Looking for something to keep you busy in the cooler months ahead? If you have a desktop computer or laptop and an internet connection, you can create a Steam account!
If you’re not familiar, Steam is, in their own words, “the ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games”. That might seem like a pretty bold statement, but since its launch, in September 2003 it’s revolutionized the PC Gaming industry, hosting tens of thousands of games for more than 20 million users annually.
While a majority of content on Steam is paid, there are a ton of great games you can get and play for free. Here are the best games currently available for free on Steam:
AdVenture Capitalist – AdVenture Capitalist brings the joys of Capitalism to the idle game genre in this free-to-play clicker title. Earn money, expand your business, and attract investors until the earth can’t contain your massive wealth and you need to take your business to the Moon. Keep going and you might just colonize Mars! Still not satisfied? There are in-game events with new themes and methods of gameplay held weekly.
Apex Legends – Do you love battle royale games like PUBG and Fortnite? What about hero-shooters like Overwatch? Apex Legends just might be the game for you. This free-to-play title features an ever-growing roster of powerful legendary characters with unique abilities, offering a variety of gameplay styles to try out and master. Play with friends or team up online and work together to dominate your opponents through a mix of strategy and skill.
ArcheAge – ArchAge is an expansive free-to-play MMORPG that takes place in a fantasy setting where you’re in control. Conquer lands, construct an epic kingdom and ally with other players to protect yourself, and your riches, in epic clashes on land or sea. Not your style? Make your way as an outlaw, taking no prisoners and leaving no gold behind. The choice is yours in ArchAge.
Backbone: Prologue – Backbone: Prologue is a post-noir cinematic narrative experience and the first part of this adventure series. Take on the role of Howard Lotor, a raccoon detective exploring a dystopian version of Vancouver, British Columbia that’s populated with unique animal characters to lead you through an emotional story of change and transformation that aims to your challenge perception of what it means to be a person.
Brawlhalla – Having trouble finding a game that all of your friends have the hardware to play? Brawhalla has you covered offering local and online multiplayer for up to eight people with full cross-play for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android! The free-to-play 2D fighting game has more than 40 Legends for you and your group to choose from, each with their own unique skill set, stats, weapons, and personal style, so you can find a character that really suits and cause some chaos.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a multiplayer first-person shooter that expands on the team-based action-driven gameplay that you’ve come to expect from the series. Originally released in 2012, the game still has a lot to offer casual and dedicated players alike with numerous modes of gameplay, mods, in-game items and more.
CRSED: F.O.A.D – Do you have what it takes to be the last-man-standing? Find out in this dark multiplayer shooter as you battle it out with realistic weaponry, mystical forces, and supernatural powers! Take down your enemies with feats of strength, blasting your way through obstacles with powerful attacks and dark magic, or outwit them using stealth and traps to your advantage to secure your spot as the sole survivor in CRSED: F.O.A.D.
DCS World: Steam Edition – Explore the world of digital combat with DCS World, a free-to-play digital battlefield game and simulation environment that allows you to explore the thrills of flying jets like the Su-25T “Frogfoot” and the TF-51D “Mustang”. The development team is committed to providing an immersive and true-to-life experience as you explore the skies, participate in battles, and run combat simulations across a variety of unique in-game environments.
Deceit – Are you good under pressure? Deceit will push you to your limits. The game starts when you wake up in an unknown room with your group to discover a third of you have been infected with a deadly virus by the mysterious Game Master. Play as the survivors or the infected in this action-paced FPS multiplayer experience. As a survivor, you must fight for your life across three zones to find your freedom. As the infected, your sole mission is to hunt down, overtake, and infect the remaining survivors until there’s no one left alive.
Destiny 2 – If you’ve played any of the Halo games, you’ll probably enjoy the Destiny series which is made by the same development team. The second installment in the series, Destiny 2, has been made free to play so you can jump right into the action. Explore solo or with a fireteam and shoot your way through all kinds of hostile aliens. The game has stayed fresh since release with regular updates and the addition of a few new gameplay modes.
Doki Doki Literature Club – Heads up! While this game has a cute aesthetic, it’s masking a dark psychological horror story that went viral in 2017. Join the literature club, make new friends, and discover that things are not what they seem. This game is best played blind, so if you can handle mature themes and have a free afternoon, check it out without looking anything up!
Dota 2 – From humble origins as the sequel to a community-created mod Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Dota 2 has become a legendary multiplayer online battle arena game spawning the largest e-sports championship in the world. Fight with your teammates against the opposing group in an epic race to destroy the Ancient within their base, before they manage to destroy yours.
Double Action: Boogaloo – What’s the most cartoonishly over-the-top action movie you can imagine? Turn even that to the extreme and you’ll have Double Action: Boogaloo, a stylish multiplayer game where you slip, slide, dive, and flip your way through hilarious action movie-style mayhem. It’s high octane fun each time you play and it’s free on Steam!
The Expendabros – Movie tie-ins are pretty hit or miss, but the over-the-top action of The Expendables franchise makes for a pretty fun addition to the run-and-gun world of Broforce. Download this DLC to play the game as the Broforce version of your favorite action heroes! The base game, Broforce, is less than $20 and can regularly be bought on sale for less than $5 if you’d like to experience comically extreme action scenarios.
EVE Online – EVE is a game unlike any other with a storied history it would take hours to catch you up on, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Players quickly get absorbed in this massive MMO, exploring space in their own way as they forge alliances, upgrade their ships, and battle it out with other factions. Want to learn more before you dive in? Here’s a recent article about how players managed to break a world record in the game!
Fallout: Shelter – Fallout: Shelter isn’t an entry into the main Fallout series, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the time to play. Just be sure you have a fair bit of time to devote to the game, it’s pretty addictive! Move from the perspective of a wasteland wanderer and manage a Vault-Tec vault of your very own. Design the perfect Vault, protect your dwellers, keep them happy, and level them up.
Game Dev Tycoon – Live through game development history in this meta exploration of life as an up-and-coming game studio in the charming Game Dev Tycoon. Start your own one-man video game development company in the 1980s and see if you have what it takes to create, innovate, and dominate that gaming industry. Develop best-selling games, research the latest technologies, and use them to reinvent the gaming industry with new genres and experiences. Will your next game become an international hit?
Ginkgo – Taking its name from a genus of highly unusual non-flowering seed plants, Ginkgo is a refreshingly original single-player 3D horror game that takes place in a surreal dreamlike space inspired by East Asian horror. Traverse this otherworldly area with nothing more than a magic needle which you’ll use to sew parts of the world together as you solve puzzles and outsmart monsters in search of answers.
Gwent – While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t available for free, you can play the fan-favorite mini-game, Gwent, without spending a dime! Gwent is a collectible card game that was such a popular side activity in the main Witcher game that the developer, CD Projekt Red, decided to expand it into its own free-to-play game. Build your deck from hundreds of collectible cars, choose your faction, establish an army, and wage war against other players over multiple game modes.
Helltaker – Helltaker took the internet by storm when it was released in May of 2020. It’s one part indie puzzle-adventure game, one part cutesy dating sim, with some otherwordly situations thrown in for good measure. Open a portal to the underworld, solving puzzles, beating on skeletons, and trying to win the affections of the ladies that live in hell. If that storyline doesn’t win you over, the unique art style definitely will.
Kyle Is Famous – Here’s the scene: You are Kyle. Kyle needs to prepare to host a very important interview on his show. But Kyle can Time Travel. Or maybe he’s swallowed his fridge? You didn’t misread that. Kyle is Famous is a text-based adventure in which you guide Kyle through his big day, with your decisions shaping the way things turn out for him over 21 unique endings, some more ridiculous than others.
Life Is Strange: Episode 1 – Things aren’t what they seem for high school senior and photographer Max Caufield. There’s something strange going on in her town and her best friend is in serious trouble, but what can she do? A lot, actually. As Max, you have the ability to rewind time, and changing your actions in the past will change everything, for better or worse. Play through multiple different storylines and unlock all the endings in the award-winning first chapter of Life is Strange.
Maplestory – Maplestory is an adorable side-scrolling MMORPG full of epic adventures, intense action, and good friends. The game is incredibly addictive, pulling you in with hundreds of hours of gameplay, a charming art style, and a deep game world in which you can travel by yourself or with friends as you explore dungeons, conquer intimidating bosses, and live your best fantasy life.
My Friend is a Raven – My Friend is a Raven is a gripping indie horror title with a striking visual art style that will leave you wanting more. The world as we know it has ended. You decide to visit your apartment one last time in search of your friend, the sickly raven Lutum. Choices matter, so keep track of the decisions you make, you’ll need to change your path to unlock all four endings and the full story.
Neverwinter – If you love Dungeons and Dragons, or the countless tabletop games like it, you’ll love Neverwinter. The game was based on D&D and does an excellent job of bringing the pen and paper world to life in this 3D open-world adventure, adding plenty of new things for players to discover. Enjoy exploring familiar game elements in a new way and discover the depth of the world of Neverwinter for yourself.
OpenTTD – OpenTTD is an open-source remake and expansion of 1994’s Transport Tycoon Deluxe. TTD is a business simulation game in which players work to earn money by efficiently transporting passengers and freight via road, rail, water, and air. If you’ve enjoyed games like Roller Coaster Tycoon, Cities: Skylines, and Sim City, you’ll enjoy the familiar build-and-play style of game.
Paladins – Paladins is a character-based shooter that plays similarly to games like Overwatch and Team Fortress 2. It features a roster of more than three dozen original playable characters across four unique class types to suit every style of play. Try out the diverse cast of characters for yourself across different game modes to find the best fit for you and your teammates as you fight your way to victory.
Path Of Exile – PoE is a popular choice for those looking to move on from World of Warcraft. Banished for your misdeeds, you are an Exile left to fend for yourself on the unforgiving continent of Wraeclast. Play as a Duelist, Witch, Ranger, Templar, Marauder, Shadow, or Scion class and use your unique abilities to grow stronger, forge alliances, and seek revenge against those who wronged you.
Planetside 2 – Enter into an all-out planetary war, where you’ll fight for survival and domination against thousands of other players over continents of unimaginable size. Mount your attack on foot or using vehicles to attack on land or in the air. Work together with friends or other players to overcome enemies and further your own exploration.
RIFT – Enter the magical and mysterious world of Telara. You are an Ascended hero, and it’s up to you to explore the vast unknown. As you do, you’ll fight through hordes of elemental invaders, discover secrets, and team up with other plays to expel evil from dungeons and raids. Can you seal the Rifts that are appearing across the land and save it from destruction?
Rocket League – Rocket League is what you would get if you played an oversized game of soccer using monster trucks on a field with dubious gravity. The rules of the game are simple, score on your opponent. Don’t let your opponent score on you. There are plenty of game modes, including both ranked and unranked single and team play, time trials, hoops, and many more. There’s also a ton of cosmetic items available (you unlock them as you play, or you can purchase others), so you can customize the vehicle of your choice to perfectly reflect your style.
Runescape – Chances are, if you’re into PC gaming, you’ve probably already heard of Runescape. The game was originally launched in 2001 and has since established a massive and extremely loyal base of fans. It isn’t hard to see why Runescape is an open world MMORPG in which your decisions affect and shape the world around you. Pick your play style and begin your hero’s journey. Will you build a reputation as a famed adventurer? Travel the world with your friends? Or perhaps, build a quiet life on a farm of your own. Who will you become?
Scribble It – How do you handle pressure? Scribble It is a modern reimagining of classic games like Pictionary that will test your skills of deduction and your talent as an artist. Play by yourself, online, or with up to 16 other players over four unique multiplayer game modes in 17 different languages.
Smite – If you’ve played Top Rated MOBAs like League of Legends and Heroes of The Storm, you already have an idea of the intense action-fueled gameplay you can expect from Smite. The game has a massive player base of more than 25 million, so you can find a match to jump into at any time. New to the genre? No worries! you can auto-buy and auto-level to gear up your character until you’re ready to dive into the action.
Splitgate (Beta) – If Halo and Portal were to merge into a single game, Splitgate would be the result. Splitgate is an intense high octane team shooter in which you’ll really have to watch your back. Player-controlled portals can spawn anywhere, leaving you open to attack from the enemy team. Take revenge with portals of your own.
Star Trek Online – Star Trek Online is a fantastical sci-fi MMORPG set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, which puts you in the captain’s chair. But you don’t need to be a Trekkie to dive into this one! Explore a full universe and enjoy your very own Star Trek experience, playing through more than 125 episodes that span over multiple story arcs from the beloved television shows and movies.
Star Wars: The Old Republic – Set in the Star Wars Universe, Star Wars: The Old Republic takes place at the dawn of a tentative era of peace between the quickly reforming Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. Choose your faction and enter the fold as one of eight unique classes, playing through a three-act storyline as you level up, determining your alignment to the dark or light side before diving into the multiplayer action.
Team Fortress 2 – Team Fortress 2 is a cult classic that has spawned countless knock-offs and re-imaginings, including some big-name titles like Overwatch. Choose from nine character classes that accommodate a wide variety of playstyles, join the RED or BLU team, and work together with your teammates in unique game modes like capture the flag and king of the hill. Will your team come out on top?
The Room Syndrome – The Room Syndrome is a short surreal puzzle adventure with some interesting mechanics and a simplistic but haunting art style. Explore the dark history of the room using time travel to navigate and experience the full timeline of the game, unraveling the mystery of the room’s sole occupant. This game may be short, but the story will stick with you for a long time.
Unturned – Unturned is a zombie apocalypse survival game with a simple visual style similar to that of Minecraft and Roblox. Adventure by yourself and team up with friends and fight for survival as you traverse large maps of zombie-infested ruins. Will you play it safe and survive with stealth, or throw caution to the wind and blast your way through the hordes, at your own risk of course. Do you have what it takes?
VR Chat – Despite the name, you don’t need a VR Headset to dive into VR Chat, but if you have one you can enjoy the experience on a whole other level. There isn’t a lot of gameplay in this one, it was designed to highlight the capabilities of VR and create a modern 3D Chat experience. Despite having been out for years, the game still has a pretty active player base, so there’s still lots to do if you’re just getting started.
Warframe – Warframe is an innovative and action-packed third-person MMO-RPG shooter set in an ever-evolving sci-fi world. Choose, customize, and upgrade your Warframe to unlock new abilities, grow stronger, and eviscerate your enemies in innovative ways. The fluid transitions between combat styles allow for non-stop high-octane action that won’t let up until you do.
We Went Back – We Went Back is a unique game that combines time travel and horror. You wake up to find yourself trapped in an abandoned space station and realize you must find your way out. You’ll need to keep your wits about you as you search for clues, traverse dynamic environments, and escape… before you discover that you aren’t alone.
World of Tanks Blitz – Have you ever wanted to play a shooter as a tank rather than a soldier? World of Tanks Blitz is here to make all of your dreams come true, with more than 300 iconic tanks from around the world to choose from. Battle it out in 26 unique arenas in teams of seven and work to upgrade your tank to better suit your playstyle. The game is also optimized for mobile play on touch screen devices, so you don’t have to leave it at home.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of free Steam games that are worth the time to check out. Do you know any that we’ve missed? Send us a message to let us know and we’ll add it in!