Free 4X Games on Steam

Steam currently has 717 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 5/4/2025.

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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 banner

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 1,675 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,078 positive reviews and 597 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).

Release Date 12/11/2017
Franchise Gameloft
Developer Gameloft
Publisher Gameloft
Steam App Id 702320

2. Viking Rise

Race against other players to explore Valhalla and conquer Midgard!

Viking Rise banner

Viking Rise has achieved a Player Score of 70, 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 391 positive reviews and 139 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 5/21/2024
Developer IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
Publisher IGG SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
Steam App Id 2819520

3. 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 banner

Doomsday: Last Survivors has achieved a Player Score of 65, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 627 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 425 positive reviews and 202 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

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 banner

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 609 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 458 positive reviews and 151 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
Developers
Publisher Fish Pond Studio
Steam App Id 2181940

5. 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 banner

Infinity Kingdom has achieved a Player Score of 64, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 688 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 455 positive reviews and 233 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

6. War Planet Online: Global Conquest

Build your army, dominate your region and lead your alliance to conquer the globe!

War Planet Online: Global Conquest banner

War Planet Online: Global Conquest has achieved a Player Score of 62, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 909 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 579 positive reviews and 330 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).

Release Date 12/19/2017
Franchise Gameloft
Developer Gameloft
Publisher Gameloft
Steam App Id 719640

7. 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 banner

Pixel Starships has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,708 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,989 positive reviews and 719 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 5/23/2023
Developer SavySoda
Publisher SavySoda
Steam App Id 378760

8. Hades' Star

A unique space strategy game where thousands of players participate in one shared galaxy.

Hades' Star banner

Hades' Star has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,562 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,863 positive reviews and 699 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

9. State of Survival

Survive the Zombies War in this RPG game of Apocalypse and Survival

State of Survival banner

State of Survival has achieved a Player Score of 56, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 406 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 231 positive reviews and 175 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

10. Nova: Space Armada

An exceptional sci-fi strategy game based on space adventure as its core.

Nova: Space Armada banner

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 88 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 45 positive reviews and 43 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 67 best free 4X games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
March of Empires steam charts
782
12/11/2017
63
Free
Steam Charts
Viking Rise steam charts
493
5/21/2024
70
Free
Steam Charts
Doomsday: Last Survivors steam charts
435
6/26/2023
65
Free
Steam Charts
Cividle steam charts
213
2/16/2024
72
Free
Steam Charts
Infinity Kingdom steam charts
206
7/2/2021
64
Free
Steam Charts
War Planet Online: Global Conquest steam charts
152
12/19/2017
62
Free
Steam Charts
Pixel Starships steam charts
150
5/23/2023
71
Free
Steam Charts
Hades' Star steam charts
129
2/27/2019
71
Free
Steam Charts
State of Survival steam charts
111
8/2/2023
56
Free
Steam Charts
Nova: Space Armada steam charts
99
10/22/2024
51
Free
Steam Charts
Nova Empire steam charts
51
5/26/2022
54
Free
Steam Charts
3 Days War steam charts
40
4/17/2023
80
Free
Steam Charts
Heroes Of The Dark steam charts
27
4/6/2022
59
Free
Steam Charts
Gunship Battle Total Warfare steam charts
16
1/15/2025
74
Free
Steam Charts
King of Avalon steam charts
13
9/20/2023
48
Free
Steam Charts
Castle Empire steam charts
12
9/21/2023
54
Free
Steam Charts
Downtown Mafia: Gang Wars steam charts
7
7/26/2018
64
Free
Steam Charts
Ultimate pirates steam charts
6
5/29/2024
57
Free
Steam Charts
Pirates of Everseas steam charts
6
8/12/2019
62
Free
Steam Charts
Arkheim - Realms at War steam charts
5
4/5/2022
58
Free
Steam Charts
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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, May 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 4). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 27). Viking Rise on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 25). Doomsday: Last Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 26). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 26). Infinity Kingdom on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 7). War Planet Online: Global Conquest on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 7). Pixel Starships on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 17). Hades' Star on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, April 30). State of Survival on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 6). Nova: Space Armada on Steam. Steam Store.

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