20 best free games on Steam right now

If you want to experience free games on Steam, there is, thankfully, a lot that the store has to offer. You can gallivant with your friends on hostile planets in PlanetSide 2 or message your love interest friend in a pseudo-AOL Messenger in Emily is Away.

The best free games on Steam offer a ton of content and have as few restrictions as possible. These 20 titles certainly do that in spades. The monthly active users are based on Steam Charts' stats from the past 30 days.

Apex Legends

• Steam release date: November 4, 2020
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 97,703

One of the best battle royales in the market right now is Apex Legends. It provides the high-precision gunplay from Titanfall 2 and brings it into the competitive battle royale space. Sliding down hills and using each hero's powers is satisfying to perform in the game.

You'll have many intense moments as you contend against opposing teams, and the game provides many opportunities to fail or succeed. The free-to-play model is a little on the expensive side if you want cosmetics and more characters, but playing from the base roster is also entertaining to start off with in Apex Legends .

Brawlhalla

• Steam release date: October 17, 2017
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Monthly active players: 10,478

If you're annoyed you can't play Super Smash Bros. on PC, check out Brawlhalla. It features a smooth platform fighter experience that plays great online. It also has a vibrant cast of characters to choose from. Many will be locked behind payments or in-game progression, but there is a regularly updated free rotation of characters to choose from. One of the game's unique strategic elements is switching two weapons available to each player. Each weapon's move set is radically different, and you'll need to decide which option best suits the situation.

The Finals

• Steam release date: December 3, 2023
• Publisher: Embark Studios
• Monthly active players: 119,889

Destructible environments, participating in a game show, and great gunplay all combine into The Finals, one of the latest multiplayer hits on Steam. You’re taking a cash prize and trying to transport it to a capture area. On the way, you’ll have to fend off two other teams of three.

With an exciting vertical element to each map, The Finals manages to stand out among its FPS competition. Check this game out when you can! Oh, and it’s crossplay too! 

My Hero Ultra Rumble

• Steam release date: September 28, 2023
• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Monthly active players: 1,091

Anime fans, rejoice! My Hero Ultra Rumble is a neat battle royale take on the beloved anime series. Each hero or villain has their own quirks that change the battle. Deku can pick up allies and run fast to get away from enemies. Meanwhile, Cementoss creates stone walls to protect his team and keep the enemy team distracted.

If you don’t want to shoot down enemies in Call of Duty Warzone or Fortnite, My Hero Ultra Rumble offers a refreshing take on the genre. 

Emily is Away

• Steam release date: November 20, 2015
• Publisher: Kyle Seeley
• Monthly active players: 12

Emily is Away is a nostalgic journey back into the Windows XP era of communication. There was no Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. Instead, you used to chat on AOL Instant Messenger. This unique storytelling device isn't just a gimmick, however.

There's a beautifully told narrative about two friends who have grown apart from each other since high school and are trying to reconnect. Despite zero voice acting, all the emotional beats are there, as you await Emily's response. Try this one-hour game out when you can. It's one of the best free games on Steam.

Guild Wars 2

• Steam release date: August 23, 2022
• Publisher: NCSoft
• Monthly active players: 3,108

Can't afford Final Fantasy XIV Online or don't want to bother with the Battle.net client on PC for World of Warcraft? Guild Wars 2 is a good third option for an MMO. You can play the entirety of the engaging core campaign for free. However, there are restrictions you should keep in mind, like locked content until you reach a certain level. Despite that one fault, Guild Wars 2 offers a stunning world enriched with entertaining MMORPG gameplay.

Farlight 84

• Steam release date: September 21, 2023
• Publisher: Farlight Games
• Monthly active players: 1,160

Tired of Fortnite and want something new? Farlight 84 may be your antidote. It blends the art style of Epic Games’ battle royale and mixes it with the ability-based system of Apex Legends.

The result is a solid shooter that impresses new fans of the game and isn’t even out of Early Access yet. The weapons feel heavy and powerful, and the overall environments look pleasing to the eye. Just turn off the voice acting; it’s pretty bad!

Disney Speedstorm

• Steam release date: April 18, 2023
• Publisher: Gameloft
• Monthly active players: 253

Want a fun Mario Kart-like game without having to resort to emulation? Disney Speedstorm is a great free-to-play substitute. The tracks are immaculately designed and based on the films we know and love like Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin, and Pirates of the Caribbean. You’ll avoid pillars of fire within the Cave of Wonders and giant tentacles from sea monsters in Port Royal.

While the items are disappointingly generic for a Disney game like this, there is a neat alternate use for most of them by holding down the button. For example, with a boost (mushroom), you can hold it to get three smaller bursts of speed rather than just one. Read my review for more information.

Marvel Snap

• Steam release date: August 22, 2023
• Publisher: Nuverse
• Monthly active players: 3,589

Everyone knows and loves the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so a card game based on the property could be a cheap cash-in. Fortunately, Marvel Snap is a cherished title for fans of card games, and it's free to play. "At work and at home, I just can’t put it down," said CJ Andriessen in his review. "With its structure and speed, it doesn’t feel as tactical as some of the other card games I’ve played, but it finds a way to be satisfying in its brevity." Each match in Marvel Snap also only lasts for three or so minutes, as opposed to Hearthstone, making this quick and easy to play.

Path of Exile

• Steam release date: October 23, 2013
• Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
• Monthly active players: 23,819

Path of Exile, despite it being a free Steam game, is an excellent alternative to the Diablo series if you crave more ARPG goodness. It features a tonne of passives to unlock through the huge skill tree system. It also includes plenty of classes, including the Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar, and Witch. Path of Exile will offer hours upon hours of content for the low, low price of $0, and it also has PvP modes like tournaments and Capture The Flag.

Team Fortress 2

• Steam release date: October 10, 2007
• Publisher: Valve
• Monthly active players: 43,904

A cherished multiplayer game for many Team Fortress 2 is an absolute classic. This team-based shooter has you playing different roles. One can be the Heavy, dealing a lot of damage with his mini-gun. Another player can send out Sentries and Teleporters throughout the map as the Engineer. There are many options available, so you can find the right playstyle. Despite the game being over a decade old, it still holds up visually with a cartoony art style. Give it a go if you haven't already.

The Sims 4

• Steam release date: September 2, 2014
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 34,943

Living out your dreams as a Sim doesn't necessarily sound fun, but The Sims 4 somehow sucks you in for many hours at a time. Building your own house, family, and wealth in the game will feel rewarding. You also grow relationships with other sims by hanging out with them and performing a variety of activities in the community.

All of this is now free to play on Steam, so go ahead and download The Sims 4 if you want a chill simulation game to play.

Warframe

• Steam release date: March 25, 2013
• Publisher: Digital Extremes
• Monthly active players: 53,153

It's been a decade, but Warframe still pulls in players today. This game is extremely fast with powerful guns and delightful swordplay. It's been supported thoroughly by developer Digital Extremes. The game added an open world, and there is spaceship warfare to be had. The art style is also unabashedly strange as it embellishes its sci-fi genre with pride.

Omega Strikers

• Steam release date: September 16, 2022
• Publisher: Odyssey Interactive
• Monthly active players: 255

The precision of the MOBA gameplay of League mixed with the sport of soccer doesn’t sound like a great mix, but Omega Strikers certainly proved me wrong. Each character has their own skills to master while you’re trying to score a goal.

You can even take out your foes with your abilities by striking them out of the arena. The graphics are gorgeous, the concept really comes through, and the head-bump-worthy music will keep your heart racing. Check this game out!

Dark & Darker

• Steam release date: June 7, 2024
• Publisher: IRONMACE
• Monthly active players: 10,065

Those who like sickeningly hard games will find comfort in Dark & Darker. In a D&D-like dungeon, you’re exploring an ancient citadel thwart with many dangers. You’ll be taking on tough monsters and making your way through the depths of this citadel to get the treasure you’re seeing.

You can play as a barbarian, a ranger, and a bard in a three-person squad as you turn off lights to get away from enemy detection and utilize magic to gain the upper hand. The game is currently in early access, but it has a Mostly Positive score on Steam right now.

Marvel Rivals

• Steam release date: December 6, 2024
• Publisher: Netease Games
• Monthly active players: 207,840

Marvel Rivals is the latest game to take the world by storm with its well-designed suite of characters based on the comic book property. This third-person shooter/action multiplayer hybrid takes the heroes we know and love and has them work as a team. Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark heal the group (or freeze enemies in Luna's case), while guys like The Hulk and The Thing pummel the competition.

With fantastic visuals and exciting stages to explore, Marvel Rivals is a fantastic multiplayer game to get into. All of the characters are free, and sometimes skins are even offered for completing event missions. It's been called an Overwatch killer by many fans in the space.

Faaast Penguin

• Steam release date: September 20, 2024
• Publisher: historia Inc
• Monthly active players: 276

While Faaast Penguin isn't super active with 276 active players over the past 30 days, this little multiplayer game does have its fans. It's a rush to race against other players in frenetic courses as you're going down sledding as a penguin. You can also find shortcuts to help you beat fellow penguins in the race.

The visuals are bright, colorful, and charming to look at. It's also cross-play, so you can race your friends who are on consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. As you're playing the game, you'll gain a bunch of different outfits along the way. Keep in mind, however, that you'll need an Epic account to play this game, even on Steam.

Smite 2

• Steam release date: August 27, 2024
• Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios
• Monthly active players: 13,400

Smite 2 is a continuation of the epic MOBA in Unreal Engine 5 rather than the old UE3 that the series has been plagued with for a long time. To me, this MOBA is much more accessible with its third-person camera and action-game-like setting than a top-down view. Despite that, it features the strategy you expect from the genre.

Ymir is an awesome tank that can freeze enemies in place and put up ice walls to stop them from getting away. Smite 2 revolves around Gods of different mythologies brawling it out, and it's fun to see how Hi-Rez Studios and the developer Titan Forge Games are inspired by the classic tales. Like Faaast Penguin, there is cross-play between all versions of the game, so no one will be left out.

Sky: Children of the Light

• Steam release date: April 10, 2024
• Publisher: thatgamecompany
• Monthly active players: 5,679

If you want a gaming experience a little less intense than Smite 2 or Marvel Rivals, Sky: Children of Light might be the answer. The developer of Journey and Flower, thatgamecompany has created a gorgeous multiplayer title that has you solving puzzles with friends and flying through seven stunning biomes with them. The aim of the game is to free your ancestors' spirits from the darkness and heal them. They can then be sent to their home among the stars above.

While you're going through this peaceful experience, you can unlock all manner of cosmetics that will make you stand out in this social MMO. Our original review for the mobile version said that the game is "blissful, imaginative, and a sight to behold."

Throne and Liberty

• Steam release date: October 1, 2024
• Publisher: Amazon Games
• Monthly active players: 20,386

Throne and Liberty shows how far free-to-play games have come, in terms of scale and beautiful graphics. Developed by the studio that made Guild Wars, this action RPG has you exploring the open world of Solisium. It features a mix of PvP and PvE, and the battles you take part in can be affected by the weather and time of day, alongside other players who may fight you during key moments of the game.

Our review gave Throne and Liberty an impressive 8.5/10 score, comparing the game to classic eras of World of Warcraft and EverQuest. "Throne and Liberty feels like a step back in the right direction for MMORPGs, reviving a lot of the social features that seem to be missing from modern entries in the genre," the writer said. "While you can certainly still play solo, T&L gives you the opportunity to socialize and play with others in every aspect of its gameplay, even while leveling."

Previous entries:

• Smite
• Halo Infinite multiplayer
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
• Goose Goose Duck
• DOTA 2
• Star Wars: The Old Republic
• MultiVersus (RIP in May 2025)
• Super Animal Royale
• PlanetSide 2
• Splitgate
• DC Universe Online

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