Best Free to Play 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 free to play games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free free to play games are available at the bottom of the page.

Filters & Lists
The Market of Light A short game and tech demo created with Unreal Engine 5. The player is a small firefly that collects orbs of light scattered around the market. Experience a meticulously rendered world from a micro view point!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.7
Release 28 Sep 2021
XERA: Survival Action-focused, open world survival shooter, PvPvE against fellow mercenaries and lethal XOIDS. Raid for resources alone or with team-mates, build and defend your base, stash your gear and survive against the odds. You are the hunters. You are the hunted. And the robots never sleep…

Price Free to play
Rating 6.6
Release 26 Sep 2021
Super Auto Pets Build the strongest team of pets and tussle with your friends!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.9
Release 24 Sep 2021
If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers is a narrative-driven point-and-click adventure with horror elements that explores the stories of four characters in a masked ball taking place aboard a train in the late 1920s.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.2
Release 21 Sep 2021
Find Love or Die Trying Welcome to the only killer dating show where ending up single means ending up dead! Date or die, it's up to your choices!

Price 4.99€
Rating 9.4
Release 16 Sep 2021
Ruins of Albion Explore the procedurally generated world and test your skills in a fast-paced combat combining ranged and melee attacks. Defeat a variety of different enemies and bosses, fight in the arena, collect upgrades and unlock different arrow and trap abilities in this small rogue-like action-adventure.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.0
Release 15 Sep 2021
Swing Dunk Swing Dunk delivers a stunning combination of fast-paced basketball and a stylish hoverboarding experience. With intuitive physics and a high level of freedom in controls, create your own unique basketball moves. Train your skills and SWING your way to victory!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.2
Release 15 Sep 2021
Loading Story A short story about loading, I guess. Play as Memu@ as she explores the cyberpunk(ish) little town and interacts with its inhabitants.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.7
Release 10 Sep 2021
Escape From School Confused, you wake up sucked into an empty classroom. You have to try to escape from school by solving puzzles and discovering secrets.

Price Free to play
Rating 6.1
Release 07 Sep 2021
The Durka: You will (not) die "The Durka: You will (not) die" is a visual novel in the genre of fur, the plot of which unfolds on the territory of the Russian Federation, in an alternate reality.

Price 3.99€
Rating 8.3
Release 06 Sep 2021
死寂(Deathly Stillness) This is a boring zombie game with no plot, not an officially released game, please don't have high expectations.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.3
Release 04 Sep 2021
Swallow the Sea You are a lowly egg cell on a journey through a swollen sea of strange and humanoid fish. Prey on smaller life and growing larger and stronger to perhaps someday be born.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.3
Release 03 Sep 2021
Rec Room Rec Room is the best place to build and play games together. Party up with friends from all around the world to chat, hang out, explore MILLIONS of player-created rooms, or build something new and amazing to share with us all.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.8
Release 02 Sep 2021
LAST CLOUDIA A fantasy RPG that weaves a sprawling tale with quirky characters and cinematic effects. Its gorgeous, fast-paced battles feature pixel art characters sweeping though 3D playspaces.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.7
Release 30 Aug 2021
Super Animal Royale It’s a fight for furvival! Super Animal Royale is a 64-player, frenetic, top-down 2D battle royale where murderous animals fight tooth, claw, and machine gun across an abandoned safari park.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.2
Release 26 Aug 2021
Ann Ann, an art student finds herself trapped in the school when she accidentally broke one of the school's rules. With the help of the school's security guard, help Ann navigate her way out and uncover the secrets of the school before she becomes a permanent resident of the school.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.0
Release 26 Aug 2021
Purrgatory A slice-of-death visual novel about making friends, cracking cat puns, and waiting for eternity to pass.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.5
Release 22 Aug 2021
DPS IDLE Collect cards, upgrade cards, defeat monsters, join guilds and hire heroes. Raise your DPS!

Price Free to play
Rating 6.2
Release 21 Aug 2021
MakerKing Become a King (or Queen) at making levels! Join a community designed around level creation and online play. The level editor is simple to use and lets you create anything, even living creatures!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.6
Release 18 Aug 2021
UpGun Face your friends in UpGun! Use each round to accumulate skills and overtake your opponents in this crazy deathmatch!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.1
Release 13 Aug 2021
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Dive into the legends of the Far East in NARAKA: BLADEPOINT; team up with friends in fast-paced melee fights for a Battle Royale experience unlike any other. Find your playstyle with a varied cast of heroes with unique skills. More than 20 million players have already joined the fray, play free now!

Price Free to play
Rating 6.9
Release 11 Aug 2021
Star Chef 2: Cooking Game Kitchen Simulation | Learn Cuisines | Cook Delicious Food | Become A Chef

Price Free to play
Rating 6.6
Release 09 Aug 2021
凯尔文 - Kelvin And The Chateau My home was destroyed by a fire, and only my mother and I survived. Why me? After leaving his control-freak mother, Kelvin made a few friends and seemed to have a new answer to this question. However, his friends sometimes hide something from him.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.4
Release 05 Aug 2021
Dark Roll: Free Kick Challenge A ball rolling game, where you take football free kicks. Single player challenges, Steam Leaderboards and ranked multiplayer. Free to play.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.7
Release 05 Aug 2021

Most played free to play games on Steam

Take a look at the top free to play games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 17th 2025.

1. Dota 2

Every day, millions of players worldwide enter battle as one of over a hundred Dota heroes. And no matter if it's their 10th hour of play or 1,000th, there's always something new to discover. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own. Dota 2 is a free to play, moba and multiplayer game developed and published by Valve. Released on July 09th 2013 has received 2,498,969 reviews of which 2,037,143 were positive and 461,826 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played free to play game, thanks to its 318,989 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.1
2,037,143
461,826

318,989
players

2. Bongo Cat

Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find? Bongo Cat is a cats, free to play and casual game developed by Marcel Zurawka and published by Irox Games. Released on March 05th 2025 has received 23,425 reviews of which 22,904 were positive and 521 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 144,832 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among free to play games based on player count.
9.6
22,904
521

144,832
players

3. Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter! Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe! Marvel Rivals is a free to play, multiplayer and hero shooter game developed and published by NetEase Games. Released on December 05th 2024 has received 287,569 reviews of which 228,817 were positive and 58,752 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. While seeing 89,839 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among free to play games based on player count.
7.9
228,817
58,752

89,839
players

4. Path of Exile

You are an Exile, struggling to survive on the dark continent of Wraeclast, as you fight to earn power that will allow you to exact your revenge against those who wronged you. Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. The game is completely free and will never be pay-to-win. Path of Exile is a free to play, dark fantasy and action rpg game developed and published by Grinding Gear Games. Released on October 23rd 2013 has received 235,091 reviews of which 209,822 were positive and 25,269 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 89,430 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free to play games.
8.8
209,822
25,269

89,430
players

5. Banana

Banana is a clicker Game, in which you click a Banana! In Banana you click the Banana to gain even more Bananas! Every 3 hours, you get dropped a banana. Each banana is also made by the community in discord. Come hang out with us and let's grow into something awesome ! Banana is a free to play, clicker and singleplayer game developed by Sky, AestheticSpartan and O'Brian and published by Sky. Released on April 23rd 2024 has received 89,834 reviews of which 73,975 were positive and 15,859 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. With 84,611 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free to play games.
8.1
73,975
15,859

84,611
players

6. Apex Legends™

Apex Legends is the award-winning, free-to-play Hero Shooter from Respawn Entertainment. Master an ever-growing roster of legendary characters with powerful abilities, and experience strategic squad play and innovative gameplay in the next evolution of Hero Shooter and Battle Royale. Apex Legends™ is a free to play, battle royale and multiplayer game developed by Respawn and published by Electronic Arts. Released on November 04th 2020 has received 994,979 reviews of which 668,053 were positive and 326,926 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. With 50,089 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free to play games.
6.7
668,053
326,926

50,089
players

7. Team Fortress 2

Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities. Constantly updated with new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats! Team Fortress 2 is a free to play, hero shooter and multiplayer game developed and published by Valve. Released on October 10th 2007 has received 1,161,472 reviews of which 1,044,264 were positive and 117,208 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. With 46,105 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free to play games.
8.9
1,044,264
117,208

46,105
players

8. War Thunder

War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armoured vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea. War Thunder is a free to play, simulation and vehicular combat game developed by Gaijin Entertainment and published by Gaijin Network Ltd. Released on August 15th 2013 has received 757,086 reviews of which 484,469 were positive and 272,617 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.4 out of 10. With 37,645 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free to play games.
6.4
484,469
272,617

37,645
players

9. Warframe

Awaken as an unstoppable warrior and battle alongside your friends in this story-driven free-to-play online action game Warframe is a free to play, action rpg and looter shooter game developed and published by Digital Extremes. Released on March 25th 2013 has received 626,503 reviews of which 545,393 were positive and 81,110 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 33,938 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free to play games.
8.6
545,393
81,110

33,938
players

10. VRChat

Join our growing community as you explore, play, and help craft the future of social VR. Create worlds and custom avatars. Welcome to VRChat. VRChat is a vr, free to play and multiplayer game developed and published by VRChat Inc.. Released on February 01st 2017 has received 240,355 reviews of which 181,623 were positive and 58,732 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. With 33,158 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free to play games.
7.5
181,623
58,732

33,158
players

Best deals on free to play games on Steam

Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of free to play games available on Steam right now, updated on June 17th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted free to play games.

1. BattleCore Arena

BattleCore Arena is a free-to-play, peer-to-peer platform shooter where gravity mastery is the key to victory. Compete in quick PvP battles, using weapons and abilities to eject your opponents out of the arena. BattleCore Arena is a free to play, shooter and competitive game developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux and published by Ubisoft. Released on February 04th 2025 has received 381 reviews of which 241 were positive and 140 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10.
6.1
241
140

2. Yume Nikki

This is a game in which you traverse the extremely dark world inside a dream. Yume Nikki is a indie, free to play and rpgmaker game developed by kikiyama and published by PLAYISM. Released on January 09th 2018 has received 8,629 reviews of which 8,120 were positive and 509 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10.
9.1
8,120
509

3. Delta Force

Delta Force is back! The iconic series returns as the definitive free-to-play modern team-based tactical shooter and featuring three distinct gameplay modes: large-scale PvP warfare, intense extraction shooter action, and a remake of the legendary Black Hawk Down campaign. Delta Force is a free to play, fps and multiplayer game developed by Team Jade and published by TiMi Studio Group. Released on December 04th 2024 has received 114,627 reviews of which 72,717 were positive and 41,910 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10.
6.3
72,717
41,910

Free free to play games on Steam

Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play free to play games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 17th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play free to play games.

1. Dota 2

Every day, millions of players worldwide enter battle as one of over a hundred Dota heroes. And no matter if it's their 10th hour of play or 1,000th, there's always something new to discover. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own. Dota 2 is a free to play, moba and multiplayer game developed and published by Valve. Released on July 09th 2013 has received 2,498,969 reviews of which 2,037,143 were positive and 461,826 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. With 318,989 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free free to play games on Steam.
8.1
2,037,143
461,826

318,989
players

2. Bongo Cat

Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find? Bongo Cat is a cats, free to play and casual game developed by Marcel Zurawka and published by Irox Games. Released on March 05th 2025 has received 23,425 reviews of which 22,904 were positive and 521 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 144,832, this free to play game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free free to play games on Steam.
9.6
22,904
521

144,832
players

3. Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter! Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe! Marvel Rivals is a free to play, multiplayer and hero shooter game developed and published by NetEase Games. Released on December 05th 2024 has received 287,569 reviews of which 228,817 were positive and 58,752 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 89,839, this free to play game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free free to play games on Steam.
7.9
228,817
58,752

89,839
players

4. Path of Exile

You are an Exile, struggling to survive on the dark continent of Wraeclast, as you fight to earn power that will allow you to exact your revenge against those who wronged you. Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. The game is completely free and will never be pay-to-win. Path of Exile is a free to play, dark fantasy and action rpg game developed and published by Grinding Gear Games. Released on October 23rd 2013 has received 235,091 reviews of which 209,822 were positive and 25,269 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 89,430 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
8.8
209,822
25,269

89,430
players

5. Banana

Banana is a clicker Game, in which you click a Banana! In Banana you click the Banana to gain even more Bananas! Every 3 hours, you get dropped a banana. Each banana is also made by the community in discord. Come hang out with us and let's grow into something awesome ! Banana is a free to play, clicker and singleplayer game developed by Sky, AestheticSpartan and O'Brian and published by Sky. Released on April 23rd 2024 has received 89,834 reviews of which 73,975 were positive and 15,859 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.1 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 84,611 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
8.1
73,975
15,859

84,611
players

6. Apex Legends™

Apex Legends is the award-winning, free-to-play Hero Shooter from Respawn Entertainment. Master an ever-growing roster of legendary characters with powerful abilities, and experience strategic squad play and innovative gameplay in the next evolution of Hero Shooter and Battle Royale. Apex Legends™ is a free to play, battle royale and multiplayer game developed by Respawn and published by Electronic Arts. Released on November 04th 2020 has received 994,979 reviews of which 668,053 were positive and 326,926 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 50,089 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
6.7
668,053
326,926

50,089
players

7. Team Fortress 2

Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities. Constantly updated with new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats! Team Fortress 2 is a free to play, hero shooter and multiplayer game developed and published by Valve. Released on October 10th 2007 has received 1,161,472 reviews of which 1,044,264 were positive and 117,208 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 46,105 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
8.9
1,044,264
117,208

46,105
players

8. War Thunder

War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armoured vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea. War Thunder is a free to play, simulation and vehicular combat game developed by Gaijin Entertainment and published by Gaijin Network Ltd. Released on August 15th 2013 has received 757,086 reviews of which 484,469 were positive and 272,617 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 37,645 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
6.4
484,469
272,617

37,645
players

9. Warframe

Awaken as an unstoppable warrior and battle alongside your friends in this story-driven free-to-play online action game Warframe is a free to play, action rpg and looter shooter game developed and published by Digital Extremes. Released on March 25th 2013 has received 626,503 reviews of which 545,393 were positive and 81,110 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 33,938 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #9 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
8.6
545,393
81,110

33,938
players

10. VRChat

Join our growing community as you explore, play, and help craft the future of social VR. Create worlds and custom avatars. Welcome to VRChat. VRChat is a vr, free to play and multiplayer game developed and published by VRChat Inc.. Released on February 01st 2017 has received 240,355 reviews of which 181,623 were positive and 58,732 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 33,158 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #10 position in the best free free to play games on Steam.
7.5
181,623
58,732

33,158
players