In Free Fire, players control a character from a third-person perspective. The fire button allows them to shoot and throw items. The character can perform actions such as jumping, crawling, and lying down. During gameplay, players can use "glue wall" grenades as cover to avoid damage.
Free Fire offers more than 15 game modes, including Team Deathmatch, Clash Squad, Big Head, Explosive Jump, Cold Steel, Zombie Hunt, Rampage, and Pet Mania. However, other modes besides Battle Royale, Clash Squad, and Lone Wolf are only available during special events.
In Battle Royale mode in Free Fire, 52 players can land on an island without weapons. They must fight to be the last player standing by collecting weapons and equipment from buildings. Playing this mode in ranked mode will affect their ranking. There are 6 maps to choose from: Bermuda, Bermuda Remastered, Kalahari, Purgatory, Alpine, and Nextera. This mode allows for Solo, Duo, or Squad play.
Clash Squad is a 4-player vs 4-player mode where players purchase weapons and items from the in-game shop while preparing, then engage in battle against the opposing team. The mode is played in a best-of-7 format, lasting from 4 to 7 rounds. Each round is won when all players on a team are killed either by their opponents or due to environmental factors. As of 2022, the maps used in Clash Squad are the same as those in the Battle Royale mode. The mode can be played as ranked or casual.
Craftland allows players to design their own maps in Free Fire using the in-game builder tool. The created maps can be shared and played with others. Craftland also supports script editing for advanced customisation, giving creators more freedom to bring their ideas to life. Players can add buildings, gameplay elements, and decorations to the map until the maximum space limit is reached. There are two maps available for players to use as the basis for their design
Lone Wolf is a variation of the Clash Squad mode that can be played as a 1-player vs. 1-player or a 2-player vs. 2-player "duel" format with more complex rules. In each round, both sides have the opportunity to choose their equipment for the next 2 rounds. The game is played in a best-of-5 format. If both teams have won 4 rounds each, a final round begins in which both sides can choose any weapon they like. All players are automatically equipped with basic items such as vests and helmets from the start of the round. This mode takes place on its own map known as Iron Dome.