Best Nonlinear 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 nonlinear games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals nonlinear games are available at the bottom of the page.

Filters & Lists
Blasphemous 2 The Penitent One awakens as Blasphemous 2 joins him once again in an endless struggle against The Miracle. Dive into a perilous new world filled with mysteries and secrets to discover, and tear your way through monstrous foes that stand between you and your quest to end the cycle once and for all.

Price -90% 3.06€
Rating 8.9
Release 24 Aug 2023
Draft of Darkness Draft of Darkness is a survival horror RPG with deck building and roguelike dungeon exploration. Recruit allies, synergize their decks to create powerful card combos. Manage your limited resources and explore procedurally generated maps to determine the story's outcome.

Price 14.79€
Rating 8.6
Release 23 Aug 2023
A Guidebook of Babel A narrative-driven puzzle adventure game with the butterfly effect at its core. Board the Babel, a mysterious cruise ship that takes you on a whimsical journey to the afterlife. Use a special pen to help fellow travelers fulfill their wishes by rewriting the past, changing how the future unfolds.

Price -97% 0.54€
Rating 8.7
Release 02 Aug 2023
Paquerette Down the Bunburrows The buns... you HAVE to capture them!! Think outside the bunburrow or get outsmarted by bunnies in this cute pathfinding-based puzzle game!

Price -91% 1.10€
Rating 9.2
Release 02 Aug 2023
Beecarbonize Do you have what it takes to save the planet? Beecarbonize is an environmental card strategy game with climate change as your opponent.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.9
Release 01 Aug 2023
Pseudoregalia Deep within the realm of sleep, Sybil finds herself pulled to a distorted castle. Grow strong, and unlock new abilities to build up a deep movement system, fight enemies, find secrets, and free the weary soul of Castle Sansa, in this retro-inspired 3D Platformer Metroidvania.

Price -86% 0.84€
Rating 9.5
Release 28 Jul 2023
SharpShooter3D SharpShooter3D is a first-person subculture shooter in the best old school traditions. Burn! Destroy! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Price 3.99€
Rating 9.1
Release 14 Jul 2023
Backrooms Society Backrooms Society is a 1-8 player co-op horror game. Make your way through unique levels of the backrooms while trying to survive and avoid mysterious entities. Scavenge each level for gear and resources, bring it back to The Hub where you can sell valuables and buy/craft new gear.

Price 6.89€
Rating 7.3
Release 19 Jun 2023
DOOMBLADE Deep underground, Gloom Girl discovers DOOMBLADE, a sentient weapon hellbent on escape after eons in chains. Together, “Doom and Gloom” embark on a vengeful quest to unlock the powerful abilities and destroy the Dread Lords once and for all in this 2D Action Metroidvania.

Price -70% 4.89€
Rating 7.7
Release 31 May 2023
VIVIDLOPE Rapid gravity arcade action! Dash! Spin! Slam! Paint!

Price 9.75€
Rating 9.1
Release 19 May 2023
Tiny Life In Tiny Life, you control a set of people that live together in a household. You take care of their daily needs, build their skills, forge new relationships... or just mess up their entire life in whatever way you can think of!

Price 14.79€
Rating 8.1
Release 03 May 2023
Ash of Gods: The Way Solve tactical puzzles in constantly changing battles and overcome circumstances that are NEVER in your favor. Defend your commander, win duels, capture points, experiment with your strategy to defeat a superior enemy, and make decisions that affect your story.

Price -97% 0.92€
Rating 7.9
Release 27 Apr 2023
Mail Time It's Mail Time! As a newly trained Mail Scout, put on your pack, grab those letters, and deliver them across Grumblewood Grove! The forest animals eagerly await the sight of your mushroom hat in this cozy, cottagecore light-platformer adventure!

Price -98% 0.52€
Rating 8.1
Release 27 Apr 2023
TasteMaker TasteMaker is a restaurant tycoon game. Design your own restaurant from the ground up, decorate, create a menu, hire and manage staff, and much more. Keep your customers happy and make a profit to keep the restaurant of your dreams from turning into a nightmare.

Price 11.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 21 Apr 2023
Teslagrad 2 Lumina, a young Teslamancer, finds herself stranded after her airship crash lands in Wyrmheim, a remote and treacherous land to the North. Embark on a dangerous adventure, exploring a gigantic, abandoned tower looming over a fjordside valley, on a quest to get Lumina home and back to her family.

Price -97% 0.67€
Rating 7.2
Release 19 Apr 2023
Deflector Deflector is a top down action rogue-lite set in a deadly microcosm. Dive deep into hostile worlds teeming with viruses. Strike down increasingly challenging enemies with your weapons and their own deflected projectiles. Live, die, grow stronger and become powerful enough to reach the Source!

Price -96% 0.80€
Rating 8.1
Release 24 Mar 2023
Storyteller Storyteller is an award-winning puzzle game about building stories. Start with a title, settings and characters and create a story that fits the story’s description. Play with stories of love, intrigue, crime, monsters, betrayal, and more!

Price 13.99€
Rating 8.5
Release 23 Mar 2023
Terraformers Terraform Mars in this turn-based colony builder and resource management game with roguelike elements. Explore the planet, develop spectacular cities, spread life and turn the Red Planet into a green one!

Price -98% 0.44€
Rating 8.5
Release 09 Mar 2023
q.u.q. q.u.q. is a surreal visual novel about a somewhat crude girl that wanders a desert.

Price 1.99€
Rating 9.0
Release 26 Feb 2023
Dreams in the Witch House Navigate the eerie world of Dreams in the Witch House, a unique blend of point-and-click and RPG-adventure. Unravel occult mysteries in Arkham, maintain your sanity, and survive the May-Eve in this Lovecraftian horror game.

Price 10.99€
Rating 8.6
Release 16 Feb 2023
Ten Dates Ten Dates is the sequel to the interactive rom-com, Five Dates. Misha, a millennial from London in search of that elusive in-person connection, tricks her best friend Ryan into going to a speed dating event with her.

Price 15.99€
Rating 7.5
Release 13 Feb 2023
Bloody Hell A short but sweet game about an Angel on a Bloody Bullet-hell mission to kill Satan! Dash, Double Dash, Grapple & Blast your way through Hell to fulfill your Holy Mission. Will you be able to kill Satan? Or will you fail to master your abilities and DIE in this BLOODY HELL?

Price Free to play
Rating 9.4
Release 27 Jan 2023
The Escape: Together The Escape: Together is a 1-3 player Online CO-OP escape horror. The paranormal creature has taken over the house. You must use everything you find to survive and make your runaway.

Price 2.99€
Rating 7.6
Release 13 Jan 2023
MuseSwipr A rhythm game where you swipe between two lanes to the beat. Form your own flow and unleash your greatest swiping performance.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.1
Release 20 Dec 2022

Most played nonlinear games on Steam

Take a look at the top nonlinear games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 15th 2025.

1. Mind Over Magic

Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse. Mind Over Magic is a survival, colony sim and building game developed by Sparkypants and published by Klei Publishing. Released on February 12th 2025 has received 3,477 reviews of which 3,068 were positive and 409 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played nonlinear game, thanks to its 653 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.5
3,068
409

653
players

2. Another Crab's Treasure

In a vibrant undersea kingdom on the verge of collapse, a hermit crab embarks on a treasure hunt to buy back his repossessed shell. The second game from AGGRO CRAB. Another Crab's Treasure is a souls-like, 3d platformer and funny game developed and published by Aggro Crab. Released on April 25th 2024 has received 17,139 reviews of which 16,158 were positive and 981 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. While seeing 188 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among nonlinear games based on player count.
9.2
16,158
981

188
players

3. Islands of Insight

Seek out and solve 10,000+ puzzles at your own pace across this sublime puzzle game. Islands of Insight is a puzzle-platformer, nonlinear and puzzle game developed by Lunarch Studios and published by Behaviour Interactive Inc.. Released on February 13th 2024 has received 3,007 reviews of which 2,149 were positive and 858 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
7.0
2,149
858

44
players

4. Dreamcore

Step into the surreal with Dreamcore, a body-cam styled psychological horror game that plunges you into the eerie beauty of "liminal spaces." Unravel the mysteries of Dreamcore’s non-linear worlds and uncover its hidden secrets. Can you discover what lies beyond the edge of reality? Dreamcore is a exploration, walking simulator and psychological horror game developed by Montraluz and published by Tlön Industries. Released on January 23rd 2025 has received 740 reviews of which 649 were positive and 91 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.3
649
91

36
players

5. The Bible

A digital recreation of The Bible in Kinetic Novel form! Read through and save passages in any order with an original soundtrack, or listen through the greatest story ever told in audiobook form. Featuring an extensive Trivia section to find out how well you really know the stories of Old and New. The Bible is a singleplayer, relaxing and nonlinear game developed and published by Bible Games. Released on November 14th 2022 has received 983 reviews of which 864 were positive and 119 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.3
864
119

19
players

6. Spirit Realm

English version not ready Spirit Realm is a early access, rpg and open world game developed and published by 深圳市灵境互娱科技有限公司. Released on June 21st 2024 has received 603 reviews of which 481 were positive and 122 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
7.5
481
122

19
players

7. Taiji

Solve puzzle panels and uncover the meaning of the symbols within. Explore a dense world where secrets are hidden in plain sight. Taiji is a puzzle, nonlinear and difficult game developed and published by Matthew VanDevander. Released on September 09th 2022 has received 1,250 reviews of which 1,143 were positive and 107 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.7
1,143
107

7
players

8. Majotori

How many lives will your ignorance ruin? Majotori is a trivia, multiple endings and nonlinear game developed and published by Majorariatto. Released on March 28th 2017 has received 1,909 reviews of which 1,844 were positive and 65 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
9.2
1,844
65

4
players

9. Turbo Kid

A nostalgic metroidvania adventure with insane weapons, skills, and pixel gore. Ride your BMX and blast your enemies as you discover the secrets of the Wasteland. Turbo Kid is a gore, action and narration game developed and published by Outerminds Inc.. Released on April 09th 2024 has received 423 reviews of which 404 were positive and 19 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.8
404
19

3
players

10. The Mobius Machine

Discover a vast alien world. Fight the ferocious local fauna and killer machines. Reveal its secrets and find a way to escape. The Mobius Machine is a side-scroller action adventure, with an emphasis on free-form exploration and intense combat. The Mobius Machine is a metroidvania, exploration and side scroller game developed and published by Madruga Works. Released on March 01st 2024 has received 354 reviews of which 303 were positive and 51 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.0
303
51

2
players

Best deals on nonlinear games on Steam

Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of nonlinear 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 nonlinear games.

1. Taiji

Solve puzzle panels and uncover the meaning of the symbols within. Explore a dense world where secrets are hidden in plain sight. Taiji is a puzzle, nonlinear and difficult game developed and published by Matthew VanDevander. Released on September 09th 2022 has received 1,250 reviews of which 1,143 were positive and 107 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Featuring a massive 99% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for nonlinear category.
8.7
1,143
107

-99% 24.50€ 0.47€

2. Another Crab's Treasure

In a vibrant undersea kingdom on the verge of collapse, a hermit crab embarks on a treasure hunt to buy back his repossessed shell. The second game from AGGRO CRAB. Another Crab's Treasure is a souls-like, 3d platformer and funny game developed and published by Aggro Crab. Released on April 25th 2024 has received 17,139 reviews of which 16,158 were positive and 981 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 80% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in nonlinear games.
9.2
16,158
981

-80% 29.99€ 6.11€

3. Turbo Kid

A nostalgic metroidvania adventure with insane weapons, skills, and pixel gore. Ride your BMX and blast your enemies as you discover the secrets of the Wasteland. Turbo Kid is a gore, action and narration game developed and published by Outerminds Inc.. Released on April 09th 2024 has received 423 reviews of which 404 were positive and 19 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 75% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in nonlinear games.
8.8
404
19

-75% 19.50€ 4.89€

4. Mind Over Magic

Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse. Mind Over Magic is a survival, colony sim and building game developed by Sparkypants and published by Klei Publishing. Released on February 12th 2025 has received 3,477 reviews of which 3,068 were positive and 409 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a 25% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for nonlinear games.
8.5
3,068
409

-25% 22.99€ 17.24€

5. Spirit Realm

English version not ready Spirit Realm is a early access, rpg and open world game developed and published by 深圳市灵境互娱科技有限公司. Released on June 21st 2024 has received 603 reviews of which 481 were positive and 122 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a 20% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for nonlinear games.
7.5
481
122

-20% 9.75€ 7.80€