Free 1980s Games on Steam
Steam currently has 5,778 1980s games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best free games ranked by popularity and ratings. Data for this list is calculated from reviews and player counts reported directly by Steam and will be updated in real-time. Free 1980s game rankings were last updated on 3/23/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best 1980s games on Steam
- Best 1980s Steam Deck games
- Best 1980s Steam games for Mac OS
- Best 1980s Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Poppy Playtime
You must stay alive in this horror/puzzle adventure. Try to survive the vengeful toys waiting for you in the abandoned toy factory. Use your GrabPack to hack electrical circuits or nab anything from afar. Explore the mysterious facility... and don't get caught.
Poppy Playtime holds the #1 spot for "best free 1980s game on Steam" with a Player Score of 86. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 132,247 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 115,726 positive reviews and 16,521 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Poppy Playtime on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/12/2021 |
| Developer | Mob Entertainment |
| Publisher | Mob Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 1721470 |
2. Wizardry Variants Daphne
3D Dungeon RPG The portal of despair opens again. The labyrinth calls you to destruction. Revel in the endless dangers, relish the risk, devour the rewards. Savor the risk.
Wizardry Variants Daphne has achieved a Player Score of 56, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,303 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,861 positive reviews and 1,442 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Wizardry Variants Daphne on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 3/6/2025 |
| Franchise | Wizardry Official |
| Developer | Drecom Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | Drecom Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 2379740 |
3. Sword of Convallaria
Fantasy Tactical RPG revitalizing the beloved Japanese turn-based & pixel art genre. Collect & train a roster of mercenaries, customize your squad, and use your own strategy to save the nation of Iria. Journey through a world of plot twists where every choice you make will reshape your destiny.
Sword of Convallaria has achieved a Player Score of 73, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,577 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,432 positive reviews and 1,145 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Sword of Convallaria on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/31/2024 |
| Franchise | XD International |
| Developer | XD |
| Publisher | XD |
| Steam App Id | 2526380 |
4. RetroArch
RetroArch is an open source and cross platform frontend/framework for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications
RetroArch has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,187 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,196 positive reviews and 991 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It 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.
5. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense
Infinitode 2 - a strategy in the Tower Defense genre, in which the player will have to build towers to protect his base from endless waves of enemies. The game features huge maps, lots of towers, resource miners, upgrade tree and map editor.
Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,061 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,704 positive reviews and 357 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Spire of Ash
Spire of Ash is a dark-fantasy run-based dungeon crawler with deep itemization, tactical combat, and escalating key-driven challenges. Build your team, refine your strategy, and push deeper into deadly endgame runs.
Spire of Ash has achieved a Player Score of 76, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 64 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 55 positive reviews and 9 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 3/13/2026 |
| Developer | Aaron Lilla |
| Publisher | Aaron Lilla |
| Steam App Id | 4450160 |
7. Pinball FX3
Pinball FX3 is the biggest, most community focused pinball game ever created. Multiplayer matchups, user generated tournaments and league play create endless opportunity for pinball competition.
Pinball FX3 has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,344 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,690 positive reviews and 654 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Pinball FX3 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/26/2017 |
| Franchise | Zen Studios |
| Developer | Zen Studios |
| Publisher | Zen Studios |
| Steam App Id | 442120 |
8. Contraband Police: Prologue
Take over the duties of a border guard inspector in a communist country of the 80's. Smuggling, corruption and forgery are the order of the day here. Be vigilant and earn the respect of your superiors.
Contraband Police: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,542 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,730 positive reviews and 812 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Contraband Police: Prologue on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/16/2021 |
| Developer | Crazy Rocks |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1396240 |
9. Pupa
• Simple gameplay: just click on the screen for a chance to get new skins. It's easy to learn, but hard to put down!
Pupa has achieved a Player Score of 50, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 28 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14 positive reviews and 14 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Pupa on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 8/6/2024 |
| Developer | Zordchan, Wolf |
| Publisher | Pupa Games |
| Steam App Id | 3077780 |
10. [2.0.3] MEH 🖥️
Meh is a game where you click on a computer to earn random computers from time to time. Collect them all!
![[2.0.3] MEH 🖥️ banner](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/3065090/header.jpg)
[2.0.3] MEH 🖥️ has achieved a Player Score of 51, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free 1980s games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 218 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 111 positive reviews and 107 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It 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 | 7/4/2024 |
| Developer | samuel crevier |
| Publisher | samuel crevier |
| Steam App Id | 3065090 |
More Free 1980s Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free 1980s games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,456 | 10/12/2021 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,073 | 3/6/2025 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 876 | 7/31/2024 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 308 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 289 | 5/6/2021 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 147 | 3/13/2026 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 100 | 9/26/2017 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 83 | 2/16/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 75 | 8/6/2024 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 70 | 7/4/2024 | 51 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 69 | 8/30/2024 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 4/13/2023 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 58 | 9/18/2024 | 46 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 54 | 5/24/2021 | 55 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 45 | 4/20/2024 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 7/22/2022 | 66 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 9/19/2024 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 19 | 11/4/2013 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 19 | 3/27/2026 | 53 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 18 | 10/16/2025 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Player counts 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, March 23). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 23). Poppy Playtime on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 30). Wizardry Variants Daphne on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 24). Sword of Convallaria on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 30). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 30). Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 30). Spire of Ash on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 11). Pinball FX3 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 20). Contraband Police: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 29). Pupa on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, March 29). [2.0.3] MEH 🖥️ on Steam. Steam Store.