This guide is compiled from public information and the pages linked below. GameRath is an editorial team and we have not run lab tests on these games. Live-service details change often, so check each game's own channels for the current status.
Five free action RPGs are worth a look on PC right now: Genshin Impact, Where Winds Meet, NTE (Neverness to Everness), Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero. All five can be downloaded without paying, and all five sell optional purchases, which is why the real choice is about playstyle, hardware and how much random-reward spending you are comfortable with rather than about price tags. Use this page to compare them, then follow the links to the deeper guides.
Quick answer: Start with Genshin Impact if you want the most established open-world adventure, and read our Genshin Impact profile first. Pick Where Winds Meet for a martial-arts world, NTE for a city setting with driving, and Wuthering Waves or Zenless Zone Zero for faster, combat-first action. Install one, play a few hours and spend nothing until you know you like it.
What "Free" Means in a Gacha Game
In a gacha game you spend a currency, often bought with real money, for a random chance at a character or item. The ESRB, the US ratings board, created a label for this in 2020: "In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)." Destructoid reported that the label covers randomized purchases such as loot boxes and gacha games, and that it tells buyers they cannot know in advance exactly what they will receive. The same report notes that the label does not disclose the odds.
That is the most useful thing to know before you install. Playing is free, spending is optional, and the part that costs money is the random pull. Our guide to spotting pay-to-win in a free game shows what to check, and our free-to-play hub explains the other monetization models.
The Five Games
Genshin Impact
HoYoverse's open-world action RPG is the benchmark for the genre. Our profile describes a gacha system you can safely ignore for dozens of hours of story and exploration, with elemental combat at the center. For your first real squad, read our team-building guide, and for the newest content see our version 7.1 update page.
Where Winds Meet
Everstone Studio's open-world action RPG is set in a martial-arts world. Gematsu describes it as free-to-play and lists PC availability through Steam and the Epic Games Store. The developer added a new region called Hexi, which Gematsu reported was due to launch on March 6 in a UTC announcement. Choose it if you want exploration and sword combat in a setting that differs from the usual fantasy.
NTE (Neverness to Everness)
Hotta Studio developed it and Perfect World publishes it. RPGSite describes a city-set open-world role-playing game where committing crimes raises a wanted level and can bring police pursuit, and where friends can join your world for racing and other activities. Gfinity calls it free-to-play with in-game transactions for characters and cosmetics, and says it supports cross-platform play and progression. It launched worldwide on April 29, 2026, and Kaiden reports a Steam and Epic Games Store launch on July 8, 2026. Our NTE PC guide covers setup and requirements.
Wuthering Waves
Kuro Games' action RPG is free to play, according to Dexerto and PCGamesN, and is a gacha title where you buy premium currency to pull for new characters and weapons. Dexerto adds that you can play at no extra cost, but getting the strongest characters and weapons will likely take spending. PCGamesN reports that the Steam version means one fewer standalone launcher to keep track of.
Zenless Zone Zero
HoYoverse's urban action RPG reached Steam on June 17, 2026, according to ComicBook, which describes it as free-to-play with optional purchases. The same report says it passed 15,000 concurrent players on launch day and held a Very Positive rating from more than 1,000 reviews. Gfinity and Destructoid both list a Core i5 and a GTX 970-class graphics card as the minimum, but they disagree on storage, so check the store page before you clear space.
How to Choose
Match the game to what you want from your evenings. If you like wandering and discovering, Genshin Impact and Where Winds Meet reward patience. If you want a modern city to explore and drive through, NTE is the one to try. If you prefer tight combat sessions, Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero are built around action.
Then check your PC. Requirements differ widely, and some listings disagree, so read our guide to reading system requirements before you download tens of gigabytes. If your machine is older, start with our free games for low-end PCs.
Common Questions
Do I need to spend money to enjoy these games? No. All five can be downloaded and played without paying, and optional purchases are tied to random pulls and cosmetics.
Which one is best for a first-time gacha player? Genshin Impact has the longest track record and our beginner coverage, so it is the easiest to learn about before you start.
Can I play them on one account across devices? NTE is described as cross-platform with shared progression. For the others, check the login and server options in each game before you commit time.
What if I want other genres? Our best free-to-play games ranked by genre covers shooters, battle royale, MMORPGs and strategy.
Sources: Destructoid — ESRB "Includes Random Items" label, Gematsu — Where Winds Meet Hexi expansion, RPGSite — Neverness to Everness, Gfinity — NTE release date, platforms, price, Kaiden — NTE Steam, Epic and Samsung launch FAQ, Dexerto — Is Wuthering Waves free to play?, PCGamesN — Wuthering Waves on Steam, ComicBook — Zenless Zone Zero on Steam, Gfinity — Zenless Zone Zero system requirements, Destructoid — Zenless Zone Zero PC requirements
