the higher levels of skill due to the high mechanic skill cap associated wi...[Read Review]
Urban Terror
Urban Terror offers a free first person shooter that was developed off the Quake III Arena software and grew from mod like beginnings to eventually become is own independent game. It was first released in 2000 but was not a standalone game until early 2007. Urban Terror has changed much since its early days of development and these days resembles something akin to early Counter Strike releases. Realism is the focus in Urban Terror gameplay but it also aims to remain fun, fast paced and easily ac...[Read Review]
CrossFire
CrossFire is a free to play shooter that focus on offering a depth of game modes and gun varieties to allow it to compete against the popular paid first person shooters. With a history spanning back to Korea in 2007 CrossFire has a clear competitive balance focus which still holds true today despite the expansion into other regions. In the current FPS environment CrossFire stands a top the genre in terms of player base and update frequency which makes it the clear choice for fans of the genre se...[Read Review]
Paladins
Paladins (Paladins: Champions of the Realm) joins the growing number of free to play hero shooters. With a setting hat blends together fantasy with that of ancient technology the Paladins setting is unique to the hero shooter. On top of the core hero shooter Paladins also offers a Paladins Battlegrounds game mode. Similar to other games in the niche Paladins offers a range of champions to control on the battlefield that come with their own special set of abilities that can be further customised ...[Read Review]
Gotham City Impostors
Gotham City Impostors is a multiplayer FPS game developed for Windows, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 (console servers subsequently shutdown in 2014). The game originally launched as a paid title but went free to play for Windows which saw the player population grow rapidly. The game has great humour in its gameplay and offers a light hearted experience in line with something like Team Fortress 2. The game is a multiplayer only experience with players battling others with all the features you wo...[Read Review]
Battleborn
Battleborn offers a blend of multiplayer and singleplayer shooting action with a similar style of humour to the Borderlands franchise. With over two dozen heroes that can be altered further with gear and helix options the strength of the game lies within the variety of ways to engage in combat. Set deep in space where most of the planets in the universe have been destroyed by a dark event every species has flocked to one of the last known stars, Solus. Once the origins of the catastrophe are unc...[Read Review]
PlanetSide 2
PlanetSide 2 is a free to play shooter that aims to capture the feeling of massive combat engagements. Players will get to control a huge variety of vehicles and classes as they battle it out against hundreds and sometimes thousands of players. In the game you’ll have to swear allegiance to one of the three factions in the game which are fighting each other for control of continents and resources. Factions include the New Conglomerate, Vanu Sovereignty and the Terrain Republic, each of these fac...[Read Review]
Dirty Bomb
For objective based shooters it is hard to ignore what Dirty Bomb brings to this popular shooter formula. With a host of large multi-objective maps to conquer with your own team of unique mercenaries with different abilities. Set after a wave of attacks cripple London the leaders on both side of the conflict look towards hired mercenaries to ensure their interests are well looked after. On one side you’ve got the criminal syndicate looking to get their hands on all sorts of objectives whil...[Read Review]
Overwatch
Overwatch is Blizzard’s addition to the fast and often frantic first person shooter. Opting for a character based affair there are nearly two dozen uniquely designed heroes that come with their own skills to mix and match to make your ideal team of six. In terms of setting the game takes place on Earth although is sixty years in the future after the events of the Omnic Crisis have left scars across the globe. This crisis arose after the creation of advanced AI which was created to aid huma...[Read Review]
Splatoon 2
Based on the original Wii U title of the same name Splatoon 2 builds on the fundamentals set by the original but brings the paint splashing title to the Nintendo Switch. With co-op game modes, online versus and even a single player campaign. Said campaign serves as a fantastic introduction to the games weapon systems and overall controls, taking around half a dozen hours to complete and arming players well for the core multiplayer experience. This multiplayer happens on an array of maps in third...[Read Review]