Team Fortress 2 is older than most of the people now playing it, and its first hour still works. The download is small, Casual matchmaking opens straight away, and each of the nine classes explains itself within a life or two. The only real friction is the free account, which can't use text or voice chat in official matches until you buy something from the Mann Co. Store.
The first hour, minute by minute
- 00:00
Install through Steam
Only a Steam account is needed. The download is around 15 GB, one of the smallest in our ten.
- 00:12
Training or straight in
Offline training covers the basics for a few classes. Many players skip it and join Casual matchmaking, which is open from the first launch.
- 00:18
First real match
Casual matches usually start within a few minutes. Joining mid-match is normal and the game drops you into a class choice screen.
- 00:35
Trying the classes
Switching class on each respawn is the fastest way to learn. Medic, Engineer and Heavy tend to click quickest for new players.
- 00:50
First item drops
Weapons and the occasional crate drop through play. The crate is where the store first appears, because opening it needs a key.
- 01:00
Where you stand
Several matches played. Text and voice chat in official matchmaking stay locked until the account becomes Premium.
What the first hour gets right
Nothing stands between you and a match. There is no publisher account, no long tutorial and no unlock tree before you can play properly. All nine classes are open from the start, and each has a silhouette and a job you can read from across the map.
It is also still genuinely funny. The character design, the voice lines and the animation carry an energy that newer shooters rarely manage.
Where it shows its age
The engine is from 2007 and looks it, despite the charming art style. Official updates are now rare, and much of the life in the game comes from community servers and fan-run events.
Free accounts can't text or voice chat in official matchmaking, have a small 50-item backpack and limited trading. These limits exist to fight bots and spam, and they disappear once you buy anything from the Mann Co. Store.
Money: Premium and the crate problem
There is no battle pass and no premium currency. The single most useful purchase is the cheapest item in the Mann Co. Store, because any purchase upgrades the account to Premium permanently. That unlocks chat, a 300-space backpack and full trading.
Crates are the part we'd steer clear of. They drop free during play, but opening one needs a Mann Co. Supply Crate Key at £1.85, and Valve does not publish the chances of the rare items inside. There is no guarantee after any number of keys. Everything inside is cosmetic or a side-grade weapon that also drops free.
Who should play it
Anyone who wants a team shooter that is quick to start, easy to read and full of personality, and who doesn't mind older graphics. It also runs well on modest PCs and laptops.
What we liked, what we didn't
Worth your hour
- The fastest route to a real match of any game here
- Nine distinct classes that teach themselves
- Small download, runs on modest hardware
- One small purchase unlocks Premium for good
Watch out for
- Free accounts can't chat in official matchmaking
- Crates need paid keys and the rare-item rates aren't published
- Official updates are rare now
- Visuals show their 2007 roots
What Team Fortress 2 really costs
Free, or included in the price
- The whole game: every class, map and mode
- Casual matchmaking and community servers
- Weapons that drop through play and can be crafted
- Crates drop free, although opening them is not
Price list (UK, VAT included)
| Item | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Mann Co. Store item | under £1 | Any purchase upgrades the account to Premium permanently |
| Mann Co. Supply Crate Key | £1.85 | Opens one crate. Rare-item rates are not published |
| The Orange Box on Steam | £16.75 | Bundle of older Valve games that also grants Premium |
Team Fortress 2 crates drop free but need a paid key (£1.85) to open. Valve lists the possible contents but not the chance of each rare item, and there is no guarantee after a set number of keys. We'd skip keys altogether.
Our month-one advice
Play free for a few evenings. If you enjoy it, buy the cheapest item in the Mann Co. Store to unlock Premium, which removes the chat and backpack limits for good. Leave the crates unopened.
Prices checked 24 September 2026 on the official UK stores. They change with sales and currency updates, so the store checkout price is the one that counts.
How to pay for Team Fortress 2 in the UK · Set a spending limit first
Questions people ask
Is Team Fortress 2 free?
Yes. The whole game is free on Steam. Buying any item from the Mann Co. Store upgrades your account to Premium, which unlocks chat in official matches and a larger backpack.
Why can't I use voice chat?
Since 2020, free accounts can't text or voice chat in official matchmaking, to cut down on bots and spam. Any Mann Co. Store purchase lifts the limit.
How much is a TF2 key?
A Mann Co. Supply Crate Key costs £1.85 in the Mann Co. Store. Each key opens one crate, and Valve doesn't publish the chances of the rarest items.
Can I stop a child buying keys?
Yes. TF2 purchases go through Steam, so blocking the Steam Store or using purchase requests in Steam Families covers them.
