Best Science Games on Steam
Steam currently has 939 Science 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. Science game rankings were last updated on 5/4/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free science games on Steam
- Best science Steam Deck games
- Best science Linux games on Steam
- Best science Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Portal 2
The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!
Portal 2 holds the #1 spot for "best Science game on Steam" with a Player Score of 98. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 390,785 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 385,809 positive reviews and 4,976 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.79 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.
2. Portal
Portal™ is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has been called one of the most innovative new games on the horizon and will offer gamers hours of unique gameplay.
Portal has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 156,060 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 153,704 positive reviews and 2,356 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.
3. STEINS;GATE
Developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, STEINS;GATE was awarded Famitsu magazine's coveted annual Game of Excellence award and was voted one of the most emotionally charged “tear-inducing games” ever made, in a Famitsu poll. It is a gripping and moving Visual Novel, which has already spawned manga and anime adaptations.
STEINS;GATE has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,734 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 16,318 positive reviews and 416 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play STEINS;GATE on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 9/8/2016 |
| Franchise | Science Adventure Series |
| Developer | MAGES. Inc. |
| Publisher | Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 412830 |
4. WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition
Live the life of a wild wolf in a realistic ecological simulation set in Yellowstone National Park.
WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,747 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,561 positive reviews and 186 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.
5. Universe Sandbox
Create & destroy on an unimaginable scale with a realistic physics-based space simulator. Explore the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Use science to bend the laws of gravity, collide planets, boil away oceans, fire epic space lasers, and customize your universe. VR optional.
Universe Sandbox has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,624 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 22,740 positive reviews and 884 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Universe Sandbox on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 8/24/2015 |
| Developer | Giant Army |
| Publisher | Giant Army |
| Steam App Id | 230290 |
6. Portal Reloaded
Portal Reloaded is a free, community made modification for Portal 2. The mod builds on the concepts of the main game by allowing you to place a third portal, which enables traveling between two different timelines. Thinking in four dimensions is vital to solving 25 brand new mind-bending puzzles.
Portal Reloaded has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,648 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 18,930 positive reviews and 718 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Portal Reloaded on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
7. Portal Stories: Mel
Portal Stories: Mel is a community made, free modification for Portal 2 based in the Portal universe. It tells the story of Mel, who meets a new personality core and faces an undiscovered threat to the Aperture facility.
Portal Stories: Mel has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,510 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,692 positive reviews and 818 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 6/25/2015 |
| Developer | Prism Game Studios Ltd. |
| Publisher | Prism Game Studios Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 317400 |
8. Besiege
Besiege is a physics building game about constructing mechanical machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Conquer the campaign or skirmish with friends in Multiplayer!
Besiege has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 46,950 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 44,855 positive reviews and 2,095 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. At the moment, it is possible to play Besiege on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 2/18/2020 |
| Developer | Spiderling Studios |
| Publisher | Spiderling Studios |
| Steam App Id | 346010 |
9. Kerbal Space Program
In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.
Kerbal Space Program has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 120,654 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 114,603 positive reviews and 6,051 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 possible to play Kerbal Space Program on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 4/27/2015 |
| Franchise | Private Division |
| Developer | Squad |
| Publisher | Private Division |
| Steam App Id | 220200 |
10. The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game in the tradition of philosophical science fiction. Made by Croteam and written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).
The Talos Principle has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Science games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,742 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,407 positive reviews and 1,335 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Talos Principle on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $29.99 |
| Release Date | 12/11/2014 |
| Developer | Croteam |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 257510 |
More Science Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Science games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2,070 | 4/18/2011 | 98 | $2.79 | Steam Charts | |
 | 419 | 10/10/2007 | 97 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 111 | 9/8/2016 | 95 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 152 | 7/26/2019 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 225 | 8/24/2015 | 94 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 33 | 4/19/2021 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 32 | 6/25/2015 | 94 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 274 | 2/18/2020 | 94 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,518 | 4/27/2015 | 94 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 143 | 12/11/2014 | 93 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15,521 | 5/2/2024 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 6/9/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 187 | 1/6/2024 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 108 | 6/11/2019 | 93 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 51 | 5/8/2018 | 93 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 169 | 11/2/2023 | 93 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2,011 | 9/15/2021 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 63 | 2/18/2022 | 92 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 2/28/2016 | 92 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,369 | 3/5/2024 | 92 | $39.99 | 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 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). Portal 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). Portal on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 6). STEINS;GATE on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Universe Sandbox on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 24). Portal Reloaded on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 24). Portal Stories: Mel on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). Besiege on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 15). Kerbal Space Program on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 11). The Talos Principle on Steam. Steam Store.