Free Simulation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 49,727 Simulation 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 Simulation game rankings were last updated on 5/4/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best simulation games on Steam
- Best simulation Steam Deck games
- Best simulation Steam games for Mac OS
- Best simulation Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Dota 2
Every day, millions of players worldwide enter battle as one of over a hundred Dota heroes. And no matter if it's their 10th hour of play or 1,000th, there's always something new to discover. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own.
Dota 2 holds the #1 spot for "best free Simulation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 81. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,705,148 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,187,479 positive reviews and 517,669 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 Dota 2 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
2. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the high-stakes winner-take-all shooter that started the Battle Royale craze, is free-to-play! Drop into diverse maps, loot unique weapons and supplies, and survive in an ever-shrinking zone where every turn could be your last.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has achieved a Player Score of 60, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,707,466 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,632,409 positive reviews and 1,075,057 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 PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 12/21/2017 |
| Franchise | KRAFTON, Inc. |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | KRAFTON, Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 578080 |
3. Bongo Cat
Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?
Bongo Cat has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 99,866 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 96,492 positive reviews and 3,374 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bongo Cat on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 3/5/2025 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Irox Games |
| Steam App Id | 3419430 |
4. World of Warships
Immerse yourself in thrilling naval battles and assemble an armada of over 800 ships from the first half of the 20th century — from stealthy destroyers to gigantic battleships. Change the look of your ship, choose upgrades to suit your play style, and go into battle with other players!
World of Warships has achieved a Player Score of 76, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 154,283 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 118,202 positive reviews and 36,081 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 World of Warships on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/15/2017 |
| Franchise | World of Warships Franchise |
| Developer | Wargaming Group Limited |
| Publisher | Wargaming Group Limited |
| Steam App Id | 552990 |
5. War Thunder
War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armoured vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea.
War Thunder has achieved a Player Score of 72, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 743,021 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 538,917 positive reviews and 204,104 negative reviews — making it "Mostly 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.
| Release Date | 8/15/2013 |
| Franchise | Gaijin Network Ltd |
| Developer | Gaijin Entertainment |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 236390 |
6. VRChat
Join our growing community as you explore, play, and help craft the future of social VR. Create worlds and custom avatars. Welcome to VRChat.
VRChat has achieved a Player Score of 75, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 261,306 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 196,836 positive reviews and 64,470 negative reviews — making it "Mostly 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 | 2/1/2017 |
| Developer | VRChat Inc. |
| Publisher | VRChat Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 438100 |
7. The Sims™ 4
Play with life and discover the possibilities. Unleash your imagination and create a world of Sims that’s wholly unique. Explore and customize every detail from Sims to homes–and much more.
The Sims™ 4 has achieved a Player Score of 86, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 193,701 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 167,680 positive reviews and 26,021 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 The Sims™ 4 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 6/18/2020 |
| Franchise | The Sims |
| Developer | Maxis |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Steam App Id | 1222670 |
8. eFootball™
Step up and experience the exhilarating soccer game that has now surpassed 1 billion downloads! Play eFootball™ with users around the world!
eFootball™ has achieved a Player Score of 50, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 108,903 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 54,887 positive reviews and 54,016 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play eFootball™ on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/30/2021 |
| Franchise | KONAMI |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1665460 |
9. IdleOn
The management RPG where your heroes keep fighting even when you're gone! Spend their loot on upgrades, unlock classes from Elemental Wizard to Cannon Pirate, and level up 19 unique skills like Farming, Sailing, and even Construction!
IdleOn has achieved a Player Score of 77, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 28,584 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,281 positive reviews and 6,303 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 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/6/2025 |
| Developer | Lavaflame2 |
| Publisher | Lavaflame2 |
| Steam App Id | 1476970 |
10. Heartopia
Welcome to Heartopia, a multiplayer life simulation game crafted for creativity, freedom, and peace. Build your dream home, explore a wide range of hobbies, and forge warm connections with friends in a town full of endless possibilities.
Heartopia has achieved a Player Score of 65, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,402 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,891 positive reviews and 4,511 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Heartopia on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 1/17/2026 |
| Franchise | XD International |
| Developer | XD |
| Publisher | XD |
| Steam App Id | 4025700 |
More Free Simulation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Simulation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271,631 | 7/9/2013 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 89,135 | 12/21/2017 | 60 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 68,152 | 3/5/2025 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 48,260 | 11/15/2017 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 32,233 | 8/15/2013 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 31,528 | 2/1/2017 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 21,974 | 6/18/2020 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 12,622 | 9/30/2021 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 12,420 | 11/6/2025 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 10,666 | 1/17/2026 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,467 | 6/24/2025 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,385 | 7/9/2024 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,216 | 1/19/2022 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7,384 | 5/1/2025 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,691 | 3/25/2024 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,563 | 4/23/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4,226 | 7/27/2023 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,878 | 12/16/2010 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,829 | 11/11/2021 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,803 | 11/3/2021 | 88 | 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. (2026, May 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 4). Dota 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 29). PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 2). Bongo Cat on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 5). World of Warships on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 5). War Thunder on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 5). VRChat on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 5). The Sims™ 4 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 1). eFootball™ on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 28). IdleOn on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 1). Heartopia on Steam. Steam Store.