Free Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 4,763 Text-Based 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 Text-Based game rankings were last updated on 2/21/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best text-based games on Steam
- Best text-based Steam Deck games
- Best text-based Steam games for Mac OS
- Best text-based Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Your Chronicle
"Let's begin your own story." This is a text-based idle RPG game. There are already more than 3,000 unique story actions and it's still growing.
Your Chronicle holds the #1 spot for "best free Text-Based game on Steam" with a Player Score of 77. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,512 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,007 positive reviews and 505 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 possible to play Your Chronicle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 4/5/2021 |
| Developer | Samurai Games |
| Publisher | Samurai Games |
| Steam App Id | 1546320 |
2. Idling to Rule the Gods
Idling to Rule the Gods is a free to play Idle-Game with a lot of content and some Minigames. Depending on your play-style, you can play it fast or slow. Either way it can be fun for hundreds of hours!
Idling to Rule the Gods has achieved a Player Score of 82, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,039 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,739 positive reviews and 300 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 Idling to Rule the Gods on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 5/27/2016 |
| Developer | Shugasu GmbH |
| Publisher | Shugasu GmbH |
| Steam App Id | 466170 |
3. Milky Way Idle
Milky Way Idle: A multiplayer idle RPG where automation replaces grinding. Level up skills, gather resources, craft powerful items, and battle monsters—all while AFK. Trade in the marketplace, join a guild, team up for party combat, and socialize in chat as you progress effortlessly.
Milky Way Idle has achieved a Player Score of 46, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,135 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 968 positive reviews and 1,167 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milky Way Idle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. Trimps
A text-based incremental idle game with a ridiculous amount of unique content. Automate old stuff as you unlock new stuff to keep things interesting for hours and hours, no spam clicking necessary! Trimps is everything you love about your favorite games, distilled to their purest form.
Trimps has achieved a Player Score of 86, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,405 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,277 positive reviews and 128 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 Trimps on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 5/2/2022 |
| Developer | Greensatellite |
| Publisher | Greensatellite |
| Steam App Id | 1877960 |
5. Soccer Manager 2026
Manage elite football clubs and lead your dream team as a football manager!
Soccer Manager 2026 has achieved a Player Score of 72, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,066 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,268 positive reviews and 798 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 Soccer Manager 2026 on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 10/23/2024 |
| Developer | Invincibles Studio Ltd |
| Publisher | Invincibles Studio Ltd |
| Steam App Id | 3217240 |
6. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.
Bitburner has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,072 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,730 positive reviews and 342 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bitburner on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/10/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Fulcrum Games |
| Steam App Id | 1812820 |
7. Scratch Inc.
Build an Empire, From Scratch, in this Scratch Card Idle/Incremental game.
Scratch Inc. has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,061 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 956 positive reviews and 105 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
8. A Date with Death
Fight against & romance the one hunting for your soul in A Date with Death, a romance chat simulator where you date(?) the Grim Reaper himself. Create your own character, decorate your apartment, and chat away with the charming yet dangerous Grim Reaper through text and video calls.
A Date with Death has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,964 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,716 positive reviews and 248 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play A Date with Death on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/7/2023 |
| Franchise | Two and a Half Studios |
| Developer | Two and a Half Studios |
| Publisher | Two and a Half Studios |
| Steam App Id | 2415010 |
9. Idle Research
Idle Research is an addictive, resource management, incremental game with both idle and active playstyles. Research and craft colorful Flasks and Tubes to earn as much Energy as possible! Big numbers guaranteed.
Idle Research has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,813 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,535 positive reviews and 278 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 Idle Research on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/31/2022 |
| Developer | Considera Games LLC |
| Publisher | Considera Core LLC |
| Steam App Id | 1482860 |
10. Katawa Shoujo
Katawa Shoujo is a romantic visual novel set in the fictional Japanese Yamaku High School for disabled children. Hisao's congenital heart defect forces him to move to a new school. Despite his difficulties, Hisao is able to find friends—and perhaps love, if he plays his cards right.
Katawa Shoujo has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,054 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,940 positive reviews and 114 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.
| Release Date | 8/15/2024 |
| Developer | Four Leaf Studios |
| Publisher | Four Leaf Studios |
| Steam App Id | 3068300 |
More Free Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,747 | 4/5/2021 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,162 | 5/27/2016 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 901 | 3/6/2025 | 46 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 574 | 5/2/2022 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 542 | 10/23/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 444 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 405 | 9/17/2025 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 168 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 128 | 7/31/2022 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 98 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 95 | 2/7/2026 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 84 | 10/13/2023 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 77 | 11/10/2025 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 76 | 7/25/2024 | 48 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 5/14/2021 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 7/29/2024 | 45 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 59 | 6/6/2025 | 62 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 9/29/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 3/22/2025 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 50 | 1/28/2026 | 75 | 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, February 21). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 21). Your Chronicle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 22). Idling to Rule the Gods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 22). Milky Way Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, December 26). Trimps on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 23). Soccer Manager 2026 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 19). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 21). Scratch Inc. on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 17). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, October 4). Idle Research on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 24). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.