Free Experimental Games on Steam

Steam currently has 1,520 Experimental 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 Experimental game rankings were last updated on 7/3/2025.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Eternal Return

Eternal Return is a free-to-play, 2.5D perspective Battle Royale game. Search, Craft, Hunt, and Fight using a variety of characters. Plan your strategy and become the last survivor on this eternal experiment.

Eternal Return banner

Eternal Return holds the #1 spot for "best free Experimental game on Steam" with a Player Score of 78. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 65,490 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 52,027 positive reviews and 13,463 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 Eternal Return on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

2. Idle Slayer

Idle Slayer is an incremental game with idle and active playstyle mechanics, medieval pixel art visuals and retro 8-bit sounds and music.

Idle Slayer banner

Idle Slayer has achieved a Player Score of 83, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,935 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,634 positive reviews and 1,301 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 12/21/2020
Developer Pablo Leban
Publisher Pablo Leban
Steam App Id 1353300

3. Animaze by FaceRig

Livestream, chat, or create videos as world-class 2D and 3D avatars. Use one of the over 60 avatars provided or import your own 2D, 3D, VRM, or Ready Player Me model. Animaze is powering PuffPuff, one of the top real-time mocap virtual beings on TikTok with 4.7 million followers.

Animaze by FaceRig banner

Animaze by FaceRig has achieved a Player Score of 68, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,326 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,305 positive reviews and 1,021 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 Animaze by FaceRig on the Steam Deck.

Release Date 11/17/2021
Developer Holotech Studios Inc.
Publisher Holotech Studios Inc.
Steam App Id 1364390

4. Virtual Cottage

Virtual Cottage gives you a comfy place to rest and be productive without any distractions. Open the game, set yourself a goal and enjoy the atmosphere.

Virtual Cottage banner

Virtual Cottage has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,470 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,238 positive reviews and 232 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Virtual Cottage on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 10/7/2020
Franchise DU&I
Developer DU&I
Publisher DU&I
Steam App Id 1369320

5. Yume Nikki

This is a game in which you traverse the extremely dark world inside a dream.

Yume Nikki banner

Yume Nikki has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,759 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,240 positive reviews and 519 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 Yume Nikki on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 1/10/2018
Developer kikiyama
Publisher PLAYISM
Steam App Id 650700

6. Magic Archery

Train a commoner to become the greatest archer in this short incremental game! Increase your stats, gather wealth from quests, buy upgrades, and infuse your arrows with magic.

Magic Archery banner

Magic Archery has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,048 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,974 positive reviews and 74 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Magic Archery on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 10/4/2024
Developers
Publishers
Steam App Id 2905170

7. BABBDI

Find your way out of BABBDI. A short, first person exploration experience.

BABBDI banner

BABBDI has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,603 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,455 positive reviews and 148 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play BABBDI on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 12/22/2022
Developers
Publisher Lemaitre Bros
Steam App Id 2240530

8. TELEFORUM

TELEFORUM is a found-footage-styled horror game exploring the unknown side of media. You’re visiting a widow’s apartment to conduct an interview about her husband's death. But that’s not the main reason why you’re here. It’s all about the tape, isn’t it?

TELEFORUM banner

TELEFORUM has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,982 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,742 positive reviews and 240 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 10/19/2023
Franchise CRITICAL REFLEX
Developer Monumental Collab
Publishers
Steam App Id 2186570

9. Simplode Suite

Simplode Suite is a toolset which does all kinds of things. You can dynamically balance microphone and speaker volume, force borderless fullscreen, optimize your CPU power settings, take partial screenshots, create click through borderless/windowed mode overlays, and so much more.

Simplode Suite banner

Simplode Suite has achieved a Player Score of 61, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 50 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33 positive reviews and 17 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 Simplode Suite on the Steam Deck.

Release Date 9/17/2020
Developer Simplode LLC
Publisher Simplode LLC
Steam App Id 1242710

10. The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king

Are you The Rightful King™ or just a filthy peasant? The sword is waiting for you to lift it, but it gets longer and heavier each time some else succeeds...

The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king banner

The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Experimental games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,630 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,833 positive reviews and 797 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 The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Release Date 3/28/2022
Franchise Majorariatto
Developer Majorariatto
Publisher Majorariatto
Steam App Id 1865370

More Free Experimental Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Experimental games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Eternal Return steam charts
2,803
7/20/2023
78
Free
Steam Charts
Idle Slayer steam charts
1,043
12/21/2020
83
Free
Steam Charts
Animaze by FaceRig steam charts
273
11/17/2021
68
Free
Steam Charts
Virtual Cottage steam charts
146
10/7/2020
95
Free
Steam Charts
Yume Nikki steam charts
50
1/10/2018
91
Free
Steam Charts
Magic Archery steam charts
48
10/4/2024
95
Free
Steam Charts
BABBDI steam charts
10
12/22/2022
94
Free
Steam Charts
TELEFORUM steam charts
5
10/19/2023
88
Free
Steam Charts
Simplode Suite steam charts
5
9/17/2020
61
Free
Steam Charts
The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king steam charts
4
3/28/2022
88
Free
Steam Charts
PacaPomo steam charts
4
8/31/2024
74
Free
Steam Charts
Guilt Free steam charts
4
10/2/2020
79
Free
Steam Charts
Minds Eyes steam charts
3
8/31/2016
68
Free
Steam Charts
Escapeworld Dilemma steam charts
2
1/29/2021
69
Free
Steam Charts
Evil Inside - Prologue steam charts
2
3/4/2021
66
Free
Steam Charts
Port of Call steam charts
2
8/28/2015
84
Free
Steam Charts
Color Symphony steam charts
2
9/15/2014
70
Free
Steam Charts
Amusemos steam charts
2
1/12/2021
60
Free
Steam Charts
Cube Conflict steam charts
2
2/15/2023
72
Free
Steam Charts
Lost Existence steam charts
2
1/7/2021
64
Free
Steam Charts
Page 1 of 5

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, July 3). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 3). Eternal Return on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). Idle Slayer on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 3). Animaze by FaceRig on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, July 2). Virtual Cottage on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, June 28). Yume Nikki on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, June 29). Magic Archery on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, June 24). BABBDI on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, June 25). TELEFORUM on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 30). Simplode Suite on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). The one who pulls out the sword will be crowned king on Steam. Steam Store.

Discover More Steam Games

Browse our top collections and curated lists of games avaible to play on Steam. Whether you are playing on PC, Mac, or on the Steam Deck, find your next favorite game.

Steam Deck Games

Steam Mac Games

Steam Linux Games

Explore

Discover the best of Steam. Find your next game, free weekend, or even track the next Steam Sale all in one spot.