Advancements in game design make it possible for free-to-play games to grab their own audience apart from subscription or buy-to-play models. Gone are the days when the F2P model is usually reserved for niche or inferior titles with simplistic concepts. 2022 has shown that it has no shortage of quality apps you can download for free.

Below are some that won Google Play's attention for this year, as well as those who came in close:

Apex Legends Mobile

Electronic Arts' hero shooter has been standing on equal footing with other well-respected titles like Overwatch or Fortnite. Their mobile adaptation shows the same pedigree as the PC or home console versions. There's a review you can check out before downloading the game yourself. It has most of the mechanics you're looking for in a full-bodied shooter game. You get to play the famed battle royale format and other traditional shooter game modes such as team deathmatch and a 3-on-3 arena battle. The touchscreen controls are responsive enough that you can perform slick moves and precise aiming to stay on top of your game.

Dislyte

Put gods and demons in a cyberpunk setting, and what do you get? A thrilling fusion of sci-fi and fantasy rolled into a mobile RPG. Don't get us wrong. There are a lot of exciting gacha games that are available this year, and you may not find this vibe convincing enough. Its smooth and interactive multiplayer modes set Dislyte ahead of the pack. Whether you are teaming up with other parties to take down powerful boss enemies or competing for prestige in PvP, you'll find something to pump up the adrenaline every minute. After all, it's hard to come by a supposed single-player title with great multiplayer content to keep you busy. We have an article on Dislyte, in case you want to dig deeper.

BTS Island: In The SEOM

That 4.8 rating on Google Play is no joke. Tired of the typical match-3 puzzle that makes you feel like you're in a pachinko parlor with all the nauseating lights and sounds? Then this game is definitely for you, even if you don't belong in the ARMY. Everything in this game is made for stress-free play. Read more on what we have to say about it in case you're having second thoughts. What you get is a game with many ways to clear content, BTS fanservice in the form of dress-up and downloadable pictures, and a light-hearted story with a lot of banter put in. Come for your bias, and stay for the game.

Diablo Immortal

Blizzard's mobile iteration of the venerable hack-and-slash adventure had a rather rough start, but it was able to get into the mobile mainstream eventually. What makes this game a qualifier on Google Play's best of 2022 is its multiplayer content. Tag a bunch of other players in a dungeon expedition to get better loot – and more powerful enemies. It all starts with making and joining parties. Found anyone who can be great long-term buds? Add them as friends. You can amp up your game as a Warband for even more glory. In case you want large-scale battles, your merry group can set up or join a Clan. Read up on some of the other exciting gameplay features of Diablo Immortal.

The Secret of Cat Island

It's hard to pull off an engaging story in an adventure-sim. These games are made for long-term play, which makes it difficult not to make the entire plot drag into infinity. It's not the case for The Secret of Cat Island. It manages all your material-gathering and terrain-revealing to make sense while keeping you hooked on how close Nana and Muna will be in revealing the secret of Cat Island. You will also be transported into a lush fantasy backdrop with a lot of ruins to explore and mysteries to solve. Want to know what to expect before downloading? You can start by reading this.

That's a wrap on our list of Google Play's best free-to-play games of 2022. Are you looking for another winner that we haven't discussed? All you need to do is ask Google.