Best Retro Games on Steam
Steam currently has 9,693 Retro games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Retro game rankings were last updated on 7/25/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free retro games on Steam
- Best retro Steam Deck games
- Best retro Linux games on Steam
- Best retro Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Vampire Survivors
Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you.
Vampire Survivors holds the #1 spot for "best Retro game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 232,725 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 229,282 positive reviews and 3,443 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
2. Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a fast paced 2D platformer inspired by the Wario Land series, with an emphasis on movement, exploration and score attack. Featuring highly stylized pixel art inspired by the cartoons from the '90s, and a highly energetic soundtrack.
Pizza Tower has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 59,888 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 58,971 positive reviews and 917 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/26/2023 |
| Developer | Tour De Pizza |
| Publisher | Tour De Pizza |
| Steam App Id | 2231450 |
3. Aseprite
Aseprite is a pixel-art tool to create 2D animations, sprites, and any kind of graphics for games.
Aseprite has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,331 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 18,167 positive reviews and 164 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Aseprite on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $12.99 |
| Release Date | 2/22/2016 |
| Developer | David Capello |
| Publisher | Igara Studio |
| Steam App Id | 431730 |
4. ULTRAKILL
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weapons and shower in their blood to regain your health.
ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 120,702 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 118,157 positive reviews and 2,545 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
5. Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.
Katana ZERO has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 66,334 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 65,056 positive reviews and 1,278 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
6. Celeste
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 101,975 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 99,456 positive reviews and 2,519 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/25/2018 |
| Franchise | EXOK Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 504230 |
7. Firework
An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.
Firework has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 39,208 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 38,406 positive reviews and 802 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Firework on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 2/3/2021 |
| Developer | Shiying Studio |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| Steam App Id | 1288310 |
8. Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.
Hotline Miami has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 96,791 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 94,122 positive reviews and 2,669 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2012 |
| Developer | Dennaton Games |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 219150 |
9. The WereCleaner
Kyle is a Janitor. He's also a Werewolf. And now he's got the night shift. Try not to kill anyone while working to get your paycheck - in a stealth-comedy game with surprises around every corner.
The WereCleaner has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,245 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,235 positive reviews and 10 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 5/7/2024 |
| Developer | Howlin' Hugs |
| Publisher | USC Games |
| Steam App Id | 2795000 |
10. Papers, Please
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Papers, Please has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 69,670 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,752 positive reviews and 1,918 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 8/8/2013 |
| Developer | Lucas Pope |
| Publisher | 3909 |
| Steam App Id | 239030 |
More Retro Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 3,577 | 10/20/2022 | 97 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 553 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4,193 | 2/22/2016 | 97 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,080 | 9/3/2020 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 217 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,761 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 22 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 235 | 10/23/2012 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 66 | 5/7/2024 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 393 | 8/8/2013 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,067 | 9/15/2015 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 198 | 3/13/2019 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 12/14/2017 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 256 | 10/15/2015 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 115 | 11/8/2023 | 95 | $10.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 933 | 11/8/1998 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,111 | 9/29/2017 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 64 | 12/10/2018 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 18 | 10/13/2022 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 46 | 9/9/2021 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Vampire Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 12). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 20). Aseprite on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 15). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Hotline Miami on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 14). The WereCleaner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 14). Papers, Please on Steam. Steam Store.