Free 4X Games on Steam
Steam currently has 654 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 1/23/2025.
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 1,630 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,056 positive reviews and 574 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 72, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 409 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 314 positive reviews and 95 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 |
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 66, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 555 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 379 positive reviews and 176 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 | 6/25/2023 |
| 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 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 549 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 410 positive reviews and 139 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 2,610 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,923 positive reviews and 687 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. 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 67, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 617 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 430 positive reviews and 187 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 |
8. 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 #8 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,523 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,830 positive reviews and 693 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 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 377 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 216 positive reviews and 161 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 Empire
Build up a Space Empire and establish control of the Galaxy and the Universe! Nova Empire is a multiplayer space game in which the aim is to build your empire and conquer the galaxy in epic space battles against your rivals with other allies worldwide!
Nova Empire has achieved a Player Score of 52, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free 4X games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 231 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 122 positive reviews and 109 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 | 5/26/2022 |
| Developer | Gamebear Tech |
| Publisher | Gamebear Tech |
| Steam App Id | 1962770 |
More Free 4X Games
Explore even more rankings for the 63 best free 4X games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,108 | 12/11/2017 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 615 | 5/22/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 566 | 6/25/2023 | 66 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 287 | 2/16/2024 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 261 | 12/19/2017 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 227 | 5/23/2023 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 197 | 7/2/2021 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 192 | 2/27/2019 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 130 | 8/2/2023 | 56 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 117 | 5/26/2022 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 95 | 10/22/2024 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 63 | 1/15/2025 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 55 | 4/17/2023 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 47 | 4/6/2022 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 27 | 9/20/2023 | 48 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 9/21/2023 | 54 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 1/11/2017 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9 | 7/26/2018 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 1/10/2024 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | ??? | 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. (2025, January 23). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 23). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 23). Viking Rise: Valhalla on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 26). Doomsday: Last Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 24). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 23). War Planet Online: Global Conquest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 24). Pixel Starships on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 23). Infinity Kingdom on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 20). Hades' Star on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 31). State of Survival on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 25). Nova Empire on Steam. Steam Store.