Best Episodic games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated episodic games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played and best free episodic games are available at the bottom of the page.

Filters & Lists

Broken Age

A family friendly, hand-animated, puzzle-filled adventure game with an all-star cast, including Elijah Wood, Jack Black and Masasa Moyo. Funded by a record breaking crowdfunding campaign and designed by industry legend Tim Schafer, Broken Age is a timeless coming-of-age story.

Price 12.49€
Rating 8.1
Release 28 Jan 2014

War of the Human Tanks

War of the Human Tanks is a story driven strategy game with a gameplay reminiscent of Battleship and Chess, featuring a story of war, loyalty, sacrifice and human shaped tanks.

Price 9.75€
Rating 8.1
Release 10 Jan 2014

The Walking Dead: Season Two

The Walking Dead: Season Two continues the story of Clementine, a young girl orphaned by the undead apocalypse. Left to fend for herself, she has been forced to learn how to survive in a world gone mad.

Price 14.79€
Rating 9.4
Release 17 Dec 2013

The Wolf Among Us

From the makers of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead, comes a thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. As Bigby Wolf you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences.

Price 14.99€
Rating 9.6
Release 11 Oct 2013

Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

From Dischan Media, creators of the highly acclaimed Juniper's Knot, comes Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos.Dysfunctional Systems is a visual novel series featuring Winter Harrison, a student mediator from a utopian world. Learning to Manage Chaos is the first entry in the series.What is a mediator?

Price 4.99€
Rating 7.2
Release 26 Sep 2013

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller

FBI agent Erica Reed has an uncanny talent: she can see the past and piece together how a crime unfolded. But not even this sixth sense could save her younger brother, Scott, from a brutal serial killer. Three years later, the investigation into Scott’s murder has gone cold -- but Erica’s work has only just begun.

Price 14.99€
Rating 7.8
Release 19 Sep 2013

Kentucky Route Zero: PC Edition

KENTUCKY ROUTE ZERO is a magical realist adventure game about a secret highway running through the caves beneath Kentucky, and the mysterious folks who travel it.

Price 22.99€
Rating 7.8
Release 22 Feb 2013

The Journey Down: Chapter One

The Journey Down is a point-and-click series with an Afro-Caribbean twist. Get ready to embark on a journey of exploration, mystery and grave danger - but also a journey of warmth, friendship and love.

Price 5.69€
Rating 8.3
Release 09 Jan 2013

The Walking Dead

A five-part adventure horror series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.

Price 14.79€
Rating 9.6
Release 24 Apr 2012

Alan Wake

A Dark Presence stalks the small town of Bright Falls, pushing Alan Wake to the brink of sanity in his fight to unravel the mystery and save his love.

Price -66% 4.26€
Rating 8.9
Release 16 Feb 2012

Alien Breed 3: Descent

Experience the final explosive chapter in the Alien Breed series and uncover the horrifying truth surrounding the existence of the Breed. Launch discount good thru Nov. 24 10am PST.

Price -88% 1.20€
Rating 7.1
Release 17 Nov 2010

Tales of Monkey Island: Complete Season

While explosively stripping the evil pirate LeChuck of his demonic mojo, Guybrush Threepwood inadvertently infects the entire Caribbean with the arch-fiend's expelled voodoo, which threatens to transform buccaneers into unruly pirate monsters.

Price -92% 1.00€
Rating 8.4
Release 07 Jul 2009

SiN Episodes: Emergence

You are John Blade, commander of HardCorps, an elite security force dedicated to protecting the people of Freeport City. Four years have passed since your first battle with Elexis Sinclaire, a beautiful, brilliant, and ruthless scientist who is out to remake humanity according to her own twisted vision.

Price 8.19€
Rating 8.5
Release 10 May 2006

Most played episodic games on Steam

Take a look at the top episodic games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 30th 2025.

1. The Walking Dead

A five-part adventure horror series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series. The Walking Dead is a zombies, story rich and adventure game developed by Telltale Games and published by Skybound Games. Released on April 24th 2012 has received 72,941 reviews of which 70,957 were positive and 1,984 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played episodic game, thanks to its 129 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.6
70,957
1,984

129
players

2. The Wolf Among Us

From the makers of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead, comes a thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. As Bigby Wolf you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences. The Wolf Among Us is a adventure, detective and story rich game developed and published by Telltale. Released on October 11th 2013 has received 35,460 reviews of which 34,701 were positive and 759 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played episodic games.
9.6
34,701
759

72
players

3. The Walking Dead: Season Two

The Walking Dead: Season Two continues the story of Clementine, a young girl orphaned by the undead apocalypse. Left to fend for herself, she has been forced to learn how to survive in a world gone mad. The Walking Dead: Season Two is a zombies, adventure and story rich game developed by Telltale Games and published by Skybound Games. Released on December 17th 2013 has received 31,491 reviews of which 30,380 were positive and 1,111 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played episodic games.
9.4
30,380
1,111

45
players

4. Tell Me Why

Tell Me Why is the multi-award winning episodic adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment in which twins use their supernatural bond to discover the truth of their troubled past. Tell Me Why is a choices matter, story rich and lgbtq+ game developed by DONTNOD Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on August 27th 2020 has received 13,657 reviews of which 11,292 were positive and 2,365 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played episodic games.
8.1
11,292
2,365

43
players

5. Fears to Fathom - Carson House

Noah Baker, an 18 year old highschooler experiences unsettling occurrences while house-sitting for a media personality, little did he know what was about to unfold that night. Fears to Fathom - Carson House is a psychological horror, atmospheric and horror game developed and published by Rayll. Released on January 09th 2023 has received 2,062 reviews of which 1,893 were positive and 169 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played episodic games.
8.8
1,893
169

13
players

6. Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

From Dischan Media, creators of the highly acclaimed Juniper's Knot, comes Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos.Dysfunctional Systems is a visual novel series featuring Winter Harrison, a student mediator from a utopian world. Learning to Manage Chaos is the first entry in the series.What is a mediator? Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos is a visual novel, indie and anime game developed and published by Dischan Media. Released on September 26th 2013 has received 786 reviews of which 595 were positive and 191 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played episodic games.
7.2
595
191

7. Blues and Bullets

Blues and Bullets is a dark and violent crime thriller. Set in an alternative Eliot Ness & Al Capone story, Blues and Bullets blends a stunning script with detective work to deliver an amazing interactive experience. Blues and Bullets is a adventure, noir and detective game developed and published by A Crowd of Monsters. Released on July 22nd 2015 has received 1,366 reviews of which 852 were positive and 514 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played episodic games.
6.1
852
514

Free episodic games on Steam

Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play episodic games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play episodic games.

1. Tell Me Why

Tell Me Why is the multi-award winning episodic adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment in which twins use their supernatural bond to discover the truth of their troubled past. Tell Me Why is a choices matter, story rich and lgbtq+ game developed by DONTNOD Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on August 27th 2020 has received 13,657 reviews of which 11,292 were positive and 2,365 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #1 spot among the most played free episodic games on Steam.
8.1
11,292
2,365

43
players