Best Text-Based Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,427 Text-Based games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. 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 12/14/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best text-based games on Steam
- Best text-based Steam Deck games
- Best text-based Steam games (for Mac OS)
- Free text-based games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Text-Based game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,013 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,883 positive reviews and 130 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 |
2. 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 #2 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,100 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,059 positive reviews and 41 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).
3. 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 #3 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 27,258 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 26,397 positive reviews and 861 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 |
4. 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 #4 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,367 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,911 positive reviews and 456 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.49 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 | $4.49 |
| Release Date | 12/16/2021 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Nikita Kryukov |
| Steam App Id | 1604000 |
5. Katawa Shoujo
Katawa Shoujo is a romantic visual novel set in the fictional Japanese Yamaku High School for disabled children. Hisao's congenital heart defect forces him to move to a new school. Despite his difficulties, Hisao is able to find friends—and perhaps love, if he plays his cards right.
Katawa Shoujo has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,734 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,697 positive reviews and 37 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. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 8/15/2024 |
| Developer | Four Leaf Studios |
| Publisher | Four Leaf Studios |
| Steam App Id | 3068300 |
6. Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip
Embark on a road trip like no other in this co-op narrative survival adventure. Visit fun locations, meet wacky characters, and manage your resources wisely. And yes: you still can date some hot monsters ;)
Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,903 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,859 positive reviews and 44 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $5.99 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 | $5.99 |
| Release Date | 10/21/2022 |
| Franchise | Beautiful Glitch |
| Developer | Beautiful Glitch |
| Publisher | Beautiful Glitch |
| Steam App Id | 1665190 |
7. Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp
"Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp" brings you more of the world's best (and maybe only?) multiplayer dating sim; but in a way you've never expected!
Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,812 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,626 positive reviews and 186 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.71 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 | $3.71 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2020 |
| Franchise | Beautiful Glitch |
| Developer | Beautiful Glitch |
| Publisher | Beautiful Glitch |
| Steam App Id | 1140270 |
8. Seal World
Meet silly seals, eat fibsh, swim, and relax!
Seal World has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 753 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 750 positive reviews and 3 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
9. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.
Bitburner has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,353 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,046 positive reviews and 307 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 Bitburner on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/10/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Fulcrum Games |
| Steam App Id | 1812820 |
10. The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,623 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,569 positive reviews and 54 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. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/15/2021 |
| Franchise | Akupara Games |
| Developer | Spooky Doorway |
| Publisher | Akupara Games |
| Steam App Id | 795420 |
More Text-Based Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 472 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 35 | 2/14/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 15 | 8/26/2020 | 95 | $0.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 26 | 12/16/2021 | 95 | $4.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 86 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 39 | 10/21/2022 | 94 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 49 | 10/23/2020 | 93 | $3.71 | Steam Charts | |
| 2 | 12/26/2023 | 93 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 423 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 7 | 4/15/2021 | 92 | $14.99 | 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, December 14). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). I Wani Hug that Gator! 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. (2024, November 3). Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 1). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 30). Seal World on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark on Steam. Steam Store.