Free Old School Games on Steam
Steam currently has 8,169 Old School 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 Old School game rankings were last updated on 7/6/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best old school games on Steam
- Best old school Steam Deck games
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- Best old school Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
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1. IdleOn - The Idle RPG
Create your own heroes who keep playing after you close the game! When you return, spend their loot on upgrades and powerful synergies — each BOSS you defeat unlocks new content, so you won't reach endgame without a fight!
IdleOn - The Idle RPG holds the #1 spot for "best free Old School game on Steam" with a Player Score of 78. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 22,628 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 18,055 positive reviews and 4,573 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 IdleOn - The Idle RPG on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/2/2021 |
| Developer | Lavaflame2 |
| Publisher | Lavaflame2 |
| Steam App Id | 1476970 |
2. Milky Way Idle
Milky Way Idle: A multiplayer idle RPG where automation replaces grinding. Level up skills, gather resources, craft powerful items, and battle monsters—all while AFK. Trade in the marketplace, join a guild, team up for party combat, and socialize in chat as you progress effortlessly.
Milky Way Idle has achieved a Player Score of 40, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,776 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 680 positive reviews and 1,096 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Negative" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milky Way Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
3. 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 #3 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,637 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,380 positive reviews and 3,257 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).
4. 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 #4 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,973 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,668 positive reviews and 1,305 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 | 12/22/2020 |
| Developer | Pablo Leban |
| Publisher | Pablo Leban |
| Steam App Id | 1353300 |
5. Galaxy Idle Clicker
Embark on an interstellar journey with Galaxy Idle Clicker! Conquer galaxies, upgrade your spaceship, and face off against a myriad of enemy ships. With engaging minigames, powerful upgrades, GIC delivers an unparalleled idle space adventure. Join the cosmic conquest today and dominate the universe!
Galaxy Idle Clicker has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 699 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 523 positive reviews and 176 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 Galaxy Idle Clicker on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/18/2024 |
| Developer | Soehnle |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2962810 |
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 Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,235 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,365 positive reviews and 870 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. 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 #7 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,430 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,957 positive reviews and 473 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 |
8. Royal Quest Online
Fantasy comes alive in this vast yet cozy free-to-play MMORPG! Choose between 4 classes and 8 subclasses, explore hundreds of locations, thousands of quests, dive into varied PvE and PvP modes, enter the unique vibrant world, and trade with other players. Play, explore, fight and be victorious!
Royal Quest Online has achieved a Player Score of 79, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,870 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,154 positive reviews and 716 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 Royal Quest Online on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/19/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2962300 |
9. Viet Quoc Truyen Ky
Viet Quoc Truyen Ky is an online role-playing game (MMORPG) with a strong classic, retro style, featuring familiar elements such as monster hunting, level grinding, item looting, and free item trading between players. The game is deeply intertwined with captivating legends and rich folklore.
Viet Quoc Truyen Ky has achieved a Player Score of 57, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 46 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28 positive reviews and 18 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" 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 | 4/11/2025 |
| Developer | Green Ray Games |
| Publisher | Green Ray Games |
| Steam App Id | 3534830 |
10. Caliber
Caliber is a team-based online shooter focused on special forces units from all over the world. More than 70 operators with unique abilities and weapons as well as various game modes and maps are waiting for you.
Caliber has achieved a Player Score of 75, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Old School games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,745 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,765 positive reviews and 4,980 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 Caliber on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/12/2023 |
| Franchise | 1C Game Studios |
| Developer | 1C Game Studios |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 307950 |
More Free Old School Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Old School games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,043 | 4/2/2021 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,519 | 3/6/2025 | 40 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,191 | 2/24/2021 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 956 | 12/22/2020 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 767 | 7/18/2024 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 478 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 353 | 12/13/2012 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 346 | 12/19/2024 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 282 | 4/11/2025 | 57 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 191 | 4/12/2023 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 187 | 9/15/2022 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 172 | 3/1/2011 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 162 | 6/12/2025 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 158 | 10/16/2021 | 61 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 114 | 6/29/2023 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 105 | 5/21/2014 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 103 | 9/3/2022 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 100 | 11/1/2013 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 89 | 8/21/2023 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 86 | 8/11/2020 | 74 | 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 6). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 6). IdleOn - The Idle RPG on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 11). Milky Way Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 7). Old School RuneScape on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 15). Idle Slayer on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 9). Galaxy Idle Clicker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 11). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). EverQuest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 11). Royal Quest Online on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 14). Viet Quoc Truyen Ky on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 12). Caliber on Steam. Steam Store.