Free 4X Games on Steam
Steam currently has 704 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 4/12/2025.
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 1,659 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,071 positive reviews and 588 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play March of Empires on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
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 610 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 411 positive reviews and 199 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
Race against other players to explore Valhalla and conquer Midgard!
Viking Rise: Valhalla has achieved a Player Score of 70, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 504 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 373 positive reviews and 131 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 72, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 606 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 457 positive reviews and 149 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. 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 #5 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,688 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,978 positive reviews and 710 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.
6. 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 65, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 660 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 447 positive reviews and 213 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" 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 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 903 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 576 positive reviews and 327 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).
8. State of Survival
Survive the Zombies War in this RPG game of Apocalypse and Survival
State of Survival has achieved a Player Score of 55, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 393 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 222 positive reviews and 171 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 |
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 71, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,561 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,864 positive reviews and 697 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 51, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 75 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39 positive reviews and 36 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 66 best free 4X games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 659 | 12/11/2017 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 393 | 6/26/2023 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 389 | 5/22/2024 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 212 | 2/16/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 178 | 5/23/2023 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 178 | 7/2/2021 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 162 | 12/19/2017 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 117 | 8/2/2023 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 113 | 2/27/2019 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 90 | 10/22/2024 | 51 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 47 | 5/26/2022 | 53 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 37 | 1/15/2025 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 24 | 4/6/2022 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 4/17/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 9/20/2023 | 49 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 13 | 9/21/2023 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 7/26/2018 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | ??? | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 7/8/2022 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 1/11/2017 | 64 | 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. (2025, April 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 12). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 31). Doomsday: Last Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 10). Viking Rise: Valhalla on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 1). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 12). Pixel Starships on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 3). Infinity Kingdom on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 13). War Planet Online: Global Conquest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 15). State of Survival on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 7). Hades' Star on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 14). Nova: Space Armada on Steam. Steam Store.