Best Text-Based Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 5,361 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 6/18/2026.
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 14,136 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,853 positive reviews and 283 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. Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It
USSR, 1986. A girl goes missing in the closed city of Vorkuta-5, yet not a soul seems to be concerned. Uncover the mystery behind her disappearance and transmit your signal to the universe.
Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It 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 10,209 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,026 positive reviews and 183 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 | 11/10/2025 |
| Developer | Ferry // Nopanamaman |
| Publisher | Ferry // Nopanamaman |
| Steam App Id | 4122860 |
3. 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 #3 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,622 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,520 positive reviews and 102 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).
4. 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 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 33,686 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 32,486 positive reviews and 1,200 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 |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1392820 |
5. 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 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,731 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,003 positive reviews and 728 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.24 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 | $2.24 |
| Release Date | 12/16/2021 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Nikita Kryukov |
| Steam App Id | 1604000 |
6. Monster Prom 4: Monster Con
Can you find love at the nerdiest convention ever? "Monster Con" goes back to the multiplayer dating sim formula: go through absurd and funny situations as you find love among six sexy monsters! Who will you romance? The mimic who cosplays? The idol clown? Or the eldritch cutie? (There's also Liam)
Monster Prom 4: Monster Con 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 2,082 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,061 positive reviews and 21 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.24 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 | $11.24 |
| Release Date | 4/24/2025 |
| Franchise | Beautiful Glitch |
| Developer | Beautiful Glitch |
| Publisher | Beautiful Glitch |
| Steam App Id | 2869860 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,712 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,574 positive reviews and 138 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 |
8. MAHOUTEQ!
A story about an unemployed girl named Luna, who wanted to buy her favorite figure so much that she had to get a job.
MAHOUTEQ! has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,109 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,106 positive reviews and 3 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 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.
| Steam Price | $1.99 |
| Release Date | 9/12/2025 |
| Developer | motijan |
| Publisher | SHRIMP POND |
| Steam App Id | 3793580 |
9. The Roottrees are Dead
A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
The Roottrees are Dead has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,816 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,526 positive reviews and 290 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 The Roottrees are Dead on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 1/15/2025 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2754380 |
10. Seal World
Meet silly seals, eat fibsh, swim, and relax!
Seal World has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,149 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,143 positive reviews and 6 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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.
More Text-Based Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 242 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 105 | 11/10/2025 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 8 | 2/14/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 12 | 8/26/2020 | 94 | $1.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 12 | 12/16/2021 | 94 | $2.24 | Steam Charts | |
| 18 | 4/24/2025 | 94 | $11.24 | Steam Charts | |
| 99 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 3 | 9/12/2025 | 94 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 222 | 1/15/2025 | 94 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 3 | 12/26/2023 | 94 | $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. (2026, June 18). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 18). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 17). Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 20). I Wani Hug that Gator! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 18). Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 28). Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 25). Monster Prom 4: Monster Con on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 19). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 18). MAHOUTEQ! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 27). The Roottrees are Dead on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 7). Seal World on Steam. Steam Store.