Best Early Access Games on Steam
Steam currently has 13,742 Early Access games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Early Access game rankings were last updated on 4/2/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free early access games on Steam
- Best early access Steam Deck games
- Best early access Linux games on Steam
- Best early access Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Wallpaper Engine
Use stunning live wallpapers on your desktop. Animate your own images to create new wallpapers or import videos/websites and share them on the Steam Workshop!
Wallpaper Engine holds the #1 spot for "best Early Access game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 971,160 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 952,048 positive reviews and 19,112 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Wallpaper Engine on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 11/16/2018 |
| Developer | Wallpaper Engine Team |
| Publisher | Wallpaper Engine Team |
| Steam App Id | 431960 |
2. Vampire Survivors
Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you. Be the bullet hell!
Vampire Survivors has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 260,853 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 256,587 positive reviews and 4,266 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
3. Schedule I
From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.
Schedule I has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 289,408 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 283,359 positive reviews and 6,049 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Schedule I on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
4. Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.
Slime Rancher has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 151,483 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 148,438 positive reviews and 3,045 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Slime Rancher on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 8/1/2017 |
| Franchise | Monomi Park |
| Developer | Monomi Park |
| Publisher | Monomi Park |
| Steam App Id | 433340 |
5. BeamNG.drive
A dynamic soft-body physics vehicle simulator capable of doing just about anything.
BeamNG.drive has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 385,478 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 375,504 positive reviews and 9,974 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play BeamNG.drive on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. ULTRAKILL
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultra-violent retro FPS that combines the skill-based style scoring of character action games with the unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weaponry and shower in their blood to regain your health.
ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 219,475 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 213,837 positive reviews and 5,638 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
7. Satisfactory
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!
Satisfactory has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 265,807 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 258,499 positive reviews and 7,308 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $39.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $39.99 |
| Release Date | 9/10/2024 |
| Franchise | Coffee Stain |
| Developer | Coffee Stain Studios |
| Publisher | Coffee Stain Publishing |
| Steam App Id | 526870 |
8. Lethal Company
A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.
Lethal Company has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 504,394 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 489,449 positive reviews and 14,945 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Lethal Company on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
9. Subnautica
Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril. Craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive.
Subnautica has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 344,691 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 334,516 positive reviews and 10,175 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $7.49 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $7.49 |
| Release Date | 1/24/2018 |
| Franchise | Unknown Worlds |
| Developer | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 264710 |
10. Dyson Sphere Program
Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.
Dyson Sphere Program has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 90,065 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 87,836 positive reviews and 2,229 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Dyson Sphere Program on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/21/2021 |
| Developer | Youthcat Studio |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1366540 |
More Early Access Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Early Access games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53,486 | 11/16/2018 | 97 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 2,861 | 10/20/2022 | 97 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 23,961 | 3/24/2025 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,095 | 8/1/2017 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 20,467 | 5/29/2015 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 6,670 | 9/3/2020 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 24,898 | 9/10/2024 | 96 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 7,874 | 10/23/2023 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 18,142 | 1/24/2018 | 96 | $7.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 2,719 | 1/21/2021 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 157 | 12/6/2025 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 947 | 4/1/2023 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 252 | 3/15/2022 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,363 | 6/28/2023 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 170 | 11/9/2023 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 23,592 | 2/26/2025 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 880 | 9/18/2025 | 95 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,169 | 5/18/2017 | 95 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 501 | 8/15/2024 | 95 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 17,764 | 9/18/2020 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews 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, April 2). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 2). Wallpaper Engine on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 4). Vampire Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 4). Schedule I on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 2). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 4). BeamNG.drive on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 2). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 3). Satisfactory on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 4). Lethal Company on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 4). Subnautica on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 2). Dyson Sphere Program on Steam. Steam Store.