Best Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 4,507 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 11/4/2025.
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 43,016 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 42,066 positive reviews and 950 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 |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1288310 |
2. Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story
"Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story" is a sound novel game where you work alongside Satone, a girl who loves writing stories. Customize lo-fi music, ambient sounds, and landscapes to create a focused environment. As you deepen your bond with Satone, you may discover a special connection with her.
Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story 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 5,429 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,374 positive reviews and 55 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $11.99 |
| Release Date | 11/16/2025 |
| Developer | Nestopi Inc. |
| Publisher | Nestopi Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 3548580 |
3. 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 #3 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,258 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,027 positive reviews and 231 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 |
4. 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 #4 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,316 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,611 positive reviews and 705 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).
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,729 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,177 positive reviews and 552 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 | 1/31/2024 |
| Developer | OMEGAMES STUDIO |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1746030 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,145 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,240 positive reviews and 905 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.24 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 | $11.24 |
| Release Date | 6/30/2021 |
| Franchise | Serenity Forge |
| Developer | Team Salvato |
| Publisher | Serenity Forge |
| Steam App Id | 1388880 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,220 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,135 positive reviews and 85 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).
8. 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 #8 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,110 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,934 positive reviews and 176 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, it is possible to play Aliya: Timelink on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 4/25/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2704110 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 31,929 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 30,843 positive reviews and 1,086 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.49 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 | $1.49 |
| Release Date | 8/26/2020 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Missing Calm |
| Steam App Id | 1392820 |
10. 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 #10 spot for the best Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,333 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,698 positive reviews and 635 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 |
More Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4,071 | 11/16/2025 | 95 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 207 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 35 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 43 | 1/31/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 151 | 6/30/2021 | 95 | $11.24 | Steam Charts | |
| 21 | 2/14/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 91 | 4/25/2024 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 10 | 8/26/2020 | 95 | $1.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 18 | 12/16/2021 | 95 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 175 | 11/10/2025 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 17 | 10/30/2020 | 94 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 39 | 4/24/2025 | 94 | $12.74 | Steam Charts | |
 | 84 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 32 | 9/29/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 85 | 1/15/2025 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 11 | 1/17/2024 | 94 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 5/31/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 42 | 11/1/2024 | 93 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/26/2023 | 93 | $4.99 | 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, November 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 4). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 9). Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 9). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 16). The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 13). Murders on the Yangtze River on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 7). Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 2). I Wani Hug that Gator! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 30). Aliya: Timelink on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 2). Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 7). Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.