Free 4X Games on Steam
Steam currently has 630 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 11/18/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best 4x games on Steam
- Best 4x Steam Deck games
- Best 4x Steam games for Mac OS
- Best 4x Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
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 1,588 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,032 positive reviews and 556 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. Viking Rise: Valhalla
Fight alongside Floki, Leif, Harald, Freydis from Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla!
Viking Rise: Valhalla 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 294 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 220 positive reviews and 74 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 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 507 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 344 positive reviews and 163 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. War Of Warship
Command history's most iconic war vessels as you build your own massive naval fleet. Level up important tech modules and prepare to dominate the oceans!
War Of Warship has achieved a Player Score of 83, placing it in the #4 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 83 positive reviews and 5 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 | 11/2/2024 |
| Developer | DEEP SIGHT INTERACTIVE Tech Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | DEEP SIGHT INTERACTIVE Tech Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 3114680 |
5. 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 69, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 476 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 346 positive reviews and 130 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 |
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 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 885 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 567 positive reviews and 318 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).
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 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 2,542 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,866 positive reviews and 676 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.
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 56, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 365 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 210 positive reviews and 155 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 70, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,509 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,821 positive reviews and 688 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. 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 #10 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 574 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 409 positive reviews and 165 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 |
More Free 4X Games
Explore even more rankings for the 62 best free 4X games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 943 | 12/11/2017 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 681 | 5/21/2024 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 433 | 6/26/2023 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 302 | 11/2/2024 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 285 | 2/16/2024 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 213 | 12/19/2017 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 197 | 5/23/2023 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 154 | 8/2/2023 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 133 | 2/27/2019 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 129 | 7/2/2021 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 66 | 4/17/2023 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 64 | 10/22/2024 | 49 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 54 | 5/26/2022 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 4/6/2022 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 24 | 9/21/2023 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 11 | 8/8/2017 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 11 | 9/20/2023 | 49 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 7/26/2018 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 2/10/2022 | 46 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 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. (2024, November 18). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 18). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 20). Viking Rise: Valhalla on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). Doomsday: Last Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 18). War Of Warship on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 15). War Planet Online: Global Conquest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 22). Pixel Starships on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 22). State of Survival on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 15). Hades' Star on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). Infinity Kingdom on Steam. Steam Store.