8.5 /10 32

The Finals launched in December 2023 as a breath of fresh air in the crowded FPS space, introducing destructible environments and objective-focused gameplay to challenge the dominance of traditional deathmatch shooters. Developed by Embark Studios, a Stockholm-based studio backed by Nexon and founded by veterans of DICE and EA, The Finals combines fluid gunplay with a game-show premise that makes destruction feel consequential. The game is entirely free-to-play with cosmetic monetization, immediately gaining a global audience. This review explores why The Finals stands out and whether it sustains its initial momentum.

How to Play The Finals

The Finals is a team-based shooter where squads of three compete in matches to collect cash by completing objectives and eliminating enemies. Each character class (Light, Medium, Heavy) has unique gadgets and playstyles. Matches occur in destructible arenas themed after real-world locations. Objectives vary from deathmatch to cashout rounds where teams must collect and bank cash to win.

1. Controls – Standard FPS controls: WASD movement, mouse aim, ability hotkeys. The learning curve is minimal for FPS veterans; responsive across all platforms.
2. Progression – Ranked and casual playlists available. Seasonal battle passes unlock cosmetics and cosmetic weapon skins; gameplay-relevant items like weapons and gadgets unlock through play.
3. Combat and Mechanics – Core loop involves team coordination, resource denial (preventing enemies from cashing out), and adaptive destruction. Use the environment creatively to breach walls, create cover, or eliminate threats.
4. Tips – Prioritize team communication; use voice chat if possible. Learn each class’s gadgets and playstyles. Destruction can work for or against your team if used carelessly.

Who Should Play The Finals

The Finals appeals to FPS enthusiasts seeking fresh mechanics beyond traditional gunplay. Its destruction system rewards creativity and teamwork over pure aim, making it accessible to players of varying skill levels. The free-to-play model removes financial barriers, and cross-platform play ensures you can squad with friends regardless of their hardware.

• Destruction Enthusiasts – If you loved Battlefield’s destruction but wanted more intentional game design, The Finals delivers with every match shaped by environmental manipulation.
• Tactical Team Players – The emphasis on objectives and map control appeals to squad-based players; duos feel less impactful than teams of three.
• Competitive Ranked Players – Ranked season structure with skill-based matchmaking provides long-term progression and leaderboard competition.
• Skip If – You prioritize single-player campaigns, dislike team dependency, or want fast-twitch deathmatch gameplay without objectives.

The Finals Platform Performance

The Finals is highly optimized across platforms, maintaining 60+ FPS on consoles and supporting higher framerates on PC. The game leverages Unreal Engine 5 for destruction and visual fidelity. Cross-platform play is fully supported, ensuring no performance-based advantages across platforms.

The Finals System Requirements

The Finals maintains an impressive accessibility floor, running on budget GPUs while scaling beautifully on high-end hardware. The 12 GB RAM minimum is modest by modern standards. The 17.2 GB install size includes high-resolution textures for destruction; consider SSD storage essential for competitive play to reduce load times.

Similar Games to The Finals

Competitive team shooters abound, but few emphasize destruction like The Finals. Helldivers 2 shares the cooperative objective focus with sci-fi setting. Insurgency offers tactical gunplay without destruction. Apex Legends provides squad-based gameplay with character abilities. Battlefield 2042 offers destruction but prioritizes scale over objective precision.

• Helldivers 2 – Cooperative third-person shooter with destruction and team objectives; emphasizes PvE threats rather than competitive PvP.
• Insurgency: Sandstorm – Tactical FPS with realistic gunplay; destruction is minimal but team coordination is equally critical.
• Apex Legends – Free-to-play squad shooter with unique character abilities and pinging system; destruction absent but objective modes available.
• Battlefield 2042 – Large-scale multiplayer with environmental destruction and vehicle combat; less team-focused than The Finals.

The Finals vs Competitors

The Finals carves a unique niche by combining destruction with objective-based gameplay, a formula competitors have not replicated. Helldivers 2 excels in PvE narrative, while Apex Legends dominates casual accessibility. The Finals differentiates through its destructible environments and competitive ranked structure, offering 200+ hours of ranked progression per season.

The Finals Story and World

The Finals is framed as a televised combat game show, where competitors battle in real-world locations transformed into arenas. Arenas range from Kyoto temples to Monaco casinos, accurately recreated but stylized for gameplay. The meta-narrative of a dystopian entertainment spectacle provides thematic context without heavy storytelling. Dynamic events during matches—alien spaceships, gravity shifts, arena collapses—inject chaos and unpredictability. While minimal plot exists, the world-building through arena design and commentator banter creates immersion without detracting from competition.

The Finals Multiplayer and Online

The Finals is entirely multiplayer, with no single-player campaign. Casual and competitive ranked modes populate 24/7 matchmaking globally. Seasonal content rotates game modes, map variations, and special events. Cross-platform play ensures queues are always healthy; cross-progression allows switching devices seamlessly without progress loss.

• Casual Matches – Public lobbies with varied objectives; no penalty for leaving, ideal for learning and relaxation.
• Ranked Matches – Skill-based matchmaking with seasonal ranked ladders; rewards cosmetics and leaderboard positions for top competitors.
• Limited-Time Events – Thematic events every few weeks introduce unique rules, cosmetics, and gameplay modifiers.
• Cross-Play – Full cross-play between PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S; no aim-assist differences by platform to ensure fairness.

The Finals DLC and Expansions

The Finals operates on a seasonal battle pass model rather than traditional expansions. New seasons deploy every eight weeks with fresh cosmetics, maps, limited-time modes, and special events. All gameplay-relevant content (weapons, gadgets, specializations) unlocks through play, ensuring zero pay-to-win mechanics. The game’s development roadmap is public; Embark Studios commits to regular balance patches and community-driven changes.

• Seasonal Battle Pass – Cosmetic-focused pass ($10 per season) with weapon skins, character emotes, and limited-time cosmetics; no gameplay advantage.
• New Maps & Modes – Fresh arenas and game modes deploy quarterly; old content remains accessible for casual play.
• Weapon & Gadget Balance – Monthly patch notes address competitive balance; community feedback drives meta shifts.
• Free Content Updates – All maps, weapons, and ranked seasons are free; cosmetics are the only monetized content.

The Finals Community and Support

The Finals has cultivated a passionate community despite competitive challenges common to new multiplayer games. Official Discord and Reddit communities (r/TheFinals) exceed 200k active members. Embark Studios’ transparency through regular developer updates and community events has earned goodwill. Content creators stream The Finals on Twitch daily, with thousands of concurrent viewers during season launches. The game’s balance changes are community-informed, with patch notes explaining design rationale.

• Official Discord – Embark Studios runs the Discord for announcements, player support, and community events; very responsive to feedback.
• Reddit Community – r/TheFinals serves as the primary hub for strategy, bug reports, and competitive discussion; developers frequently participate.
• Streaming & Content – Thousands of streamers broadcast The Finals daily; competitive tournaments run monthly with prize pools.
• Update Cadence – Weekly hotfixes address urgent issues; monthly balance patches published with full patch notes and rationale.