Category: Buy-to-Play

Killing Floor 2

Killing Floor 2 is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter built around short, intense co-op matches. Teams drop into a map, pick a perk, and survive escalating waves of “zeds” using a mix of firearms, melee tools, grenades, and perk-based passive abilities, with money and experience earned through efficient kills and smart teamwork.

Publisher: Tripwire Interactive
Playerbase: High
Type: MMO Shooter
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Pros: +Sharp visuals and responsive gunplay. +Solid weapon selection and customization. +Quick, adrenaline-heavy co-op rounds. +Meaningful perk leveling
Cons: -Repetition sets in over time. -Matchmaking balance can be inconsistent.

Verdun

Verdun is a World War I first person shooter that takes its name from the brutal 1916 clash on the Western Front. It focuses on squad play and the harsh rhythm of trench fighting, with battles supporting up to 32 players per match.

Publisher: Steam
Playerbase: Low
Type: First Person Shooter
Release Date: September 19, 2013 (early access)
Pros: +Historically grounded WWI weapons and maps. +Distinct squad roles that encourage teamwork. +Both tactical and quicker, casual modes.
Cons: -Small community, so matchmaking can be slow. -Menus and HUD can be hard to read at first. -Movement and overall feel can seem a little heavy. -Demanding learning curve for FPS newcomers.

EVE Valkyrie

EVE Valkyrie is a 3D sci-fi MMO shooter that drops you into a starfighter cockpit for competitive space battles. Taking place in the larger EVE universe, it prioritizes fast, match-based multiplayer where squads collide in hectic dogfights instead of traditional MMO quest loops. It’s also notable as one of the earlier games built with virtual reality in mind, leaning on head tracking and 360-degree awareness to heighten cockpit immersion.

Publisher: CCP Games
Playerbase: Low
Type: Buy to Play Sci-fi Shooter
Release Date: March 28, 2016
Pros: +Designed with VR as a primary way to play. +Fast-paced, skill-focused dogfights. +Lots of ships, weapons, and modules to experiment with. +Strong art direction and visual effects.
Cons: -Small pool of maps.

Star Citizen

Star Citizen sits in a strange but fascinating space between MMO, space sim, and shooter. It aims to deliver dogfighting, trading, and on-foot FPS action in one persistent sci-fi universe. It is buy-to-play rather than subscription based, which makes the entry model simple even if the larger project is still evolving.

Publisher: Cloud Imperium Games
Playerbase: TBD
Type: MMO
Release Date: 2072 (estimate)
Pros: +Blends on-foot FPS with space sim style flying. +Heavily shaped by players and emergent activity. +Development is unusually open and community funded.
Cons: -No locked-in launch window.

Crowfall

Crowfall is a 3D fantasy MMORPG built around faction warfare and large-scale PvP, with combat that aims for a more hands-on, action-driven feel instead of traditional tab targeting. Rather than living on one permanent continent, the game rotates players through multiple procedurally generated campaign worlds that guilds can fight over and ultimately win. It is a structure designed to create repeating wars with shifting maps, while still letting you keep long-term character progression between campaigns.

Publisher: ArtCraft Entertainment
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: July 06, 2021
Pros: +Progression that rewards player skill and planning. +Campaign worlds shaped by players and guild politics.
Cons: -Visuals feel behind the curve. -Optimization can struggle in big fights. -PvE offerings are relatively slim.

Black Desert Online

Black Desert Online is a 3D fantasy MMORPG built around real-time, action-heavy combat and a sandbox-style world that rewards wandering off the road. It is best known for its high-end visuals, deep character customization, and a long list of side systems that can easily become your “main game”, including crafting, housing, trading, horse taming and breeding, and large guild-driven PvP.

Publisher: Pearl Abyss
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: March 3, 2016 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Gorgeous visuals and standout character models. +Skill-based, fast combat with aiming and evasion. +Housing that feels meaningful. +Deep life skills and crafting loops. +Huge guild PvP, including castle sieges.
Cons: -Onboarding and explanations are weak. -Many classes are gender-locked.

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