The 14 Best Free Steam Games

The best free Steam games are those that have an active player base, continued developer support, and no sleazy pay-to-win tactics. With that in mind, here are 14 of the best free-to-play games on Steam. There's a little something for everyone.

Steam

of 14

Best Free Roguelike: Never Split the Party

Steam

Roguelikes have exploded in popularity, but "Never Split the Party" takes it one step farther by introducing a social element. Play with up to three other friends and fight your way through procedurally generated dungeons. Choose from four different classes, each with a dedicated role, and battle your way to victory.

What we like:

Team play
Different classes
Available on Windows and Mac

What we don't:

Lack of polish due to its early development

of 14

Best Free Battle Royale Game: Ring of Elysium

GameWatcher

If the building mechanic in "Fortnite" drives you crazy and the military precision of PUBG isn't your flavor, try "Ring of Elysium." This title from Tencent Games breaks away from the shoot-everything-and-run style of Battle Royale gameplay and introduces a survival aspect; the cold is just as dangerous as other players.

To win, you must reach a rescue flight. Victory comes when you clamber aboard the helicopter, which allows you to win without firing a shot if you find the right strategy to do so. There are also numerous mobility options available, letting players traverse the map in new and creative ways.

What we like:

A fresh take on the battle royale genre
Hang gliders

What we don't:

The game is Windows-only

of 14

Best Free Visual Novel: One Night, Hot Springs

Steam

"One Night, Hot Springs" stands out from the library of visual novels on Steam for two reasons. First, it's for all ages, so no need to worry about adult content showing up unexpectedly. Second, the main character is a transgender woman living in Japan. "One Night, Hot Springs" explores the difficulties faced by transgender people in their day-to-day lives, and more specifically, the struggles they face in Japan. The game itself is a short romp of about 30 minutes, but there are seven possible endings. If you play through to find them all, "One Night, Hot Springs" provides several hours of entertainment.

What we like:

The game handles serious issues but isn't heavy-handed
Available on Windows and Mac

What we don't:

The game isn't quite long enough

of 14

Best Free Flying Game: World of Warplanes

Steam

If you miss the fast-paced battles of titles like "Crimson Skies," "World of Warplanes" is for you. If the name sounds familiar, it's because you've probably heard of or played the developer's other titles: "World of Tanks" and "World of Warships."

You can choose a plane from seven different nations, upgrade your aircraft with better weapons, engines, and more, and fly five different aircraft types. Once you've gotten the hang of the gameplay, join up with friends and take on another team in 12v12 battles.

What we like:

Tons of variety in aircraft
Numerous customization options for vehicles

What we don't:

The game is glitchy this early in development
Only available on Windows

of 14

Best Free Meta Game: Nick Beard: The Fedora of Destiny

Steam

If the title didn't give it away, this is not a game that takes itself seriously. "Nick Beard: The Fedora of Destiny" is a self-aware game that thrives on the humor of the internet sometime around 2012.

It's not a long game at all. You'll get around 20 minutes of gameplay, but those 20 minutes will be full of laughs. The game is designed to appeal to a specific segment of the population. If you like Deadpool, you'll like this game.

What we like:

Irreverent humor

What we don't:

Too short to take advantage of potential
Only available on Windows

of 14

Best Free Comedy Game: So, uh...a spaceship crashed in my yard

Steam

Nothing describes this title better than the synopsis: "A spaceship named Aria crashed in your front yard! Now it's up to you to help her find the parts she needs to escape Earth." The game is a quirky walking simulator with puzzle elements. There's only one ending, but it's a short, bite-sized adventure that will keep you entertained and make you laugh. There is a bit of strong language involved, so maybe it's not the best for kids, but adults will love it.

What we like:

Fun puzzles with surprisingly challenging achievements
Quirky humor

What we don't:

Too short
Only available on Windows

of 14

Best Free Puzzle Game: Riddles of the Owls Kingdom

Smallgames

"Riddles of the Owls Kingdom" is a puzzle game based around nonograms or picross. These are picture logic puzzles, and this game is absolutely full of them. There are 200 puzzles to work through, each with a different level of difficulty.

This game style isn't well-known in the United States, but a prominent example is "Minesweeper." If you enjoyed playing "Minesweeper," then you'll probably enjoy the color and the charm of "Riddles of the Owls Kingdom."

What we like:

200 puzzles
Hints for when they get too hard
Available on both Windows and Mac

What we don't:

Sometimes punishing difficulty
Some puzzles require guessing

of 14

Best Free Casual Game: Fruit Pop

Medium

"Fruit Pop" is a game combining elements of "Brick Breaker" with "Peggle," and the result is nothing short of glorious. A charming art style combined with spectacular music makes this the perfect game to sit down and relax to at the end of a long day. The free version includes fifteen levels, but the game's paid version comes with 45 levels total. This game will encourage you to keep playing over and over to beat your high score as much as possible.

What we like:

Laid-back fun

What we don't:

Only available on Windows

of 14

Steam

"VRChat" is a social gaming experience designed for use with a virtual reality headset, but it can still be enjoyed on a desktop. It's full of small minigames like bowling and a game called "Battle Discs," but the draw is the user-created worlds; wander around in a world you build yourself or visit others. Choose your own avatar and make your way through a vibrant community of dedicated players. It's a great way to make friends from the comfort of your gaming room.

What we like:

A fresh take on social interaction
Tons of minigames to play

What we don't:

Only available on Windows
Best experience requires expensive peripheral

of 14

Best Free MOBA: DOTA 2

Steam Community

It'd be careless not to include "DOTA 2" on a list of free-to-play games. In a world consumed by the MOBA craze, "DOTA 2" stands at the top of the pack. Pick from one of the dozens of heroes. Each one is different and opens up a different play style. While you can spend money on this game, it will be for cosmetic purchases only. On the battlefield, your skill and teamwork will determine whether you win or lose.

What we like:

Free heroes
No pay to win elements
Available on both Windows and Mac

What we don't:

Steep learning curve
Often toxic community

of 14

Best Free FPS: Team Fortress 2

VG Box Art

"Team Fortress 2" has been around for years and likely will continue to top the charts as one of the most popular F2P titles out there. If you're looking for zany first-person action, Team Fortress 2 has you covered. Choose from several of the classes and help push your team to victory. There can be a bit of a learning curve, especially if you've never played "Team Fortress 2" before, but once you learn its secrets, you'll be hooked.

What we like:

A variety of different classes
Available on both Windows and Mac

What we don't:

It can be tough to learn for beginners

of 14

Best Free Dungeon Crawler: Path of Exile

MyGeekReview

If you spent hours playing "Diablo II," you'll do the same with "Path of Exile." There are seven classes to choose from, and the depth of the skill tree is spectacular. You can go with a build you find online or make your own, and it's entirely possible to create unique skill combinations no one has seen. The search for better gear is a lot of fun, and constant updates keep the game fresh no matter how much you play.

What we like:

In-depth gameplay
Tons of equipment

What we don't:

Only available on Windows

of 14

Best Free MMO: Warframe

Know Your Meme

"Warframe" has been popular since its release, and subsequent updates have sent that popularity soaring even higher. You can take solo adventures through space, team up with friends to bring down powerful foes, or build up your base so you can relax when you aren't fighting; you basically play a space ninja with energy weapons. "Warframe" has all the elements MMO players love: a variety of weapons, great enemies, and plenty of grind.

What we like:

Great developer support
Strong player community

What we don't:

Only available on Windows

of 14

Best Free Strategy Game: AirMech Strike

Youtube

"AirMech Strike" is a free, incredibly polished strategy game with both co-op and competitive modes. You control an AirMech and various units to take control of the map, but the game's fast pace and shorter matches keep things interesting. You don't need to invest hours to win a match with this game. It can also be played with a mouse and keyboard or an Xbox 360 gamepad, unique for strategy games.

What we like: