Steam has a range of free-to-play titles that can keep any video game lover entertained for hours, regardless of complexity or genre.
Games like Emily Is Away and Viridi provide one-of-a-kind experiences ranging from interactive chatroom engagement to instructional plant maintenance.
Despite having expensive DLC choices, Brawlhalla and The Sims 4 are still incredibly engaging and have a large online community.
Searching the Steam online store for a new video game to add to one’s library may be fairly intimidating. It can be especially difficult when money is a factor, as many appealing games on the platform can be pricey when they are not on sale. However, Steam also has a decent collection of free-to-play titles.
8 best free games available on Steam
1. Emily Is Away
Emily Is Away, first released in 2015, is an homage to the glory days of online communication. The entire game takes place in a chatroom on an instant message browser on an ancient Windows XP PC, where players interact with the faceless Emily. The text-based game has multiple endings based on the player’s choices.
The game has two sequels, Emily Is Away Too and Emily Is Away 3, the latter of which was released in 2021, however, both are expensive. The original Emily Is Away, on the other hand, would be a terrific place to start for any player who enjoys sinking hours into a virtual connection.
2. Viridi
Viridi, a virtual potted plant simulator, may appear to be a cop-out on the Steam free-to-play market. However, it serves a greater purpose than other video games. As mentioned by its Steam store description, Viridi is best kept in a second window on one’s computer screen and watered and cared for on a regular basis.
Indeed, numerous publications, including The Huffington Post and National Geographic, have praised Viridi for its teaching value in plant care. Furthermore, it’s a tranquil and pleasant experience that fans typically don’t get from other games. Every time a player checks in on their favorite potted plant, they are sure to smile.
3. Goose Goose Duck
Goose Goose Duck appears to be a game in the vein of indie games like Untitled Goose Game at first appearance, but it’s much more familiar than that. Goose Goose Duck is simply a rip-off of Among Us, in which players control geese working on a space station and must fulfill assignments while determining who among them is a duck.
The gameplay is nearly identical to that of Among Us, but for the addition of geese and the possibility to install mods. Overall, it’s a fun experience, especially for older people, although some have complained that the popularity of Among Us online has resulted in an overabundance of younger players.
4. One-Armed Cook
Nothing beats a crazy game that causes turmoil and hilarity among groups of friends. In One-Armed Cook, players control a single arm while attempting to serve a restaurant full of guests. It may be played cooperatively with up to four people, which increases the humor when all four of them are crammed into a kitchen together.
One-Armed Cook offers three add-on packs that expand restaurant venues to bars, cruise ships, and even outer space for gamers who have grown tired of the material in its free-to-play edition. Overall, it’s a nice, lighthearted time where the players can’t go wrong.
5. Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 was initially met with lukewarm reviews that compared it to its 2016 predecessor and criticized its various technical problems. Furthermore, it received a lot of review bombing from fans, especially after claims of sexual harassment from its parent company, Blizzard. The essence of Overwatch, however, remains an enjoyable online shooter.
Despite the fact that the game requires a Battle.net account to play, it is presently available for free on the Steam store, thanks to Fortnite driving every other online shooter to compete with them. The game also includes a premium seasonal battle pass system, which grants players early access to newly-added heroes, albeit existing heroes such as Tracer, D.Va, and Hanzo all return.
6. Old School RuneScape
RuneScape was released in 2001 and immediately became one of the most popular fantasy MMORPGs. The game, like any other MMORPG, is made up of users who may design their avatars, engage on tasks, and level up through experience. The game has evolved throughout time, but some fans long for the days when it was first released.
Fortunately, Jagex has them covered with Old School RuneScape, which is free to play on Steam. Although a membership service is available to access all of the game’s material, the free-to-play version offers enough content to keep any player entertained for the afternoon. It’s a treat for many players to be able to relive their favorite childhood video games in their original form.
7. Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is one of the only non-Super Smash Bros. fighting games with as much substance and replayability as it does. The game, which was first launched in 2017, features over 50 playable characters, including popular video game characters such as Rayman, Ezio Auditore de Firenze from Assassin’s Creed, Simon Belmont, and Shovel Knight.
Though the DLC packs provide more material totaling more than $100 in value, including unlocking all of the characters for $39.99, the free-to-play version is still a lot of fun to play. Even in 2023, more than 100 million individuals are still playing Brawlhalla, implying that players can join a strong and active online fighting game community for free.
8. The Sims 4
It doesn’t get any easier or more enjoyable than The Sims. The lifestyle simulation franchise was launched in 2000 for PC. The Sims 4 was released almost 10 years ago in 2014, but it has stayed active and enjoyable through downloadable expansion packs that offer pets, trips, and jobs.
The Sims 4 base game is currently free to play on Steam, so players can begin designing their homes and families right away. Though the most recent expansion pack is $39.99, several prior ones are only . Ambien 99 each. However, there’s plenty to accomplish in the main game without spending a penny.