“Live service” is a controversial term among gamers, but these titles prove that some live service games can be worth the time investment.
The term “live service” comes with all kinds of negative connotations, and not without good reason; from the loot box-infested launch of Star Wars Battlefront II to the continuing letdown that is Battlefield 2042, games-as-service models seem more often than not to hamper online multiplayer experiences.
That said, there are still some live service titles worth playing in 2022. From the continued success of Epic Games’ fan-favorite battle royale title Fortnite to the newly free-to-play Fall Guys, some games aren’t worth totally writing off just because of their monetization schemes.
Debuted in 2013, Warframe was something of a trendsetter in that it adopted the live-service looter shooter style years before it would enter the mainstream. A massive, content-dense title that harbors an incredibly dedicated community, Warframe may be tough to get into, but, for many, it’s well worth the grind.
Warframe has, for nearly a decade, been held as a sterling example of free-to-play done right, and, while it may be a bit daunting for new players in terms of lore and gameplay, its comparatively lax approach to monetization makes it strangely approachable.
Released in mid-2020 and originally published by frequent indie collaborators Devolver Digital, Fall Guys rocketed to viral stardom very early on in its life cycle, eventually becoming so high-profile that Fortnite developer Epic Games assumed publishing duties in 2021.
While Fall Guys‘ player counts had been declining, the recent move to a fully free-to-play model seems to have rejuvenated the player base. Fall Guys‘ battle pass and cosmetic microtransactions are fairly unintrusive, and there’s arguably never been a better time to get in on this wacky Wipeout-inspired battle royale.
Another title that came under the wing of Epic Games after earning chart-topping success, Rocket League morphed from a fun distraction when it debuted in 2015 to an all-out gaming institution. While it was initially pretty far removed from the live service sphere, it’s slowly transitioned into a cosmetics-centric loot box and battle pass-loaded game, though the core of the experience remains intact.
Though it may irk some longtime players, Rocket League‘s live service elements can mostly be ignored, and crossplay features make it easier than ever to join up with friends for some high-octane fun.
Hunt: Showdown‘s status as a live service is definitely contentious; introduced in 2017, developer Crytek has done quite a bit to ensure that comparisons cannot be made between their hardcore multiplayer title and more mainstream battle royale offerings like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.
That said, that which we would call a battle royale live service by any other name would smell as sweet. With a not-insignificant amount of cosmetic DLC and an all-new battle pass content structure, Hunt: Showdown seems to be heading down the same path as similar competitive shooters. Still, with a distinctive style and an Escape Form Tarkov-like approach to gameplay, Hunt: Showdown definitely stands out among the very best modern live services.
Once poised to be Halo developer Bungie’s next big IP, the original Destiny debuted in 2014 and was marketed as a live service title destined for a decade-long life cycle. While the Destiny franchise is still a big deal roughly eight years later, its 2017 sequel Destiny 2 would end up delivering on the promises made about the original game.
The looter shooter to end all looter shooters, Destiny 2 is a massive, sprawling game with dozens upon dozens of hours of varied content on offer. Continually updated and sporting an avid, invested community, Destiny 2 remains one of gaming’s premiere live-service titles in 2022.
When it released in late 2017, Star Wars Battlefront II was one of the most reviled live service games of all time. Featuring aggressive monetization schemes and downright abhorrent mandatory grinding, the DICE-developed sequel to the 2015 Star Wars Battlefront reboot only served to tarnish the legacy of the PlayStation 2 originals.
Fortunately, after much fan pushback, EA relented and pulled many of the game’s unfavorable aspects. While cosmetics were still purchasable via an in-game storefront, none of the game’s characters were locked behind any kind of grind or paywall. This move actually helped to revitalize the game, and it still features a fairly active player base nearly five years after its treacherous launch.
Written off by many as a petty clone of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with gacha mechanics, Genshin Impact is, roughly two years after release, recognized as one of the best live-service titles of all time. While it still has more than a few detractors, Genshin Impact remains remarkably accessible for newcomers while continuing to introduce all kinds of worthwhile new content for older players.
Gacha games definitely aren’t for everyone, but, with its record-breaking revenue steam ensuring incredible longevity, Genshin Impact definitely isn’t going away any time soon, and even players who turn their noses up at its anime style or piecemeal approach to design may want to invest at least a few hours in this continually-relevant title.
Epic Games’ Fortnite developed into an industry dynamo for more reasons than one; not only did it establish itself as a preeminent battle royale experience, but it also helped to popularize the battle pass system, something that’s often seen as far more player-friendly than the standard loot box models that held sway in years prior.
Apex Legends was EA’s attempt at unabashedly copying the Fortnite formula, and it worked out incredibly well. Available on all platforms and amassing a massive player count years after its initial debut, Apex Legends is a must-play for gamers inclined to try live service experiences.
Now revered as the creme de la creme of live service titles, Fortnite actually debuted as the fairly innocuous Fortnite: Save The World in 2017. However, after the free-to-play battle royale portion picked up steam, it overshadowed the title’s original premise.
Today, Fortnite is a global phenomenon that rubs elbows with the likes of Minecraft and Super Mario. Famous for helping to refine the controversial loot box monetization systems that had plagued the live service industry at that point, its bright aesthetic and frequent cross-promotions may come off as a bit gaudy to some, but it’s nonetheless just about the be-all-end-all of live service gaming.
The Call of Duty franchise was facing something of an identity crisis in 2019; Blackout, the battle royale mode included in 2018’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 hadn’t done quite as Activision and Treyarch had hoped it would, and the series seemed to be desperate to chase trends rather than to produce anything particularly innovative.
That changed with the 2019 soft reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its battle royale spinoff Call of Duty: Warzone. Warzone took the best elements of Call of Duty‘s famed multiplayer component and combined them with fan-favorite aspects of games like Fortnite and Apex Legends to produce a captivating games-as-service experience that helped return the CoD franchise to the top once again.
