It’s hard to find good free-of-cost Steam games that are worth playing. Furthermore, this search for top free games becomes more tedious if you’re new to the Steam platform.
However, if you are looking for the most popular free to play games on Steam then you just landed on the right spot.
This article covers the best hand-picked free to play games of a wide range of genres, including survival, horror, multiplayer shooting, action, military simulation, card battling, and more.
So, just hop out of your comfort zone and try something fresh and exciting. After all, it won’t even cost you a penny.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
- Genre(s): First-person Shooter, Action, Tactical
- Mode(s): Multiplayer
- Platform(s): MicrosoftWindows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Linux
- Metacritic Review Score: 83
- Overall Customer Reviews: Very Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 7/ Windows Vista/ Widows XP
- Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6600 or AMD Phenom™ X3 8750 processor or better
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: Video Card must be 256 MB or more. It should be compatible with DirectX-9 with support for Pixel Shader 3.0
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 15 GB available space
Minimum System Requirements for Mac OS X:
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) or later
- Processor: Intel Core Duo Processor (2 GHz or better)
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: nVidia 8600M or better/ATI Radeon HD 2400 or better
- Storage: 15 GB available space
Why Play Counter Strike Global Offensive (CS: GO)?
- Objective-based game with multiplayer first-person shooting game.
- Gameplay consists of two opposing teams – Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists.
- Objectives include securing a location, planting or defusing a bomb, guarding, and rescuing the hostages.
- Rewards are based on individual performances.
- Cash bonuses for killing enemies.
- You can purchase weapons in five categories, which include grenades, pistols, sub-machine guns (SMGs), rifles, and heavy assault rifles.
- CS: GO has nine gaming modes: Deathmatch, Competitive, Casual, Demolition, Arms Race, Flying Scouts man, Wingman, Weapons Course, and Danger Zone.
- Matchmaking in online game modes is managed through the Steam platform.
- Valve Anti-Cheat prevents hacking and cheating.
- The PC version of CS: GO supports private dedicated servers for players.
Dota 2
- Genre(s): Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
- Mode(s): Multiplayer
- Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
- Metacritic Review Score: 90
- Overall Customer Reviews: Very Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 7 or newer
- Processor: Dual core from Intel or AMD at 2.8 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8600/9600GT, ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 15 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Minimum System Requirements for Mac OS X:
- Operating System: OS X Mavericks 10.9 or newer
- Processor: Dual core from Intel
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: nVidia 320M or higher, or Radeon HD 2400 or higher, or Intel HD 3000 or higher
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 15 GB available space
Why Play Dota 2?
- Two teams of five players compete in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).
- The objective is to destroy the large structure called “Ancient” of the opposing team.
- The game is controlled by using real-time strategy controls. The gameplay consists of a single map in a 3-D isometric perspective.
- The game has a total of 119 playable characters, which are known as heroes. Each character has its strength, weakness, and design.
- Heroes have two primary roles – Core and Support. Cores are weak and vulnerable at the starting of the match, but they become powerful later in the game. Supports are functional and assist cores.
- The two teams are known as the Dire and the Radiant. Both of them occupy fortified bases situated in the opposite corners of the map.
- The map is divided into two halves by a crossable river. The halves are connected by three paths.
- Players can buy items from the shops located on the map.
- Special game modes include ten-versus-ten mode, Colosseum game mode, Overthrow (a combat arena mode), Siltbreaker (a story-driven cooperative campaign mode), and Underhollow (a battle royale mode).
- You can update your characters and weapons with new skins.
Path of Exile
- Genre(s): Action role-playing, Hack, and Slash
- Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
- Platforms(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4
- Metacritic Review Score: 86
- Overall Customer Reviews: Very Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 7 SP1/Windows 8
- Processor: x86-compatible 2.6GHz or better
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 650 Ti or ATI Radeon™ HD 7850 or better
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 32 GB available space
Why Play Path of Exile?
- The gameplay involves controlling a single character that explores large outdoor areas including caves or dungeons.
- The objective is to fulfill the quests while battling with the monsters. Consecutive wins help in gaining equipment and experience points.
- Seven classes are available for the players which include Marauder, Duelist, Scion, Ranger, Templar, Shadow, and Witch.
- Each class is based on three core attributes: Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence.
- The primary skills of the character can be modified with faster projectiles, increased attack speed, life leech, auto-cast spells, and more.
- Overall 1,325 passive skills are available for all classes. Players can select these skills when their character levels up.
- These passive skills enhance core attributes and increase health, defense, power, speed, regeneration, and more.
- The player goes through dangerous inhabitants and unforgiving wilderness amidst the bloody secrets and crumbling ruins of the Eternal Empire.
- Randomly generated maps of the game are filled with beasts to slay and loot to collect.
Shadow Verse CCG
- Genre(s): Collectible Card Game
- Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
- Platforms(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS
- Metacritic Review Score: 80
- Overall Customer Reviews: Mostly Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 8.1/10 (64-bit)
- Processor: Core i3-3225/AMD A8-7650K
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GT 640/Radeon HD 5770
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 6.7 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Resolution: 1024×768
Minimum System Requirements for Mac OS X:
- Operating System: OS X 10.11
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M
- Storage: 6.7 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Resolution: 1024×768
Why Play Shadow Verse CCG?
- Shadow verse is an anime art style game. The “Evolve” game mechanic of Shadow verse allows players to grant their bonus stats of played cards at the cost of an evolution point.
- The matches of Shadow verse are played between two players, each taking turns to play cards from their deck.
- Each player has a Leader, 20 defense cards, and a hand of three cards at the starting of the match.
- Two evolution points are given to the player going first and three evolution points are given to the player going second.
- The main objective is to reduce the opponent’s defense to zero or to attain a win via certain cards such as Victory Card or an Enstatued Seraph.
- Play Point resource is used to play cards. At the starting of the game, both players have zero play point orbs.
- Three basic types of cards are – Followers, Spells, and Amulets.
- These three basic types of cards come in four rarities – Legendary, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
- Shadow verse CCG comes up with new updates every few months. New cards are added in every single update.
War Thunder
- Genre(s): Action, Combat Fight Simulator, Vehicular Combat
- Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
- Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation, Xbox One, and Linux
- Metacritic Review Score: 81
- Overall Customer Reviews: Very Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 7/Vista/8/10
- Processor: 2.2 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 / AMD Radeon 46XX / NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 (DirectX 10.1 level video card and drivers, The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p)
- DirectX: Version 10
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 12 GB available space
Minimum System Requirements for Mac OS X:
- Operating System: 10.12 Sierra
- Processor: Intel Core i7 (Xeon processors not supported)
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel 4000 HD/Radeon HD 5550/GeForce 8800 (The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p)
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 12 GB available space
Why Play War Thunder?
- War Thunder is the only game that encompasses combined arms battles on all three fronts including air, land, and sea in a single gameplay session.
- The game includes a wide range of vehicles from the Spanish Civil War to the Iraq War and beyond. Vehicles from World War 2 are also included.
- Players can control ground vehicles, aircraft, and warships from various nations including Germany, the USA, Japan, Britain, and the USSR.
- The game consists of three main categories – Ground, Aviation, and Fleet with different game modes including Realistic, Arcade, and Simulator. Each mode has a different battle style.
- Aviation gameplay is restricted to aircraft only whereas Ground Forces and Fleet include ground vehicles and heavy warships alongside armed aircraft.
- The single-player mode of War Thunder focuses on historical settings and AI ground vehicles and armed aircraft.
- The arcade-style gaming enables two teams of up to 16 players to pick their favorite combat vehicle and mix it up with others.
- War Thunder offers incorporating realistic physics, highly detailed graphics, simulation-style battles, repair mechanics, and smart ammo usage.
World of Tanks Blitz
- Genre(s): MassivelyMultiplayer Online, Vehicular Combat
- Mode(s): Multiplayer
- Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Review Score: 71
- Overall Customer Reviews: Mostly Positive
Minimum System Requirements for Windows:
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8.0, 8.1, 10
- Processor: 2 GHz
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: DirectX 11 compliant video card with 256 MB RAM
- Storage: 3 GB available space
Minimum System Requirements for Mac OS X:
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 3 GB available space
Why Play War of Tanks Blitz?
- World of Tanks Blitz starts with the player taking control of a single armored tank. The tank takes part in a battle on a random map.
- You can control the tank’s firing, movement, and you can also voice chat with allied players.
- The objective is to destroy all the vehicles of the opposing team. You can also win by capturing the base of the opposing team.
- The game consists of multiple game mechanics such as shell ricochets, camouflage, and module damage.
- Players can select six primary battles – team-training battles, random battles, team battles, tank-company battles, special battles, and stronghold battles.
- The game also enables you to participate in platoons and groups of two or three players within random battles.
- It has five different types of vehicles – main battle tanks, heavy tanks, medium tanks, light tanks, self-propelled guns, and tank destroyers.
- War of Tanks Blitz includes over 600 heavy armored vehicles from China, Britain, France, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Germany, Poland, Japan, Sweden, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
- The vehicles are customizable in terms of performance, visual effects, and majority parts such as guns, tracks, engines, and turrets.
