#17.4Tower of Fantasy
An anime open-world MMORPG with true shared-world exploration — free to play.
Free-to-play check · 2026
Is Tower of Fantasy free to play?
Yes — it's free to playFree to play
Yes. Tower of Fantasy is free to play — the full shared open world and story cost nothing. But unlike the single-player gachas, it's a true MMO with PvP, and its gacha pulls are for weapons that affect power — so here, spending genuinely can buy an edge.
Tower of Fantasy is the one that often gets called "Genshin as an actual MMO," and that comparison is the key to the whole free-to-play question. The open world, the anime-styled story and the exploration are all free, and crucially it's a shared world — you'll see and play alongside other real players, not just NPCs. For a free anime MMO, that's a genuine draw.
The catch is what separates it from HoYoverse's games. In Tower of Fantasy the gacha is for weapons, and weapons drive your power — and the game has competitive PvP. Put those two facts together and you get the thing the single-player gachas avoid: a spender can pull stronger weapons and take that advantage into fights against you. It's still completely free to play and enjoy, especially for the PvE and exploration, but it's the one gacha on this list where "is it pay-to-win" has a less comfortable answer. Here's the honest breakdown.
What's free in Tower of Fantasy?
What you get without paying — and what costs extra.
Free
- The full shared open world and main story
- A real MMO — other players share your world
- Cross-platform play with mobile and console
Costs money
- Gacha pulls for weapons (which affect power)
- A battle pass and cosmetics
- Convenience and stamina top-ups
What's free in Tower of Fantasy
The whole world. You can explore the open map, play the main story, and take part in the shared-world activities without paying, and you're given characters and weapons to start with. If what you want is a free, good-looking anime MMO you can roam with other players, Tower of Fantasy delivers that from the first login.
How the gacha differs: weapons are power
This is the important bit. In Genshin, Star Rail and the rest, the gacha is mostly about which characters you collect, and those games have no PvP, so spending can't be turned against you. Tower of Fantasy flips both: its pulls are for weapons that directly shape your combat power, and it has real PvP. That combination is exactly what the fairest free games avoid.
Is Tower of Fantasy pay-to-win?
More than the single-player gachas, yes — and it's only fair to say so plainly. Because gacha weapons boost power and the game has competitive PvP, a player who spends can gain a real advantage in those modes. For PvE and exploration it barely matters, and free players can enjoy the bulk of the game without spending, but if you're going into Tower of Fantasy for the PvP, understand that the wallet can tilt the field. That's why, in our fairness rankings, it scores below the no-PvP gachas.
More free anime and open-world games
If it's the shared anime world you want, Tower of Fantasy is the free MMO take on it. If you'd rather the fairer, no-PvP gacha experience, its cousins are the move. Either way, these are all free to start.
Free alternatives to Tower of Fantasy
Genuinely free to play — start any of these right now, no subscription.
| Game | Best for | Platforms | Browser | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower of Fantasy | Anime, Open World | PC, PlayStation, Mobile | — | 7.4 |
| Genshin Impact | Gacha, Open World | PC, PlayStation, Mobile | — | 8.2 |
| Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | Anime, Action | PC, Xbox | — | 7.5 |
#17.4
#28.2Genshin Impact
The blockbuster free open-world gacha RPG — explore Teyvat solo or in co-op.
#37.5Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Sega's stylish free sci-fi anime action MMO with fast, flashy combat.
How we check this
We base this on Tower of Fantasy's official pricing model (as of 2026), separating what's permanently free from trials and paid expansions. We only recommend alternatives that genuinely start free — with no paid placements.
Last checked: October 2026
FAQ
Is Tower of Fantasy free to play?
Yes. The full shared open world, story and exploration are free on PC, mobile and console. The gacha (pulling new weapons) is the only thing real money buys.
Is Tower of Fantasy pay-to-win?
More than most gachas. Its pulls are for weapons that affect power, and it has competitive PvP, so a spender can gain a real edge in those modes. For PvE and exploration it matters far less.
Is Tower of Fantasy an MMO?
Yes — unlike single-player gachas such as Genshin, Tower of Fantasy is a true shared-world MMO where you play alongside other real players, with group content and PvP.
Is Tower of Fantasy on console and mobile?
Yes. It's free on PC, iOS, Android and PlayStation, with cross-platform play and shared progress on one account.
What are the best free alternatives to Tower of Fantasy?
Great free-to-play alternatives include Tower of Fantasy, Genshin Impact, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis — all free to start with no subscription required.