Best Minimalist Games on Steam
Steam currently has 5,771 Minimalist 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. Minimalist game rankings were last updated on 5/7/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free minimalist games on Steam
- Best minimalist Steam Deck games
- Best minimalist Linux games on Steam
- Best minimalist Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
3. Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!
Baba Is You has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,749 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,328 positive reviews and 421 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 | 3/13/2019 |
| Developer | Hempuli Oy |
| Publisher | Hempuli Oy |
| Steam App Id | 736260 |
4. An Arcade Full of Cats
Journey through gaming history's time and space, while searching for adorable feline companions in 'An Arcade Full of Cats,' the ultimate pet'em up hidden object game.
An Arcade Full of Cats has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,201 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,139 positive reviews and 62 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play An Arcade Full of Cats on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
5. INSIDE
Hunted and alone, a boy finds himself drawn into the center of a dark project. INSIDE is a dark, narrative-driven platformer combining intense action with challenging puzzles. It has been critically acclaimed for its moody art style, ambient soundtrack and unsettling atmosphere.
INSIDE has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 58,048 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 56,194 positive reviews and 1,854 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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.
6. A Castle Full of Cats
A Castle Full of Cats is a catvania hidden object game where you need to find all the cursed cats in the castle. Save each and every cat and unleash the power of love! ♡
A Castle Full of Cats has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,104 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,085 positive reviews and 19 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play A Castle Full of Cats on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
7. Word Game: Episode 0
Word game is literally a game of words. Player controls "I" to find clues between lines, delete words to change the meaning of sentences, or shift words to rewrite facts. “I” must be wise and brave enough complete the mission of words. May the best "I” win!
Word Game: Episode 0 has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,498 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,446 positive reviews and 52 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Word Game: Episode 0 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
8. Patrick's Parabox
A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system.
Patrick's Parabox has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,337 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,311 positive reviews and 26 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 Patrick's Parabox on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 3/29/2022 |
| Developer | Patrick Traynor |
| Publisher | Patrick Traynor |
| Steam App Id | 1260520 |
9. 20 Small Mazes
This is a puzzle game with twenty small mazes. They're good mazes, though.
20 Small Mazes has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,994 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,951 positive reviews and 43 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play 20 Small Mazes on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
10. Purrgatory
A slice-of-death visual novel about making friends, cracking cat puns, and waiting for eternity to pass.
Purrgatory has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Minimalist games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,891 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,850 positive reviews and 41 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Purrgatory on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 8/23/2021 |
| Developer | Niv (Darvin Heo) |
| Publisher | Niv (Darvin Heo) |
| Steam App Id | 1713610 |
More Minimalist Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Minimalist games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4 | 12/1/2023 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 14 | 7/17/2023 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 165 | 3/13/2019 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 36 | 11/16/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 122 | 7/7/2016 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 11/9/2022 | 95 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 1/14/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 3/29/2022 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 25 | 2/16/2024 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 8/23/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 422 | 10/7/2020 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 11/15/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 7/7/2022 | 95 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 11/27/2012 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 11/15/2018 | 95 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 488 | 4/28/2022 | 94 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 380 | 8/2/2023 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/11/2019 | 94 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 594 | 2/2/2023 | 94 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 19 | 10/12/2020 | 94 | $2.99 | 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 7). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Cats Hidden in Jingle Jam on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). Cats Hidden in Paris on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 6). Baba Is You on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, February 28). An Arcade Full of Cats on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 28). INSIDE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). A Castle Full of Cats on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 24). Word Game: Episode 0 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). Patrick's Parabox on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 29). 20 Small Mazes on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 10). Purrgatory on Steam. Steam Store.