Best Lore-Rich Games on Steam
Steam currently has 1,589 Lore-Rich 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. Lore-Rich game rankings were last updated on 3/17/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free lore-rich games on Steam
- Best lore-rich Steam Deck games
- Best lore-rich Linux games on Steam
- Best lore-rich Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. 东北之夏
DongBeiZhiXia (a summer in the northeast of China)is a free visual novel, which tells the story that the protagonist followed parents' wishes to make one's living in Shenyang, met two online anchors Huniu and Daojiang by chance, and experience affairs one after another with Shamate.
东北之夏 holds the #1 spot for "best Lore-Rich game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,687 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,430 positive reviews and 257 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.
2. A Date with Death
Fight against & romance the one hunting for your soul in A Date with Death, a romance chat simulator where you date(?) the Grim Reaper himself. Create your own character, decorate your apartment, and chat away with the charming yet dangerous Grim Reaper through text and video calls.
A Date with Death has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,425 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,342 positive reviews and 83 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 A Date with Death on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/7/2023 |
| Franchise | Two and a Half Studios |
| Developer | Two and a Half Studios |
| Publisher | Two and a Half Studios |
| Steam App Id | 2415010 |
3. Murders on the Yangtze River
"Murders on Yangtze River" is an Ace Attorney-like detective game that takes you on a journey through early 20th century China as you solve a series of intriguing cases. Use your logical reasoning and deduction skills to uncover clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mysteries.
Murders on the Yangtze River has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,757 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,503 positive reviews and 254 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. At the moment, it is possible to play Murders on the Yangtze River on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 1/31/2024 |
| Developer | OMEGAMES STUDIO |
| Publisher | OMEGAMES STUDIO |
| Steam App Id | 1746030 |
5. Cruelty Squad
An immersive power fantasy simulator with tactical stealth elements set in a sewage infused garbage world
Cruelty Squad has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,997 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 16,469 positive reviews and 528 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 not possible to play or run Cruelty Squad on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 6/16/2021 |
| Developer | Consumer Softproducts |
| Publisher | Consumer Softproducts |
| Steam App Id | 1388770 |
6. Slay the Princess
You're here to slay the princess. Don't believe her lies.
Slay the Princess has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 10,416 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,134 positive reviews and 282 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.39 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 | $14.39 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2023 |
| Franchise | Black Tabby Games |
| Developer | Black Tabby Games |
| Publisher | Black Tabby Games |
| Steam App Id | 1989270 |
7. Scarlet Hollow
From the developers of Slay the Princess, return to the crumbling coal town your family built generations ago for the funeral of your aunt. You won't be able to save everyone. You might not even be able to save yourself. Welcome home.
Scarlet Hollow has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,984 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,968 positive reviews and 16 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 | 6/11/2021 |
| Franchise | Black Tabby Games |
| Developer | Black Tabby Games |
| Publisher | Black Tabby Games |
| Steam App Id | 1609230 |
8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
EPIC FANTASY REBORN The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 315,685 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 299,434 positive reviews and 16,251 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 11/10/2011 |
| Developer | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Steam App Id | 72850 |
9. Tinykin
Catch hundreds of tinykin and use their unique powers to bring Milo back to his home planet and back to normal size!
Tinykin has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,014 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,985 positive reviews and 29 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 | 8/30/2022 |
| Developer | Splashteam |
| Publisher | tinyBuild |
| Steam App Id | 1599020 |
10. Homicipher: Prologue
Homicipher is an adventure horror game where you’ll decipher a language, fall in love and escape. Players will face various horrifying men in this strange world. Your aim is to decipher their language and eventually find a way to escape. Meanwhile, a peculiar feeling also starts to bloom.
Homicipher: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Lore-Rich games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,211 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,202 positive reviews and 9 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, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 6/1/2023 |
| Franchise | Gamera Games |
| Developer | 八名木（yatsunagi） |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| Steam App Id | 2423320 |
More Lore-Rich Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Lore-Rich games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 9 | 1/9/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 134 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 223 | 1/31/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 11/17/2017 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 99 | 6/16/2021 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 76 | 10/23/2023 | 94 | $14.39 | Steam Charts | |
 | 15 | 6/11/2021 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 992 | 11/10/2011 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 13 | 8/30/2022 | 94 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 6/1/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 179 | 11/20/2023 | 93 | $15.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,240 | 4/11/2016 | 93 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 6/9/2023 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 14 | 9/9/2021 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 112 | 4/26/2023 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 70 | 12/4/2023 | 93 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 199 | 11/2/2023 | 93 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 4/2/2019 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 7/8/2022 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 207 | 6/10/2022 | 92 | $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. (2024, March 17). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 17). 东北之夏 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 17). Murders on the Yangtze River on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 28). Touhou Tenkuushou ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons. on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 29). Cruelty Squad on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 15). Slay the Princess on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 13). Scarlet Hollow on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 28). The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 25). Tinykin on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 26). Homicipher: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.