It’s no secret that it’s currently a very pricey time of year for many of us.

There are presents to buy, dinners to prepare for, work Secret Santas to participate in … it doesn’t leave much in the way of leftover disposable income.

For those of us who enjoy gaming though, there’s always fun to be had even if you don’t have a budget at all.

There are plenty of free games out there if you know where to look, and I’m not talking about the well-known heavy hitters like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals – although those two titles are occupying my free time at the moment.

Today, I’d like to highlight four free-to-play delights which have landed on Steam, primed and ready for PC users to dive into now.

Let’s start off with Project Fireball, a fantasy-arcade ‘footbrawl’ title from developer Gameloft.

“Project Fireball unites the best of the heart-pounding world of sports with the show-stopping power of magic to create a lawless footbrawl-like battle arena game,” the synopsis reads.

“A roster of first-class heroes are dying to unleash their ultimate superpowers to help you crush your opponents! Let none stand in your way to the top, but watch out—there is no mercy in the arena. Anything goes.”

The only warning I have for this one is that it’s received mixed reviews from players.

Many enjoy its concept but explain that it lacks content and long-term appeal. If you’re looking for a quick hit of fun this Christmas though, it could be just the thing.

If you prefer RPGs and dungeon crawlers, Pixelite Online could be the one for you.

Developed by indie dev Freezex121, this one boasts an old-school pixel art aesthetic, if you hadn’t guessed from the title.

“Pixelite Online is an exciting new MMORPG that stands out with its unique features and constant updates. Our dedicated team is always active, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience for our players,” reads the description.

Essentially, you’ll face off against bosses, defeat corrupt monsters, train and level up, all whilst traversing a fantasy world.

It’s also a fantasy world you’ll find yourself in in Magic and Dragons: 4X Battle.

This one comes from The Team With a T and is a turn-based strategy game – one that’ll appeal to you Civilization fans, although it goes without saying that this is a far more rudimentary strategy game.

The game remains in its beta phase but it’s an open beta so you can dive in and help shape the game’s future.

There are no pay-to-win mechanics nor in-game ads, with the devs teasing a “vast and diverse map” filled with monsters, demons, and dragons.

Finally, perhaps I can tempt you with The Legend of Tomoko, an action RPG from studio FELICE INC.

The devs detail that this release is “a small stepping stone” to an upcoming bigger soulslike project.

Here, you’ll take on the role of female samurai Tomoko who finds herself in an abandoned village previously invaded by the Demon King’s army.

It’s up to Tomoko to fight back against the army and reclaim the land.