In quarantine times like these where large gatherings are verboten and people self-isolate in their homes, virtual environments where people can interact become very valuable; in particular, gamers with PlayStation 4 consoles have access to a number of multiplayer titles like Destiny 2 and Fortnite: Battle Royale that can be downloaded and played for free... and not just in the "free, but it's impossible for you to progress without spending money on micro-transactions" sense.
To a degree, no "free-to play" game is truly free. Free-to-play game developers need to make money after all, and they generally do so by letting players experience the base game for free while offering tempting add-on features for purchase: things like new character skins, clothing, special weapons, exclusive quests, etc. This business model can create large, thriving digital communities of gamers... and it can also lead to frustrating situations where players feel like they must "Pay to Win."
The following free-to-play games were selected based on the following criteria: entertaining gameplay, spectacular visuals, a diverse cast of characters/player models, and "transactions" focused more on cosmetics than walling off large chunks of the game. Quality world-building is also a staple of these listed titles, with vivid characters and backstories that players can engage with to whatever degree they wish.
Warframe
Marketed with the tagline "Ninjas Play Free," the publishers of Warframe take pride in producing a game where every feature, equipment, quest, and collectible can be unlocked for free if players put in the effort. In the game itself, player play the part of high-tech "space ninjas," taking on missions of subterfuge, sabotage, and assassination in a far-future solar system with beautiful sights, a gripping narrative, and alien forms of technology and architecture. Game progression is focused around acquiring new "Warframes," techno-organic suits of armor with special abilities and appearances frequently modeled after mythical beings.
Apex Legends
A spin-off of Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall series, Apex Legends blends the battle royale gameplay pioneered by Fortnite with team-based battles between "Hero Units" like Overwatch. The game premise revolves around a televised interstellar death match, in which teams of mercenaries, super-soldiers, androids, and psychotics fight to the death in wild-life infested arenas for fortune and glory. Periodic season packages introduce new playable Legends, gameplay updates, and a range of purchasable cosmetic options for characters and weapons.
Dauntless
A fast-paced, free-to-play version of the gameplay pioneered by Monster Hunter: World, Dauntless offers more fast-paced exploration and combat, in which "Slayers" track giant monsters across a map, defeat them in pitched team battles, and craft new weapons/upgrades from their remains. The combat itself is fast-paced, rewarding aggression and well-timed dodges, while the short time-frame of Dauntless quests make it easier for gamers to control how much or how little time they sink into the experience.
Brawlhalla
The gameplay of Brawlhalla owes much to platform fighting games in the vein of Super Smash Bros, where a large roster of fighters try to knock each other off a perilous platform. Each player account in Brawlhalla has access to a roster of 8 characters that shifts every week, with in-game purchases letting players permanently unlock characters from the total roster of 49. The simple straightforward controls make this fighting game easy for new players to pick up, while special unlockable skins let players play as heroes from a wide range of franchises such as Shovel Knight, Hellboy, Tomb Raider, and Steven Universe.
There are many other quality free-to-play multiplayer games besides these on the PlayStation 4, each with their strong points, and many of them have some flavor of MMO, MOBA or battle royale. The key is not just to choose games from lists, but to go for the game that best captures what the player wants to experience in a multiplayer title – whether it's a gripping story, a specific genre, beautiful visuals, or a friendly, supportive community of people they can connect with during these disconnected times.
Source: Games Radar