Free Simulation Games on Steam
Steam currently has 40,845 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 5/1/2025.
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 2,475,680 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,017,786 positive reviews and 457,894 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 59, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,542,870 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,509,995 positive reviews and 1,032,875 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 16,144 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,826 positive reviews and 318 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly 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 | 3/5/2025 |
| Developer | Marcel Zurawka |
| Publisher | Irox Games |
| Steam App Id | 3419430 |
4. Banana
Banana is a clicker Game, in which you click a Banana! In Banana you click the Banana to gain even more Bananas! Every 3 hours, you get dropped a banana. Each banana is also made by the community in discord. Come hang out with us and let's grow into something awesome !
Banana has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 88,790 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 73,211 positive reviews and 15,579 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 4/23/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2923300 |
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 73, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 617,823 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 451,724 positive reviews and 166,099 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 238,370 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 180,171 positive reviews and 58,199 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 168,315 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 146,970 positive reviews and 21,345 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. Once Human
Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.
Once Human has achieved a Player Score of 73, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 127,065 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 93,946 positive reviews and 33,119 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 Once Human on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 7/9/2024 |
| Developer | Starry Studio |
| Publisher | Starry Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2139460 |
9. Waifu - Kawaii Idler & Clicker
💗 Idler Clicker + Dating Sim 💗 Earn rare Waifus in daily drops, win their love, and trade on Steam Community Marketplace
Waifu - Kawaii Idler & Clicker has achieved a Player Score of 65, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 232 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 158 positive reviews and 74 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Waifu - Kawaii Idler & Clicker on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 12/3/2024 |
| Developer | Team Waifu |
| Publisher | Team Waifu |
| Steam App Id | 3188910 |
10. IdleOn - The Idle RPG
Create different classes who all work together when you're gone! When you return, spend their loot on powerful upgrades and synergies - but don't be fooled by the simple graphics, IdleOn gets more complex with each World Boss you defeat!
IdleOn - The Idle RPG has achieved a Player Score of 78, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Simulation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,263 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 16,973 positive reviews and 4,290 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 |
More Free Simulation Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Simulation games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 558,125 | 7/9/2013 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 296,187 | 12/21/2017 | 59 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 166,162 | 3/5/2025 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 101,850 | 4/23/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 81,717 | 8/15/2013 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 43,122 | 2/1/2017 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 42,472 | 6/18/2020 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 41,194 | 7/9/2024 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 23,252 | 12/3/2024 | 65 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 16,249 | 4/2/2021 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 16,227 | 9/30/2021 | 47 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 15,421 | 1/19/2022 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 12,004 | 5/1/2025 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10,547 | 11/11/2021 | 53 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 8,825 | 8/9/2024 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7,423 | 4/29/2021 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,484 | 11/15/2017 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,204 | 7/16/2024 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,026 | 3/25/2024 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4,901 | 7/27/2023 | 89 | 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, May 1). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 1). Dota 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 30). PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 2). Bongo Cat on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 3). Banana on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 1). War Thunder on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 2). VRChat on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 1). The Sims™ 4 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 3). Once Human on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 3). Waifu - Kawaii Idler & Clicker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, April 29). IdleOn - The Idle RPG on Steam. Steam Store.