Free 4X Games on Steam
Steam currently has 638 4X 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 4X game rankings were last updated on 12/11/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best 4x games on Steam
- Best 4x Steam Deck games
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- Best 4x Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. March of Empires
Claim your title as Shogun, Highland King, Northern Tsar or Desert Sultan and join this genre-redefining strategy game where you will wage constant war for real territorial conquest! Fortify your castle, fuel a massive army, and enter the ultimate fight for realm domination!
March of Empires holds the #1 spot for "best free 4X game on Steam" with a Player Score of 63. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,604 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,039 positive reviews and 565 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 March of Empires on the Steam Deck.
2. Doomsday: Last Survivors
New tower defense gameplay! The apocalypse has come, and zombies are running amok. As the leader of the survivors, collect and use resources to defend their last shelter!
Doomsday: Last Survivors has achieved a Player Score of 65, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 530 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 361 positive reviews and 169 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Doomsday: Last Survivors on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 6/26/2023 |
| Developer | IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. |
| Publisher | IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 2439510 |
3. Viking Rise: Valhalla
Fight alongside Floki, Leif, Harald, Freydis from Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla!
Viking Rise: Valhalla has achieved a Player Score of 72, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 363 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 278 positive reviews and 85 negative reviews — making it "Mostly 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 | 5/22/2024 |
| Developer | IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. |
| Publisher | IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 2819520 |
4. Cividle
CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up!
Cividle has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 521 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 387 positive reviews and 134 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cividle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/16/2024 |
| Franchise | Fish Pond Studio |
| Developer | Fish Pond Studio |
| Publisher | Fish Pond Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2181940 |
5. War Planet Online: Global Conquest
Build your army, dominate your region and lead your alliance to conquer the globe!
War Planet Online: Global Conquest has achieved a Player Score of 62, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 890 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 567 positive reviews and 323 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play War Planet Online: Global Conquest on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Pixel Starships
Pixel Starships is an FTL-style online sci-fi strategy builder and management game with a competitive PVP tournament. Set in the retro galaxy, your role is to explore space, meet aliens, and develop your ship, crew and AI. The game contains deep strategic and 4x elements. PSS is community-driven.
Pixel Starships has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,569 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,889 positive reviews and 680 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It 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.
7. State of Survival
Survive the Zombies War in this RPG game of Apocalypse and Survival
State of Survival has achieved a Player Score of 56, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 371 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 214 positive reviews and 157 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 State of Survival on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 8/2/2023 |
| Developer | FunPlus International AG |
| Publisher | FunPlus International AG |
| Steam App Id | 2485460 |
8. Infinity Kingdom
Conquer the city, discover the Infinity! Infinity Kingdom is a cartoon-style mmo strategy game. As a resourceful lord, you must defend the land of Norheim against the evil gnomes while protecting yourself from other invading players!
Infinity Kingdom has achieved a Player Score of 68, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 588 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 420 positive reviews and 168 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It 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.
| Release Date | 7/2/2021 |
| Developer | YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. |
| Publisher | YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 1573360 |
9. Hades' Star
A unique space strategy game where thousands of players participate in one shared galaxy.
Hades' Star has achieved a Player Score of 70, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,515 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,824 positive reviews and 691 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It 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 | 2/27/2019 |
| Developer | Parallel Space Inc |
| Publisher | Parallel Space Inc |
| Steam App Id | 755800 |
10. Nova: Space Armada
An exceptional sci-fi strategy game based on space adventure as its core.
Nova: Space Armada has achieved a Player Score of 50, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free 4X 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, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 10/22/2024 |
| Developer | STONE3 PTE. LTD. |
| Publisher | STONE3 PTE. LTD. |
| Steam App Id | 1108270 |
More Free 4X Games
Explore even more rankings for the 62 best free 4X games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 972 | 12/11/2017 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 383 | 6/26/2023 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 377 | 5/22/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 283 | 2/16/2024 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 252 | 12/19/2017 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 179 | 5/23/2023 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 155 | 8/2/2023 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 146 | 7/2/2021 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 145 | 2/27/2019 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 66 | 10/22/2024 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 5/26/2022 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 52 | 4/6/2022 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 31 | 9/21/2023 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 1/11/2017 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 9/20/2023 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 7/26/2018 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | ??? | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 2/10/2022 | 45 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 4/17/2023 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 7/8/2022 | 63 | 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. (2024, December 11). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Doomsday: Last Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 13). Viking Rise: Valhalla on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 27). War Planet Online: Global Conquest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Pixel Starships on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). State of Survival on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 26). Infinity Kingdom on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Hades' Star on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 13). Nova: Space Armada on Steam. Steam Store.