Free Classic Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,700 Classic 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 Classic game rankings were last updated on 1/27/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best classic games on Steam
- Best classic Steam Deck games
- Best classic Steam games for Mac OS
- Best classic Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Classic game on Steam" with a Player Score of 83. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 46,600 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,355 positive reviews and 7,245 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 |
2. RISK: Global Domination
Take over the world in RISK: Global Domination, the iconic strategy board game with 100+ original and classic maps and millions of players
RISK: Global Domination has achieved a Player Score of 79, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 38,031 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 30,493 positive reviews and 7,538 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play RISK: Global Domination on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/19/2020 |
| Franchise | SMG Studio |
| Developer | SMG Studio |
| Publisher | SMG Studio |
| Steam App Id | 1128810 |
3. RuneScape ®
RuneScape is a high fantasy open world MMORPG. Explore an ever changing and evolving living world where new challenges, skills, and quests await. Featuring unprecedented player freedom, you choose how to play, adventure, and grow.
RuneScape ® has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,883 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,559 positive reviews and 4,324 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play RuneScape ® on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. Shakes and Fidget
Shakes & Fidget is a hilarious fantasy role-playing satire and at the same time, an award-winning RPG! Sounds crazy? With over 50 million enthusiastic players, it ranks among the most celebrated online role-playing games worldwide!
Shakes and Fidget has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 36,454 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,740 positive reviews and 2,714 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Shakes and Fidget on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/25/2016 |
| Developer | Playa Games GmbH |
| Publisher | Playa Games GmbH |
| Steam App Id | 438040 |
5. Old School RuneScape
The best retro fantasy MMORPG on the planet. Old School is RuneScape but… older! This is the open world you know and love, but as it was in 2007. Saying that, it’s even better than that – Old School is shaped by you, its players, with regular new content, fixes and expansions voted for by the fans!
Old School RuneScape has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,943 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 14,846 positive reviews and 3,097 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Old School RuneScape on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. RetroArch
RetroArch is an open source and cross platform frontend/framework for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications
RetroArch has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,614 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,835 positive reviews and 779 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
7. Everlasting Summer
Visual novel loved by many – Everlasting Summer – now on Steam!
Everlasting Summer has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 74,804 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 70,962 positive reviews and 3,842 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 not possible to play or run Everlasting Summer on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 11/19/2014 |
| Developer | Soviet Games |
| Publisher | Soviet Games |
| Steam App Id | 331470 |
8. Quake Champions
Step into the Arena. Compete against players from around the world in this fast-paced shooter that combines the dark mythos of the original Quake with the skill-based competition of Quake III Arena. Become a Champion.
Quake Champions has achieved a Player Score of 73, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 38,183 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,161 positive reviews and 10,022 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Quake Champions on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 8/18/2022 |
| Franchise | Bethesda |
| Developer | id Software |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Steam App Id | 611500 |
9. Life is Strange 2
After a tragic incident, brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home. Fearing the police, and dealing with Daniel's new telekinetic power, the boys head to Mexico. Each stop on their journey brings new friends and new challenges.
Life is Strange 2 has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,016 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 30,310 positive reviews and 4,706 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 | 9/26/2018 |
| Franchise | DON'T NOD |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 532210 |
10. EverQuest
Welcome to EverQuest® - the online game that started it all! No other MMO matches EverQuest's sheer content, now with 29 expansions and countless updates. EverQuest is free-to-play.
EverQuest has achieved a Player Score of 78, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Classic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,314 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,862 positive reviews and 452 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run EverQuest on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 12/13/2012 |
| Franchise | Daybreak Game Company |
| Developer | Darkpaw Games |
| Publisher | Daybreak Game Company |
| Steam App Id | 205710 |
More Free Classic Games
Explore even more rankings for the 62 best free Classic games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,124 | 10/15/2020 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 3,281 | 2/19/2020 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,884 | 10/14/2020 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,513 | 2/25/2016 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,131 | 2/24/2021 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 716 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 465 | 11/19/2014 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 416 | 8/18/2022 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 333 | 9/26/2018 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 325 | 12/13/2012 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 282 | 12/7/2011 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 158 | 9/13/2016 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 76 | 9/16/2022 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 66 | 3/27/2015 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 60 | 5/24/2021 | 54 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 49 | 10/13/2015 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 49 | 4/26/2022 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 46 | 3/14/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 37 | 4/26/2022 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 36 | 9/11/2015 | 72 | 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 27). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 27). Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 14). RISK: Global Domination on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 12). RuneScape ® on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 14). Shakes and Fidget on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 14). Old School RuneScape on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 15). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 15). Everlasting Summer on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 30). Quake Champions on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 13). Life is Strange 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 25). EverQuest on Steam. Steam Store.