Free Text-Based Games on Steam
Steam currently has 3,950 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 6/21/2025.
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 2,098 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,676 positive reviews and 422 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. 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 43, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,525 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 644 positive reviews and 881 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).
3. 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 #3 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,920 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,641 positive reviews and 279 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 |
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 87, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,291 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,179 positive reviews and 112 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 2025
Manage elite football clubs and lead your dream team as a football manager!
Soccer Manager 2025 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 1,594 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,186 positive reviews and 408 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 |
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 6,645 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,323 positive reviews and 322 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. 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 10,671 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,486 positive reviews and 185 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. SIGame
Exciting quiz game where you can test your knowledge, compete with friends and smart bots, and explore a variety of topics!
SIGame has achieved a Player Score of 76, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 676 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 543 positive reviews and 133 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 | 3/22/2025 |
| Developer | Vladimir Khil |
| Publisher | Vladimir Khil |
| Steam App Id | 3553500 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,902 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,826 positive reviews and 76 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 |
10. 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 74, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Text-Based games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 776 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 607 positive reviews and 169 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).
More Free Text-Based Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Text-Based games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,514 | 4/5/2021 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 2,015 | 3/6/2025 | 43 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,067 | 5/27/2016 | 82 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 641 | 5/2/2022 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 547 | 10/23/2024 | 72 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 395 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 221 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 168 | 3/22/2025 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 114 | 8/15/2024 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 90 | 8/11/2020 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 87 | 8/1/2022 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
![Kink.inc [18+] steam charts](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/2190210/header.jpg) | 84 | 3/20/2023 | 50 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 68 | 10/13/2023 | 75 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 53 | 11/12/2020 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 51 | 11/20/2020 | 66 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 46 | 11/26/2021 | 71 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 44 | 2/13/2025 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 43 | 9/1/2023 | 77 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 43 | 4/23/2018 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 41 | 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. (2025, June 21). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 21). Your Chronicle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 19). Milky Way Idle on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 21). Idling to Rule the Gods on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). Trimps on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 19). Soccer Manager 2025 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 2). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 29). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 16). SIGame on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 31). Katawa Shoujo on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 14). Incremental Adventures on Steam. Steam Store.