Free Base Building Games on Steam
Steam currently has 4,044 Base Building 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 Base Building game rankings were last updated on 12/15/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best base building games on Steam
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- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. Once Human
Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.
Once Human holds the #1 spot for "best free Base Building game on Steam" with a Player Score of 76. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 159,825 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 123,104 positive reviews and 36,721 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Once Human on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 7/9/2024 |
| Developer | Starry Studio |
| Publisher | Starry Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2139460 |
2. Shop Titans
Shop Titans is the ultimate RPG shopkeeper simulation. Craft powerful equipment, stock your shop and sell to aspiring heroes… at a markup! Hire heroes and explore dungeons to gather valuable materials to craft with. There’s never a dull moment in the world of Shop Titans!
Shop Titans has achieved a Player Score of 77, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,497 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,663 positive reviews and 3,834 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 5/5/2020 |
| Developer | Kabam Games, Inc. |
| Publisher | Kabam Games, Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 1258080 |
3. Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland.
Fallout Shelter has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 76,998 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,003 positive reviews and 8,995 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 3/29/2017 |
| Developer | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Steam App Id | 588430 |
4. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition offers players a trial of this historical single & multiplayer RTS experience. *Note: To unlock all features of the game please see the “Base Game” product.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 51,241 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 43,599 positive reviews and 7,642 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/15/2020 |
| Franchise | Age of Empires Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 933110 |
5. The Perfect Tower II
The Perfect Tower II is a mix between an incremental and a tower defense game. Build a town, manage resources and explore a variety of mini-games and tons of upgrades. Fully automate your game and watch numbers going up!
The Perfect Tower II has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,012 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,503 positive reviews and 509 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Perfect Tower II on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/30/2025 |
| Franchise | Fire Sword Studios |
| Developer | Fire Sword Studios |
| Publisher | Fire Sword Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1197260 |
6. 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 has achieved a Player Score of 62, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,762 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,118 positive reviews and 644 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).
7. Muck
Muck is a survival-roguelike. Collect resources, find items & build a base to survive for as long as you can.
Muck has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 179,560 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 167,843 positive reviews and 11,717 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Muck on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
8. 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 73, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 799 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 611 positive reviews and 188 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Cividle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/5/2025 |
| Franchise | Fish Pond Studio |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Fish Pond Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2181940 |
9. DARKEST DAYS
DARKEST DAYS is a zombie shooting RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a sudden zombie outbreak. Explore a dark yet captivating open world, build a sanctuary with fellow survivors, grow stronger, and fight for survival.
DARKEST DAYS has achieved a Player Score of 49, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,053 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,993 positive reviews and 2,060 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 DARKEST DAYS on the Steam Deck.
10. Realm Grinder
Grow your realm, build alliances, and explore one of the deepest idle RPGs ever!
Realm Grinder has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Base Building games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,291 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,341 positive reviews and 950 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 | 6/15/2017 |
| Franchise | Kongregate |
| Developer | Divine Games |
| Publisher | Kongregate |
| Steam App Id | 610080 |
More Free Base Building Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Base Building games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,935 | 7/9/2024 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,728 | 5/5/2020 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,393 | 3/29/2017 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,131 | 10/15/2020 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,629 | 11/30/2025 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 602 | 12/11/2017 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 588 | 6/5/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 509 | 12/5/2025 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 431 | 4/24/2025 | 49 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 398 | 6/15/2017 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 394 | 5/22/2024 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 376 | 8/17/2023 | 97 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 360 | 9/18/2014 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 322 | 3/15/2018 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 277 | 7/2/2021 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 260 | 10/8/2019 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 254 | 6/26/2023 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 234 | 2/27/2012 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 227 | 5/6/2021 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 201 | 12/14/2015 | 58 | 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, December 15). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 15). Once Human on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 10). Shop Titans on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 16). Fallout Shelter on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 15). Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 8). The Perfect Tower II on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 15). March of Empires on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, November 29). Muck on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 9). Cividle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 9). DARKEST DAYS on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 8). Realm Grinder on Steam. Steam Store.