Freelancer

 PC
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 254 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 222 out of 254
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 254
  3. Negative: 10 out of 254
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  1. DesertFox
    Oct 7, 2007
    10
    My favorite PC game of all time. Incredible single player story and atmosphere, and an unbelievably deep multiplayer experience.
  2. StephenM.
    Sep 17, 2007
    10
    Amazing game, great control interface, amazing systems, great diversity. True doing missions gets old but thats once you get an elite ship you dont need to do missions then you can just explore the incredible game.
  3. wololooo
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    My favourite space sim of all time. Huge universe to explore, dark, immersive atmosphere and a captivating storyline. Sure, it has its flaws - the freeplay after finishing the story is extremely repetitive, for example - but Freelancer is an incredible game that's aged beautifully.
  4. digga123
    May 29, 2013
    10
    One of my favourite PC games of all time. The atmosphere is great, you really feel free in space and there is a lot to discover. There are many planets and space stations with different ships, weapons and goods for different prices. Opposing parties fight with each other as well as pirates with industrialists. It's the player's decision how he wants to play the game. You can try to findOne of my favourite PC games of all time. The atmosphere is great, you really feel free in space and there is a lot to discover. There are many planets and space stations with different ships, weapons and goods for different prices. Opposing parties fight with each other as well as pirates with industrialists. It's the player's decision how he wants to play the game. You can try to find freighters with rare goods to get their loot or you buy your owen frighter yourself and trade. It doesn't get boring for a long long time. I'm looking forward for a new game like Freelancer!… Expand
  5. micic00
    Sep 21, 2013
    9
    Game that's been in development for years but never really finished the way it would satisfy most of us. Amazing and unique game.This game is still active on some servers, but mainly on the Discovery server through the awesome mod of Discovery Freelancer. It is a whole new game within itself created for the purpose of roleplay on multiplayer servers and which is by far one of the bestGame that's been in development for years but never really finished the way it would satisfy most of us. Amazing and unique game.This game is still active on some servers, but mainly on the Discovery server through the awesome mod of Discovery Freelancer. It is a whole new game within itself created for the purpose of roleplay on multiplayer servers and which is by far one of the best games I've played so far. It's a mod of the entire Sirius sector filled with awesome systems and factions. Excellently balanced in ships, strategic position with resources, commodities on the market and weapons. It is amazing. Not many people are playing it but there is always at least 100 people constantly online. If you ever try it then you must visit Gallia space, and then Nomad space.… Expand
  6. Neddy
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    I owned and played this many years ago, when it was first released. Just a quick review to say play it if you have an older PC or not a gaming PC. Most modern systems with something like intel CPU on-chip graphics should run it.

    Brilliant from the sci-fi perspective, it delivered great space effects and battles. The visiting stations was a little simple, when you chatted to    I owned and played this many years ago, when it was first released. Just a quick review to say play it if you have an older PC or not a gaming PC. Most modern systems with something like intel CPU on-chip graphics should run it.

    Brilliant from the sci-fi perspective, it delivered great space effects and battles. The visiting stations was a little simple, when you chatted to quest-givers. E.g if you meet someone in a bar that wants some salvage collecting.

    Other than that it's a great game. The ships, and upgrading ships is all cool. Buying new ship weapons and trying them out is always fun. If they re-made this I would buy it again without hesitation. Having said that I think it is perfectly playable in its original release.    … Expand
  7. ZahruR.
    Apr 20, 2003
    10
    Wow ! This is a ( SIMULATON ACTION ADVENTURE RPG ) everything you need. FREELANCER... KICK YOUR ASS!!!
  8. RonR.
    Sep 7, 2003
    10
    This is my favorite game because The game play is never ending.
  9. EonfgeC.
    Jan 16, 2008
    8
    Really, really sweat game. throughout the entire game there is action and a lot to do. only downside is, that when you finished the campaign, it quickly becomes repetitive.
  10. Cptkovacs
    Oct 9, 2010
    9
    One of my favorites for the PC- an engaging single-player storyline, incredible scenery, and a soundtrack that really brings you out into the Freelancer universe. While the free-play mode could use one or two more notches of depth, the online multiplayer was unique and the simple controls let you hit the ground running. This game's shortcomings didn't stop me from falling in love with it,One of my favorites for the PC- an engaging single-player storyline, incredible scenery, and a soundtrack that really brings you out into the Freelancer universe. While the free-play mode could use one or two more notches of depth, the online multiplayer was unique and the simple controls let you hit the ground running. This game's shortcomings didn't stop me from falling in love with it, and i still play it from time to time.… Expand
  11. Chowjust
    Feb 17, 2019
    10
    I feel like most reviews I see on this page start with "My favorite PC game of all time" and unfortunately I'm also on that bandwagon. The story is one of the most memorable and amazing stories I've ever experienced, ship combat and control is perfect, the system to explore is huge and with so many different ships to choose from and parts to customize them with, I never got bored. In myI feel like most reviews I see on this page start with "My favorite PC game of all time" and unfortunately I'm also on that bandwagon. The story is one of the most memorable and amazing stories I've ever experienced, ship combat and control is perfect, the system to explore is huge and with so many different ships to choose from and parts to customize them with, I never got bored. In my opinion, to this day no single player space sim compares to it. If you enjoy these type of games, you'll love. If you don't, still give it a shot. It's one of the only games I've replayed four times and I still consider it one of the greatest games I've ever played.… Expand
  12. Genezi
    Jun 10, 2017
    10
    Best game ever. i have spent a lot of time on this title. It has a great story with memorable characters. Good gameplay and best cut scenes with good dialogs.
  13. Wiedzemir
    Feb 3, 2020
    9
    Found my old Freelance CD recently and after some fiddling around managed to launch it on a modern system. The game still holds up rather decently. The story is simple yet entertaining, arcade-like flight and combat mechanics are great fun. Overall design holds up even today but it's one of these games that would benefit greatly from an HD release, especially if that would allow playingFound my old Freelance CD recently and after some fiddling around managed to launch it on a modern system. The game still holds up rather decently. The story is simple yet entertaining, arcade-like flight and combat mechanics are great fun. Overall design holds up even today but it's one of these games that would benefit greatly from an HD release, especially if that would allow playing multiplayer again.… Expand
  14. indigobeast
    Jul 9, 2017
    9
    One of the greatest space games ever made. There are a ton of different systems which all have different flavours to it to which makes them stand out. The graphics for the time were sensational and has aged well. Trading and doing side quests to gain credits can get repetitive depending on how many times you've done it. The story is pretty interesting and some of the voice acting is prettyOne of the greatest space games ever made. There are a ton of different systems which all have different flavours to it to which makes them stand out. The graphics for the time were sensational and has aged well. Trading and doing side quests to gain credits can get repetitive depending on how many times you've done it. The story is pretty interesting and some of the voice acting is pretty solid, but some of it is also mediocre at best. Exploring the game never gets old to me and I can play it for hours on end. personally it's more enjoyable if you've got a criminal reputation due to you having more opposing factions. The controls are almost perfect and they're also simple for rookies to this genre. It really is sad this game didn't get the amount of attention it deserves. Not to mention if you've played the main game already go out and install the Discovery Mod. one of the greatest games I've ever played to date!… Expand
  15. Moratosan
    Apr 11, 2020
    8
    This was the first game that turned me into space sims and since then i haven't found another.

    Loved the story and the ease to play. Just pure pleasure of progression. The main story was really captivating and it is a shame that this game was never truly finished due to budget cuts. Even after the campaign you had so much to explore, with abandoned alien structures, bandit bases and    This was the first game that turned me into space sims and since then i haven't found another.

    Loved the story and the ease to play. Just pure pleasure of progression.

    The main story was really captivating and it is a shame that this game was never truly finished due to budget cuts. Even after the campaign you had so much to explore, with abandoned alien structures, bandit bases and secret systems.

    A simple yet extremely enjoyable game, no fancy 100 functions and no degree in avionics required.

    If they were to remake this game today with a full story i bet you it would be a best seller, sadly the man behind it is probably going to die of old age developing Starcitizen.    … Expand
  16. gracjanski
    Sep 13, 2015
    10
    In the core it is a great game. There should be more games like this: free like in The Elder Scrolls, but in the universe and not in classical RPG. The campaign is very interesting and motivation, there are a lot of items, that you can use to individualize your ship, the graphic was great in 2003, today you can still play this game, because there are some mods.
    The only little mistake is    In the core it is a great game. There should be more games like this: free like in The Elder Scrolls, but in the universe and not in classical RPG. The campaign is very interesting and motivation, there are a lot of items, that you can use to individualize your ship, the graphic was great in 2003, today you can still play this game, because there are some mods.
    The only little mistake is the game outside the main campaign, the kill quests are a bit boring. Trading with a freighter is good, but it is a bit circumstantial to connect a freighter in your campaign, because you need only a fighter. If you could have 2 ships in the same time, this problem would be solved. It should be more like Morrowind for example, where you have interesting quests and get a range in a guild.    … Expand
  17. danskmacabre
    Dec 1, 2013
    8
    I still play this game occasionally 10 years later.
    The criticisms about the limited scope of missions is true.
    I personally enjoyed the Level based storyline where you upgrade your ship to new ships. There's still an amazing amount of fan made mods and servers available to play on, which is pretty impressive so many years later. There's mods to update the drivers and screen sizes as    I still play this game occasionally 10 years later.
    The criticisms about the limited scope of missions is true.
    I personally enjoyed the Level based storyline where you upgrade your ship to new ships.

    There's still an amazing amount of fan made mods and servers available to play on, which is pretty impressive so many years later.
    There's mods to update the drivers and screen sizes as well to wide screen which is really nice.
    On top of that updated textures and all sorts of stuff.
    It's still a worthy purchase all these years later.

    I hope that Elite dangerous and/or Star citizen will trump it though.    … Expand
  18. Combustive
    Jan 24, 2012
    10
    Having spent far more hours playing this game than I probably should have I still have a craving to play through the single player campaign for a third time. Massive universe, great story, seamless controls, fantastic soundtrack.

    I'm yet to get anywhere near as much enjoyment out of a game of the same genre as Freelancer. Needs a sequel.
  19. rxgamer
    Nov 5, 2013
    10
    Incredible atmosphere and novel game design. They need to make another one of these with today's modern graphics! Most satisfying space emulator out there. Highly recommended.
  20. SaifHeat
    Oct 18, 2014
    10
    If I die just now, I acclaim an achievement of my life; which started when I first have this game. Literally speaking, once you get the game, it'll probably be the best you've ever played. A lifetime worth!! Mind-blowing, staggering, authentic - the list can go on....

    Don't believe me? Just start the game, just do!!!
  21. Destructo
    Apr 18, 2014
    10
    Fast, accessible and most importantly a lot of fun.

    I've spent a lot of hours in this game - mostly in multiplayer with friends but the single player campaign is well written with plenty of twists and turns. Graphically the game still looks polished - I remember being blown away when I first saw it and they still look crisp and clear today - albeit with fewer effects you would expect    Fast, accessible and most importantly a lot of fun.

    I've spent a lot of hours in this game - mostly in multiplayer with friends but the single player campaign is well written with plenty of twists and turns.

    Graphically the game still looks polished - I remember being blown away when I first saw it and they still look crisp and clear today - albeit with fewer effects you would expect of games today. Let's remember it's over 10 years old.

    I recently saw star citizen and thought I'd dust my old copy of Freelancer down. I've just completed the single player campaign (for the third time) and am very pleased there's a handful of mods that take this further.

    In short one of my favourites overall and by far the best for this genre in my opinion. Can't wait for Star Citizen!    … Expand
  22. Sindroms
    Nov 1, 2010
    6
    While this game was very innovative back in 2003, with it's realitme NPC conversations and well built multiplayer support, only today we can see some of it's major flaws. The lack of variety for such a game is rather amazing, which really becomes noticeable in both singleplayer and multiplayer missions, which are exactly a handful of Go-There-And-Kill-Target sequences. However, this is aWhile this game was very innovative back in 2003, with it's realitme NPC conversations and well built multiplayer support, only today we can see some of it's major flaws. The lack of variety for such a game is rather amazing, which really becomes noticeable in both singleplayer and multiplayer missions, which are exactly a handful of Go-There-And-Kill-Target sequences. However, this is a very targeted game for third party modders, and with titles like the Discovery Mod, Shattered worlds, Monkey Universe, Flack and others, one might wonder if the Microsoft corp would finally make the game's source code public to enhance the experience of a 2003 game, which is still favored by a wide variety of players even now.

    The game's best features is it's very simple, arcade-like control system, which allows new players to quickly master the movement of their ships, something not a lot of arcade games can boast about. Obviously calling Freelancer a space sim is rather odd, the odd scaling of ships and stations vs planets, lack of gravity, very odd distance measurement and broken physics give this game a clear arcade feel to it. An arcade game, which can keep you amused for a very long time.    … Expand
  23. BrianR.
    Mar 20, 2003
    6
    A game that should get a 10 on intuitive controls, crunchy visual and sound effects, and an interesting backdrop of elective activities to a reasonably interesting storyline instead loses points. While a novice gamer might enjoy Freelancer a great deal for a time before moving on to another game, longtime fans of the genre had much higher hopes for the evolution of the space trading sim. A game that should get a 10 on intuitive controls, crunchy visual and sound effects, and an interesting backdrop of elective activities to a reasonably interesting storyline instead loses points. While a novice gamer might enjoy Freelancer a great deal for a time before moving on to another game, longtime fans of the genre had much higher hopes for the evolution of the space trading sim. While not game has quite come close to the magic of the legendary Elite that started it all with huge areas of space to explore, a variety of mission types, and a relatively high level of ship customization. Since we've seen Privateer, quite similiar to Freelancer, created by the same legendary designer of Wing Commander. Most notably were Terminus which featured detailed ship creation and modification, a dynamic economy and advanced, persistant, ship AI that could form ad hoc alliances or emnities with other vessels even to the point of posting bounties on each other or the player. X: Beyond The Frontier allowed the lone trader to create his own supply and distribution chains in space to the point of creating his own factories, stations and fleets while competing with other factions for resources. Freelancer brings us, once you step around the fairly interesting if rehashed linear storyline, a very static universe if a stunningly beautiful and visually varied one. While ships fly in formations and chat with each other and the station the economy they supposedly ply is static - prices never change. Hence once you learn a good route you're set for life. There are many factions but they're all but interchangable as they offer identical mission types (go there - blow that or them up). The relationships between them are as unchanging and void of surprises as the economy is. A player can never really get attached to his ship either as the 'rpg' based levelling system compels the player to buy a more powerful ship as soon as he gets to a high enough 'level'. Ship customization is woefully superficial and limited. Also, while there is a small variety of ship classes (Light Fighter, Heavy Fighter and Freighter) ultimately all players will end up with Heavy Fighters as all missions involve intense combat - even trade. Light Fighter and Freighter variants are unavailable at all for the highest levels of play. Multiplayer, while admittedly fun, does have many shortcomings. First, the static nature of the universe makes the natural tendancy of players to offer each other help a losing proposition. If the entire point of playing this style of game is exploration and discovery having that all handed to you on a silver platter ruins the game. Players have reported that, running the best routes, they can max out in power in a matter of hours. Once you're at the top of the food chain what's left to do? Static factions dictate you can't effect the various conflicts brewing. Ship vs. ship combat works much better in true sims than in arcade games in which turn, burn, and shoot are the only tactics available. There's not much of dogfight to be had. All this said, Freelancer still gets 6 out of 10 because there will be folks who will enjoy it. There's beauty and some crunchy gameplay in an evocative setting. Now, if only something this pretty had brains too. Wouldn't that be something?… Expand
  24. ShowHound
    Aug 5, 2012
    7
    Okay, so let me start by saying that I like this game. It has nice graphics (for it's day) and a good story. But that's it for the good stuff however. Some would say that's enough but it really is not. The gameplay is linear to an extent that won't bother you the first time you play the game but afterwards it will stick out like a sore thumb. After the story ends most have seen maybe 10 %Okay, so let me start by saying that I like this game. It has nice graphics (for it's day) and a good story. But that's it for the good stuff however. Some would say that's enough but it really is not. The gameplay is linear to an extent that won't bother you the first time you play the game but afterwards it will stick out like a sore thumb. After the story ends most have seen maybe 10 % of the worlds that are available in the game … Expand
  25. Dcruize
    Oct 21, 2013
    8
    A beautiful game spoiled only by the microscopically tiny star systems (with planets sitting on top of each other) and the repetitive nature of the combat missions. If you enjoyed Elite or Frontier, you'll love this game.
  26. KCL
    Mar 21, 2003
    7
    Freelancer got a very unique control system that deserves a 9 for it, but then space sims may be disappointed by the absence of joystick support. The story missions are very interesting, but just when you are getting into it, you finds out the story is nearing the end. the story would require lenghtening IMO, i finished the game in 18 hrs and its back to the standard freelance missions Freelancer got a very unique control system that deserves a 9 for it, but then space sims may be disappointed by the absence of joystick support. The story missions are very interesting, but just when you are getting into it, you finds out the story is nearing the end. the story would require lenghtening IMO, i finished the game in 18 hrs and its back to the standard freelance missions where its always the same few types(once u done the few, u done them all). The motivation for playing them starts to fade away when u realize that all the credits u earn is only used to get urself a better reputation and ship which is in turn used to make ur freelance missions easier.… Expand
  27. AhmedA.
    Mar 6, 2003
    7
    The Visuals are stunning and combat is fun, but the scripted talking in the bars, glued together partial sentences, is not what i had in mind with good speech. The story is ok but not nearly as good as id could be. Its one of the games that will get best reviews, but most of the people will be dissapointed. The trade-prices are static and you don't have the feeling you are in a big The Visuals are stunning and combat is fun, but the scripted talking in the bars, glued together partial sentences, is not what i had in mind with good speech. The story is ok but not nearly as good as id could be. Its one of the games that will get best reviews, but most of the people will be dissapointed. The trade-prices are static and you don't have the feeling you are in a big dynamic "alive" universe. The old privateer is much better in this terms. But have fun anyway!… Expand
  28. H.Lokesz
    Apr 24, 2003
    6
    It is a nice game to play for a few hours but there aren't many things to do except shooting pirates. It gets boring in the end. After that few hours i took up my previous games .
  29. BradK.
    Apr 8, 2003
    10
    Stunning Visuals, Great Controls, Perfect Plot and intense action. Space gaming just doesn't get any better.
  30. CaticusC.
    Jun 5, 2004
    9
    Incredibly compelling storyline and even when that's completed it's still fun. However, it can get boring after a LONG time...
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PC Game of 2003
21
#21 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003
16
#16 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Game Revolution
    83
    You'll be impressed by the graphics. They don't seem as jaw-dropping as they did three years ago, but they have held up nicely and allow for an astonishing number of different ships and other space objects onscreen at the same time, which makes for some very hectic battles.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gameworld
    90
    It is not the revolution in the space combat genre that many were hoping for, but it certainly is the next evolution.
    Read full review
  3. Game Chronicles
    94
    Freelancer isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life.
    Read full review
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