Best Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,487 Text-Based 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. Text-Based game rankings were last updated on 1/8/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free text-based games on Steam
- Best text-based Steam Deck games
- Best text-based Linux games on Steam
- Best text-based Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best Text-Based game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 40,582 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,731 positive reviews and 851 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 |
2. A Date with Death
Fight against & romance the one hunting for your soul in A Date with Death, a romance chat simulator where you date(?) the Grim Reaper himself. Create your own character, decorate your apartment, and chat away with the charming yet dangerous Grim Reaper through text and video calls.
A Date with Death has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,604 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,463 positive reviews and 141 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play A Date with Death on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/7/2023 |
| Franchise | Two and a Half Studios |
| Developer | Two and a Half Studios |
| Publisher | Two and a Half Studios |
| Steam App Id | 2415010 |
3. Murders on the Yangtze River
"Murders on Yangtze River" is an Ace Attorney-like detective game that takes you on a journey through early 20th century China as you solve a series of intriguing cases. Use your logical reasoning and deduction skills to uncover clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mysteries.
Murders on the Yangtze River has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,371 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,992 positive reviews and 379 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. At the moment, it is possible to play Murders on the Yangtze River on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 1/30/2024 |
| Developer | OMEGAMES STUDIO |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1746030 |
4. I Wani Hug that Gator!
I Wani Hug that Gator! Is a choice-driven narrative about teenagers struggling to find their way. Help Inco, loser highschooler extraordinaire, navigate his budding friendships (and romance!) while surviving being the only human in a dinosaur-filled school.
I Wani Hug that Gator! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,273 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,226 positive reviews and 47 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play I Wani Hug that Gator! on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
5. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 22,454 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,828 positive reviews and 626 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Aliya: Timelink
The player connects to a girl in distress in space thousands of years later? How will they resolve the crisis and discover the truth? Through the mechanism of real-time synchronization, the game breaks through the dimensional wall and creates an immersive dialogue across time and space.
Aliya: Timelink has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,501 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,445 positive reviews and 56 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Steam Price | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 4/25/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2704110 |
7. Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk
A sequel to Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk. Dive into demented and bizarre world once again and help the girl become a little happier.
Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,759 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 16,288 positive reviews and 471 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $8.99 |
| Release Date | 12/16/2021 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Nikita Kryukov |
| Steam App Id | 1604000 |
8. Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 27,759 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 26,874 positive reviews and 885 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.74 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $0.74 |
| Release Date | 8/26/2020 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Missing Calm |
| Steam App Id | 1392820 |
9. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Welcome to the club! Write poems for your crush and experience the terror of school romance in this critically-acclaimed psychological horror story.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 25,952 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 25,134 positive reviews and 818 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 | 6/30/2021 |
| Franchise | Serenity Forge |
| Developer | Team Salvato |
| Publisher | Serenity Forge |
| Steam App Id | 1388880 |
10. Maitetsu:Last Run!!
《爱上火车-Last Run!!-》是日本美少女游戏知名品牌Lose所制作的E-mote视觉小说。本作为本篇故事的二次强化版与各路线后日谈及续集的合集，拥有相当于两部作品的内容，字数高达200万字。本作由Cura担当原画与人物设计，进行豹负责剧本，并由tO(と)主导演出效果。中日文版同步在日本与海外进行发售。
Maitetsu:Last Run!! has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,387 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,315 positive reviews and 72 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Maitetsu:Last Run!! on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $34.99 |
| Release Date | 10/30/2020 |
| Developer | Lose |
| Publisher | HIKARI FIELD |
| Steam App Id | 1434480 |
More Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 307 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 125 | 1/30/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 65 | 2/14/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 86 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 111 | 4/25/2024 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 32 | 12/16/2021 | 95 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 16 | 8/26/2020 | 95 | $0.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 126 | 6/30/2021 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 23 | 10/30/2020 | 94 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 106 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 9/29/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 37 | 10/21/2022 | 94 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 47 | 1/17/2024 | 94 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 5/31/2023 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 28 | 10/23/2020 | 93 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 219 | 1/21/2022 | 93 | $15.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/15/2022 | 93 | $2.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 12/26/2023 | 93 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 415 | 9/6/2024 | 93 | $39.99 | 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. (2025, January 8). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 10). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 11). Murders on the Yangtze River on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). I Wani Hug that Gator! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). Aliya: Timelink on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 9). Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Maitetsu:Last Run!! on Steam. Steam Store.