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The Best Free Steam Games for 2020

It's hard to beat free, but finding no-cost games worth playing can be tedious work. We've selected the best free Steam games so that you can get right to gaming.

Jeffrey L. Wilson
 & Jeffrey L. Wilson Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Overview

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Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Related:
Valve Overhauls Steam Tags, Kills Off Dozens But Adds New Categories, TooThe Best Free PC Games for 2026The Best Free PC Games for 2026The Best Free PC Games for 2026The Best Free Steam Games for 2026
  • DCS World: Steam Edition

    DCS World: Steam Edition

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More DCS World: Steam Edition Review
  • Paladins

    Paladins

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
    Learn More Paladins Review
  • Path of Exile

    Path of Exile

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
    Learn More Path of Exile Review
  • Planetside 2

    Planetside 2

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
    Learn More Planetside 2 Review
  • Shadowverse CCG

    Shadowverse CCG

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More Shadowverse CCG Review
  • Smite (for PC)

    Smite (for PC)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Fun and fast-paced, third-person MOBA action.
      • Solid character design.
      • Deep roster.
      • Multiple game modes.Good tutorials to help you learn the basics.
      • Server issues.
      • No cross-platform play.
      • Newest update brings some irksome gameplay changes.
      • Many skins can only be acquired with gems or not in-game currency.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Boasting thrilling game play and some decidedly non-MOBA elements, Smite is the MOBA for those who don't like MOBA. The developers need to address the recent server issues, though.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Games
    Product Category Gaming
    Product Category PC
    Product Category Software
    Product Price Type List
    Get It Now
    Learn More Smite (for PC) Review
  • War Thunder (for PC)

    War Thunder (for PC)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
    Learn More War Thunder (for PC) Review
  • Warframe (for PC)
    Best for Ninja Lovers

    Warframe (for PC)

    3.5 Good

    Pros & Cons

      • Addictive, slash-and-shoot gameplay
      • Tremendous amount of content
      • Fantastic, highly polished visuals
      • It's a grind-heavy game
      • Incorporates oddball gameplay towards the end

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Warframe is a shockingly polished free-to-play action game that boasts great visuals, gameplay, and replay value. Unfortunately, grinding and odd design choices bog down the late-game experience.

    Specs & Configurations

    ESRB Rating M for Mature
    Games Genre Action
    Games Platform PC
    Get It Now
    Learn More Warframe (for PC) Review
  • World of Tanks Blitz

    World of Tanks Blitz

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More World of Tanks Blitz Review
The Best Free Steam Games for 2020

Compare Specs

Select Up To 3Select Up To 2
Your Selections
DCS World: Steam Edition

Paladins

Paladins

Path of Exile

Path of Exile

Our Pick
DCS World: Steam Edition
DCS World: Steam Edition
Paladins
Paladins
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
Planetside 2
Planetside 2
Shadowverse CCG
Shadowverse CCG
Smite (for PC)
Smite (for PC)
War Thunder (for PC)
War Thunder (for PC)
Warframe (for PC)
Warframe (for PC)
World of Tanks Blitz
World of Tanks Blitz
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
DCS World: Steam Edition
DCS World: Steam Edition
Paladins
Paladins
Path of Exile
Path of Exile
Rating
4.0 Excellent
3.5 Good
Best For
Best for Ninja Lovers
Product Price Type
List
Product Category
Games, Gaming, PC, Software
Games Platform
PC
Games Genre
Action
ESRB Rating
M for Mature

Buying Guide: The Best Free Steam Games for 2020

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About Our Expert

Jeffrey L. Wilson

Jeffrey L. Wilson

Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming

Since 2004, I've written about consumer tech for many publications, including 1UP, Laptop, Parenting, Sync, Wise Bread, and WWE. I now apply that knowledge and skill set as the managing editor of PCMag's apps and gaming team.

The Technology I Use

As a member of the App & Gaming team, I use a wide variety of apps and services. Google Drive is an essential file-syncing service for moving documents between team members in this work-from-home era. Scrivener has been an invaluable writing tool as I rework my fiction manuscript. YouTube Premium and YouTube TV deliver hours of entertainment (though I only use the latter service during the F1 and NBA playoff seasons).

In terms of hardware, I use a Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 laptop for work and an Origin PC tower for playing PC games. I also have a Steam Deck, which lets me play my favorite titles under a shade tree. Of course, I have a smartphone, and the Google Pixel 9a is my handset of choice.

My main input devices are the Das Keyboard 4 Professional and Logitech MX Vertical Ergonomic Mouse, though I bust out the Hori Fighting Commander Octa or Hori Fight Stick Alpha when mixing it up in fighting games. I have a thing for arcade sticks. I collect Neo Geo AES games, too, but only if I can find the carts on the (relative) cheap.

For video and music consumption, I fire up my Lenovo Tab P11; it has a sharp screen and great Dolby Atmos-powered speakers. My Kindle Paperwhite has received much use, too. I have a standalone, Sony Blu-ray player connected to a TCL television when it's time to go full cinephile. I'm also a vinyl guy, so the Bluetooth-enabled Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT keeps the wax spinning.

My first computer was a Commodore 64. Long live BASIC and retro computers!

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