Free Visual Novel Games on Steam
Steam currently has 10,860 Visual Novel 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 Visual Novel game rankings were last updated on 6/6/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best visual novel games on Steam
- Best visual novel Steam Deck games
- Best visual novel Steam games for Mac OS
- Best visual novel Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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 holds the #1 spot for "best free Visual Novel game on Steam" with a Player Score of 81. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 89,689 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 73,864 positive reviews and 15,825 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 |
2. Limbus Company
As the Executive Manager of Limbus Company, lead your group of twelve Sinners, venture into the buried facilities of Lobotomy Corporation, and lay claim on the Golden Boughs.
Limbus Company has achieved a Player Score of 83, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 63,294 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 53,003 positive reviews and 10,291 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 Limbus Company on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/26/2023 |
| Developer | ProjectMoon |
| Publisher | ProjectMoon |
| Steam App Id | 1973530 |
3. ヘブンバーンズレッド
Key 麻枝 准が描く、最後の希望を託された少女たちの物語『ヘブンバーンズレッド （ヘブバン）』 フィールドを駆け回り、かけがえのない日常を体験しながら、命を賭した戦いに挑むドラマチックRPG！
ヘブンバーンズレッド has achieved a Player Score of 83, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,346 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,743 positive reviews and 603 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 ヘブンバーンズレッド on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 8/10/2022 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | WFS, Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 1973710 |
4. Crush Crush
Welcome to Crush Crush - the Idle Dating Sim! Meet, flirt, and fall in love with a motley cast of girls in this heartfelt and hilarious game.
Crush Crush has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 27,175 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 24,232 positive reviews and 2,943 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 Crush Crush on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/19/2016 |
| Franchise | Sad Panda Studios Games |
| Developer | Sad Panda Studios |
| Publisher | Sad Panda Studios |
| Steam App Id | 459820 |
5. Action Taimanin
An intense, gorgeous hack-and-slash action RPG from the Taimanin fame!
Action Taimanin has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 18,641 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,492 positive reviews and 3,149 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 | 10/6/2020 |
| Developer | LiLith |
| Publisher | Infini-Brain inc. |
| Steam App Id | 1335200 |
6. Reverse: 1999
Reverse: 1999 is a 20th Century Time-Travel Strategic RPG developed by Bluepoch. As the Timekeeper, the observer of eras, you will embark on a journey across time and space, from the Roaring '20s to the turn of the millennium, uncovering the truth about the "Storm" and the mystery of the year 1999.
Reverse: 1999 has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,300 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,157 positive reviews and 143 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 Reverse: 1999 on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 10/9/2024 |
| Developer | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Publisher | BLUEPOCH GAMES CO., LIMITED |
| Steam App Id | 3092660 |
7. Waifu Shop
Welcome to Vesper Island! Build your harem of sexy waifus, grow your shop, and amass a fortune in this unique mix of shop and dating sim. Recruit lusty workers, uncover the island’s secrets, and become the ultimate Master Trader while collecting all the hot babes!
Waifu Shop has achieved a Player Score of 68, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 218 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 157 positive reviews and 61 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 | 5/21/2025 |
| Developer | Tender Troupe |
| Publisher | Nutaku Publishing |
| Steam App Id | 3457380 |
8. Doki Doki Literature Club!
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
Doki Doki Literature Club! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 210,686 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 203,217 positive reviews and 7,469 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 Doki Doki Literature Club! on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 10/6/2017 |
| Developer | Team Salvato |
| Publisher | Team Salvato |
| Steam App Id | 698780 |
9. Cats
Cats — and that says it all. Interactive cat clicker. Click on cats for new cats. That's all, really.
Cats has achieved a Player Score of 76, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,161 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,244 positive reviews and 917 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 | 5/21/2024 |
| Franchise | 100 Cozy Games |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2977660 |
10. GIRLS' FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM
Hello Commanders, Please board the Elmo and set off into the breaking dawn.
GIRLS' FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,644 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,452 positive reviews and 192 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 GIRLS' FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 2/11/2025 |
| Developer | SUNBORN Information Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | Darkwinter Software Limited |
| Steam App Id | 3347400 |
More Free Visual Novel Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best free Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99,633 | 4/23/2024 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 15,384 | 2/26/2023 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,368 | 8/10/2022 | 83 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 938 | 10/19/2016 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 838 | 10/6/2020 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 607 | 10/9/2024 | 90 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 517 | 5/21/2025 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 466 | 10/6/2017 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 463 | 5/21/2024 | 76 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 388 | 2/11/2025 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 365 | 9/1/2022 | 73 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 287 | 4/22/2020 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 264 | 11/19/2014 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 263 | 4/25/2025 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 206 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 186 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 183 | 8/29/2024 | 68 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 157 | 11/15/2023 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 137 | 10/15/2021 | 89 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 122 | 10/13/2023 | 76 | 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 6). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 6). Banana on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 5). Limbus Company on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 6). ヘブンバーンズレッド on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 6). Crush Crush on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 4). Action Taimanin on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 29). Reverse: 1999 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 6). Waifu Shop on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 25). Doki Doki Literature Club! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 1). Cats on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, June 6). GIRLS' FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM on Steam. Steam Store.