Free Retro Games on Steam
Steam currently has 10,706 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 10/25/2024.
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. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Retro game on Steam" with a Player Score of 76. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 15,239 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,817 positive reviews and 3,422 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 |
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 84, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,800 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,714 positive reviews and 1,086 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 |
3. Sword of Convallaria
Fantasy Tactical RPG revitalizing the beloved Japanese turn-based & pixel art genre. Collect & train a roster of mercenaries, customize your squad, and use your own strategy to save the nation of Iria. Journey through a world of plot twists where every choice you make will reshape your destiny.
Sword of Convallaria has achieved a Player Score of 72, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,343 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,492 positive reviews and 851 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 Sword of Convallaria on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 7/31/2024 |
| Franchise | XD International |
| Developer | XD |
| Publisher | XD |
| Steam App Id | 2526380 |
4. 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 89, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,234 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,168 positive reviews and 66 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 | 10/8/2024 |
| Developer | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Publisher | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 3092660 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,330 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,582 positive reviews and 748 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.
6. 修真大陆
A casual hang-up class repair fairy game
修真大陆 has achieved a Player Score of 70, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 362 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 268 positive reviews and 94 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.
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 2,094 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,496 positive reviews and 598 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. 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 #8 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 30,816 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,868 positive reviews and 1,948 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 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,719 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,005 positive reviews and 714 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. 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 #10 spot for the best free Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 721 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 657 positive reviews and 64 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 |
More Free Retro Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,637 | 1/4/2018 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,352 | 12/22/2020 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,284 | 7/31/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 768 | 10/8/2024 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 336 | 9/14/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 315 | 4/19/2024 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 261 | 9/15/2022 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 213 | 1/22/2016 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 193 | 11/2/2017 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 185 | 2/7/2019 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 169 | 9/10/2019 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 156 | 5/31/2023 | 64 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 143 | 12/6/2024 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 142 | 12/14/2017 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 128 | 12/15/2022 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 127 | 9/26/2017 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 127 | 4/28/2022 | 57 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 124 | 3/31/2021 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 117 | 8/23/2022 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 103 | 2/17/2024 | 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. (2024, October 25). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 25). Real Pool 3D - Poolians on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 24). Idle Slayer on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 6). Sword of Convallaria on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Reverse: 1999 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 15). RetroArch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). 修真大陆 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 6). Idle Skilling on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 14). Sven Co-op on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 27). Warspear Online on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 15). Wizard And Minion Idle on Steam. Steam Store.