Free Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 2,794 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 5/18/2024.
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 1,496 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,197 positive reviews and 299 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 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 83, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,677 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,452 positive reviews and 225 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. 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 87, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,065 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 979 positive reviews and 86 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 |
4. 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 #4 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,937 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,642 positive reviews and 295 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 |
5. Soccer Manager 2022
Sign official FIFPRO licensed players and compete to become the ultimate football manager!
Soccer Manager 2022 has achieved a Player Score of 70, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,671 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,934 positive reviews and 737 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 | 11/26/2021 |
| Developer | Invincibles Studio Ltd |
| Steam App Id | 1777760 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,425 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,209 positive reviews and 216 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 | 8/1/2022 |
| Developer | Considera Games LLC |
| Publisher | Considera Core LLC |
| Steam App Id | 1482860 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,487 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,404 positive reviews and 83 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 |
8. Incremental Adventures
Lead your heroes in their neverending adventures! A minimalistic Idle game where combat is fully automated. It's up to you to make the most of that automation to reach extremely high numbers!
Incremental Adventures has achieved a Player Score of 75, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 718 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 566 positive reviews and 152 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 Incremental Adventures on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
9. Romance Club - Stories I Play
Immerse yourself in romantic visual stories where you control what happens!
Romance Club - Stories I Play has achieved a Player Score of 74, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 559 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 438 positive reviews and 121 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 Romance Club - Stories I Play on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/13/2023 |
| Developer | Your Story Interactive |
| Publisher | Your Story Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 2433470 |
10. BustyBiz
Welcome to the seductive world of the hottest family business in history! Create your own adult empire and become the king of porn and lust in this ]entertaining idle clicker adult game. Develop your management skills and climb the porn business ladder one naughty release at a time!
BustyBiz has achieved a Player Score of 67, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,502 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,045 positive reviews and 457 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 BustyBiz on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 11/20/2020 |
| Developer | 3X Entertainment Limited |
| Publisher | Nutaku Publishing |
| Steam App Id | 1443820 |
More Free Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1,415 | 4/5/2021 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,178 | 5/27/2016 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 687 | 5/2/2022 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 554 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 323 | 11/26/2021 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 193 | 8/1/2022 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 193 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 116 | 8/11/2020 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 104 | 10/13/2023 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 87 | 11/20/2020 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 86 | 11/12/2020 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 82 | 5/2/2024 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 79 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 4/23/2018 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 61 | 12/16/2020 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 61 | 9/1/2023 | 79 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 54 | 4/20/2022 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 52 | 3/28/2024 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 42 | 2/2/2024 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 40 | 5/14/2021 | 73 | 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, May 18). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 18). Your Chronicle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 14). Idling to Rule the Gods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Trimps on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 20). Soccer Manager 2022 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). Idle Research on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Incremental Adventures on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Romance Club - Stories I Play on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). BustyBiz on Steam. Steam Store.