Free Cold War Games on Steam
Steam currently has 435 Cold War 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 Cold War game rankings were last updated on 4/12/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best cold war games on Steam
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- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. War Thunder
War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armoured vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea.
War Thunder holds the #1 spot for "best free Cold War game on Steam" with a Player Score of 73. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 612,061 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 447,242 positive reviews and 164,819 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 | 8/15/2013 |
| Franchise | Gaijin Network Ltd |
| Developer | Gaijin Entertainment |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 236390 |
2. Operation: Harsh Doorstop
Operation: Harsh Doorstop is the ultimate, free to play, tactical shooter sandbox. Play singleplayer, multiplayer, or co-op modes and explore thousands of community-created maps, weapons, and vehicles via the Steam Workshop. Created by ex-developers of Squad, Red Orchestra, and Insurgency.
Operation: Harsh Doorstop has achieved a Player Score of 75, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,052 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,867 positive reviews and 4,185 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 Operation: Harsh Doorstop on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/15/2023 |
| Developer | Drakeling Labs |
| Publisher | Drakeling Labs |
| Steam App Id | 736590 |
3. Armored Warfare
Wage war against players around the world with an unstoppable arsenal of powerful armored combat vehicles. Use 300+ vehicles to engage in furious PvP tank combat, complete co-op missions, and crush your enemies on breathtaking maps, from scorching deserts to neon-drenched urban jungles.
Armored Warfare has achieved a Player Score of 64, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,862 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,192 positive reviews and 1,670 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Armored Warfare on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/17/2017 |
| Franchise | Wishlist Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Wishlist Games |
| Steam App Id | 443110 |
4. World of Warplanes
World of Warplanes is an aerial combat MMO action game set in the Golden Age of military aviation. The game throws players into a never-ending battle for dominance of the skies.
World of Warplanes has achieved a Player Score of 70, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,043 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,611 positive reviews and 1,432 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 World of Warplanes on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/10/2022 |
| Franchise | Wargaming Group Ltd. |
| Developer | Wargaming Group Limited |
| Publisher | Wargaming Group Limited |
| Steam App Id | 790710 |
5. 2024: Mosaic Retrospective
2024: Mosaic Retrospective is a charity-fundraising picross/minesweeper hybrid featuring a single ENORMOUS puzzle inspired by global news stories from throughout the year.
2024: Mosaic Retrospective has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 404 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 351 positive reviews and 53 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 12/30/2024 |
| Franchise | Divide The Plunder |
| Developer | Mark Ffrench |
| Publisher | Divide The Plunder |
| Steam App Id | 3380760 |
6. 3 Days War
3 Days War is a unique multiplayer strategy war game. Integrating the mechanics of RTS+4X, it allows dozens of players to engage in a three-day real-time strategy competitionon. Commanders, use your skills, strategies, games and even deception to become the ultimate winner!
3 Days War has achieved a Player Score of 80, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 632 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 537 positive reviews and 95 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.
7. SimRail - The Railway Simulator: Prologue
SimRail - The Railway Simulator Prologue presents the full range of possibilities of the newest and best simulator of the work of train driver. Take on the challenge and take the controls of a freight or passenger train!
SimRail - The Railway Simulator: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 77, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,206 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 974 positive reviews and 232 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 SimRail - The Railway Simulator: Prologue on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/16/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1803190 |
8. Mr. Prepper: Prologue
Mr. Prepper: Prologue is a free standalone version of the game Mr. Prepper, featuring an essential part of the story.
Mr. Prepper: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 80, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,532 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,105 positive reviews and 427 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 | 8/27/2020 |
| Franchise | Rejected Games |
| Developer | Rejected Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1340530 |
9. Armchair Commander
A turn-based strategy game where you can experience WWII campaigns and explore alternate history scenarios made by the community.
Armchair Commander has achieved a Player Score of 80, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 65 positive reviews and 6 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 10/6/2023 |
| Developer | Zack Sima |
| Publisher | Indie War Games |
| Steam App Id | 2598940 |
10. All Walls Must Fall - A Tech-Noir Tactics Game
All Walls Must Fall is a Tech-Noir Tactics game set in Berlin 2089, where the Cold War never ended.
All Walls Must Fall - A Tech-Noir Tactics Game has achieved a Player Score of 67, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Cold War games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 353 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 251 positive reviews and 102 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 All Walls Must Fall - A Tech-Noir Tactics Game on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/23/2018 |
| Franchise | inbetweengames |
| Developer | inbetweengames |
| Publisher | inbetweengames |
| Steam App Id | 628290 |
More Free Cold War Games
Explore even more rankings for the 61 best free Cold War games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82,865 | 8/15/2013 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 348 | 2/15/2023 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 288 | 11/17/2017 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 167 | 2/10/2022 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 136 | 12/30/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 11 | 4/17/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 10 | 12/16/2021 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 8/27/2020 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 10/6/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 2/23/2018 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 1/12/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 7/17/2024 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 9/6/2023 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 4/1/2019 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 11/27/2017 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 8/7/2024 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 2/9/2022 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 9/1/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/12/2024 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/23/2021 | 89 | 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, April 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 12). War Thunder on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 7). Operation: Harsh Doorstop on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 9). Armored Warfare on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 11). World of Warplanes on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 13). 2024: Mosaic Retrospective on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 11). 3 Days War on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 18). SimRail - The Railway Simulator: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 13). Mr. Prepper: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 25). Armchair Commander on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, March 31). All Walls Must Fall - A Tech-Noir Tactics Game on Steam. Steam Store.