Best Exploration Games on Steam
Steam currently has 12,937 Exploration 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. Exploration game rankings were last updated on 5/1/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free exploration games on Steam
- Best exploration Steam Deck games
- Best exploration Linux games on Steam
- Best exploration Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Terraria
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!
Terraria holds the #1 spot for "best Exploration game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,281,484 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,251,095 positive reviews and 30,389 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and 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.
2. Euro Truck Simulator 2
Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 720,445 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 703,529 positive reviews and 16,916 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. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 10/12/2012 |
| Franchise | SCS Software |
| Developer | SCS Software |
| Publisher | SCS Software |
| Steam App Id | 227300 |
3. A Short Hike
Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.
A Short Hike has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,085 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,966 positive reviews and 119 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.79 to play and 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.
4. 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 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 390,904 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 381,151 positive reviews and 9,753 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).
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 119,562 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 117,075 positive reviews and 2,487 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 |
7. OneShot
OneShot is a surreal top down Puzzle/Adventure game with unique gameplay capabilities. You are to guide a child through a mysterious world on a mission to restore its long-dead sun. The world knows you exist.
OneShot has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 44,106 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 43,352 positive reviews and 754 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run OneShot on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 12/9/2016 |
| Developer | Future Cat LLC |
| Publisher | KOMODO |
| Steam App Id | 420530 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 245,750 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 239,078 positive reviews and 6,672 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).
10. Hollow Knight
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.
Hollow Knight has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Exploration games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 347,780 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 337,828 positive reviews and 9,952 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and 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.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 2/24/2017 |
| Developer | Team Cherry |
| Publisher | Team Cherry |
| Steam App Id | 367520 |
More Exploration Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Exploration games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 17,865 | 5/16/2011 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15,792 | 10/12/2012 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 7/30/2019 | 97 | $4.79 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,553 | 10/23/2023 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 511 | 8/1/2017 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 12/1/2023 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 82 | 12/9/2016 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 13 | 7/17/2023 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 9,176 | 5/29/2015 | 96 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3,398 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 791 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 53 | 10/5/2017 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,817 | 5/13/2020 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 12,870 | 11/29/2006 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 176 | 7/19/2022 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 30 | 2/11/2021 | 96 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,490 | 6/28/2023 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 280 | 12/25/2020 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 116 | 12/10/2021 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,284 | 1/24/2018 | 96 | $29.99 | 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. (2024, May 1). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Terraria on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 5). Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 27). A Short Hike on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 16). Lethal Company on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 4). Slime Rancher on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). OneShot on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Cats Hidden in Paris on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). BeamNG.drive on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 24). Hollow Knight on Steam. Steam Store.