Download Games Apps for Windows - Free Software & reviews

Fortnite Battle Royale has become an online sensation and has been a fan favorite among people around the world. In the last few years, it has taken the world of online gaming by storm and draws in kids and adults alike. The highly-immersive, action-packed adventure game comes with slick graphics, excellent game mechanics, and a solid community. In this survival game, you can play 3 game modes for more fun and excitement.

One of the most popular action games in the world!

If you’ve paid some attention to the action gaming genre, you wouldn’t have missed coming across Fortnite Battle Royale. This survival or shooter game from Epic Games can be captivating for kids but frustrating for parents. While playing the game, you can even make some money with rewards and prizes. Compared to other popular games like Roblox, Fortnite is an excellent adventure. It comes with amazing graphics and provides you with fast-paced adventure gaming.

How to download Fortnite Battle Royale?

In the simplest form, Fortnite Battle Royale is free to download, install, and play. However, you need to sign up for an account and download the installer from Epic Games. It would allow you to download a wide range of games from the developer, along with Fortnite. Once you’ve downloaded the game on your PC, you’re good to go. It’s worth mentioning that the large-size file can take some time to install, and needs a stable internet connection.

Does Fortnite Battle Royale have multiple game modes?

Just like PUBG and Call of Duty: Warzone, you can play Fortnite Battle Royale in multiple game modes. Currently, you can choose from 3 different modes, including Creative, Save The World, and Battle Royale. While the Creative Mode allows you to build things in a sandbox-style setting, the Battle Royale is a shooter challenge to kill anything that moves.

Save The World, the most interesting mode is a cooperative survival challenge, where teamwork and cooperation take you ahead in the game. With plenty of overlapping storylines, you don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed.

Is Fortnite Battle Royale easy to play?

It’s important to understand that Fortnite Battle Royale is easy to play. However, game mechanics come with a steep learning curve. After a few attempts, you’ll get used to the controls, and should be able to proceed with some fast-paced action without any issues. As of now, Battle Royale is the most popular game mode.

While Save The World Mode requires a purchase to proceed with gameplay, it’s still a good choice. The other game modes are free, but require you to use the in-game currency for upgrades. It’s called V-Bucks and can be earned or bought in exchange for several improvements and accessories.

Like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite Battle Royale can be played with a group of friends or strangers. In order to play the game with friends, you need to set the privacy settings to public and send invites. The game comes with various parental controls and advanced settings, which can be easily customized to improve the game experience.

Fortnite Battle Royale features in-game texts and chats. Depending on the opponents, you can enable or disable these functionalities. The game is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Android, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation, iOS, and Nintendo Switch.

Our take

Without a doubt, Fortnite Battle Royale is one of the most enjoyable shooter games. Since it’s available on multiple operating systems, you can play it on a wide range of devices. For Windows PCs, it has already built a strong reputation but has been given a bad name for addiction issues, weapons, and gun violence. It’s worth mentioning that Fortnite Battle Royale is addictive at every step of the game, and the excellent graphics keep luring you in for more. While this might be a problem for some users, you can’t really blame a game for being too good.

Should you download it?

Yes, definitely! While Fortnite Battle Royale represents different forms of violence, it has received a PEGI rating of 12, which needs to be considered before downloading the game. In order to start playing this game, you need to use your own judgment regarding safety concerns. Fortnite Battle Royale is a fun, interesting, and action-packed adventure with huge maps meant to keep you engaged for extended hours.

Highs:

• Excellent game mechanics
• Plenty of weapon choices
• Amazing graphics
• Solid community
• In-game chat

Lows:

• Too much violence

Although it’s overall fun, it’s still hard to ignore the fact that the game remains slightly incomplete. While playing, you'll notice that collecting loots feels unintuitive, depending primarily on your luck and not on skills, and information regarding ammo and weapon information is sometimes inaccurate. By the same token, high-end graphics may actually work against you: Should others choose to play with low-end graphics settings, they can easily remove the bushes and other green vegetation that helps you camouflage against enemies. Another downside worth mentioning is the game's microtransaction system. You can purchase crates containing in-game cosmetics through BP, a currency you earn by good match performance. Some crates are available for free; however, most call for keys that require a specific amount of BP to pop it open. Even though these crates can give you the upper hand in certain situations, purchasing them will not literally translate into your ultimate win.

There is still plenty of room for improvements in the game. But given that the game's purchasing price is rather reasonable and overall the game can still be enjoyed, PUBG should not be discarded so quickly from the list. As more and more updates take place, the game will become more attractive to play and rank closer in popularity to Fortnite, a similar video game.

Where can you run this program?

PUBG is available for PC. To install and run the game without a hitch, you’ll need a pretty hefty system. The software is only built for versions of Windows 7 64-bit and up. You can also play the game with your Xbox One consoles and PlayStation 4. If you're interested in playing PUBG on your mobile device, keep an eye out for the free download available to gamers.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Fortnite is much more popular and intuitive. An online video game created by Epic Games, Fortnite contains a building mechanic that lets you create your own cover. The game’s survival mode clearly presents the same basics found in PUBG. While it may have been an imitation of the latter game, Fortnite has outranked PUBG through its reliable, fast-paced cadence of updates. There’s no risk in trying Fortnite since it’s free to play. The arcade-like shooter genre mixed with an overarching battle royale theme will surely have you on the edge of your seat. Mind you though...if you are more of a fan of military sims with growing tension, then PUBG is the game for you.

Our take

PUBG can be considered a good battle royale game as a whole. Although there are issues in the action-packed software, its current popularity shows that the pros outweigh whatever cons there are.

Should you download it?

Absolutely. If you’re a fan of competitive games and the battle royale genre, then PUBG is worth the click on the download link. You can have a game that will give you a good adrenaline rush... perfect for a first-time survivor or a seasoned veteran.

Highs:

• Massive maps with a wide selection of arsenal
• Free download available for mobile app
• All-person multiplayer

Lows:

• Frequent violence and gore
• Poor optimization
• With occasional glitches and persistent bugs

A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), Smite has a flair for creativity with multiple game modes (jousting, assault, and conquest). Each mode has an individual character and appeal, allowing you to explore several different worlds in teams. You’ll also love other interesting features, such as the Worship system, which rewards you for dedicating to a specific character. Overall, Smite is an interesting and fun choice for gamers.

A smooth experience with full 3D graphics!

A fantasy MOBA, Smite lets you take the role of different mythological gods to battle in arenas. Unlike League of Legends or other competitors, it offers a third-person camera view, providing a different perspective every time you play the game. It also puts players closer to strategy and action.

A refreshing perspective

Smite is creative, enticing, and engaging! It brings a new perspective to the already popular MOBA genre. Using a WASD keyboard, players take direct control of characters with the conventional RTS-based point-and-click interface. The third-person perspective makes the gameplay more action-oriented, where you need to manually acquire new skills and aim attacks while avoiding incoming blows.

Currently, you can choose from more than 60 God avatars inspired by several mythologies followed around the world. Some of the most popular choices include Hindu, Egyptian, Rome, Greek, Mayan, and Norse.

While the game takes a creative approach, it doesn’t distort the basic goal of every MOBA offering. Two teams battle to destroy the other faction’s main building. The action requires players to break through towers and NPC minions for the win.

Creative gameplay with multiple modes

The gameplay is engaging and lets you control the character (God) effortlessly. While destroying enemy towers, killing NPC minions, and slaying opponents, you keep leveling up to get more powers and skills. Each team has 3 to 5 players, who need to defeat towers and Phoenixes owned by the enemies. The ultimate goal is to destroy the Titan, a merciless warrior representing the final objective of the game.

Players can choose from different game modes, such as Practice Tutorial mode, Solo mode, and Jungle mode. The last one is a favorite of many, and allows you to practice with abilities and items. You can also try co-op mode to fight waves of AI. Ranked and Normal modes start standard MOBA matches. Last but not the least, Custom mode allows you to customize content as per your interests.

Your choice of a mode will depend on how much you need to learn from the game. While Arena is an aggressive brawl, Joust is focused on teamplay along a straightforward route. Similarly, Assault has a single lane, where every player gets a random God as a character.

Siege is an extended version of Assault, and features two lanes with a forest area between them. Conquest is chosen by the most experienced players. It has three lanes with a much larger forest area and a set of difficult objectives. For the best gaming experience, it’s better to move up the ladder accordingly.

Graphics and music could be improved, but aren’t a deal-breaker

The artwork in Smite can repel beginners and amateurs. Since the game was designed to run on multiple platforms and PCs, it uses an older gaming engine. While everything on the screen looks better in motion than static image, you still wouldn’t call it a next-generation game.

Smite has tried hard to preserve the spirit of comic books from the 90s. With its customized monsters and Gods, the artwork ranges from charming to off-putting. Although most players don’t consider it a dealbreaker, it’s not for everyone’s taste.

As compared to other leading names like League of Legends and DotA, the audio aspect doesn’t stand out. The themes don’t have originality, but suit the gameplay and storyline. Fortunately, a lot of work has been done to create appealing character voices. The best part is that you can get new voices via in-game purchases to simply sound funny or intimidate opponents.

Since the game is free, it’s a good enough reason to try it out. What makes Smite great is the compatibility with multiple platforms and operating systems. You can also play this MOBA game on a console. Though in-game purchases like skins and voices need real money, the game successfully introduces a huge young audience to this exciting and complex genre.

Where can you run this program?

Smite is available for multiple operating systems and platforms, including Windows, Steam, Playstation, Nintendo and Xbox One. On the Microsoft Windows operating system, it’s recommended to use Windows 7 and above.

Is there a better alternative?

While Smite is an excellent choice among MOBA games, you may want to check out other offerings in this category. League of Legends, one of the most popular competitors, is backed by a huge community of gamers who love interacting during gameplay. However, with several features and complexities, the learning process can be tedious and long.

Another good choice is DotA, which lets you hop on to an active queue at any time of the day. It just makes sure you’re able to start the game quickly. Once again, gameplay can be tough to understand for beginners. If you’re looking for something with better graphics, Heroes of Newerth will be the perfect choice. But you’d need solid internet connectivity!

Our take

With several game modes reminding you of classics in this genre, Smite takes the lead over its competitors. The gameplay is innovative and creative! 3D graphics and numerous mythological themes keep you engaged with the storyline throughout the journey. Overall, it’s a great choice.

Should you download it?

Yes, definitely! One of the most successful MOBA games, Smite is well-developed and provides a refreshing perspective over games like League of Legends and DotA. If you’re considering an action-packed, smooth gaming experience, give Smite a try!

Highs:

• Multiple game modes
• Full 3D game
• Free-to-play

Lows:

• Server issues can be annoying
• Frequent changes to gameplay
• Skins can only be acquired with gems (real money)

RPG Maker VX Ace is a purchasable game-making software for creating 2D RPG titles with relative ease. The software provides various tools that help you tile the map, create character dialogue, and place interactable items. Finding new assets to make the game look unique is a quick task, thanks to the online community.

Make RPG games

RPG Maker VX Ace is a tool for the sole purpose of creating games. The app provides all the resources you’ll need, including a library of fully animated sprites, tiles, and dialogue boxes. However, as the software offers a template for classic roleplaying games, many games created from it feel repetitive due to shared mechanics.

Learning curve

RPG Maker VX Ace uses Ruby as its scripting language, requiring you to learn at least part of it before creating games. You’ll often need to script to navigate players through portals, doors, and many more. The online community is a great help as you learn, offering tutorials and advice.

Easy to use interface

The interface for RPG Maker VX Ace is old-fashioned and resembles Windows 7 frames. From the side of your screen, you can select ‘Tile’ to design the map. In ‘Event’ mode, you’ll place interactable events, which trigger and control various processes in the game automatically or in response to player input.

The ‘Database’ menu lets you customize enemies, player characters, inventory items, and more. In the ‘Scripting’ menu, you can alter the game engine’s pre-existing code, or insert your own. There’s even an option to play-test your work within the application.

Find new assets

If you use the assets provided with the application, you’ll create a game that looks the same as many others. While this is great for practicing, but if you want to make a title to sell, you’ll need to make or find new options.

The online community has various free and purchasable asset packs. There’s also many DLC available for RPG Maker VX Ace. If you are using premade assets in your game, make sure they are licensed for commercial use.

Content included in the run time package (RTP) or official DLC should be safe, but always make sure you have the right to use these materials.

Make games, earn money

With RPG Maker VX Ace, you can make a game and sell it. Many online distributors accept RPG Maker creations and have their own tag for titles made this way.

Our take

RPG Maker VX Ace is a useful tool in a long line of RPG Maker products. The software is easy to use but will require a few hours of learning before writing scripts.

While many newer versions are better alternatives, you can try Open RPG Maker for a similar yet free option, or create 3D games for free using Unity.

Should you download it?

Yes. This application is worth installing if you’re looking for a powerful tool to make simplistic and retro role-playing games.

Highs:

• Great menu design
• Import new asset files with ease
• Extra downloads for optional features
• Helpful online community

Lows:

• Learning curve
• Created game may feel repetitive due to playstyle

Warframe achieves adulthood to deliver one of the most fun free-to-play action titles available today. When Warframe has first released publisher Digital Extremes likely banked on that tagline to get gamers to download the rather forgettable first version of its game. Today, Warframe can back up the cool space ninja troupe with real substance. And boy, does it have a lot. It’s a third-person shooter MMO in the vein of Destiny were fast-paced, high fun, and multivariable action gameplay reigns supreme. The tutorial takes you through the basic movement and weapon skills that are easy to grasp but may take some time to master, especially the movement. A futuristic solar system is your oyster. You play a Tenno, a super-powerful space ninja beset by 3 factions as you play through the quests, missions, and star systems however you please.

More than 60 space ninja types to unlock and a labyrinth of upgrades and missions to explore

Steam or a standalone installer from the Warframe site gets you started. You’ll have to sign up for an account but it takes seconds. After a lengthy download of 25 gigabytes, you’re thrown into the first mission tutorial which gets a gold star for showing the lore and ropes of the game in an easy to grasp walkthrough.

Choose among the Excalibur, Mag, or Volt Warframes to get a taste of the RPG-like classes where each Warframe murders bad guys to a different tune. Excalibur has a good mix of melee and ranged weaponry and is the standard choice. Mag uses more utility and energy manipulation while Volt electrocutes everything to death. Each Warframe has 4 main abilities that unlock as you level up and have multiple primary and secondary weapon choices. This keeps the fundamentals basic but the upgrade system, discussed later, allows for big customization.

The engine of the game, called Evolution, plays smooth even on less-than-capable machines. Movement is fluid, fun, and the weapon mechanics make sense. Manipulating the world around you feels cohesive. You can tell from the start that the pace of the game tends towards the manic as you dart around the screen and parkour off walls. The game rewards mobility over pure aim, opposite of something like Counter-Strike, so if you prefer twitch over precision then you’re in luck with Warframe.

Unlike some MMOs that have linear progression, Warframe plays like a choose-your-own adventure book where the measure of success is really up to you. Collect cosmetics, farm bosses to unlock all the Warframes, or work towards total item and mod mastery of a few “frames”. You can also play solo or as co-op with other party members, and there’s even burgeoning but underdeveloped PVP. Despite the fun factor inherent to the gameplay, the grind of the game will deter some newcomers, especially those more comfortable with a linear direction. Luckily, it’s a true free to play title whose missions typically last under ten minutes so you can come and go as you please.

Progression can take many forms once you finish the first mission but make no mistake – Warframe is a game of farming, collecting, and building. New players should focus on unlocking as many planets as possible to provide the most variety of available things to do and resources to collect. Once you establish that access network then comes the decision on how you want to build it out.

Resource farming happens as you play so you should approach it with a plan. If you want to catch all the Warframes like Pokémon, prepare to farm bosses which drop the different schematics for each. Weapons and other mods are a little less prescriptive with the in-game market providing access to many. Some items require dojos (guilds) or come as rewards for specific missions, quests, and missions.

The learning curve looks like a slick cliff face so make use of the active Warframe community. Plenty of newbie guides exist to help with the question of where to start. One thing that could use improvement is more in-game explanations of what you can possibly do, however, developers know that the average gamer spends time on forums, YouTube, and Discords and that kind of information disseminates naturally through social channels. Definitely make use of it.

Where can you run this program?

Warframe runs on Windows for now. You’ll also need a 64-bit processor (32-bit is a no-go), a 2.2ghz CPU, DirectX 10, 4GB of RAM, and about 30 GB of HD space at the minimum. You can run it on Windows 7 and higher. The Evolution engine has great optimization for lower-end PCs.

Is there a better alternative?

Warframe devotees will say that the continual addition of varied content has made the game a unique snowflake. For newbies, it’s worth mentioning Destiny 1 and 2 as these are also third person co-op space shooters with a high focus on loot and grinding. But they can’t match the high-energy pace of Warframe’s gameplay. PVP interested players should think of Overwatch, which has the same class-based play and a smooth engine. Path of Exile and Diablo 3 have the same kind of loot grinding, character-building angle but of course are action RPGs and naturally play differently.

Our take

The positive tenor of this review sums up our take. The game went from dustbin to underground hero because of an engaged development team and active fanbase. The growing pains along the way have delivered a game of somewhat overwhelming depth and complexity, yet retains a fun and fast core gameplay which makes the discovery and mastery of all that depth exciting. It shows no signs of slowing down which adds a level of security to your time investment.

Should you download it?

Yes, you should. Warframe offers a truly free-to-play experience (because of little PVP there isn’t much pay-to-win) on a smooth engine with fast and engaging gameplay that can take up years of your life given the depth and complexity of the progression system. Don’t overlook it.

Highs:

• Lightning fast gameplay
• Short mission duration
• Oceanic depth
• Helpful community
• Free to play without pay-to-win

Lows:

• Overwhelming to start
• Requires outside help

Slime Rancher is a farming simulation game stuffed with adorable characters and engaging gameplay.

A big slime world

Venture into the wild and capture as many as you can. Feed your blobs and vacuum their 'plorts' (poop), so you can sell them off.

The real challenge is managing your blobs. You must ensure that they don’t escape and that they are only fed the snacks you provide. If they eat the poop of a foreign blob, they turn into a mutant. Deal with these monstrosities with caution. Luckily, though, they can bring more money when you sell their poop. This means tending to your little friends is more than just a tedious task. The action injected into this title is a major trait that makes it so great. And you’ll find plenty of it here.

The unique and comedic gameplay make this software a treat for children and teens who enjoy the little farming simulation details in the game. The downside to the game is the repetitive nature of it. Unless you create a lot of mutant blobs, there isn’t much of a challenge and it can get boring.

Where can you run this program?

This game is only available on Windows operating systems running Windows 7 or above.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Slime Rancher is very unique when it comes to playstyle, but it lacks a lot of challenge and depth. If you like farming simulation games, try Farming Simulator or Garden of Mooj.

Our take

Slime Rancher has colorful graphics and an interesting plot. It lacks more challenging levels, however, and can feel a bit repetitive.

Should you download it?

Yes. With so many alternative farming simulation games, it’s not a must-have. Try one of the other alternatives suggested, and enjoy tending to your own virtual farm.

Highs:

• HD graphics
• Unique story
• Fun design

Lows:

• Repetitive
• Not challenging
• Slow progress

FNaF World is a surprising entry into the original franchise. Rather than approach gamers with another horror title, the developer decided to push a fruity role-playing game.

From horrifying to frustrating

Plenty of people know about Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s a series based on surviving an entire night locked in a building with robotic enemies. In the process of surviving, you’re put through constant stress and jump scares.

FNaF World, however, is a bizarre addition to the franchise. There’s no horror here. It flaunts bright colors and funky music, and this makes it feel like a game meant for children. There’s an argument to be had on whether that was the entire purpose but, considering its predecessors, it doesn’t seem to be the case.

Immerse yourself in a world with characters like Balloon Boy and Phantom Marionette. Explore the strange contrast between scary and child-like. You can do all this while struggling with mediocre and inconsistent RPG gameplay, once you get past the long and unjustified loading screens, that is. The incoherent controls and lack of information on what’s happening in the game make for a frustrating experience.

There’s always a silver lining, though. If you change the target audience, this title could turn out just fine. The exaggerated colors and simple gameplay might work great with kids. It has a fun and bouncy soundtrack to boot. Also, younger audiences would highly enjoy the forty characters available to choose from. They all have fun little animations, and the enemies share these qualities.

Where can you run this program?

This program runs on Windows 7 and later. Additionally, it can be downloaded to Android devices.

Is there a better alternative?

Absolutely. Darkest Dungeon and Earthbound are fantastic alternatives in every way.

Our take

Anyone looking for an enjoyable and high-quality turn-based RPG will need to look elsewhere. Currently, this game can’t stand on its own legs.

Should you download it?

No. If you’re looking for a well-developed game, you need to find it somewhere else.

Highs:

• Great for kids
• Bright colors
• Fun soundtrack

Lows:

• Lacks some features
• Strange concept
• Boring
• Long loading screens

GameLoop, previously known as Tencent Gaming Buddy, is appraised as one of the most advanced Android emulators for Windows. The emulator supports smooth play on low-profile computers and is compatible with numerous games. This emulator is highly optimized for installing games and is free.

GameLoop software installation

The GameLoop emulator comes to you in a small package. This software can be installed onto your PC or laptop within a few seconds by following the easy instructions displayed on-screen. The emulator doesn’t pre-install games on your computer. Simply look for games found inside the Game Center and download them.

As you boot up the app, GameLoop will instantly suggest that you download PUBG Mobile, an Android game, and prompt you to play it. You can set the emulator to improve your gameplay experience in the settings.

How to use GameLoop

Using the GameLoop app is easy. The program interface is simplified and modern. You can navigate all tabs from the main screen. There are four primary tabs on the left of the app’s main screen, including Login, My Games, Game Center and Live. Other tools include access to friend lists, preferences, and more.

GameLoop has broad compatibility with many popular Android games. It supports 2k resolution, with an immersive gaming experience that sets it apart from alternative emulators like BlueStacks. The software requires 1.5GB of hard drive space that includes PUBG Mobile. The software is optimized for Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Is GameLoop Safe?

Tencent Gaming is a reputable company. They also developed the mobile version of PUBG that is famous in the battle royale genre. GameLoop doesn’t contain any malware, viruses, and spyware.

Our take

Installing this emulator on your computer gives you the experience of Android games with a larger screen. You can reproduce a game that significantly outperforms the potential of current mobile hardware. The advanced PC hardware performance and nearly unlimited memory, increase the gameplay efficiency that is impossible on mobile devices.

Should you download it?

If you are into Android games and want an enhanced experience of your game on a larger screen, then the GameLoop emulator is for you.

Highs:

• Highly optimized Android gaming emulator
• Renders Android games better than on mobile
• Network is optimized for lag-free gaming
• 100% free
• Compatible with popular Android games

Lows:

• Only compatible with gaming apps