Digital gaming is big news right now. The global gaming industry is on course to be valued at $180 billion by the end of 2021, and more people than ever before are regularly playing virtual games at home and on the go.  

If you’re looking to get in on the latest trend for digital gaming but don’t know where to begin, you’re best off starting with free games. Games consoles, particularly the latest generation of devices, can cost upwards of $300 – hardly a frivolous purchase! Luckily, some of the best digital games on mobile and PC are now available to download and play for absolutely zero cost to yourself.  

Free eSports Games

eSports is a segment of the gaming industry that has really dominated headlines in recent years and piqued the interest of major brands. With huge prize pools on offer at annual tournaments like The International, it’s no wonder the world is going crazy for pro gaming.  

Whether you harbour secret desires to be the next N0tail or not, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of playing eSports games. League of Legends, for example, is the original and some say greatest eSports game. It still pulls in millions of players on a daily basis, August 2021 saw the game peak with 8 million users in one day. Its gameplay is absorbing but easy enough for the most casual gamer to get into and it’s completely free to play. 

If you’re after something a bit more challenging, the big daddy of modern eSports is undoubtedly Defense of the Ancients 2 (DotA 2). This is the game that set a brand new record for the amount paid out in an eSports tournament prize pool ($35 million, if you’re curious). 

Free Casino Games

iGaming is another hugely popular gaming vertical and brings all the thrill and excitement of casino gaming to your PC or mobile. There is a lot of competition in the iGaming market, with platforms constantly having to outdo their competitors to ensure brand visibility.  

IGaming operators have discovered that free game trials are one of the most effective ways to reach new customers, so the best online casinos in the US will offer free game bonuses alongside several other tempting promotional offers. 

Even elite pro tournaments have a more accessible side, as evidenced by the latest offering of free online Texas Hold’em games from the World Series of Poker. Meanwhile, renowned global brands like PokerStars regularly run Play Money tournaments, which are free to enter and play and a great place for beginners to start. 

Free Mobile Games  

If you weren’t aware of the reach and popularity of mobile gaming you must’ve been living under a rock for the past six years! Gaming on the go is still very much all the rage with people right across the globe, and it’s the gaming vertical that has the largest selection of free games to play.  

With so many games saturating app stores, it can be tricky to find a truly engaging gaming experience. That’s why it makes sense to stick with the more premium titles such as Genshin Impact. This action-based RPG was one of the hottest games of the year in 2020 and it’s easy to see why. An open-world environment invites you to explore and there are plenty of characters to collect and missions to complete.  

One of the original games that kickstarted the craze for mobile gaming back in 2016 is still available to play for free today. Pokemon Go may have just passed its fifth birthday but it’s no less enjoyable for it.