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 Elder Scrolls®: Legends™ The Elder Scrolls: Legends™ is an award- winning free-to-play strategy card game based on the world and lore of the Elder Scrolls series. Play for hours or minutes across many game modes that are easy to learn but challenging to master.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.3
Release 31 May 2017
Zombidle : REMONSTERED Like the song says, good guys finish last, and in this case, they also finish homeless and on fire. Welcome to Zombidle, Berzerk Studio's newest idle game, or tap game; whatever, you do you, man.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.2
Release 30 May 2017
IKEA VR Pancake Kitchen Welcome to the IKEA Virtual Reality kitchen experience, where you can make some virtual pancakes. Our IKEA kitchen specialist will guide you through some of the key aspects of a well-planned kitchen. And look out for the instructions that will help you to prepare those perfect pancakes.

Price Free to play
Rating 6.9
Release 29 May 2017
Confess My Love The story takes place after school, when Willie decides to confess his love to the girl of his dreams, Liza. Afraid of being refused, he hesitated for a while. Should he summon up his courage and confess his love to her?

Price Free to play
Rating 9.0
Release 27 May 2017
Detective Butler: Maiden Voyage Murder Follow Detective Butler and his sidekick Gilligan as they solve a locked-room murder during a haunted cruise ship's maiden voyage. Can you solve the mystery before Detective Butler reveals the answer?

Price Free to play
Rating 7.6
Release 26 May 2017
Gene Shift Auto Turbo-fast battle royale with roguelite superpowers. Fight through a GTA2-style city, level up fast and create godlike skill synergies. If you die mid-match, keep looting to revive before the final showdown!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.0
Release 23 May 2017
Learn to Fly 3 Build your spaceship from scratch, earn funds and invest them into building a bigger, better spaceship as you try and fly your way up to space!

Price Free to play
Rating 9.2
Release 12 May 2017
Animation Throwdown: The Quest for Cards Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Futurama, American Dad, King of the Hill, and Archer join forces in Animation Throwdown, your favorite new collectible card game. Collect your favorite characters, combine cards to make hilarious combos, and battle your way through an adventure of animated proportions.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.3
Release 05 May 2017
Griptape Backbone A relaxing meditative and Zen like first person vaporwave skateboarding game. An interactive mixtape.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.7
Release 05 May 2017
Metal Waltz: Anime tank girls Military Strategy + RPG + Collection + Story. This is a story of the war between mankind and the tank monsters. The hope of the human relies on the girls, whose bodies have been rebuilt and combined with armor parts. All the girls are under your command. Lead your army, won the war!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.6
Release 02 May 2017
Bendy and the Ink Machine Bendy and the Ink Machine® is the first person puzzle action horror game that will forever ruin your childhood love of cartoons.

Price -96% 0.90€
Rating 8.7
Release 27 Apr 2017
ONRAID Onraid is a challenging 2D shooter game, where you are free to develop your own play style and tactics to destroy your enemies.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.3
Release 18 Apr 2017
KROSMAGA Krosmaga is a game of skill where the Twelve Gods of the Krosmoz universe settle their differences by pitting creatures, mortals, and demi-gods against each other in a battle of truly epic proportions!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.2
Release 12 Apr 2017
Fausts Alptraum Fausts Alptraum is an single player, puzzle game created by LabORat Studio, an indie game team from Taiwan. The story based on Goethe's Faust. Players will play as a troubled girl wandering around in a crayon-drawn world. Players will have to find the relevance between dreams and reality by collecting clues.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.9
Release 08 Apr 2017
SoulSaverOnline For the support : http://cssteam.soulsaveronline.com For the guide : http://www.soulsaveronline.com/guide/?rtype=G

Price Free to play
Rating 6.4
Release 05 Apr 2017
Cinderella Phenomenon - Otome/Visual Novel The Fairytale Curse was only the beginning...

Price Free to play
Rating 9.3
Release 05 Apr 2017
Dawn Dawn is an atmospheric 3D platformer in which players guide a druidic creature named Ash through a beautiful environment to bring life and light back to a dead tree at the center of the world.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.6
Release 31 Mar 2017
Fallout Shelter Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.7
Release 29 Mar 2017
Therian Saga Therian Saga is a MMORPG that tries to stand out of the crowd by offering a compelling storytelling surrounded by a massive mathematical set of rules that define the world your hero will evolve in. It could be said that it borrows elements from old-time MUD games, strategy games and even tabletops RPG.

Price Free to play
Rating 6.8
Release 27 Mar 2017
Grass Cutter - Mutated Lawns Challenge lawn monsters!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.1
Release 24 Mar 2017
The Fishing Club 3D: Co-op Sport Angling Go fishing and relax. Craft baits, catch legendary fish and complete your catch album - or take part in epic fishing competitions against other anglers or fishing clubs. Create or join a fishing club and chat with fellow anglers in the in-game chat. Play now for free! Tight lines!

Price Free to play
Rating 7.3
Release 23 Mar 2017
McOsu A free open-source circle-clicking rhythm game practice client for osu! beatmaps with Virtual Reality support. McOsu is developed separately from and has no direct affiliation with osu! or ppy Pty Ltd.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.6
Release 20 Mar 2017
Sounds of Her Love In the midst of their hearts, something is blossoming between two students. Both of whom go about their daily lives at an international school in Tokyo. Just what is flowering? Of course, it's love. Starting your new life after transferring into an international school, you find yourself dismayed when it turns out to be the same as any...

Price Free to play
Rating 8.6
Release 09 Mar 2017
Deceit Test your instincts at trust and deception in an action-filled, multiplayer first-person shooter. You wake up in unknown surroundings to the sound of the Game Master’s unfamiliar voice, surrounded by five others. A third of your group have been infected with a virus, but who will escape?

Price Free to play
Rating 7.8
Release 03 Mar 2017

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