There are never too many free games, so we have not one, not two, but three collections on this topic. And now it's time for a fourth, because there are enough interesting video games on the market that don't require you to pay a penny.
This time, the selection includes both world-famous projects and niche gems from the depths of Steam, designed to satisfy as many tastes as possible.
Blue Archive
Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS
Genre: role-playing game, gacha
Year: 2021
The gacha game market is extremely competitive, but Blue Archive from Korea's Nexon has managed to find its loyal audience thanks to a combination of charming visual style and thoughtful tactical gameplay. The game takes us to the futuristic academy city of Kiwitos, where we, as Sensei, lead squads of armed female students who solve a variety of problems - from rescuing seals to fighting military robots.
Unlike many competitors, Blue Archive offers not only character collection, but also an interesting combat system, where you need to correctly place the female students on the battlefield and activate their abilities in time. But the main advantage of the game is its light, comedic and often touching story, as well as incredibly cute and charismatic characters. High quality animation and a wonderful soundtrack only complement the overall pleasant impression, although, frankly, in popular gachas this will not surprise anyone. There is a high probability that even with zero knowledge about the game, you have somehow seen the art of the heroines, especially in rabbit costumes.
Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist
Platforms: Windows
Genre: adventure, comedy
Year: 2015
If you like the meta-comedy The Stanley Parable, then this short, free game with an absurdly long title from one of its creators, William Pugh, is a must-play. Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist is a concentrated dose of absurdity and fourth-wall-breaking that won't take you long to play, but will leave you with a lasting impression.
The game begins with you supposedly playing a heist game, but due to technical difficulties, another player has already taken your place. Instead, the narrator, voiced by comedian Simon Amstell, asks you to help him behind the scenes, pressing buttons and pulling levers to make the game work for the other player. It's a witty, unpredictable, and incredibly funny satire on the very nature of video games, proving that you don't need a big budget or a long runtime to create a masterpiece.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke
Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS
Genre: role-playing game, shooter, gacha
Year: 2022
At first glance, Nikke might seem like just another standard mobile gacha game with an emphasis on fanservice and waifu collecting. And that's partly true, as the game is known for its overt character designs. However, behind this facade lies a surprisingly engaging gameplay, as well as one of the darkest stories in the genre.
The main "trick" of Nikke is its combat system, which was inspired by third-person shooters with a cover system. You control a squad of android girls, shooting away from crowds of enemies. The gameplay requires both accuracy and tactical thinking. But the real surprise is the plot. The story of the struggle for the survival of humanity in an underground ark turns out to be an adult, cruel and emotional drama, raising the themes of posthumanism, free will and the price of victory.
By the way, Goddess of Victory: Nikke was developed by the same Shift Up studio, which became famous thanks to the action/adventure Stellar Blade.
Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020
Platforms: Windows
Genre: horror, anthology
Year: 2020
Nostalgia for the aesthetics of the original PlayStation has spawned an underground movement among indie horror developers. Shaky polygons, low-resolution textures, strange camera angles - what was once a technical limitation has now become an artistic tool for creating a unique atmosphere of horror. Haunted PS1 Demo Disc is the perfect way to get acquainted with this phenomenon.
This is a free collection of 17 short indie horror games from different developers, united by a common style. Each game offers a unique take on the genre: there are psychological thrillers, body horror, and survival. This is not just a collection of games, but a whole cross-section of the modern independent horror scene, so it is worth checking out at least for research reasons.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Genre: collectible card game
Year: 2019
Magic: The Gathering is the forefather of all collectible card games, a complex and deep strategy with over 30 years of history. For a long time, its digital counterparts lacked quality and accessibility - which Blizzard's Hearthstone successfully took advantage of - but with the release of Arena, the situation has changed. It is a modern, beautiful and user-friendly adaptation that is the most accessible way to get acquainted with the world of MTG.
Unlike the paper version, which can cost hundreds of dollars, Arena is completely free to play. The game generously provides beginners with starter decks and cards, allowing them to quickly get up and running and compete with other players. For Magic: The Gathering experts, it’s a great platform for practicing and participating in tournaments, and for new players, it’s the perfect opportunity to get in touch with the legend without spending a dime.
By the way, major MTG championships with considerable prizes are now held not in paper format, but in an adapted version of Magic: The Gathering Arena.
Off-Peak
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre: adventure
Year: 2015
There are games that are hard to describe in words, they have to be experienced. Off-Peak is one such case. This short project from the cellist of the musical group Archie Pelago, nicknamed Cosmo D, is a surreal journey through a gigantic, cathedral-like train station, where every detail, every character, every sound creates a unique, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
The game has no clear goal other than finding a ticket for your train. Instead, it invites you to explore a wonderful world, interact with its bizarre inhabitants, listen to great music, and simply enjoy the moment. It's not so much a game as it is an interactive art installation that immerses you in its unique, slightly disturbing, but incredibly addictive vibe. If you're tired of standard games, Off-Peak will be a breath of fresh air for you.
OpenRA
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre: real-time strategy
Year: 2007
For many gamers, the golden age of real-time strategy is associated with the classic Command & Conquer games from Westwood Studios. Unfortunately, running these games on modern computers is no easy task. That's where OpenRA comes in, an open-source fan project created to revive the classics.
OpenRA is not just a port, but a complete reconstruction of Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, Red Alert and Dune 2000 on a modern, flexible engine. The project not only allows you to play the classics on new systems, but also adds a lot of improvements: high-resolution support, a modern interface, adequate online multiplayer and much more. It is the result of many years of work by a dedicated community and the best way to get acquainted with the legendary RTS that defined the genre.
PocketDate! - Pocket Dating Simulator
Platforms: Windows
Genre: dating sim, comedy
Year: 2024
There are plenty of unique experiments to be found in the free-to-play market, and PockeDate! is one of them. It's a short and witty comedy game that's a dating simulator set inside another simulator - a fictional handheld console similar to a Tamagotchi or old Nintendo handheld games.
The entire gameplay takes place on the small screen of your virtual console. You need to communicate with a virtual girl, choose the right answers and try to win her favor. The game captivates with its charming retro style, witty dialogues and original meta-presentation. This is an ideal option if you are looking for something light, funny and unusual for one evening. And this is also a Ukrainian game from the developer TERNOX, which, of course, deserves special attention from the community.
Rec Room
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Meta Quest
Genre: social platform, metaverse
Year: 2016
Rec Room is not just a game, but an entire social platform that can be described as "the YouTube of gaming." It is a bright and friendly virtual space where players can not only communicate, but also create their own content - from simple hangout rooms to complex multiplayer games.
The main strength of Rec Room is its community and the incredible variety of content created by the players themselves. Here you can play paintball, go through a quest room, participate in a battle royale or just watch a movie with friends. The game is available on both regular platforms and in VR, which makes the experience even more immersive. It's a great place to be creative and meet new people from all over the world.
Serena
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre: adventure, psychological horror
Year: 2014
Sometimes, to tell a powerful story, you don't need large locations or long running times. Serena is a short point-and-click adventure that lasts less than an hour, but leaves a deep and disturbing impression. It is a joint project of many veterans of the genre, including the developers of the iconic Scratches.
We play as a man waiting for his wife Serena to return to their small cabin. However, he can't remember her face or the details of their life together. Exploring the single room, we gradually delve into his memories, trying to piece together the puzzle of his consciousness. This is a masterfully told story of love, loss and grief that creates a dense atmosphere and keeps you in suspense until the very end.
The Finals
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: multiplayer shooter
Year: 2023
Created by veterans of the Battlefield series, The Finals is a breath of fresh air in the online shooter genre. The game takes place in a virtual show where teams of three players compete for cash in arenas that can be completely destroyed. And it is the total destruction that is the main feature of the game.
In The Finals, you can break through a wall to create a new passage, destroy an entire building to reach enemies, or blow up the floor under your opponent's feet. This creates an incredibly dynamic and unpredictable gameplay, where no tactic works for long. The fast pace, different character classes, and the unique atmosphere of a deadly game show make The Finals one of the most vivid and original shooters in recent years. However, it is worth noting that the developers successfully played on the audience's longing for Battlefield, so with the release of Battlefield 6 in The Finals, serious problems may arise.
The Supper
Platforms: Windows
Genre: adventure, horror
Year: 2020
The Supper is another short but extremely stylish and atmospheric free game. It's a dark point-and-click adventure with horror elements that tells the story of a cook who prepares very special dishes for very unpleasant customers.
The game captivates with its pixelated visual style, which at the same time resembles gloomy children's illustrations. The puzzles here are simple, and the entire game takes 15-20 minutes to complete, but during this time it manages to create a creepy atmosphere and tell a disturbing story. It is also a good demonstration of one of the life options of an indie developer: the author of The Supper made it free to show off his skills to players and interest them, and then he sells subsequent, more complex projects for money.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS
Genre: simulator, gacha
Year: 2021
Japan knows how to create cultural phenomena, the logic of which is sometimes difficult to understand, but it is impossible not to admire their creativity. Umamusume: Pretty Derby is just such a case and one of the main gaming sensations of recent years. It is a game based on an absolutely crazy idea: we train girls who are reincarnations of famous racehorses to win races.
Despite the absurdity of the concept, Umamusume is a surprisingly deep simulator. You need to carefully plan your training, select skills and monitor the condition of your "horse girl". Each character has their own unique story, based on the biography of a real horse, and these stories are often surprisingly touching. The high quality of the animation makes the game a real visual pleasure. It received a global release, including on Steam only in the summer of 2025 - and almost immediately became a phenomenon. So you can still have time to join the peak excitement.
VRChat
Platforms: Windows, Meta Quest, Android
Genre: social platform
Year: 2014
If Rec Room is the organized and friendly Disneyland of virtual reality, then VRChat is its Wild West. It’s a social platform with almost no restrictions, where freedom, chaos, and limitless creativity reign. Here, you can be anything from an anime girl to a walking toaster.
VRChat is known for its meme culture, but behind it lies a powerful platform for communication and self-expression. Players create incredible worlds: from photorealistic locations to abstract art spaces. It is a place where you can find real friends, attend a virtual party, take part in an improvised theatrical performance or just sit silently by a virtual campfire. It is a unique cultural phenomenon and an interesting demonstration of what the future of social networks could be.
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What free games can you recommend? What do you spend the most time playing? Share your thoughts in the comments!