Free Retro Games on Steam
Steam currently has 12,035 Retro 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 Retro game rankings were last updated on 6/26/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best retro games on Steam
- Best retro Steam Deck games
- Best retro Steam games for Mac OS
- Best retro Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Retro game on Steam" with a Player Score of 83. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,911 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,616 positive reviews and 1,295 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 |
2. Real Pool 3D - Poolians
Real Pool 3D (Poolians) is one of the best online pool games. Play against the computer or real players all over the world! It supports 8 different types of pool games and team play mode.
Real Pool 3D - Poolians has achieved a Player Score of 75, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,181 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,205 positive reviews and 3,976 negative reviews — making it "Mostly 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 | 1/4/2018 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 670290 |
3. Reverse: 1999
Reverse: 1999 is a 20th Century Time-Travel Strategic RPG developed by Bluepoch. As the Timekeeper, the observer of eras, you will embark on a journey across time and space, from the Roaring '20s to the turn of the millennium, uncovering the truth about the "Storm" and the mystery of the year 1999.
Reverse: 1999 has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,432 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,283 positive reviews and 149 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 Reverse: 1999 on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 10/9/2024 |
| Developer | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Publisher | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 3092660 |
4. 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 #4 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,162 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,300 positive reviews and 862 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.
5. 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 59, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 44 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28 positive reviews and 16 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 |
6. Territory Idle
Strategic idle game. Develop the kingdom, then abdicate and get gold! For gold, you can buy new tiles and expand the territory.
Territory Idle has achieved a Player Score of 77, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,645 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,311 positive reviews and 334 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 Territory Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/10/2019 |
| Developer | Aleksandr Golovkin |
| Publisher | Aleksandr Golovkin |
| Steam App Id | 1017100 |
7. Idle Skilling
Idle Skilling is the ultimate Idle Game with years of content! Meant to be played for 5-10 minutes a day, you gradually unlock new skills like mining, fishing, pet breeding, crusading, potion-making, lab-research, construction, and more! With new updates coming, you'll never run out of stuff to do!
Idle Skilling has achieved a Player Score of 69, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,218 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,578 positive reviews and 640 negative reviews — making it "Mostly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Idle Skilling on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 9/15/2022 |
| Developer | Lavaflame2 |
| Publisher | Lavaflame2 |
| Steam App Id | 1048370 |
8. Wizard And Minion Idle
Train your stats, cast spells, feed your minion, defeat monsters and bosses, raise demons, craft gems, go fishing and so much more in Wizard and Minion Idle--WAMI. This free to play, solo developed, Idle/active hybrid game has flexible pacing for long-time play-ability.
Wizard And Minion Idle has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 768 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 694 positive reviews and 74 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 Wizard And Minion Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/7/2019 |
| Developer | Oni Gaming |
| Publisher | Oni Gaming |
| Steam App Id | 1011510 |
9. Warspear Online
Create your hero and dive into an epic 2D MMORPG! Explore a vast open world, conquer castles, battle in free-for-all PvP, team up in guilds, join Alliance wars, explore dungeons, and celebrate with fun in-game events!
Warspear Online has achieved a Player Score of 71, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,860 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,077 positive reviews and 783 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 not possible to play or run Warspear Online on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 11/2/2017 |
| Developer | Titulum Enterprises Limited |
| Publisher | Titulum Enterprises Limited |
| Steam App Id | 326360 |
10. ENA: Dream BBQ
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
ENA: Dream BBQ has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 25,264 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 24,919 positive reviews and 345 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly 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.
More Free Retro Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,253 | 12/21/2020 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,084 | 1/4/2018 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,076 | 10/9/2024 | 90 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 326 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 284 | 4/11/2025 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 201 | 9/10/2019 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 185 | 9/15/2022 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 176 | 2/7/2019 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 159 | 11/2/2017 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 135 | 3/26/2025 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 132 | 5/30/2023 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 130 | 12/4/2017 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 130 | 1/22/2016 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 129 | 12/14/2017 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 114 | 10/24/2024 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 100 | 5/8/2025 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 97 | 2/17/2024 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 91 | 9/3/2022 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 90 | 3/31/2021 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 88 | 8/23/2022 | 70 | 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, June 26). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). Idle Slayer on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 6). Real Pool 3D - Poolians on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 25). Reverse: 1999 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 29). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 29). Viet Quoc Truyen Ky on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). Territory Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 26). Idle Skilling on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). Wizard And Minion Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 5). Warspear Online on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 18). ENA: Dream BBQ on Steam. Steam Store.