Best Linear 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 linear games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free linear games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Creepy Tale: Some Other Place
Creepy Tale is a mysterious adventure rich in riddles and eerie atmosphere. An autumn morning promised a quiet fishing trip, but events took Martin to "some other place." Find the way home, uncover loads of secrets, and save everyone that you can.
Voyager-19
A short horror game where you control a decaying spacecraft exploring distant star systems.
Classic Marathon
From the team that brought you Aleph One, the classic sci-fi FPS Marathon from Bungie on Mac revived for modern hardware by the fan community.
With My Past
"How should I face my past in my ever-changing life? "Collaborating with the shadow of the past to unravel allegorical puzzles, confront inner struggles, and explore the path of self-growth.
INDIKA
Play a third-person, story-driven game set in alternative Russia at the turn of the XIX century where religious visions clash with harsh reality. INDIKA tells the story of a young nun who sets off on a journey of self-discovery with the most unusual companion by her side, the devil himself.
Mimic Search
Mimic Search is a short indie horror game, in which you take the role of a police officer investigating a recent mimic attack.
Wishful Journey:Love Across Time
Xu yuan, who was a loser in real life traveled to an ancient palace. By transforming into the male protagonist, players will be in love with many beauties with different personalities, such as the unruly princess, the cold female assassin, embark on a love adventure that spans time and space.
April 24th
The main character is an experienced journalist who always strives to uncover the truth. He manages to gain access to the house, which is guarded by the police.
The Game of Sisyphus
Roll the boulder to the top.
Botany Manor
Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th century England. You play as inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold…
Void Whispers
Assume the role of a broadcast engineer in a tranquil city. All seems peaceful until the sky above starts to reveal something deeply unsettling.
Anomaly Exit
On your way home on the train, you weren't paying attention. Until you realised the train had been stopping at the same station over, and over again. Watch out for anomalies, and avoid the Anomaly Exit! Made for singleplayer and 2-6 co-operative multiplayer.
Fuck You Witch
Your best friend has confessed her love for you... but the problems don't stop there. You've started to hallucinate. All this interferes with sleeping and eating, and in general disrupts your ideal lifestyle. Yell obscenities at the witch, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Qazaq steppes
Holo X Break
Fight your way through endless waves of holoX's minions! Gear up with all sorts of equipment and items in this action packed beat-em-up to reach the 5 bosses of hololive's "holoX", and put a stop to their plans!
Psalm 5:9-13
"Psalm 5:9-13" is a first-person psychological horror game with VHS effect. Be careful and attentive, there is something hiding in these rooms, something is watching from the darkness.
Coin Pusher Casino
Coin Pusher Casino brings the excitement of classic coin pusher machines to your computer! With its engaging gameplay and realistic physics, Coin Pusher Casino is a must-play for fans of arcade and coin pusher games!
Please, Touch The Artwork 2
A handpainted cozy hidden object adventure. Explore a surreal world. Collect items for its quirky inhabitants. Fix damaged paintings and solve casual puzzles. Help a lost skeleton painter find his way home. This game is short but 100% FREE (no ads, no IAP).
Sonder
Experience an innovative co-op adventure where two players have to work together. Engage in collaborative puzzle solving and dynamic combat with each player having unique abilities. Delve into a psychological narrative that explores the essence of humanity.
Sheepy: A Short Adventure
A Short Handcrafted Pixel Art Platformer that follows Sheepy, an abandoned plushy brought to life. Sheepy: A Short Adventure is the first short game from MrSuicideSheep.
The Lancaster Leak - Entity Exam
YOU CONTROL THE FOUND FOOTAGE. Another tape has been leaked, this time a recording of a training protocol. By answering questions and resisting jumpscares, can you beat the Entity Exam?
Most played linear games on Steam
Take a look at the top linear games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 15th 2025.
1. FINAL FANTASY® XIII
Final Fantasy XIII is a fantasy RPG in which a band of brave humans struggle against fate in the utopian sky city of Cocoon and the primeval world of Pulse. Follow stylish heroine Lightning's fast paced battles and high adventure in a mysterious new world. FINAL FANTASY® XIII is a jrpg, rpg and female protagonist game developed and published by Square Enix. Released on October 09th 2014 has received 17,930 reviews of which 13,454 were positive and 4,476 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played linear game, thanks to its 357 peak concurrent players over the last day.
7.4
13,454
4,476
357
players
2. Spilled!
Clean up ocean waste in this short & relaxing game! Recycle, earn coins and upgrade your boat. Explore new areas. Clean bigger spills and different kinds of waste! Spilled! is a short, relaxing and casual game developed and published by Lente. Released on March 26th 2025 has received 2,592 reviews of which 2,470 were positive and 122 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played linear games.
9.1
2,470
122
23
players
3. No Straight Roads: Encore Edition
Start a rock band & end the EDM empire in NO STRAIGHT ROADS, a rockin' action-adventure that mashes together rhythm-infused third-person combat with a kick-ass soundtrack! No Straight Roads: Encore Edition is a action, rhythm and soundtrack game developed by Metronomik and published by Fireshine Games. Released on October 21st 2021 has received 1,730 reviews of which 1,559 were positive and 171 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played linear games.
8.6
1,559
171
10
players
4. Nocturnal
Carve your way with fire and steel to find out what secrets lie beyond the Mist in this intense 3-hour-long action-platformer game. Get ready to wield the flames and burn everything! Nocturnal is a side scroller, action-adventure and linear game developed by Sunnyside Games and published by Dear Villagers. Released on June 07th 2023 has received 353 reviews of which 322 were positive and 31 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played linear games.
8.4
322
31
3
players
5. Indie Game: The Movie
The emotional journey of four developers as they sacrifice money, health and sanity to realize their lifelong dreams of sharing their games with the world. Indie Game: The Movie is a movie, documentary and indie game developed and published by BlinkWorks Media. Released on June 12th 2012 has received 1,852 reviews of which 1,709 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played linear games.
8.8
1,709
143
1
players
6. Bleeding Roots
Bleeding Roots is a free fifteen minute horror game about a man taking care of his plants throughout the seasons. Bleeding Roots is a horror, atmospheric and linear game developed by Mechanikoi and Luka Hizo Algo and published by Mechanikoi. Released on September 07th 2024 has received 352 reviews of which 325 were positive and 27 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played linear games.
8.5
325
27
1
players
7. South Scrimshaw, Part One
South Scrimshaw is the story of a newborn whale in a vast alien ocean. It is a richly illustrated experimental visual novel, written in the style of a nature documentary. South Scrimshaw, Part One is a linear, sci-fi and hand-drawn game developed and published by Nathan O. Marsh. Released on June 09th 2023 has received 1,382 reviews of which 1,371 were positive and 11 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played linear games.
9.4
1,371
11
8. Meg's Monster
Take control of the Underworld’s grumpiest ghoul to help a lost little girl find her way home in this creepy-cute indie adventure. Just be warned: if she cries, the whole world dies. Meg's Monster is a indie, pixel graphics and linear game developed and published by Odencat. Released on March 02nd 2023 has received 1,072 reviews of which 1,039 were positive and 33 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played linear games.
9.1
1,039
33
9. Hook 2
Get Hook’d on unhooking the hooks again. Hook 2 is a puzzle, 3d and relaxing game developed and published by Maciej Targoni. Released on June 29th 2022 has received 703 reviews of which 686 were positive and 17 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played linear games.
9.1
686
17
10. Momotype
An experimental, horror visual novel about raising a virtual pet. Help a tamagotchi-like creature navigate his angst. We love Momo! Momotype is a visual novel, cute and dark game developed by and published by Rimatoad. Released on December 03rd 2021 has received 736 reviews of which 716 were positive and 20 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played linear games.
9.1
716
20
Best deals on linear games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of linear games available on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted linear games.
1. Indie Game: The Movie
The emotional journey of four developers as they sacrifice money, health and sanity to realize their lifelong dreams of sharing their games with the world. Indie Game: The Movie is a movie, documentary and indie game developed and published by BlinkWorks Media. Released on June 12th 2012 has received 1,852 reviews of which 1,709 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for linear category.
8.8
1,709
143
-95%
9.99€
0.50€
2. Nocturnal
Carve your way with fire and steel to find out what secrets lie beyond the Mist in this intense 3-hour-long action-platformer game. Get ready to wield the flames and burn everything! Nocturnal is a side scroller, action-adventure and linear game developed by Sunnyside Games and published by Dear Villagers. Released on June 07th 2023 has received 353 reviews of which 322 were positive and 31 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 94% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in linear games.
8.4
322
31
-94%
16.99€
1.12€
3. No Straight Roads: Encore Edition
Start a rock band & end the EDM empire in NO STRAIGHT ROADS, a rockin' action-adventure that mashes together rhythm-infused third-person combat with a kick-ass soundtrack! No Straight Roads: Encore Edition is a action, rhythm and soundtrack game developed by Metronomik and published by Fireshine Games. Released on October 21st 2021 has received 1,730 reviews of which 1,559 were positive and 171 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 76% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in linear games.
8.6
1,559
171
-76%
24.99€
6.13€
4. Meg's Monster
Take control of the Underworld’s grumpiest ghoul to help a lost little girl find her way home in this creepy-cute indie adventure. Just be warned: if she cries, the whole world dies. Meg's Monster is a indie, pixel graphics and linear game developed and published by Odencat. Released on March 02nd 2023 has received 1,072 reviews of which 1,039 were positive and 33 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 62% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for linear games.
9.1
1,039
33
-62%
14.79€
5.71€
Free linear games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play linear games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play linear games.
1. Bleeding Roots
Bleeding Roots is a free fifteen minute horror game about a man taking care of his plants throughout the seasons. Bleeding Roots is a horror, atmospheric and linear game developed by Mechanikoi and Luka Hizo Algo and published by Mechanikoi. Released on September 07th 2024 has received 352 reviews of which 325 were positive and 27 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #1 spot among the most played free linear games on Steam.
8.5
325
27
1
players
2. South Scrimshaw, Part One
South Scrimshaw is the story of a newborn whale in a vast alien ocean. It is a richly illustrated experimental visual novel, written in the style of a nature documentary. South Scrimshaw, Part One is a linear, sci-fi and hand-drawn game developed and published by Nathan O. Marsh. Released on June 09th 2023 has received 1,382 reviews of which 1,371 were positive and 11 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played free linear games on Steam.
9.4
1,371
11
3. Momotype
An experimental, horror visual novel about raising a virtual pet. Help a tamagotchi-like creature navigate his angst. We love Momo! Momotype is a visual novel, cute and dark game developed by and published by Rimatoad. Released on December 03rd 2021 has received 736 reviews of which 716 were positive and 20 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free linear games on Steam.
9.1
716
20
4. Crow Story
Jump, dive, and platform through this minimalistic indie 3D platformer about a little crow trying to save his friends. Crow Story is a 3d platformer, 3d and atmospheric game developed and published by log64. Released on December 24th 2021 has received 342 reviews of which 324 were positive and 18 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free linear games on Steam.
8.7
324
18
5. Han'yo
After witnessing her village being destroyed and slaughtered by the Oni demon, Hiroko has only one goal: revenge. Join this young samurai in this 2D side-scrolling platformer. Han'yo is a action, side scroller and action-adventure game developed by DigiPen Europe-Bilbao and published by DigiPen Institute of Technology. Released on September 24th 2022 has received 337 reviews of which 284 were positive and 53 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free linear games on Steam.
7.8
284
53