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:
- Best experimental games on Steam
- Best experimental Steam Deck games
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- Best experimental Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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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 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).
| Release Date | 7/20/2023 |
| Developer | Nimble Neuron |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1049590 |
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 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 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 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).
5. Yume Nikki
This is a game in which you traverse the extremely dark world inside a dream.
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).
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 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 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 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 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 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.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,803 | 7/20/2023 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,043 | 12/21/2020 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 273 | 11/17/2021 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 146 | 10/7/2020 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 50 | 1/10/2018 | 91 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 48 | 10/4/2024 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 10 | 12/22/2022 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 10/19/2023 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 9/17/2020 | 61 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 3/28/2022 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 8/31/2024 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 10/2/2020 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 8/31/2016 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 1/29/2021 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 3/4/2021 | 66 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 8/28/2015 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 9/15/2014 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 1/12/2021 | 60 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 2/15/2023 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 1/7/2021 | 64 | 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, 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.