25+ Best Free Games on Steam in 2025: Playing Without Paying

Gaming has become quite an expensive hobby in the last few years. Video game consoles and PCs are only increasing in price, as are the games themselves. To combat this, many players are turning to the best free games on Steam to save some cash without sacrificing quality.

The best free Steam games feel just as polished and fully featured as a paid title. Sure, all of them offer some way to spend real money, but we weeded out any that include any pay-to-win elements.

To be as thorough as possible, Techopedia covers the 25 best free Steam games in 2025 so that all genres are considered. You’ll find everything from multiplayer shooters, single-player adventure games, RPGs, and more further down the page.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Free Games on Steam in 2025
3. More of the Best Free Games on Steam
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Free Games on Steam in 2025
3. More of the Best Free Games on Steam
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Best Free Games on Steam in 2025

25. Deltarune

We are slotting Deltarune at the bottom of this list for now as one of the best free indie games on Steam only because it isn’t complete yet. For those unaware, this is the spiritual successor to Tobyfox’s hit indie Undertale. It features a cast of new and old characters with a similar art style and fun twist on the original’s RPG systems. Chapters 1 and 2 are available right now for free, with 3 and 4 due out later in 2025.

24. Emily is Away

Anyone who grew up in the ’90s will have at least some level of nostalgia for the old messaging system AIM. Emily is Away tells its entire story through AIM chats over the course of a few years as you decide how to converse with a person that you slowly grow apart from. It is short, but that only solidifies it as one of the best free casual games on Steam because it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

23. Doki Doki Literature Club!

With so many options that all look somewhat similar, finding the best free anime games on Steam can feel like a nightmare. If we had to pick only one, however, it would easily be Doki Doki Literature Club! even if you’re not typically a fan of visual novels. Saying too much would spoil the surprise, but let’s just say this game is far more than meets the eye.

22. VRChat

Virtual reality is still relatively new and niche, so your options for the best free Steam VR games aren’t especially huge. That said, it is easy to recommend VRChat to anyone because it is playable with or without a headset. This isn’t so much a game as just a virtual social space where you can interact with people, dance, create, and, of course, play games too.

21. Naraka: Bladepoint

Naraka earns its spot as one of the best free multiplayer games on Steam for attempting something unique in the space. It is a battle royale game, but instead of being yet another military shooter, you play as various heroes that focus on melee combat. It gives the game a taste all its own that has hooked millions.

20. War Thunder

If you’ve spent much time on the internet in the past few years, no doubt you’ve at least heard of War Thunder by now. That level of notoriety as one of the best free games on Steam isn’t unearned, either. This is a comprehensive and ultra-realistic vehicular combat game where you can pilot military vehicles on land, sea, and air in intense multiplayer mayhem.

19. Overwatch 2

There’s no getting around the fact that Overwatch 2 has had a massive fall from grace after the original reinvented the hero shooter genre. That said, it has been slowly improving and regaining its trust with the community. Jumping in now is the best time to give it a second try, thanks to all the characters being free and tons of new modes being added all the time. We still consider it to be among the best free FPS games on Steam, despite its rockier state nowadays.

18. Halo Infinite

If we wanted to, we could copy almost everything we wrote about Overwatch 2 and just swap the game out with Halo Infinite. This game’s big problem at launch wasn’t a lack of polish or not being fun but a simple dearth of content and a painful progression system. Over a year later, more modes and maps have been added, the progression has been completely reworked, and forge was finally implemented so the community could begin making their own experiences to share.

It’s important to stress that only the multiplayer portion of Halo Infinite is free-to-play, as the Campaign is a paid experience. Despite some issues with how the multiplayer is handled (owing to the business model), the core gameplay loop is as satisfying and addictive as ever, thanks to some stellar maps and solid gunplay. It’s one of the best free shooter games on Steam and worth booting up for some arena FPS action.

17. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

We all proudly admit that we spent an embarrassing amount of time in The Witcher 3 playing Gwent. So, when a stand-alone version was released, we knew it would dominate our free time. The rules had to be tweaked a bit, but it still has that addictive system that is easy to learn but incredibly hard to master. Now that it has PvP, you can show off your deck-building skills to the world. Given how far it’s come, there’s no debate that it’s one of the best free card games on Steam.

16. Apex Legends

Apex Legends pulled off an amazing feat to become one of the best free-to-play games on Steam when it launched. It was another battle royale game at a time when the market was saturated with copycats, but it managed to grab an audience thanks to blending in a smooth and fluid movement system and unique heroes ripped straight out of a hero shooter. Be warned; this game has a very high skill ceiling that can feel a bit daunting at first. Titanfall may have suffered in the process, but what’s here is still excellent.

15. Cry of Fear

The list of the best free horror games on Steam is sadly quite short, but Cry of Fear has been holding its spot for over a decade now. Originally a mod, this stand-alone game is a fully featured horror title that will play with your mind in ways no other game in the genre even attempts. It is a little rough around the edges, but that only magnifies its horror elements.

14. Brawlhalla

Since we’ll never get a Super Smash Bros. game on Steam, let alone get it for free, Brawhalla is the next best thing. This is a fast and technical platform fighter playable with up to 8 fighters choosing from a massive cast of both new and existing characters from multiple IPs such as Star Wars and Capcom. Thanks to it being cross-platform on almost every device, you will never struggle to find a match.

13. Old School RuneScape

This could be our nostalgia showing, but we still firmly believe that Old School RuneScape holds up as one of the best free multiplayer games on Steam. This is a revival of the game, as it existed in 2007, with low-poly graphics, but was updated with new content and expansions. Even if you never played it at the time, this classic MMO is still wildly addicting.

12. Warframe

No game has managed to reinvent itself as many times as Warframe and stuck around. It has kept its core gameplay of letting you live out your dream of being a space ninja, shooting, slashing, and flying through levels using your delightful movement options.

On top of that, there are dozens of new suits to unlock, weapons to craft, worlds to explore, people to meet, and stories to live out. If you have friends along for the ride, it is no doubt the best of any co-op games on Steam. This one game could easily take over your entire gaming life, and you’d never have to spend a cent.

11. The Sims 4

What else but The Sims 4 could top the list of best simulation games on Steam? It’s right there in the name, after all. Originally paid, this seminal series has set the standard for what a sim game can be. The base game is free, which allows you to customize every detail of your sim’s life, but you can purchase any of the dozens of expansions to add even more options and mechanics.

10. The Finals

It isn’t often that a newer game would make it onto a list of the best free games on Steam, but The Finals has that special something to stand out. This is a PvP arena shooter where almost anything and everything on a map is destructible. That opens up limitless possibilities for strategies, as well as emergent moments in a game that you will never forget.

9. Path of Exile

If you’re waiting for the sequel to come out, don’t ignore the first one. Not only is it an amazing ARPG that many consider superior to Diablo, but your progress will fully carry over to Path of Exile 2 once it fully launches. Be prepared, though, because this game doesn’t hold your hand when it comes to the depth of its systems. It is deeply rewarding to master, but it does take some experimentation and reading to fully grasp for newcomers.

8. EVE Online

It is hard to classify exactly what EVE Online is, but the best way we can sum it up is as one of the best free simulation games on Steam. Unlike The Sims, this game simulates an entire universe that is completely player-driven. Everything from the economy to what zones are safe or dangerous shifts based on player actions. As unique as it is, it is also extremely hardcore, so only dive in if you’re ready to engross yourself in this world.

7. Dota 2

Without question, Dota 2 is the best free MOBA on Steam. Despite its age, this is still an incredibly popular and competitive game that draws millions of players every year. We only suggest bringing some friends along to team up with since the community can be a little rough with new players still learning the ropes.

6. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 could technically be considered the first real hero shooter. However, unlike Overwatch 2, which slipped further down our list of the best free Steam games for getting too bloated, TF2 has shown a lot of restraint in never diluting its core gameplay. All the classes are fun, unique, and well-balanced for almost endless hours of multiplayer fun. Even more than 17 years after its launch, this game still has tons to offer new and existing players.

5. Marvel Snap

One of the downsides of many deck-building games is the time investment they ask of you. Matches can take upwards of 30 minutes in some games, which makes Marvel Snap’s streamlined battles such a breath of fresh air. Building a deck and testing it out never takes more than 15 minutes but is arguably more satisfying for it. Plus, collecting and playing cards with all your favorite Marvel heroes is a great incentive to keep playing.

4. Destiny 2

While the path forward for Destiny 2 is a bit unclear, what stands right now is easily one of the best free FPS games on Steam you can play. Whether you’re running missions alone or taking on a raid with a group of friends, the gunplay and mission design are varied and unmatched in the space. Just don’t expect a cohesive or consistent story, and you’ll have a great time.

3. PUBG: Battlegrounds

In many ways, Fortnite stole PUBG’s lunch in the battle royale world, but the genre mainstay hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, it has only gotten better with age thanks to way more polish, new weapons, and diverse maps. This is still the definitive hardcore experience where tactics and strategy are heavily rewarded.

2. Marvel Rivals

This could be recency bias, but we firmly believe that Marvel Rivals is among the best free Steam games in 2025 despite coming out at the very end of 2024. It essentially aims to fix every problem players have had with Overwatch 2 over the years, and it has largely succeeded. The third-person perspective makes it far easier to admire the Marvel heroes’ looks and abilities, and the sandbox is full of creative ways to play.

For more on the game, we’ve published our definitive Marvel Rivals tier list, which goes into detail about who the best heroes are and who you should avoid bringing onto the battlefield.

1. Counter-Strike 2

What else could hold the crown of the best free games on Steam but the enduring Counter-Strike 2? Constantly breaking player records, this highly competitive PvP shooter has sucked countless hours from us already, and we’re still going back for more. This might be the most technical and intense FPS on the market, but somehow that only makes learning it all the more rewarding.

More of the Best Free Games on Steam

The Bottom Line

Valve’s Steam platform is a veritable haven for players looking for a new title without a heavy price tag. The best free games on Steam constantly shift, but in 2025, there are a select few that stand out from the rest. Whether it be the quality of content or lack of manipulative microtransactions, you can rest assured that our list only includes the cream of the crop.

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