Live-service games are something that the gaming community can’t avoid. They are here to stay regardless of opinion or controversy. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While many companies have been pushing the idea of ‘games as a service,’ it doesn’t mean that they’re all about taking a gamer’s hard-earned cash.
Live-service games are a way for a company to continue the growth of a game for years after its initial release. In fact, some gamers have probably played these games and have not even realized they are live-service.
Updated June 06, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Live-service games don’t have the greatest reputation in the video game industry. Many titles adopting this moniker are made out of greed rather than passion. So, it’s always nice to see games with a lot of effort put into them despite their live-service trappings. These titles let players shoot and fight their way through loads of baddies while acquiring a lot of experience, gear, and money in the process. The best live-service games know how to keep fans coming back for more, offering incredible gameplay and a regular stream of updates to ensure that they stay relevant in the long run.
Warframehas been around for a long time. It originally launched on Steam way back in 2013. This game has been running strong ever since and is one of the most-played games on Steam. This free-to-play game offers a ton of loot for players to craft aboard their ship, new characters to unlock, and tons of story that will keep them busy for hours.
Each update to this game brings innew Warframes, weapons, and story tidbits for players to experience. Not only is there a ton of content, but the game keeps things interesting with multiple game modes and open-world locations. Oh yeah, and the game entirely revolves around space ninjas.
Ubisoft brought a strong competitor to the field when they releasedRainbow Six Siegeback in 2015. It’s been almost six years and the game is still going strong with a large community. This game takes the idea of a team-based shooter and adds a heavy amount of cooperation and strategy to it to help keep it one of the best shooters out there.
Typical shooter games have players running out of the gate and getting mowed down at the sight of the first enemy.RainbowSixchanges the formula with strategic gameplay that rewards players for defending or attacking their objective. Each update bringsnew operativesinto the mix to help keep the game feeling fresh.
AlthoughDOTA 2sees a massive number of players each day on the Steam platform, it’s arguable thatLeague of Legendsis the more widely-known MOBA, specifically in the West. The title has a massive number of Champions to choose from, and developer Riot is constantly releasing new heroes and villains into the pool of available characters.
League of Legendshas become such a household name that the developer has released a series of spin-offs, including a card game inLegends of Runeterraand a single-player turn-based RPG adventure inThe Ruined King. Riot continues to grow its immense worlds and offer players a multitude of ways to enjoy this expansive lore.
Fortnitewas once the most popular battle royale game out there when it was released back in 2017. Almost four years later, the craze has died off a little, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still popular. Gamers both new and old flock toFortnitefor its cartoonish look, non-gory fight to the death combat, and constant changes.
The development team behindFortniteis constantly addingnew items, skins, and characters to the game. They are also always making changes to the island to keep players on their toes.
Ditching the standard style ofmultiplayer shooterthat Activision has been known for since 2003,Call of Duty: Black Ops 4was the first game in the franchise to take part in the battle royale craze. This battle royale became so popular that Activision decided to keep in going withCall of Duty: Warzonewhich launched in 2020.
Though it is still fairly new,Warzoneis one of the leading battle royale games out there. With a large map filled with up to 150 players, gamers can take part in two game modes, battle royale or plunder.
Grand Theft Auto Onlinegets updated at least twice a year with new heists, vehicles, and businesses to keep players interested. This game, that released back in 2013, has kept players coming back for years. What started off on the Xbox 360 and PS3 is now getting remastered and enhanced for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The latest update is rumored to add even more heists and businesses to the alreadymassive world. There are even rumors of a new map coming to the game.
The Finalsis poised to break into the live-service market in a manner that no one could have expected. The efforts of the ex-DICE developers working at Embark Studios are plain to see in this title.
Shades ofBattlefieldandMirror’s Edgecan be seen in this game, where concise movement and accurate shooting are key to victory. Once players understand the roles they have to play,The Finalscan transform into a magical experience.
Helldivers 2is the biggest name to hit the live-service market in 2024. After ages of trying to nail the perfect live service experience, Sony struck gold withHelldivers 2. Not only is this game selling bucketloads, but its success is also making Sony rethink their stance on console exclusivity.
Fans can’t get enough of the cinematic gunplay and fun mission structure ofHelldivers 2. The title is suffering from success to the point where the developers are breaking their backs to resolve server issues. This popularity is a testament to how much of a breakout hitHelldivers 2is.
Counter-Strike 2is one of the most competitive games on the market for players who are on the hunt for first-person shooters.Counter-Strikespawned from aHalf-Lifemod and has since exploded into one of the most-played shooter games in the world. It is also one of the most popular e-sports out there.
The game is pretty simple to follow. One team of 5 players plays as Counter-Terrorists while the other team of 5 plays as Terrorists. It is the Counter-Terrorists job to stop the Terrorists from placing and detonating a bomb. Of course, a team can also win by taking out the opposing team.
There are many out there that prefer the originalDestinybut the second release is still trying its best to find a solid identity and give fans the gameplay they’ve come to know and love from iconic developer Bungie. In its current state,Destiny 2has seen multiple DLCs and has a new one on the horizon.
The title still manages to generate an extremely dedicated fanbase, thanks to its incredibly addictive gunplay, immersive worlds, beautiful visuals, and grind-heavy content. There is a ton of fun to have withDestiny 2, and the fact that the base game is free helps to draw new players in each day.
