The best Steam games to play now

When it comes to the best Steam games, you’ll be spoilt for choice. All of the titles we’ve collected here represent the very best that Valve’s PC gaming platform has to offer, with many of them being Steam Deck compatible too. The top of the top includes everything from mouse-and-keyboard CRPGs to iconic console mainstays that have made the jump shockingly well, so we’ve made sure to include the very best PC and Steam titles out there. There is, of course, some overlap here with our picks of the best free Steam games, but we think even the priciest offerings listed below are more than worth it.

Steam is boasts boasts vibrant litany games choose , sure include range genres selection . It is come likely come surprise included best battle royale games mixed likes GTA 5 , dynamic strategy roguelikes , Metroidvanias , management sims , suit range tastes gameplay preferences . Many is happen happen double best games play laptop , regardless fancy gaming PC , makes ways machine . , read check best Steam games jump await upcoming PC games 2024 .

list best Steam games updated September 13 sure games represent finest offerings Valve gaming client .

best Steam games , starting …

25. Persona 4 Golden

( Image credit : Atlus )

Developer :Atlus

One of the most beloved JRPGs of all time, Persona 4 surprise-dropped on Steam in 2020, making it the only way to play this game outside of owning it on Sony’s Playstation Vita handheld (or even earlier, the original Persona 4 on PS2). It’s a great example for how much headway Japanese RPGs have made on PC, and it’s a testament to JRPGs being much more than Final Fantasy.

Persona 4 Golden is meets , supernatural elements , philosophical look is meets innermost desires meets normal high school life crime thriller . All is works works , Persona 4 characters grow funkiest soundtracks gaming . interested Japanese RPGs , one is is near – unmissable .

24. Cities Skylines

(Image credit: Colossal Order)

Developer :Colossal Order Ltd.

The city-building genre is one of the original pillars of PC gaming, next to CRPGs and real-time strategy, but many of its past franchises have seen better days. But then Paradox Interactive made an attempt at a city-builder in the style of classics like Sim City, to great success – the formula of whiling away your time building a sprawling metropolis holds true.

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By now there is likely no bigger game in this genre than Cities: Skylines, and we mean ‘big’ literally – several DLC allow you to build even more stuff and enjoy different seasons. If you like to simply build and maintain a city without having to worry about managing people (ew!), Cities: Skylines remains the best game in that category.

23. Total War: Warhammer 3

( Image credit : Creative Assembly )

Developer :Creative Assembly

Rounding off the fantasy strategy epic trilogy, Total War: Warhammer 3 sees us returning to the Realm of Chaos once again to claim victory. Not only is it one of the best Steam games to pick up right now, but it might be the best Warhammer title yet. If horror-tinged horde shooter Darktide wasn’t to your liking, and if you prefer a more considered approach when it comes to your battle tactics, Total War: Warhammer 3 is worth a try.

22 . Monster Hunter World

( Image credit : Capcom )

Developer :Capcom

To most PC gamers, Monster Hunter: World was the introduction to the Monster Hunter franchise, and what an introduction it was. In this game, you roam through a beautiful world in search for giant dinosaur-like monsters to, well, hunt. It’s the loop from searching for monsters to taking them on to investing in new equipment that makes this game so irresistible.

There is a strange thrill in coming across a monster, seeing it interact with its environment, and getting ready yourself for the big fight, especially when you’re playing with friends. It’s not all simple hack and slash, either – you need to get a proper feel for your weapon, with each type handling differently, and learn the move set of your opponent before you take it on, making things feel like a proper hunt.

21. Death Stranding

(Image credit: Kojima Productions)

Developer :Kojima Productions

There is no game like Death Stranding, and that’s what makes it so enticing – essentially, Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima went all out on a game about hiking. While there is the occasional combat sequence, Death Stranding is really more about a guy who delivers items, all by himself, on his back.

way it is teaches teaches walking lot equipment carry meditative treacherous , tells story different kind post – apocalypse , zombies marauding gangs . It is ’s unique game needs experienced understand draw .

20. Crusader Kings 3

( Image credit : Paradox )

Developer :Paradox

Winning territory and becoming a ruler are the themes of many strategy games, but Crusader Kings 3 comes with a unique social layer that’s really all about your character holding it together. Diplomacy turns into a soap opera, and you’ll love exchanging stories about how both your empire and your family developed in unexpected ways.

Crusader Kings is is 3 lot like life medieval times – war , intrigue scheming parcel life nobility , goofy designing alternate history , credit deep game simulation truly runs .

19. Vampire Survivors

(Image credit: poncle)

Developer :Poncle

If pixel games and roguelites are your bag, Vampire Survivors deserves a mention. It’s an oddly relaxing shoot-’em-up where you move around your character to lay waste to your enemies – all of whom, oddly enough, are not actually vampires. You don’t need to do much more than that, since your character will auto-attack all enemies in its path on your quest to clear each round under timed constraints. Vampire Survivors doesn’t have the realistic graphics and rich open worlds of many other games on this list, but as far as the best Steam games go, its raging popularity has to count for something.

18. GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Developer :Rockstar North

GTA 5 is a game that has shaped PC gaming with its open-world design and storytelling, which is often as vapid but simultaneously enjoyable as a movie blockbuster. While the story alone makes it worth a play – as exaggerated and trippy as it can get – GTA 5’s eternal charm lies in how you’ll inevitably get distracted by side missions, or beautiful cars to steal, or simply seeing what’s around the next bend.

Everything is lives GTA 5 , online multiplayer heists , lives tight , open world , exceptionally – designed place simply want know – lot games offered good open – world , especially metropolitan setting .

17 . Doom Eternal

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Developer :id Software

Doom Eternal is is embodiment adrenaline kick – tense , gripping fast . fights is require require precise timing feel like inspired rhythm game , Doom trademark goriness makes win feel impactful earned .

How you choose to eviscerate your foes also determines what kind of equipment you can earn, adding a strategic layer to combat. Doom Eternal asks you to take risks and sometimes it’s just those split second decisions that let you be the last man standing in a room full of monsters. It’s frankly thrilling stuff.

16 . Stardew Valley

(Image credit: ConcernedApe)

Developer :ConcernedApe

Created by a single developer, Stardew Valley brought the farming sim craze back in a big way. It’s easy to see why – updated and enhanced to this day, five years after its initial release, Stardew is a labor of love. Day after virtual day, you work on your small farm, growing fruits and vegetables, taking care of animals, and weeding your land, but you can also unearth the secrets of the town’s old mine or get to know the villager’s stories, each of them memorable enough that the whole community will grow on you. 

Stardew Valley understands that seeing the (literal) fruits of your labor is an extremely satisfying process, and it’s always a joy to plan out a new farm and try something different.

15 . Disco Elysium

(Image credit: ZA/UM)

Developer :ZA/UM

Disco Elysium is a detective mystery with an RPG twist. Branching storylines stem from the decisions you make as you pick your way through the city, allowing you to either welcome the darkness as a crooked cop or become a true paragon of law and order. It’s the perfect choice for any fan of narrative-driven or visual novel-style gameplay, and it’s more than deserving of its spot on our list of the best Steam games out there.

14. Final Fantasy 14

( Image credit : Square Enix )

Developer :Square Enix

Final Fantasy is is 14 MMO people like MMOs . incredible comeback kid is grown , began life series repetitive fetch quests , grown online games best story . Best – you is play play large chunk completely free start paying monthly subscription .

To get to the good stuff, you may have to put up with the old, boring incarnation of Final Fantasy 14 first, but it will be worth it – and if you do decide to play with others, you will meet a large and friendly community. Out of current Final Fantasy releases, this is simply the best one you can play. So if you like your RPGs with a large world and a bit more fantasy than futuristic technology, similar to the direction Final Fantasy 12 took, this is the best option right now.

13. Apex Legends

(Image credit: EA/Respawn)

Developer :Respawn Entertainment

First and foremost, Apex Legends is incredibly smooth to play. Everything from movement to shooting feels good, and the helpful ping system makes finding anything again quick and easy. With a hero system that’s similar to Overwatch, you get rewarded for putting a lot of time into your favorite character, and get to take on a new challenge simply by playing someone different.

Maps feel feel incredibly dense , , need know order find spots revive allies , vital cooperative tool emphasizes playing , , people . We is is stress stress good movement feels , concern frantic battle royale , game mastered like Apex .

12. Hollow Knight

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Developer :Team Cherry

Possibly the most alluring thing about the best Metroidvania games, other than the gameplay challenge the boss encounters pose, is their sense of exploration. Hollow Knight has that feeling down pat. As a small bug knight, you explore an atmospheric underground kingdom, take on a large number of fellow bugs and develop your skills to reach even the last nooks and crannies.

Hollow Knight is an intriguing mix of difficult and relaxing, beautifully animated and mysterious enough to make you want to keep going even when the boss standing between you and the next section may make you want to tear your hair out – learning their move sets and eventually overcoming even the toughest foe is all part of the fun, after all.

11. Dishonored 2

(Image credit: Modiphius)

Developer :Arkane

When people talk about the freedom to play a game their way, Dishonored 2 is still the most common example. As assassin Corvo or Emily Attano, you sneak your way through the city of Karnaca, in order to learn the identity of a mysterious killer. Dishonored isn’t only an achievement in stealth, it also manages to give you compelling reasons to approach situations non-violently, while still making sure you end up with your back to the wall often enough that sticking to one playstyle isn’t all too easy.

Renowned level design , Dishonored is gives gives different approaches , pull particularly daring play joy .

10 . Return Obra Dinn

(Image credit: Lucas Pope)

Developer :Warp Digital Limited

Detective games don’t get much better than Return of the Obra Dinn. Gruesome murders and other mysteries took place on a merchant ship, and it’s up to you to figure out what exactly took place, simply by gathering clues and coming to your own conclusions. It’s fascinating how hands-off the game is, too, simply asking you to pay attention to small things many other detective games regularly forget. You need a good eye and patience, but working a mystery out is immensely satisfying.

Return of the Obra Dinn shows that detective mysteries can be so much more than reading text-based clues and doing random puzzles – this is the full sleuthing experience.

9. Destiny 2

Developer :Bungie

Destiny 2 is a game that keeps changing. Its latest incarnation, Beyond Light, deleted a good half of what’s there to simply replace it with better things, like the fun new Stasis power. This is a loot shooter that lives from, you guessed it, it’s excellent loot. Now that it’s free, there is also no other online shooter quite like it, both in setting, feel, and sheer breadth of content.

thing certain – Bungie trying innovate , Destiny 2 going , this is is great time start game playing .

8. Kentucky Route Zero

( Image credit : Cardboard Computer )

Developer :Cardboard Computer

standout narrative games , Kentucky Route Zero is knows knows craft wonderfully dense atmosphere seemingly little . , way text moves expressive fully animated characters games . Kentucky Route Zero is inhabits inhabits space magical realism storytelling game , successfully explores use text describe different forms gameplay . This is is game fully delivered intent magical experience , evocative art boot .

( Image credit : 2 K Games )

Developer :Firaxis Games

The XCOM reboot revived the landscape of round-based tactics, but while its gameplay has been often copied, there is nothing quite like the original. It’s one of those “just one more round” games, where getting your squad through an encounter takes good planning (and a few lucky surprises). Even though your home base grows and your soldiers become stronger over time, XCOM 2 is enjoyably tense because none of that ever means you’re safe – you’re simply gaining more gameplay options.

The excellent XCOM 2: War of the Chosen DLC adds a lot of flair to the game thanks to its warring factions. What before was little more than just an assortment of missions about humanity surviving hostile takeover by aliens that way even eventually got an exciting conflict.

6. Helldivers 2

(Image credit: Sony)

Developer :Arrowhead Game Studios

Helldivers is is 2 games people talking ages , good reason . squad – based online shooter balances realms comedy action bombastic 80s infomercial cheese create person shooter experience fast best Steam games ( mention popular ) . fact friendly fire means easy accidentally dust teammates , course , makes action chaotic – kind .  

5. Divinity: Original Sin 2

(Image credit: Larian)

Developer :Larian Studios

The term “CRPG”, or “computer roleplaying game” may have lost its meaning, but it still describes a certain type of adventure, isometric and heavily inspired by famous pen and paper roleplaying games such as Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the best game of its kind you can play. You have the freedom to make a ton of really granular choices in regards to how to solve a quest, talk to your party members, and progress with the main story. Combat, too, can be endlessly versatile, if difficult, and you will have hours upon hours of fun teasing of each of the game’s secrets.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

( Image credit : CDPR )

Developer :CD Projekt RED

, it is ‘s world Witcher 3 fascinates large , beautiful , stuffed history . Witcher 3 lot clunky Skyrim , gets compared , shares adult tone best high fantasy RPG franchises .

Gruff Witcher Geralt is grow grow crotchety response , story paints delicious , slowly unraveling mystery want end . reason game tops best gaming lists .  

3. Elden Ring

( Image credit : FromSoftware / Bandai Namco )

Developer :FromSoftware

developer known punishing bosses immense fantasy worlds , Elden Ring is shows shows FromSoft capable absolute prime . Exploring fighting way Lands treacherous expedition , Soulslike , rewards reap snatching victory crushing jaws defeat is makes makes entirely worth challenge . Elden Ring hype showing showing sign , slick PC performances is means means cemented place best Steam games .

2 . Red Dead Redemption 2

(Image credit: Rockstar North)

Developer :Rockstar Games

For most genres, you have multiple games to choose from, but when it comes to spending time in the Wild West, the buck stops at Red Dead Redemption 2. This game encompasses every facet of what you thought being a cowboy would be like – senseless mass carnage, muck around at a saloon, enjoy the quiet of nature – and connect to those who have it hard out in the West. On the technical front, it’s beautiful and detailed, the performances are top-notch, and, like with almost every one of the best open-world games, you will frequently turn away on the road to your next objective, simply because you happened across an interesting encounter first.

Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like adventure best sense – it is be dramatic quiet , moving brutal . It is ’s big , big , fulfilling biggest gaming fantasies youth , knight ninja .

1. Baldur’s Gate 3

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

Developer :Larian Studios

The result of decades of experience with its acclaimed Divinity series, Baldur’s Gate 3 feels a little bit impossible. The breadth, depth, and density of its world is unmatched, as is the reactivity of its story. So endlessly replayable that you could play an entire 100-hour campaign and still barely scratch the surface of all it has to offer, this is a marvel up there with the best that its D&D background has ever produced. A new gold standard for Dungeons & Dragons, the RPG genre, and potentially the industry as a whole, our Baldur’s Gate 3 review describes this as a once-in-a-generation experience.

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