What are the best free Steam games in 2025? If you’re bored and don’t have much spare cash, you don’t need to fear a gaming drought. Steam is loaded with games you can play without spending a dime. What’s more, many of them are very good indeed: games that are just as much fun to play as their full-price, wallet-destroying siblings.
In recent years, free Steam games have become the norm, with some even overtaking paid-for triple-A tiles as the leaders of the PC gaming hobby. Take a quick look at the platform’s most-played list, and from FPS games to MMORPGs, you’ll see that a significant proportion of the most popular and free PC games you can play right now.
Here are the best free Steam games in 2025:
- Enlisted
- Fragpunk
- World of Tanks
- Raid: Shadow Legends
- War Thunder
- World of Warships
- Star Conflict
- War Robots
- Supremacy 1914
- Conflict of Nations: World War III
- Call of War: World War II
- CRSED: F.O.A.D
- Crossout
- Neverwinter
- Star Trek Online
- Wizard101
- Naraka Bladepoint
- Final Fantasy 14
- Delta Force
- Deadlock
- Supervive
- 100 Korea Cats
- Marvel Rivals
- Path of Exile 2
- Dark and Darker
- The First Descendant
- The Finals
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Sheepy: A Short Adventure
- The Sims 4
- Apex Legends
- PUBG
- Overwatch 2
- Destiny 2
- Counter Strike 2
- Lost Ark
- Goose, Goose, Duck
- Project Playtime
- Conqueror's Blade
- Tower of Fantasy
- Unturned
- Warframe
- Trove
- Albion Online
- EVE Online
- Crusader Kings 2
- Runescape
- Cry of Fear
- Smite 2
- Marvel Snap
- Team Fortress 2
- Dota 2
- Disney Speedstorm
- Once Human
- Infinity Kingdom
- Antimatter Dimensions
- Aim Labs
- Half Life 2 RTX
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Enlisted
WW2 games, it places a unique emphasis on strategy. You’re not a Rambo-esque single soldier who kills thousands of enemies single-handedly, you’re in control of a squadron and you can hop between the characters at any point, with each of them having unique classes and abilities that benefit different scenarios and play styles. You can really carve out your own way to play.
There’s a huge selection of maps to play on too, with each of them representing the location of real-world skirmishes in the Second World War. The maps all lend themselves well to different strategies and so encourage you to approach them differently – this essentially means that you encounter a huge amount of variety from game to game. For this reason, it’s well worth playing, and easy to accumulate a huge number of hours in it.
Fragpunk
On the surface, Fragpunk doesn’t seem too dissimilar to a myriad of other FPS games on the platform. However, where this surprising shooter differs is in its unique mechanics and strong gun play, which helps it earn a spot as one of our favorite free games in recent years.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Fragpunk puts you and four other players in 5v5 action, with all the Fragpunk characters offering unique abilities that set them apart. Competitive matches see you die with no comeback in each round, while casual modes keep the action coming with respawns. While that may sound familiar, Fragpunk’s angle into the market is the addition of Shard Cards.
Shard Cards offer distinct abilities that require a certain amount of shards to use, with some ranging from cheap to fairly expensive. Once used, they provide powerful assistance to you and your team, and using the right Shard Cards at the opportune moments could help you win or lose each match. It adds a layer of strategy that many shooters don’t offer, adding even more tension to an exciting FPS game. Be sure to read our Fragpunk codes guide to redeem free in-game goodies.
Play for free
World of Tanks
World of Tanks has been around for over a decade now, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Wargaming’s MMO features over 800 vehicles, each carefully designed to take on other tanks on the battlefield.
Players have access to five different types of vehicles: light tanks, medium tanks, heavy tanks, tank destroyers, and SPGs (self-propelled guns). In large-scale battles, teams must work together as a well-oiled machine to crush the opposing team. If you enjoy the tactical side of tank warfare, World of Tanks is perfect for you – and one of the best tank games we’ve ever played.
Raid: Shadow Legends
Although it only came to Steam in 2024, Raid: Shadow Legends has been around since 2019. While some people may have tried it back then and decided they’d seen enough, the game has grown a lot over the last few years – especially with the selection of unlockable champions, and the in-game events it regularly runs. Don’t dismiss it based on a simple YouTube promo you may have seen in its infancy.
For those who don’t know anything about Raid: Shadow Legends it’s a turn-based RPG game that’s focused on building up a team of heroes and honing their abilities so that you can overcome different challenges more effectively. Champions come in all shapes and sizes and all have different abilities that make them better or worse at fighting certain foes. Some of them are based on figures from myth and legend (there’s even an edgy St. Nick!), and more recently there have been crossovers with the world of wrestling, and even Masters of the Universe. It’s one of those free games that stays fresh by always adding new things and it could easily become a part of your daily unwinding ritual.
Play Raid: Shadow Legends for free.
War Thunder
Soldiers often hear thunder in the distance and prepare themselves for rain, only to discover it is War Thunder, a war game about planes and tanks shooting each other. Gaijin’s flight game straps you into a mind-shattering variety of authentic 1940s war machines and tasks you with surviving countless dogfights and land battles with other players.
It is a game that is constantly being updated and improved, with the biggest additions providing whole new types of vehicles like warships for massive tank battles guide, too.
Play for free
World of Warships
While heaps of quality tank games are available on Steam, prospective irals have far fewer options. Fortunately, there’s simulation games but also a free Steam game.
With over 500 warships for players to unlock, from destroyers and cruisers to battleships and aircraft carriers, players can rest assured they won’t run out of new toys to aim for. Not that you’ll notice the grind: the multiplayer naval battles of World of Warships are pure spectacle.
Play World of Warships for free.
Play for free
Star Conflict
Do you long for a free Steam game that is effectively one gigantic, endless spaceship dogfighting simulator? Star Conflict takes the idea of player-driven stories spawned by Eve Online and condenses it to a much more action-packed, combat-oriented experience with a much more gentle onboarding process.
When you’re not skirmishing in nimble fighters or massive frigates, you can simply explore the beautiful, vibrant cluster of ancient worlds scattered through its sizeable void.
War Robots
Those who just want to pilot robots in destructive battles will find few options out there, especially ones that are free. However, there’s a good chance that you’ll find something appealing as you blast your way through the 14 maps on offer in War Robots.
Battle with your choice of robot, armed to the teeth with all sorts of guns and explosive ordinance in 6v6 multiplayer battles. Do you want your mech to be a sneaky sniper lurking on hilltops, or perhaps you fancy rushing your foes with a nimble skirmisher? With 50+ robots spanning across two classes, it’s up to you to find the best destructive mech.
Supremacy 1914
There aren’t a lot of grand strategy games among the free games on Steam, but one of the few that you’ll find there is Supremacy 1914, a fantastic game that allows you to play as any of the nations that were involved with the First World War. As an MMO, you could be playing with up to 499 other players, and with all of you using your strategic minds to secure victory, you’ll find yourself involved in very deep, intricate games.
It’s a really impressive game that history fans will really enjoy. There’s so much packed into it, and every playable country is a little different, with resources and munitions ranging between them. You might want to get to know all of them through different games, or maybe you’ll want to consistently use the same one in order to really master it. Either way, you’ll easily spend tons of hours in it.
Conflict of Nations: World War III
Conflict of Nations: World War III is based around a potential third world war. Set in a future where the global situation has deteriorated to such an extent that all the countries now exist in a state of all-out war, and you get to take control of one of many available nations.
They all have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, with some having a clear advantage over others, whether that’s because they have more cities and cover more land or because they have a strategic location on the map. One of those multiplayer games that will easily last for weeks, probably even months, and as you delve into this strategy game for the long haul, you’ll need to use all of your expertise in order to cement yourself as a global superpower.
Play Conflict of Nations: World War III for free.
Call of War: World War II
Following a similar mold to Supremacy 1914, Call of War: World War II allows you to determine the outcome of the biggest global conflict in history. With ten playable nations to choose from (including the US, Russia, and ) and all of them offering armaments and munitions that are accurate to the time period, it’s a game that offers a lot of variety and one that will put a smile onto the face of history buffs.
As a long-term strategy game, you won’t be doing little skirmishes in a single session – instead, you’ll be returning to a single game over multiple IRL weeks. Because of the depth and scope of each game, it encourages you to think strategically and plan for the long-term consequences of your decision. It’s a game that’s easy to become invested in, and before you know it, you’ll be waiting for the school/work day to be over so you can get back to it.
Play Call of War: World War II for free.
Play for free
CRSED: F.O.A.D
Funny free Steam games aren’t all that common, but CRSED, which started life as a joke spinoff for squad-based MMO shooter Enlisted, earned its place on this list through constant quality updates and its madcap sense of humor. While you’ll spend most of a match in PUBG tracking down a hefty set of plate armor, in CRSED (or, as it used to be known, Cuisine Royale) you just need to find a kitchen, strap some metal cookware over your vital organs, and you’re good to go.
Regular content updates keep things fresh and funny, with everything from historical figures to super-powered demons being rotated in and out of the free-to-play battle royale game.
Play for free
Crossout
Crossout is a post-apocalyptic MMO action game in which you craft and build monstrously-sized machines and use them to bash others in explosive online games. It is basically what you used to do during your childhood with Lego but with the magic of computers.
You can craft a wide variety of vehicles – from small, nimble buggies to rugged off-roaders – with an arsenal of weapons just as large: get your murderous hands on power drills, machine guns, and rocket launchers, or even stealth generators if you fancy a quieter approach. With an arsenal like that, it is easy to see why Crossout is one of the best free Steam games.
As you fight, you build your reputation with your chosen Crossout beginner’s guide.
Play for free
Neverwinter
Neverwinter is an MMO version of Wizards of the Coast’s genre-defining tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons. It takes you to the Forgotten Realms and pits you against hobgoblins, kobolds, and much worse. It is a surprisingly robust action MMO, emphasizing skill-heavy combat and a pretty world to explore.
There is a bit of a push for players to buy things in the in-game store, but you can do everything without paying a penny. That even includes playing the frequent expansions, such as the recent Jewel of the North update that adds a new Bard class and refines the leveling system.
Play for free
Star Trek Online
Deep Space Nine in Star Trek Online.
The story also has a tangible impact on the evolving galaxy. While there is a cash shop and ships, the game continues to be extremely generous toward free players, allowing them freedom in exploring the final frontier.
Play Star Trek Online for free.
Wizard101
Wizard101 is a fantasy MMORPG that has captivated players for over a decade. In it, you play as a Ravenwood School for Magical Arts student. You choose whether you want to specialize in Fire, Ice, Storm, Myth, Life, Death, or Balance, which determines the magical abilities you’ll develop during your time in the world of the Spiral.
The game’s world is huge, and you’ll find yourself visiting a variety of locales, including snowy outposts, cities under the sea, Ancient Egyptian-style desert communities, and much more. The game has quite an enticing storyline, too, with more depth than you might have expected based on its cutesy art style.
Naraka Bladepoint
The fortunes of this battle royale game have certainly turned around since it went free-to-play. Each warrior you unlock in Naraka Bladepoint has its own move set and powers, but you can also activate environmental traps to outwit your fellow rivals on the path to victory.
If you’re worried that this is just another one of those free games that you’ll need to wait in a lobby for, then you can read our Naraka Bladepoint review from when the game first made its debut. Also, at any given time, at least a quarter million players are online in each 24-hour period. You’ll always have someone to play against of a similar skill level, making for an intense match.
Play Naraka Bladepoint for free.
Final Fantasy 14
Yes, that’s right: you can play Final Fantasy 14 for free. The most recent MMO incarnation of this iconic Square series has won over many fans. Even if you’ve never played Final Fantasy games, it could be a good place to start. Set in the sprawling world of Hydaelyn, this is one of those MMO games that are fun to play even when you’re busy running errands for villagers, going fishing, hunting, or ing your time in one of countless other ways.
Of course, there is still a huge and compelling story at the heart of the game. You’ll easily spend around 120 hours on the Realm Reborn storyline that was part of the base game, but moreover, Square has periodically added new story expansions, so now, after that, you can play through Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail – some of which are even longer than the base story itself. Read our Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail review for a look at our thoughts on the most recent story expansion to the game.
Delta Force
The golden age of large-scale PvP shooters is over, but that doesn’t mean this type of game is dead and buried just yet. The classic Delta Force series is back, but this time it has shed its single player roots as it focuses on unique multiplayer experiences.
The first is the Battlefield-style warfare mode, giving players access to a host of air, ground, and sea vehicles in a race to capture and secure control points. There’s also an Escape From Tarkov-esque mode that sees players hunt for a rare object known as a loadouts guides a read to get ahead of the competition before you dive into the action.
Deadlock
At this point, Valve has many good shooters under its belt, so of course, Deadlock garnered a lot of attention when the initial playtests started (even if it was supposed to be a secret). Technically, the game isn’t even in early access, it’s a playable development build that is currently only available to those with an invitation, but any current player can invite as many others as they want, and the community is growing fast.
So what is it? Well, it’s a MOBA shooter with a noir aesthetic set in the streets of New York that features a cast of fantastical and otherworldly creatures. You work as a team to protect your Patron (a strange alien being that connects New York to other realms), playing as robots, burrowing pigs, and lots of other wacky characters as you try to defeat your opponent’s Patron.. We can’t wait to see what it looks like once the final Deadlock release date finally arrives. In the meantime, check out Deadlock Rank, our comprehensive, ever-growing Deadlock database.
Supervive
If you’ve been looking for the perfect blend between the Supervive. This free-to-play Steam game captures the top-down chaos of League of Legends and throws in the encroaching storm that menaces players in Fortnite. Throw in a colorful roster of heroes that would feel right at home in Overwatch, and you’ve got a high-octane cocktail that’ll keep you on your toes.
Supervive exploded onto the scene with a Supervive preview. Only time will tell – until then, Supervive is the new kid on the block with a bright future.
100 Cats
100 Korea Cats is an incredibly cozy and relaxing point-and-click adventure that’s one of those sudden hits on Steam, trending among the noise of AAA monsters and open-world slogs. 100 Korea Cats drops you into a beautiful 2D, hand-drawn Korea in which you must find 100 hidden cats. It’s that simple. Play in color. Play in black and white. Listen to the adorable ‘meow’ of every cat you find. and then move on to the bonus level where 100 more cats are waiting for you..
Marvel Rivals
Don your cape and suit up in Marvel Rivals tier list, getting familiar with the deepest cuts might be well worth your time.
Marvel Rivals owes a lot to Overwatch, but its dedication to its source material has it rubbing shoulders with the Marvel Rivals codes and hop in.
Path of Exile 2
After more than a decade, Path of Exile’s long-awaited sequel has finally arrived – at least, in early access. Aside from the usual little bits of jank that you get from early access games (e.g. unexpected framerate drops), Path of Exile 2 is shaping up beautifully – offering the same high-quality isometric action RPG experience as the original, while adding enough interesting new features to keep things fresh.
What we especially like is its broad range of character classes (set to double in the future) which have what might possibly be the largest skill trees we’ve ever seen before. It really enables you to hone your character in your own way and cultivate your own unique approach to battle as you navigate your way through its grim, monster-filled world.
ittedly, there’s a lot of grinding involved, but that’s pretty much par for the course with free games. Though the story is incomplete in its current form, we love what we’ve seen so far and look forward to seeing its eventual completion. Read our full Path of Exile 2 release date.
Dark and Darker
If you’re looking for something a little more… *checks notes* unforgiving, then Dark and Darker might be the PvPvE game for you. Choose from one of several dungeons and perhaps band together with a motley crew of adventurers as you delve deeper for more treasure. You can strike it lucky on your own if you dare.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that this will be a breezy jaunt. Oh no, the monsters that live within its musty cavern walls are out for blood. It’s ridiculously easy to get overwhelmed, and that’s not just because of the many beasts surrounding you like a pack of wolves. Your fellow players may also turn on you instantly and plunder your corpse for ill-gotten loot as they make their way out.
Dark and Darker can get incredibly tense at times, especially if you make it to the exit with valuable treasure only to find one last obstacle standing between you and freedom. The game is in early access, meaning there’s more to come, and those who invest in the upgrade can delve into more dangerous dungeons with higher stakes. Read our Dark and Darker system requirements guide if you want to be sure you can run it.
The First Descendant
Nexon’s newest looter shooter, The First Descendant, is completely free to play on Steam. It’s got cool outfits, cooler weapons, and a vast environment with fast-paced missions to power through. If you’re a fan of games like The Division, Warframe, and Outriders, it’s worth giving this one a go, especially with things like The First Descendant Twitch drops granting freebies.
With an impressive roster of The First Descendant characters with varying skills and abilities to master, it’s likely you’ll spend more than a few hours as a Descendant.
The Finals
Yes, you heard us right – another free FPS. This one comes with a twist, as The Finals is set in a game show environment with fully destructible scenery. The Finals is famously accepting new contestants, and you can jump into the free-to-play shooter right now.
Contestants, or players to you and I, can jump into dynamic arenas in teams of up to three with a t goal of becoming the show’s winners. There are several game modes, some include delivering cash to a bank with the winning team being those that secure the most money, or some more traditional deathmatch-based modes also proving hugely successful.
With an arsenal of weapons and power-ups at your disposal, you can also send wrecking balls into buildings that you suspect your challengers inhabit, sneak up on foes with katanas or some of the best The Finals build to your play style, or will you win honestly in a gunfight?
Call of Duty: Warzone
Since Call of Duty: Warzone was introduced back in 2020, it has received an update each year to bring the mechanics, weapons, and maps in line with the current CoD game. While the mainline games are all paid-for, the popular battle royale mode Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play, and is available on Steam. Warzone has officially integrated with Black Ops 6, unlocking the entire new Warzone map.
Perhaps you’ve always been a fan of the mainline series and haven’t yet dropped into the free game, maybe you’ve never played CoD but come from one of the other many war-based FPS games like PUBG, or perhaps you’ve just heard your friends talk about it. Whatever the reason you might consider trying Warzone, there is no better time than now. Like all the games on this list – and the reason you’re here – of course, it’s free, so there’s no downside. However, Warzone has also recently been released on mobile, so plenty of other new players are in the same boat as you. It’s also cross-platform and crossplay compatible, so you can play across mobile, console, and Steam and play with friends on any platform.
As you drop into a Warzone match, be it in the massive Urzikstan map or one of the smaller Resurgence maps like Area 99, you need your best Warzone loadouts set up. Like most battle royale games, you won’t start with them but can instead wait until they drop in randomly or purchase your favorite weapons from Buy Stations around the map – once you’ve looted or earned enough cash. Other weapons, armor, and equipment can also be found in floor and chest loot around the map, but be careful not to pay so much attention to looting your surroundings that you don’t see an encroaching enemy.
Sheepy: A Short Adventure
OK, Sheepy might not keep you busy for long – we completed it in about an hour – but it is free, and, despite its short length, its story serves up more emotion and style than games ten times as long. As you take on the role of an adorable plush sheep come to life, you might think that this 2D platformer is an adorable jaunt through a sweet, childlike world. You’d be wrong.
Instead, Sheepy: A Short Adventure is a gloomy escapade through the dark past of a corrupt business, as the bodies of its employees punctuate your journey above and below ground. Don’t worry, though, this isn’t a horror, there are no jumpscares or serious spooks, but there are plenty of cute and fun moments, one particular scene that brings the stunning soundtrack to life and even made some of us PCGN writers shed a tear.
If your lip doesn’t wobble there, we defy you to keep your tears in at the end when you meet Patches, the game’s recurring boss, for one last time. The difficulty increases with each of the surprisingly challenging boss fights; by the third and final challenge, your relationship with Patches starts to change as you learn more about the bear and even Sheepy themselves. Just weeks after the game’s release, the debut game from MrSuicideSheep has thousands of Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews, so don’t miss out.
The Sims 4
As with its prequels, there are loads of Sims 4 expansion packs to bulk out the game’s content, but this time, you can play the base game itself for free. While we’re sure that the number of PC gamers who have never played any version of The Sims before is pretty low, if you’re one of the few who hasn’t, this is the ideal place to start (and we’re sure old fans are going to love revisiting the franchise).
Deg your Sims, building their perfect home, and then guiding them through their lives is such an addictive experience. You can work hard to make all their dreams come true, or you can mess around and cause havoc. Throw all the Sims 4 review for our full critique.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends skins, to see what’s available to buy.
PUBG
The battle royale game that started it all, PUBG review to see what we thought of it all the way back in 2017.
Overwatch 2
Believe it or not, Overwatch 2 review to see how we originally received Blizzard’s latest – it’s come a long way since then.
Destiny 2
Destiny 2 classes and use their godlike powers to decimate foes.
While it’s not the easiest game to get into, owing to its years of content, it’s more than worth the trouble, thanks to its excellent gunplay. The base game only gets you far, but there are plenty of Destiny 2 expansions to give you more to explore and new OP Destiny 2 review a read to see how Bungie’s sequel compares to other live service titles.
Counter-Strike 2
Stepping into the shoes of possibly the most popular competitive FPS game of all time, Counter-Strike 2 is a “technical upgrade” to CS:GO, so it’s still the same game you know and love, but with a fresh coat of paint. Incredibly fresh new mechanics, like tick-rate-independent gameplay and dynamic smoke grenades, allow for the most accurate and technical experience in Counter-Strike history, and it shows that Counter-Strike 2 remains the most played game on the internet.
Whether you like stealth or noise as you take on the best of the best in CS2, we’ve got you covered with our guides on the best CS2 review to see what we thought about the evolution of the Counter-Strike series.
Lost Ark
Amazon Games and Smilegate launched the free-to-play MMORPG Lost Ark review.
With many Lost Ark classes to choose from, ranging from MMO essentials like Bard, Paladin, and Sorceress to unique entries like Gunslinger and Wardancer, there are many ways to make your Arkesia experience your own. Smilegate is pretty good at listening to community as well, adding more gender options for classes, regular content updates, and loads of free Twitch Drops and Prime Gaming goodies to keep you coming back.
Goose, Goose, Duck
If you like games like Among Us, you’ll like Goose, Goose, Duck, a social deduction game in the style of the popular, aforementioned multiplayer game – only imposters are now devilish ducks.
There’s little to say about social deduction games a try, being free to play and all. Under the assumption that you’ve been living under an airship for the last few years, you load into a game as either a goose or a duck. If you’re the former, you’re the good guy, bumbling around trying to complete your duties. Believe it or not, the latter are the baddies, and you must try and stop the geese from fulfilling their tasks – by any means necessary. Simple, silly, fun, best played with friends.
Project Playtime
Project Playtime was the late 2022 release from MOB Games, the developer behind the viral success Poppy Playtime – and it’s already shaping up to be just as popular. Like its predecessor, Project Playtime is a horror survival game based in a toy factory, but you’re not working alone this time.
If single-player scares have you a little too afraid, then you can hide behind the relative safety of five friends in Project Playtime as you go up against one vengeful toy – controlled by another player – in the latest asymmetrical horror game. If you’re more interested in the original, take a look at what we know about the Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 review.
Conqueror’s Blade
Conqueror’s Blade offers a devilish blend of top-down battle strategy and third-person fighting that few other war games dare attempt. The medieval MMO receives regular updates and from developers My.Games so that you won’t get bored. Each new season brings fresh units, areas of the map to explore, and new epochs to delve into. Of course, you can loosen your purse strings to splash out on a battle or cosmetic items, but the game’s core is entirely free.
Tower of Fantasy
While the general gacha formula may not exactly be original, this anime game offers a new take on a style of game that resonated with millions of players. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
gacha game will keep you occupied for a long time because there’s so much to do.
Unturned
One of our favorite apocalypse game, complete with the crafting, building, and creative aspects of its predecessors as well.
Play with friends or combat other survivors, gun down hordes of zombies, complete NPC quests, and even take to the seas or skies in various vehicles. There’s plenty to keep you busy and get your money’s worth in this free game, so there’s no excuse not to try it. The thousands of “Very Positive” Steam reviews might help if you need further convincing.
Warframe
Warframe build to clear levels and grind faster than anyone else.
Though there may be a bit of grind involved if you want to craft the coolest gear, you will be slicing people in half and power-sliding around on your knees for most of that, so don’t be too concerned. Despite being nearly a decade old, there are still regular content updates added to Warframe and a huge number of concurrent players, so it’s never too late to start, and you won’t be short on other players to team up with. Give our Warframe 1999 release date guide if you want to see what else the devs have cooking up.
Trove
Don’t be fooled by its blocky, Minecraft-like aesthetic. action-adventure combat.
In Trove, you start by picking from a selection of fantasy-inspired classes and set off across a series of realms. You constantly level up, fight cube-y monsters, delve into dungeons, and unlock new gear, which you can show off back at your home base. If you’re a hoarder at heart, then Trove will appeal to you.
Albion Online
free MMO; the world has a lot to offer, including deadly fights against other players, different biomes to explore, and a loot system that drives players from the comfort of any one area in Albion’s expansive map.
Albion’s the name, and PvP’s the game, so don’t get bogged down in farming and riding your horse into the great unknown. Ambushes are common and brutal, so come prepared, but not too prepared, as the unforgiving full-loot drop system on death can be incredibly frustrating.
Eve Online
One of the great MMOs of our time, RPG games, EVE isn’t about being a ranger or a warrior and saving the world. It’s about becoming a cog within a huge, player-controlled universe.
So, will you be a trader and help bring much-needed items to others? Or will you rise through the ranks of a corrupt corporation and engage in tactical sabotage against your enemies? These are just two of the countless thousands of paths that are available to you in this incredible, unrivaled MMO.
Crusader Kings 2
Crusader Kings 2 puts you in the shoes of a Christian lord and tasks you with ensuring the survival of a medieval dynasty through the end of the Dark Ages. To succeed, you and your descendants must fend off an army of nobles, heretics, and even the Pope while expanding your territories. However, you’ll be going up against not just the Mongols but also ambitious vassals and scheming illegitimate heirs.
The learning curve is undeniably steep, but Paradox Interactive’s ample experience with the genre ensures that Crusader Kings 2 is the perfect first step into grand strategy without needing to spend a cent. We’ve got Crusader Kings 3 review if you need help deciding to buy.
Runescape
The past couple of decades have seen countless MMORPGs rise and fall – and through it all, Runescape endures. The thought of Runescape might send you on a nostalgia trip of trading at Varrock Bank or poaching newbies in the wilderness, but Jagex’s critically acclaimed RPG is still going strong.
While Runescape may be a world away from Old School Runescape, it retains the same character progression and exploration approach. Its sheer longevity has infused it with mythology, from the Runescape party hat to robberies and in-game riots. You can be part of shaping its bright future or stick closer to home and improve your woodcutting skills. The choice is truly yours.
Cry of Fear
It’s no great surprise that the vast majority of free Steam games are live-service multiplayer games. However, Cry of Fear bucks that trend entirely, offering a top-of-the-range horror experience for absolutely free. The humble horror began life as a Half-Life mod, taking direct inspiration from classic survival horror experiences like Silent Hill to create an all-new allegory of trauma, psychosis, and recovery. Expect copious jump scares, twisted enemies, and an oppressive atmosphere that’s befitting its Scandinavian setting.
It’s an undoubtedly terrifying single-player game experience in its own right, but it s co-op for up to four players if you need additional to see it through to the end.
Smite 2
Smite 2 was released in early access just over a decade after the original. Fans of the original will be pleased to see the return of their favorite characters, but in upgraded forms that enhance their abilities and allow them to interact with their environment a little more. At the same time, there are loads of new gods that help keep things fresh, and new maps that require completely different battle tactics.
If you’re a die-hard fan of the original – don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere and will continue to receive updates even after the full Smite 2 release date. However, if you’re new to the series, Smite 2 will be the place to start because not only is the original starting to show its age when compared to its predecessor, but the addition of bush cover and more secluded maps creates an experience that is notably more strategic, and likely more familiar to long-time MOBA fans.
Marvel Snap
One of the breakout stars of 2022, Marvel Snap gives deck-building card battler fans a brand new collection to get into, this time featuring everyone’s favorite superheroes. It’s so good it’s even converted Marvel fans to the card-battling genre and vice versa, so you don’t need to be a fan of both to try it.
This free game has cross-platform , so you can also play across PC and mobile devices, keeping your progress and collection with you as you switch between them. As you build out your collection, familiarize yourself with the Marvel Snap pool you currently reside in.
Team Fortress 2
What can one say about Team Fortress 2, Valve’s mega-popular, constantly evolving shooter? It has many hats. It is also extremely refined, always full of players despite launching in 2007, and it still gets frequent updates in the form of seasonal patches to fatten the game up with even more hats, modes, and maps.
But despite how much the game has grown since it launched back in 2007, it remains easy to pick up, especially if you have some chums to play with. The package now feels infinitely huge, with a great variety of game types, from the classic capture point Red vs. Blu games to co-op Mann vs. Machine, where players band together to keep waves of murderous robots at bay.
Dota 2
MOBA with roots in the origin of the genre, you know exactly what to expect: an eclectic roster of Dota 2 heroes, a huge list of powerful items, ten players, three lanes, and a massive emphasis on skill.
You could spend days and days just thinking about the metagame, not to mention honing your talents by spectating the biggest matches come tournament season. Budding players need to get started somewhere with this free Steam game, so check out our guide to the best Dota 2 heroes.
Disney Speedstorm
Any good list of games should include a kart or racing game. Disney Speedstorm might not be the most challenging or complex game on this list, but it sure is fun. Take on the role of some of your favorite Disney characters, don stylish racing gear, and slip into the seat of a speedy motor as you race around Disney and Pixar-themed tracks. This free Steam game changes seasonally, with new characters and courses being added constantly, along with its seasonal battle . While you can pay for additional content, Disney Speedstorm is enjoyable and competitive without parting with a single cent.
Once Human
All life on Earth has been infested by an alien entity known as Stardust. Fortunately, some humans – meta-humans – such as yourself can resist its effects and actually wield it to their advantage. Sporting plenty of suitably monstrous bosses, huge base-building potential, and more customization options for your gear than you can shake a rifle at, Once Human is one of 2025’s top freebies. While you might bounce off it after the first server wipe, this system also provides you a clean, level entry point into the game if you’ve never played before.
Throne and Liberty
If you’ve been itching for a new fantasy MMO from a major studio, then NCSoft has you covered. Throne and Liberty plops you down in the world of Solisium – a magic-filled realm that is, unsurprisingly, under threat from a great evil.
As the holder of a fragment of the Star of Sylaveth – a celestial object that grants you power – the forces of Kazar have painted a rather large target on your back. You see, Kazar is looking to acquire every fragment to dominate the world, and it’s your job to prevent this. Featuring a robust combat system, gorgeous visuals, and some pretty impressive engineering from the devs when it comes to showing tons of players on-screen at once without slowdown, there’s a lot to like about Throne and Liberty.
If you do opt to check it out, be sure to check out the latest best Throne and Liberty builds that you can try out. Throne and Liberty sports a classless combat system, so there’s lots to dig into there.
Infinity Kingdom
Something we absolutely love about Infinity Kingdom is the way that it perfectly blends history and fantasy. Set in the land of Norheim, this strategy MMO sees you fighting against armies of evil gnomes – pure fantasy right? Well, no, because you gather an army of “immortals” who are actually figures from history (and mythology) including Genghis Khan, Cleopatra, and Leonidas (among many, many others).
There are some pretty deep cuts in here, like Nebuchadnezzar II (ever heard of him? The second king of the Neo Babylonian Empire) and Seondeok the Great (historic queen of one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea). Gathering all these people together alongside the likes of Loki, and Sun Wukong is really cool. They each have their own unique strengths, and you can spend a lot of time building a team that suits your preferred approach to battles before taking them into PvP arenas, or through a PvE campaign.
Antimatter Dimensions
While you may have heard of the brilliant Cookie Clicker, or perhaps the bizarre popularity of Banana, this excellent game shouldn’t be forgotten – in fact, it’s one of the best idle games in the last few years. Antimatter Dimensions tasks you with earning enough particles to reach infinity, but once you do, things will only get stranger, as you unlock more upgrades and earn particles faster than ever before.
It’s certainly more idle than it is a clicker game, as there’s plenty of automation. Fortunately, there are challenges to complete that make the game more difficult, and also offer Steam achievements too.
Aimlabs
We’ve listed plenty of first-person shooters on this list, but these types of games require a certain level of skill to truly enjoy. That’s where Aimlabs comes in, giving you a series of challenges to improve and upgrade your aiming skills. With leaderboards on offer, in addition to highly detailed stats pages to see your progress over time, it’s easy to get addicted to improving your Aimlabs stats.
Depending on the type of FPS game you’re playing, the training for each game varies. For example, if you mainly play Apex Legends, Aimlabs will prioritize tracking exercises. Counter-Strike players, on the other hand, will be offered crosshair placement exercises. This ensures you’re spending time doing challenges that are constantly used in your respective main game, making you stronger overall.
Half Life 2 RTX
Half Life 2 RTX might just be the antithesis of free Steam games as it requires extremely high-end hardware to run it. That said, it is free (providing you own a copy of Half Life 2), and it’s well worth playing if you want to see what Ravenholm and Nova Proskpekt look like using the latest graphics technology.
We’re talking full ray tracing, high-poly models, and updated lighting, transforming the classic into one of the best-looking games out there. If you’ve just upgraded your computer and you want to see what it’s capable of, just fire up Half Life 2 RTX to get your system fans spinning.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
We’ve been treated to some absolute banger Star Wars games over the years. From Knights of the Old Republic to the recent Cal Kestis series, we’ve been eating good for a long time. While MMORPG The Old Republic may be well over a decade old now, it has more than stood the test of time while expanding on its already-impressive offering.
Whether you fancy yourself the next Kenobi, Dooku, or even Fett, SWTOR boasts a strong offering of roles you can take on as you delve into a rich narrative set over three thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. As with many other MMOs, you won’t be able to play the entirety of SWTOR for free, but at the very least, you can get a taste of it via the base game and its first two major expansions.
And there you have it: the very best games available on Steam that will cost you absolutely nothing. If you’ve got your hands on a free Steam game that usually comes at a price, check out our guide on PC games if you can wait a bit for your next gaming fix.