If you’re a gamer working or studying abroad, you’ll probably be unable to bring most of your gear with you.
Think about it. Unless you have ample luggage space, it’s difficult to lug along consoles such as your Playstation or Xbox.
Smaller handhelds like a Nintendo Switch or a Steam Deck are viable options, but most games they run require money. Even games like Hello Kitty Island Adventure costs US$40! For an international student, that amount of money could be ample food and groceries.
The solution? Download PC games for free on your laptop. Easy, portable, and accessible at anytime, without costing a dime.
Not only do these games serve as a great de-stressor after a long day of studying or working, but they actually come with benefits of their own.
Take a look:
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Some of the best friends can be found through gaming. Source: AFP
The benefits of gaming
Older adults may tell you that gaming is bad. You stay cooped up all day, eyes glued to a screen as the hours tick into the night, sometimes even into the wee hours of the morning.
While there is some truth to that statement – too much of anything is bad, after all – the adults here at Study International say that playing a healthy amount of gaming can bring great benefits.
It can help reduce stress and improve mental health, according to Regan Mandryk, a computer science professor at the University of Saskatchewan, via CBC.
Brain-teasing games, such as jigsaw puzzles, chess, crosswords, and other problem-solving and memory games, can help adults maintain their reasoning skills and cognitive speed.
If you prefer MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games like League of Legends and Dota, or PVP (Player Versus Player) games like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, Overwatch, and Valorant, those also come with benefits of their own.
The research proves it – scientists have determined that playing competitive FPS games increases human abilities to make decisions quickly and correctly, thus improving their cognitive skills.
Real-time strategy, reflexes, teamwork, and communication – all critical skills that PVP games can develop for the real world. Because you’re playing with other humans rather than following a pre-determined storyline or plot, you get to study and analyse their playstyle and movements, honing your own decision-making abilities.
Through these gaming communities, you can also join Discord servers, the primary avenue for communication with gamers. Make friends, participate in discussions, join voice calls, and even watch shows and movies from continents apart.
Of course, like every other hobby, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. There will be days when a bad game will affect you – and when that happens, it’s time to take a break.
Dealing with toxicity, managing negative emotions, and learning how to cope with adversity are also situations that you’ll have to deal with in real life. And unlike games, you can’t just log off whenever you’d like in reality, right?
So if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, or simply need a new game to try, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are our top picks for places where you can download PC games for free.
Download PC games for free on these sites and platforms
Our recommendations are absolutely legit and 100% legal. We’re not redirecting you to malware or piracy sites – always download PC games for free at your own risk!
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You can now play as your favourite Marvel superhero (or villain) in Marvel Rivals, which is taking the Internet by storm. Source: AFP
Steam
Steam is one of the most widely used platforms to access and download PC games for free. In 2024, the platform peaks at almost 40 million concurrent users.
The platform has one of the largest collections of games, offering easy downloads and library sorting based on genres.
The best part? There are always massive discounts, bundles, and promotions; Steam has genre-specific sales nearly every month of the year, with quarterly seasonal sales spanning two weeks at a time – the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Sales.
Of course, it’s also a great place to download PC games for free. Take a look at the platform’s most-played list of games – a large majority don’t cost a single dime. Overwatch, Team Fortress 2, The Sims 4, and most recently, Marvel Rivals, are all free to play with in-game purchase options for skins and rewards.
It has a robust catalogue of games, with cloud data storage, offline support, and excellent customer service. It has a large active community – players can easily connect with friends, share reviews, and discuss games.
In the event that you purchased a game but didn’t end up liking it, you can even refund it as long as you’ve played it for less than two hours.
Epic Games Store
Don’t be put off by the word ‘store’ in the name – Epic Games Store is a great place to download PC games for free as it has a ton of free-to-play games.
Try out some of Hoyoverse’s award-winning games; there’s Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero, all of which are free to play and offer hundreds of hours of open-world exploration, exciting combat mechanics and puzzles, along with thrilling stories and a rich array of characters.
While offerings are similar to Steam – it offers the same hit games such as Marvel Rivals, Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League – Epic Games Store has the added bonuses of exclusive deals, more free games, and even lower prices for their paid offerings, as they have lower revenue split with game developers.
The platform sometimes offers limited-time events where you can play big games for free to try them out. Its current limited-time offerings include Beyond Blue, a lovely game about underwater exploration, and the historical strategy game HUMANKIND.
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Many gamers and even casual watchers spent their childhoods watching creators online like Jacksepticeye play games, essentially living through their experiences. Source: AFP
Good Old Games (GOG.com)
If you’re a fan of vintage indie games, then look no further than GOG.com (formerly Good Old Games).
The platform is run by the same developers of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, both award-winning games.
The platform hosts exceptional triple-A games, unique indies, and even the classics from the 90s. Even if some of these vintage games are older than you are, the developers test them thoroughly and check for bug fixes while optimising them to run on modern software.
While some of the games must be purchased, there is a large selection of games which you can download for free too. Surf through free classics such as The Elder Scrolls, or explore other free, indie games or visual novels.
A great plus is that games on GOG are DRM-free (digital rights management). Many companies use DRM to control access to books, games, videos, and music through client platforms or logins – GOG is not one of them. Once you download a game, it’s yours to own forever.
Itch.io
Itch.io is the biggest storefront for games from indie developers, and is a great place to download PC games for free. The platform even allows developers to set their own prices and even offer pay-what-you-want models, making it easy for players to support their favourite creators.
The website also has an active community, complete with forum discussions, blog posts about the latest games, and even listicles and recommendations for every genre or season.
Other products, such as books, music, and even visual assets and video game models can be uploaded there – some for completely free! So, if you’re looking to make your own indie games or explore other types of content, this is the place for you to explore.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on February 10, 2025.
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