Best if you want a free, endlessly deep co-op looter-shooter where acrobatic space ninjas chase builds across hundreds of hours—and you're ready for a steep learning curve.
Warframe is the gold standard for fair free-to-play action: a third-person looter-shooter that hands you over a decade of content, dozens of mechanically unique frames, hundreds of weapons, and near-constant updates without demanding a dime. The core loop is simple—drop into 20-to-30-minute co-op missions, slide and bullet-jump through enemies, extract with materials, then return to your ship to craft new gear and upgrade mods—but the depth beneath is staggering. Every warframe plays like a different character class, from stealthy assassins to crowd-control casters, and the mod system lets you fine-tune abilities, damage types, and survivability into builds that feel entirely your own. The movement is what hooks you first. Warframe doesn't just let you run and shoot; you chain wall-runs, double jumps, slides, and aim-glides into a fluid dance that makes even routine missions feel stylish. Gunplay is satisfying if not genre-leading, and melee combos add weight and flash. The real draw is mastery: learning enemy weak points, optimizing loadouts for specific factions, unlocking focus schools, and eventually tackling open-world zones and cinematic story quests that surprise with genuine emotional beats. The catch is onboarding. Early missions barely explain modding, crafting timers, or which frames suit your style, and the sheer volume of systems—syndicates, relics, endo, forma, arcanes—can overwhelm. The game assumes you'll ask the community or consult wikis, which may frustrate players who expect guided tutorials. Inventory slots are also limited for free accounts, nudging you toward either patient trading or a small purchase. But if you commit, Warframe rewards like few others. Sessions are flexible: run a few quick fissures for prime parts, spend an evening in the Plains of Eidolon hunting giant bosses, or binge story quests when the mood strikes. Crossplay and cross-save mean your progress and squad stay intact across PC, console, and mobile. And because almost every frame, weapon, and cosmetic can be earned or traded for free, the grind feels fair rather than gated. It's a live-service game that respects your time and wallet—if you're willing to invest the hours to learn its language.
4 online • Full Crossplay
Warframe supports full crossplay across all platforms, supports up to 4 players online, features co-op campaign mode.
Single Player • Multiplayer • Co-op • PvP • Online Multiplayer • MMO
Always-online free-to-play co-op looter shooter. Standard missions support squads of up to 4 players; open world hubs and social relays host larger numbers of players but core gameplay groups remain 4. Full cross-play and cross-save across all current platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile) using a Warframe account. No local, LAN, split-screen, or hotseat support. Drop-in/drop-out matchmaking lets players join or leave missions in progress. Platform online subscriptions (e.g., PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass Core) may be required for console online play.
Important details about which version to buy and where to play.
Full crossplay and cross-save across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Performance on Switch requires lower graphical settings; PC offers the smoothest experience with scalable options for low-end machines.
Extensive controller and keyboard remapping, colorblind modes, text-to-speech options, aim assistance, scalable HUD and text size, adjustable field of view, and toggles for motion blur and camera shake. The density of menus and onscreen information can still overwhelm some players.
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If you enjoyed Warframe, you'll love these similar games. We've handpicked titles based on gameplay style, difficulty, atmosphere, and what players like you are enjoying. Whether you're looking for something with a similar vibe, more challenge, or the same multiplayer features, these recommendations have you covered.
Cooperative multiplayer games that emphasize teamwork and shared objectives, building on the social aspects of Warframe.
If you love Warframe’s co-op loops, Destiny 2 offers raid-focused online co-op, shared hubs, and build-based PvE with matchmaking that makes teaming easier to sustain.
Shares the looter-shooter DNA and wild ability combos of Warframe, but with more guided story co-op, straightforward gear systems, and easy jump-in online sessions.
Keeps Warframe’s PvE co-op focus but with clearer roles and shorter missions; drop in with friends, mine resources, and fight hordes in focused 20–40 minute runs.
If you love Warframe’s co-op PvE hordes, Vermintide 2 gives focused 4-player missions, distinct careers, and melee-heavy action that thrives on tight teamwork.
Games with deeper mechanical complexity than Warframe, rewarding players who enjoy mastering intricate systems and advanced strategies.
For players who like tinkering with Warframe builds, Path of Exile amps up theorycrafting with a gigantic passive tree, deep loot crafting, and seasonal leagues to master.
If you enjoy mastering Warframe’s frames and weapons, MH: World offers intricate weapon styles, armor builds, and prep systems that reward deep mechanical study.
Offers a grounded looter-shooter take with detailed gear sets, builds, and endgame activities for players who enjoy min-maxing Warframe’s mod and weapon synergies.
Performance-optimized games similar to Warframe that run smoothly on low-end PCs, integrated graphics, and older hardware.
Captures co-op monster hunting and crafting progression like Warframe but runs well on modest hardware and is streamlined for quick matchmaking and simple builds.
A free-to-play shooter with PvE missions and PvP modes that’s optimized for lower-end PCs, offering class-based gunplay without Warframe’s heavier visual demands.
Maintains class abilities and teamwork emphasis, but in lighter, round-based matches that are easy on older PCs and great for quick, low-commitment sessions.
Head-to-head competitive games for players who enjoy the competitive elements found in Warframe.
If you like Warframe’s mobility and abilities but want more tension, Apex turns that movement into tight, squad-based battle royale PvP with strong competitive depth.
Takes the hero-ability aspect of Warframe and pivots fully into competitive PvP, with role-based teams, frequent balance updates, and high skill expression.
We've included this game in 8 articles.
Warframe delivers a huge amount of free co-op content with deep build crafting and smooth cross-play centered on 4-player teams. Space ninjas clear missions with abilities that naturally create roles like crowd control and support, giving runs real structure. Full cross-platform play means Switch players join the entire community. The steep learning curve and dense menus can intimidate, but groups gain years of shared goals.
Warframe ranks high for blending fluid acrobatic combat with deep mod-based RPG progression and years of free story updates. Players pilot powerful suits through co-op missions, collecting and customizing dozens of warframes and weapons for real build variety. Story quests add emotional weight, and free players can access everything important through trading. Ideal for co-op fans who enjoy long-term character collection and tinkering.
Warframe is a fast looter-shooter with three open-world landscapes for freeform roaming alongside its core instanced missions. It shines for fair monetization and constant updates, letting you improve frames over time. It narrowly misses because most gameplay is mission-based rather than open-world exploration. Still, if you enjoy tight combat with occasional open zones to breathe and explore, it's a great free option.
Warframe is a sprawling co-op looter where sliding, shooting, and abilities blend into fast stylish missions across a mountain of content. It earns its place for unmatched variety and a fair model that lets you grind for almost everything. The gunplay is solid, buildcraft is deep, and regular updates keep veterans busy. It's a hybrid leaning on melee and powers as much as pure gun skill, best for PvE players chasing long-term progression.
Warframe shines as a cooperative looter-shooter with massive depth, constant events, and true crossplay that keeps squads together across platforms. Space ninjas tear through missions chasing new builds in smooth, fast action. It offers enormous free content from star chart progression to open worlds and cinematic quests. While onboarding can overwhelm and progression sprawls, it's fantastic for co-op players wanting near-endless content.
Warframe earns mention for enormous free content, a healthy community, and graphics settings that scale down to older machines when configured well. This slick co-op looter-shooter offers bite-sized missions and endless frames to pursue, with mobility and style defining the grind. While it requires setting tuning for very modest PCs and has a confusing early game, it rewards long-term goals and movement mastery.
Warframe leads because it combines ten years of cooperative looter-shooter content with remarkably fair monetization and thriving crossplay. Every mission, open zone, and cinematic quest stacks into hundreds of hours where squads chase builds, master movement, and unlock dozens of warframes. Free players access everything important, and premium currency can be earned through trading, making this a true free-to-play flagship.
Warframe tops this list because it delivers the deepest co-op looter-shooter experience available for free on Steam. Squads of space ninjas work together through missions with smart matchmaking, flexible 1-4 player scaling, and a decade of content updates. The build crafting, movement mastery, and role variety keep teams engaged long-term, while steady playerbase activity ensures quick queues and lively events.
Common questions about this game answered by our team.
Early missions are approachable solo or in squads, but later content demands strong builds, mod knowledge, and coordination. Difficulty scales with mission level, so you can choose your challenge and ease in at your own pace.
Hundreds to thousands of hours. Warframe is designed as a long-term hobby with constant updates. You'll always have new frames, weapons, or events to chase, and mastery rank climbs slowly but steadily.
Truly free. Almost every frame, weapon, and mod can be earned or traded without spending real money. Platinum (premium currency) speeds things up or buys cosmetics, but patient players can trade farmed items for it.
Yes, but co-op is the heart of the experience. Most missions can be soloed once you've built strong frames and mods, but squad play is faster, more forgiving, and more fun for most content.
Around 20–30 minutes per mission or activity. You can chain multiple runs or hop off after one. Open-world hunts and story quests can stretch longer if you're invested.
