The 25 best free Steam games to play in 2024

Games are becoming more expensive every year, which saddens many players. However, there's no need to get upset prematurely, because there are wonderful projects on Steam that anyone can download for free. We've compiled a list of 25 such titles so that each reader can enjoy great gameplay without spending any money.

Counter-Strike 2

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Last year saw the release of the continuation of the well-known and beloved CS2, which elicited many emotions from fans (mostly negative). Nevertheless, the game remains at the top of the Steam charts and does not require a purchase. 

It is a classic FPS where you must win a round with the team. Hide, build strategies, jump at the right moments, shoot accurately — in short, be as cunning as your imagination allows to emerge victorious from the battle. Skills might even become good enough for esports events, as anyone with enough effort can enter this arena.

Dota 2

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Another well-known free product from Valve, topping the Steam charts. This title delivers unique emotions — from the ecstasy of a grand victory to yelling and smashing a keyboard against the wall because of a dumb teammate. If anyone is not familiar with this project (which we doubt), Dota 2 is a MOBA that might test your sanity (just kidding). 

Players can choose to play for either the light or dark side. The goal of each match is to destroy the enemy's fortress (Ancient), protect your own. To accomplish this challenging mission, you need to correctly choose a character from all available, coordinate with allies. Each hero has a recognizable appearance, features, abilities. Players can be a tank, support, carry, and so on. Naturally, it's best for the gamer to choose what they are most proficient in.

THE FINALS

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Another shooter confidently joins our selection. THE FINALS achieved success as soon as the title was released. In this title, a team consists of three players, who, along with two or three other teams depending on the game mode, appear on the map. The main task is to collect as much money as possible.

From the start, many noted one unique feature of the project — its cool destructibility. Former developers of Battlefield not only brought this mechanic with them but built the entire gameplay around it. For example, to create new passages, players can blow up the first floor of a building, giving the team on the roof an exciting journey downward.

There are three classes: light, medium, heavy. Yes, the names are not very original, but they are immediately understandable. The light class has low health but high speed + damage. The heavy class is a tank, moving slowly and trying to catch all the bullets. The medium class is balanced in speed + HP and often plays the role of support.

The Sims 4

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The famous life simulator that has won the hearts of millions of players. At one time, the concept of little people living in a dollhouse gained popularity and has remained popular ever since. However, the houses have changed, the virtual characters and the project itself have acquired new features over time (whether they're bright or not is up to you to decide).

Here, the user must create a Sim or even an entire family, to settle them into a house and manage their lives. This could be a family of celebrities or the homeless. You alone decide the fate of the characters. The actions will lead to specific results.

But if the main gameplay doesn't interest you, you can always engage in building, which is very advanced in the fourth part. Luxurious mansions, small cozy houses, cool nightclubs — it's all in the hands of the players. By the way, if you love simulators, we suggest checking out our selection dedicated to these projects.

World of Tanks

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Here, users are invited to take control of a tank, head to the battlefield, and defeat the enemy. Another title that will leave your nervous system in tatters, because every time you appear in an urban area, you'll be asking, "Again?! SO ANNOYING!" That was the censored version.

The premise is simple: the tanker must achieve victory in every battle. Success depends not only on skills but also on allies, who often... don't live up to expectations. The team that wins is the one that either completely destroys the opponents or captures the enemy base. The more victories, the more coins and experience you earn, which can be used to buy and upgrade tanks.

The user can choose equipment from different countries. Moreover, the developers promise to include 11th level tanks by 2025. How do you like that announcement?

Overwatch 2

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The first part was incredibly successful, so the decision was made to release Overwatch 2 and simultaneously remove the prequel. This was met with lukewarm reception from fans, to put it mildly. Nonetheless, thousands of players still log into the shooter daily to play as their favorite heroes, achieve new victories.

Users are divided into 2 teams and choose any of the presented characters, each of whom has unique skills. The game primarily focuses on PvP battles in several different modes. It also includes regular, ranked competitive matches.

On August 10, 2023, in the sixth season, three PvE missions were added, developing the plot, narrative of the universe.

EVE Online

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EVE Online is a unique game unlike any other MMO. It earns its place on our list as the most challenging in its genre for several reasons.

Firstly, the game has a very high entry threshold. Newcomers are bombarded with numerous aspects that can take years to understand. There are many activities to engage in. Secondly, to master the control of even one ship, the user must keep in mind and understand a huge number of factors. Thirdly, if a ship is destroyed, it cannot be recovered.

There are no respawns, saves, or second chances. Everyone tries to take down newcomers here. So, perseverance, pain, and suffering are guaranteed.

Lost Ark

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In my opinion, this is one of the best free MMOARPGs. Previously, Lost Ark was included in the list of the coolest MMOs, which you can check out via the link. Some might be put off by the isometric view, but you quickly get used to it.

Let’s see what makes this project so good. The battles are based on skill positioning, so in every fight, players need to accurately calculate the position, combination of moves. Skills, by the way, can be upgraded. Fans of naval battles will be pleased to know that a large part of the gameplay is dedicated to sea adventures, where you can find treasure chests and participate in events.

The character editor is also impressive. The user can create the appearance of their hero down to the smallest details, with certain features customizable through an RGB palette. Additionally, players don’t always have to fight monsters. They can also spend time playing card games. For longevity and certain achievements, players receive rare items.

MARVEL SNAP

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Moving on to card games, the first one is MARVEL SNAP, which achieved success in its time. Why? Because in 2022, the project became a leading mobile title.

This might even remind some of their childhood when many collected various cards. Especially since favorite comic book heroes are depicted here. The gameplay is very simple — the player needs to assemble a deck of 12 cards and, in six turns, gather more power than the opponent. The locations on the battlefield change every round. On some, players receive small buffs or debuffs, while others completely change the conditions of the match.

GWENT: The Witcher Card Game

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The Witcher 3 included a card game called GWENT, which many players liked, so the developers decided to create a separate free project.

The title has one of the lowest entry thresholds:

Players play one card each turn from a hand of 10 cards, selected from a deck of 25. The goal is to win two out of three rounds by playing cards to score points. Each card has a certain power, resulting in the player's points being the sum of all their cards. A player wins the round by having more points on the board than the opponent.

Apex Legends

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Apex Legends is a free competitive shooter with fast-paced action. The battles occur at high speeds, not only horizontally but also vertically, requiring quick reflexes from the player. If you have spider-like senses, you’ll feel right at home.

The main combat mode here is battle royale. Players can play solo, in groups, or in pairs. A gentleman's set of battle passes, events, tournaments is present, giving players something to strive for.

Since Apex Legends is indeed demanding on the player, it will be challenging to get into without proper reflexes + aim.

PUBG

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One of the best examples of a game where veteran players hate it and criticize it in reviews but still play it. They nostalgically remember how great it was before the shooter became free-to-play. Newcomers play and enjoy it because the game is genuinely good.

PUBG is a classic in the battle royale genre. For a long time, it held the status of a benchmark among battle royales. The premise is straightforward: players are dropped onto one of the large maps where weapons, gear, and vehicles are scattered. A total of 100 players compete, but only one can survive. There are group modes, so playing with friends can be even more enjoyable.

Unlike Fortnite or Warzone, PUBG focuses on realism. It’s not easy to master. Even the process of collecting and sorting loot can be challenging, but the real issue is matchmaking. Initially, players will often encounter bots, which helps them adapt. Later, these bots become annoying, and eventually, players will be thrown into matches with top-tier opponents, leaving no chance for survival.

Warframe

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Beware, this shooter can be dangerous for any gamer’s personal life! Warframe will shamelessly steal all time because there’s a ton of content. It’s a free MMO shooter, slasher, action game where you can clear dungeons, explore open worlds, conquer space, participate in PvP.

There’s also an engaging storyline to follow. The unique aspect of this title is that Warframes are not just skins but entire classes with their own features. The best part is that no one limits choice. If you want, you can collect them all, just like Pokémon. Additionally, players have access to not only guns but also melee weapons.

There are numerous mechanics, from crafting to enhancing, customizing everything available. However, to understand everything, players need to save the page. Delving into build creation and some dungeon completions can be difficult, but the dynamic combat system and unique style of the project will provide motivation.

Albion Online

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Despite its visual style, Albion Online is a mature, complex, yet captivating project, with its online player base consistently high.

The gameplay approach here is atypical for the genre and resembles EVE Online. The virtual world actively lives without the player’s involvement. The economy is entirely player-driven, and almost everything on the in-game market is created by someone else. Crafting items is real work, for which players receive significant profits.

If you die in PvP, you lose everything. Strangely enough, this is what hooks players. It makes one value for every item in their inventory.

Neverwinter

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Neverwinter is a great opportunity to join other D&D fans in an online game. The creators did a great job transferring the lore of the tabletop game into an MMORPG. All races, classes are canonical.

It’s a classic European MMO. If you’ve played WoW, many of the mechanics will be familiar. There’s build creation, classic leveling through quests + grinding, and a target-based combat system.

The open world is atmospheric and beautiful, despite somewhat outdated graphics. There’s a lot of content, but it’s primarily oriented towards PvE.

RaceRoom Racing Experience

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It’s time to get behind the wheel of a cool car and show who’s boss. Anyone can do this in RaceRoom Racing Experience, a free game on Steam. It’s a realistic racing simulator that uses real car physics on tracks.

The variety of cars can be tested on real tracks, transferred with high precision thanks to modern 3D digitization technologies. For each track, car settings will change depending on the user’s driving style.

Available game modes include careers in different racing series, quick races, training, online tournaments to determine the strongest racer, and other activities.

Shadowverse CCG

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This game presents a role-playing adventure with card game elements, done in an anime style. Anime games are highly popular, and some of them have made it into our 2024 best RPG selection.

Players will journey through a vast fantasy world and battle a variety of creatures. They also compete against each other using special card decks featuring different creatures, spells, effects. Players can create their own decks or use pre-made ones to face others in PvP mode.

Players choose one of seven factions and build a card deck to win matches. Each faction has unique abilities that can be used for attack + defense.

Guild Wars 2

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Another MMO that received high scores upon release: 90/100 on Metacritic, 94% from PC Gamer, 9/10 from IGN. The game is set in the fantasy world of Tyria, which is constantly changing due to random events in locations where users actively participate.

One of the main features of this project is the lack of class division, allowing users to create a single character and master all available professions. The developers also decided to eliminate mana, which seems unusual but makes battles more epic. There’s also a flexible character editor that offers great customization options.

User decisions affect future events and alter the storyline. PvP content on special arenas is not dependent on the quality of the character's weapons + armor: only the ability to properly use the character's strengths matters in these confrontations. The game also includes dungeons, quests, boss battles.

The First Descendant

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Next in our selection is the MMO looter-shooter called The First Descendant. Some might find this game reminiscent of the famous Warframe. Indeed, there are some similarities.

The game world is divided into 9 separate, unconnected locations, with travel between them accompanied by loading screens. One of the worlds hosts NPCs from whom players take quests to complete. Most activities do not scale with the number of players in a group, with the maximum party size being 4 players.

Characters can use up to three chosen weapons, switching between them in combat. Enemies are divided into 4 types: white, gold, orange, red. White + gold enemies have no special features. Orange enemies have various properties, such as creating an impenetrable dome around themselves. Red enemies are bosses with multiple HP bars.

Path of Exile

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One of the cornerstones of the ARPG genre is available to everyone for free! This legendary title, which continuously battles with the popular Diablo series, can engross players for thousands of hours but don’t expect an easy ride. PoE is known for its deep mechanics, complexity. Compared to this project, even Souls-like project might seem entertaining.

After choosing a character archetype, players set off to destroy millions of mobs, collect tons of loot. Soon, the first skill points for leveling up will appear, and this is where it gets critical not to have a heart attack. There are numerous builds in PoE, and the game won’t show players what to upgrade for efficient progression. Resetting skill points is very difficult, so it’s possible to break the progression early on to the point where continuing the game becomes impossible.

Every PoE fan has several guides and an encyclopedia on the game open. Players need to think more than fight, a feature that attracts many players. It’s painful, challenging, but achieving results brings incredible emotions that are hard to find in other similar projects.

Crusader Kings II

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Among the free projects on Steam, you'll find an excellent grand strategy for fans of tactical, thoughtful gameplay. Crusader Kings II allows you to manage an entire nation, taking into account the intricacies of politics, trade, and warfare. Although it may look like a simple map, the gameplay is highly engaging.

Players have all the mechanisms for managing a country at their disposal. There is internal and external politics, with important treaties, intrigues, dynastic marriages. If peaceful existence is not possible, players can always engage in warfare, which involves not just troop movements but also tactics + logistics.

Most importantly, CKII is not just a game but a full-fledged platform for various cool modifications. 

VPet-Simulator

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Feeling sad, lonely at a computer? How about getting a virtual companion who will always be by your side? VPet-Simulator offers this opportunity. Despite the name, it’s not a pet but an anime girl.

This companion will always be present on a desktop and in programs if you permit her. She’ll move around, do funny things, and interact with you. There are over 200 animations available!

Summoners War

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For fans of tactical battles, collecting, there is a new RPG with free access. Here, you’ll collect monsters — 1500 of them! The creatures are divided into 5 attributes: fire, water, air, light, darkness. You’ll build a deck from these creatures for upcoming battles.

Battles are fought in a tactical turn-based mode. You'll battle not only AI but also live players. Besides endless battles, players will improve their village + socialize a lot with friends. Overall, it's a great game with bright graphics and engaging gameplay.

The Fishing Club 3D: Multiplayer Sport Angling

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Not everyone can drop everything and go fishing. Some don't have the time, and others have never held a fishing rod but would love to try. Fortunately, virtual entertainment allows people to experience what they can't do in reality — like going fishing.

You'll fish not only in rivers, lakes in the USA but also in tropical, European locations. The variety of fish is impressive! Different fish require different approaches: some can be caught with a regular rod, while giants need a sturdy spinning rod with a strong line.

Cell to Singularity — Evolution Never Ends

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Humanity has always pondered how life began on our planet. How did a soup of microbes evolve into humans? The answer is simple — an advanced civilization was clicking on the screen in Cell to Singularity — Evolution Never Ends. That’s all there is to evolution!

This game stands out from many idle projects with its depth. By clicking, players not only get numbers but also visible progress in the form of life evolution. Stars, planets, and even Earth will emerge on the screen. Then life appears, and users choose the direction of its development.

Free doesn’t mean bad. We've proven that Steam is full of masterpieces anyone can play. Titles from various genres are waiting for you!

Main image by Easy Diffusion