Free Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,476 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 1/5/2025.
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 1,763 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,411 positive reviews and 352 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 82, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,826 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,575 positive reviews and 251 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 1,199 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,099 positive reviews and 100 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. Soccer Manager 2025
Manage elite football clubs and lead your dream team as a football manager!
Soccer Manager 2025 has achieved a Player Score of 69, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 636 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 460 positive reviews and 176 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 2025 on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 10/23/2024 |
| Developer | Invincibles Studio Ltd |
| Publisher | Invincibles Studio Ltd |
| Steam App Id | 3217240 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,390 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,083 positive reviews and 307 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 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,501 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,361 positive reviews and 140 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 |
7. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog 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 22,342 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,721 positive reviews and 621 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 The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
8. 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 #8 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,885 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,845 positive reviews and 40 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 |
9. Kink.inc [18+]
The Kinkverse is yours, Vice Mayor! With an army of hot, loyal girls on staff, you are on the climb for political power and panty-dropping piles of cash. Run an empire of sex toys as you handle every lubed up mess your kooky mayor creates, and explore thematic universes to seduce more sexy babes.
![Kink.inc [18+] banner](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2190210/header.jpg)
Kink.inc [18+] has achieved a Player Score of 52, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 170 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 90 positive reviews and 80 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Kink.inc [18+] on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 3/20/2023 |
| Developer | Tender Troupe |
| Publisher | Tender Troupe |
| Steam App Id | 2190210 |
10. 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 #10 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,599 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,362 positive reviews and 237 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 |
More Free Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,537 | 4/5/2021 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,203 | 5/27/2016 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 650 | 5/2/2022 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 498 | 10/23/2024 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 401 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 379 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 147 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 138 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 107 | 3/20/2023 | 52 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 98 | 8/1/2022 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 95 | 10/13/2023 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 83 | 8/11/2020 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 81 | 11/20/2020 | 67 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 11/26/2021 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 49 | 11/12/2020 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 39 | 4/23/2018 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 34 | 5/14/2021 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 31 | 9/29/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 29 | 5/31/2023 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 27 | 9/1/2023 | 79 | 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, January 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 5). Your Chronicle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 31). Idling to Rule the Gods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 8). Trimps on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 2). Soccer Manager 2025 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 5). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 24). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 31). The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 21). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 31). Kink.inc [18+] on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 21). Idle Research on Steam. Steam Store.