Free Retro Games on Steam
Steam currently has 9,289 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 4/4/2024.
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 84. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,649 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,736 positive reviews and 913 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 |
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 12,740 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 9,808 positive reviews and 2,932 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. 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 #3 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,363 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,739 positive reviews and 624 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.
4. 修真大陆
A casual hang-up class repair fairy game
修真大陆 has achieved a Player Score of 78, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 187 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 160 positive reviews and 27 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.
5. 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 70, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,973 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,417 positive reviews and 556 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 |
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 1,558 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,250 positive reviews and 308 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 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. Warspear Online
Create a character and fight your enemies in 2D MMORPG with your friends. Huge open world, guild castles, free PvP, arena, battles between Alliances, Guilds, Dungeons and jolly holidays await!
Warspear Online has achieved a Player Score of 72, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,523 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,880 positive reviews and 643 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 |
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 680 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 619 positive reviews and 61 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. Sven Co-op
Sven Co-op is a co-operative game originally based around Valve Software's Half-Life. In this game players must work together against computer controlled enemies and solve puzzles as a team.
Sven Co-op has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,807 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,935 positive reviews and 1,872 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Sven Co-op on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 1/22/2016 |
| Developer | Sven Co-op team |
| Publisher | Sven Co-op team |
| Steam App Id | 225840 |
10. Baldi's Basics Classic Remastered
Escape Baldi's schoolhouse again in this new remastered version of Baldi's Basics Classic! Use stealth and strategy to collect all 7 notebooks and win! Featuring three games in one, gameplay improvements, a more authentic art style, accessibility improvements, and brand new ways to play!
Baldi's Basics Classic Remastered has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,511 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,939 positive reviews and 572 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.
| Release Date | 10/21/2022 |
| Developer | Basically Games |
| Publisher | Basically Games, LLC |
| Steam App Id | 1712830 |
More Free Retro Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1,111 | 12/22/2020 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 661 | 1/4/2018 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 627 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 518 | 4/19/2024 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 419 | 9/15/2022 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 271 | 9/10/2019 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 248 | 11/2/2017 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 238 | 2/7/2019 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 226 | 1/22/2016 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 224 | 10/21/2022 | 90 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 201 | 12/14/2017 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 180 | 4/13/2023 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 166 | 8/23/2022 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 165 | 5/31/2023 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 163 | 9/26/2017 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 157 | 5/3/2024 | 53 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 143 | 12/15/2022 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 131 | 3/31/2021 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 118 | 5/7/2024 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 110 | 9/3/2022 | 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. (2024, April 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 4). Idle Slayer on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). Real Pool 3D - Poolians on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 19). 修真大陆 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Idle Skilling on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 19). Territory Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 12). Warspear Online on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 9). Wizard And Minion Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 4). Sven Co-op on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Baldi's Basics Classic Remastered on Steam. Steam Store.