Best Ongoing Games Worth Starting Right Now

Live-service games – games that are constantly updated and expanded – are incredibly popular and consistently generate a lot of revenue for the gaming industry, when they succeed. But getting started with these games can be tough. It’s hard to know which one to choose, and joining an established community as a new player can feel overwhelming.

Each year, popular games come and go. As of 2025, many ‘live-service’ games – those constantly updated with new content – are thriving. They’re welcoming to beginners while still offering plenty to keep longtime players engaged. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned gamer, these games are great options if you’re looking for something to play regularly.

Warframe

Frequent Robust Updates That Are Content Complete For All Players

Warframe offers an incredible amount of content for a live-service game, especially considering it’s free to play. With large annual updates and extensive customization options, plus plenty to do beyond the main story, you can easily lose yourself in the game for hours on end and still find new things to experience.

The game offers a ton of content, including all expansions like the newest one, The Old Peace, and it’s all completely free! These expansions add lots of quests, new gameplay features, and areas to discover. While you can spend money on Platinum—the game’s main currency—to get new Warframes, weapons, and other items, you can also earn Platinum just by playing, though it takes more time and effort.

The Finals

Epic, Destruction-Fueled Battles And Unique Game Modes

The Finals has found a solid place for itself among the many live-service shooting games available. It stands out by offering a straightforward class system – with characters categorized as Light, Medium, and Heavy – and levels that players can actually destroy and reshape during gameplay.

The game’s destructible environments are a major reason for its success. Each match – even on the same map with the same teams – feels different because of how buildings are destroyed. The Finals also features interesting modes like Cashout, where players collect and deposit cash boxes. While there were initial concerns about how long the game would stay popular, it has consistently attracted players and received regular updates, including a new game mode (Point Break) and map. This makes it a reliable choice for new players.

Helldivers 2

Peaks, Valleys, And Now A Consistently Enjoyable PvE Shooter

When Helldivers 2 first came out, it was a massive hit, quickly becoming one of the top-selling games of 2024 and receiving a lot of positive attention. However, some updates released by the developers, Arrowhead Studios, weren’t well-received, and the initial excitement faded. Fortunately, Arrowhead listened to player feedback and made improvements, which stabilized things. 2025 brought even more exciting additions, including a launch on Xbox, randomly generated cave missions, drivable oil rigs, and some incredibly challenging new enemies.

Okay, so by 2025, Helldivers 2 has really settled into being just a consistently fun PvE shooter. It’s totally chaotic and explosive, and honestly, it’s hilarious how things can go wrong. That’s a big part of why I keep playing! It also feels way less toxic than a lot of other games that are constantly updated. Seriously, no matter how good you are at Helldivers 2, you will still get taken out by a stray grenade or squashed by a supply drop. That randomness actually levels the playing field, which is awesome. It means anyone can jump in and have a good time, even if they’re brand new!

ARC Raiders

The New Hotness

If you want to start playing a new live-service game now, ARC Raiders is the best choice. Before launch, there were concerns about how it would stand out, and its marketing wasn’t very clear. However, once people started playing, it quickly became the most successful live-service game launch of 2025.

ARC Raiders is a great extraction shooter for newcomers. While the game can be challenging, particularly when facing enemies alone, you’ll usually find other players are helpful and cooperative. It’s easy to team up with experienced players who can guide you, even if you’re playing with strangers. Just remember to use your microphone to show you’re friendly and willing to work together.

Deep Rock Galactic

Rock And Stone

You know, people are always talking about the big live-service games, but I honestly think Deep Rock Galactic deserves way more attention. It’s a really cool mix of digging and shooting. Basically, you and your friends go into these mines, try to grab as many valuable gems as possible, and then call for a ride out. Once you do, things get intense! A timer starts ticking down, and suddenly, waves of alien bugs start pouring out of the walls, trying to stop you from reaching the extraction point. It’s a frantic race against the clock and the bugs – super fun!

Although not a typical ‘live service’ game, Deep Rock Galactic regularly receives seasonal updates, passes, and downloadable content. What makes it stand out is how player-friendly it is: season passes are always free, you can earn cosmetics from past seasons, and any paid content is purely cosmetic. This means you won’t be locked out of gameplay features, characters, or maps if you choose not to buy them. Season 6 is coming in early 2026, making now a perfect time to start playing. The main drawback is the lack of a traditional matchmaking system; you can only join games created by other players or create your own, so playing with a consistent group of friends is highly recommended.

Fortnite

Never Count The Champ Out

Fortnite was a trailblazer for today’s popular live-service games, and despite increased competition, it remains a major force in the genre. Beyond its strong gameplay and wide appeal, with regular updates and a large player base, Fortnite has a unique advantage: massive financial resources that few other games can rival.

The most striking thing about Fortnite is its wildly creative collaborations. Recently, we’ve seen crossovers with SpongeBob, Harry Potter, and BLEACH, but they’ve also partnered with franchises like Star Wars, The Simpsons, Batman, Dragon Ball Z, Balenciaga, and Godzilla, among others. What sets Fortnite apart from more serious military shooters like Call of Duty is that these collaborations always feel natural. The developers do a great job of creating new gameplay features that integrate seamlessly with each new addition, making them feel fresh instead of just like simple cosmetic changes. Fortnite has always been welcoming to new players, and remarkably, that’s still true even eight years after its initial release.

Wuthering Waves

Won Players Voice At The Game Awards For A Reason

Gacha games are a bit of a mixed bag for gamers – some people love them, while others avoid them altogether, and it really comes down to what each person enjoys. These games are usually designed for single players, are constantly updated with new content, and often feature large, expansive worlds. As of 2025, popular titles include Genshin Impact, ZZZ, and Umamusume, but Wuthering Waves is currently the most popular, earning it the Players’ Voice award at the 2025 Game Awards.

The game currently features 25 characters you can play as, including the main character, Rover, and 24 allies called “Resonators” who fight alongside him. While some people dislike how gacha games encourage spending, Wuthering Waves is still free to play. You can enjoy a lot of the game without spending any money. As a newer gacha game, it’s also not too overwhelming for new players, even with regular updates adding more content. A big update, Version 3.0, is coming out on Christmas Day, making now a perfect time to start playing!

Marvel Rivals

An Endless Supply Of New Characters

It’s tough for new hero shooter games to become popular, but Marvel Rivals is a recent exception. As of today, Marvel Rivals has consistently had around 100,000 players online since June 2025 – which is remarkable for any game that requires ongoing updates, and especially impressive for a hero shooter that’s only been out for a little over a year. This success is mainly thanks to regular updates, including new characters, and the developers’ smart approach to balancing the game. While one hero or team might become very strong for a while, updates and new characters consistently shake things up and keep the gameplay fresh.

What makes Marvel Rivals stand out is that all of its new characters—and there are many, with 12 added since its December 2024 launch and two more coming soon—are available to all players for free. The game only makes money through optional cosmetic items, making it one of the best live-service games you can play without feeling pressured to spend. While climbing the ranked ladder can be challenging, the Quick Play mode is very accessible and lets you try out the huge selection of heroes until you find one you enjoy. Season 6, featuring Deadpool and Else Bloodstone as new playable characters, is set to release on January 16th, 2026, giving you plenty of time to learn the ropes.

2025-12-22 20:06