StarCraft II

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

The game that arguably kickstarted the esports craze, StarCraft II maintains a thriving competitive scene more than a decade on from its original release, proving it a solid choice amid the best free PC games. Following on from the events of 1999’s Brood War expansion of the original game, the sequel continues Blizzard’s epic space opera, featuring the return of its three iconic factions. A classic narrative mixes with oceans-deep tactical gameplay to make one of the best examples of this iconic genre. The free version offers access to the entire Wings of Liberty single-player campaign, as well as the multiplayer modes, although the Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void expansions are paid additions to the story.