Best Retro Games on Steam
Steam currently has 10,589 Retro 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. Retro game rankings were last updated on 12/3/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free retro games on Steam
- Best retro Steam Deck games
- Best retro Linux games on Steam
- Best retro Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 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.
Vampire Survivors holds the #1 spot for "best Retro game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 242,642 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 239,010 positive reviews and 3,632 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $3.74 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.
2. Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a fast paced 2D platformer, with an emphasis on movement, exploration and score attack. Featuring highly stylized pixel art inspired by the cartoons from the '90s, and a highly energetic soundtrack.
Pizza Tower has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 62,884 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 61,889 positive reviews and 995 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. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/26/2023 |
| Developer | Tour De Pizza |
| Publisher | Tour De Pizza |
| Steam App Id | 2231450 |
3. Aseprite
Aseprite is a pixel-art tool to create 2D animations, sprites, and any kind of graphics for games.
Aseprite has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,764 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,590 positive reviews and 174 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 not possible to play or run Aseprite on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 2/22/2016 |
| Developer | David Capello |
| Publisher | Igara Studio |
| Steam App Id | 431730 |
4. ULTRAKILL
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weapons and shower in their blood to regain your health.
ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 136,099 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 133,196 positive reviews and 2,903 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $18.74 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 | $18.74 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
5. Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.
Katana ZERO has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 68,415 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,069 positive reviews and 1,346 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 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.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
6. The WereCleaner
Kyle is a Janitor. He's also a Werewolf. And now he's got the night shift. Try not to kill anyone while working to get your paycheck - in a stealth-comedy game with surprises around every corner.
The WereCleaner has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,707 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,671 positive reviews and 36 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free 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.
| Release Date | 5/7/2024 |
| Developer | Howlin' Hugs |
| Publisher | USC Games |
| Steam App Id | 2795000 |
7. Celeste
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
Celeste has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 110,783 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 107,982 positive reviews and 2,801 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 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 | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 1/25/2018 |
| Franchise | EXOK Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Maddy Makes Games Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 504230 |
8. Firework
An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.
Firework has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 40,229 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,393 positive reviews and 836 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 Firework on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 2/3/2021 |
| Developer | Shiying Studio |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| Steam App Id | 1288310 |
9. Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.
Hotline Miami has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 99,937 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 97,123 positive reviews and 2,814 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.99 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 | $1.99 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2012 |
| Developer | Dennaton Games |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 219150 |
10. Papers, Please
Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.
Papers, Please has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Retro games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 71,502 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 69,550 positive reviews and 1,952 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.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 8/8/2013 |
| Developer | Lucas Pope |
| Publisher | 3909 |
| Steam App Id | 239030 |
More Retro Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Retro games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,748 | 10/20/2022 | 97 | $3.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 413 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4,596 | 2/22/2016 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 2,195 | 9/3/2020 | 97 | $18.74 | Steam Charts | |
| 166 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 24 | 5/7/2024 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,945 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 54 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 368 | 10/23/2012 | 96 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 336 | 8/8/2013 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,534 | 9/15/2015 | 96 | $2.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 209 | 3/13/2019 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 30 | 12/14/2017 | 95 | $2.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 417 | 11/8/2023 | 95 | $9.74 | Steam Charts | |
 | 385 | 10/15/2015 | 95 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,848 | 11/19/1998 | 95 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,263 | 9/29/2017 | 95 | $13.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 12/10/2018 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 14 | 10/13/2022 | 95 | $7.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 539 | 9/26/2024 | 95 | $11.69 | 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, December 3). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 3). Vampire Survivors on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 1). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 22). Aseprite on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 27). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 28). The WereCleaner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 29). Celeste on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 29). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 27). Hotline Miami on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 6). Papers, Please on Steam. Steam Store.