Steam has a huge number of great games that dazzle you. To find a fun game for you as fast as possible, this post has made a list of the best games on Steam. And we’ve listed free and paid games separately considering the price. Read on if you are looking for Steam game recommendations.
Best Games on Steam
There are tens of thousands of games on Steam that are free or paid. In this post, we will recommend a few of the hottest games at the moment for each:
Best Free Games on Steam
- Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 is short for CS2, the latest installment in the Counter-Strike series. It is a free upgrade to CS: GO and the biggest technological leap in Counter-Strike history. It is built on the Source 2 engine, modernized with realistic physics rendering, state-of-the-art networking, and upgraded community studio tools.
- Enhanced graphics, improved physics, and updated gameplay mechanics.
- Updated a precise and responsive Sub-Tick system.
- Available for free to play.
- Redesigned map for better visuals and gameplay balance.
- PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, released in 2017, is a popular battle royale game developed by PUBG Studios and published by Krafton. It is played on PC and mobile devices.
Gamers will need to land strategic locations, loot weapons and supplies, and survive to be the last survivor on each battlefield. Players can also team up with others to play the game.
- Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is a free game and team-based PvP shooter released in 2024. It’s developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel Games. Users can assemble a Marvel team and formulate countless strategies to fight with rivals in the Marvel universe.
- Colorful Marvel cast with dynamic hero synergy.
- Fast and fun 6v6 action with ever-changing gameplay dynamics.
- Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a tactical competitive game created by Respawn. In the game, players take on the role of starfighters shooting on alien battlefields. Though the game was released in 2019, it came to Steam in 2020.
There are 18 hero characters in this game, and three players compete in teams of one. The first season of the year starts in March, and each season brings content such as new weapons, characters, and skins, as well as a season pass.
- Warframe
Warframe is a third-person shooter focusing on PVE released in 2013, an indie game developed by Digital Extremes in Canada. It has a sci-fi setting with a strong narrative and is praised for its smooth gameplay and constant improvements.
- Customization deeply for different playstyles.
- Team up with others to fight enemies across space.
- A mix of parkour movement, gunplay, and melee.
Best Paid Games on Steam
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The game costs $59.99 on Steam PC. It is a first-person action role-playing game set in 15th-century Bohemia. The game was released on February 4, 2025.
In this game, players can explore the detailed open world, engage in realistic battles, and make choices that affect the narrative. New gameplay features include the introduction of crossbows and early guns, and expanded dialog options.
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
This game is a 4X turn-based strategy game and was released on February 11, 2025. In this game, players will oversee the development of human civilization from early settlements to advanced cultures, making strategic decisions in the areas of city building, technological research, and diplomacy.
It has three different versions: Standard, Deluxe, and Founders version. The price is:
- Standard Version: $69.99.
- Deluxe Version: $99.99.
- Founders Version: $129.99.
- Avowed
Avowed is an action role-playing game that utilizes first-person perspective gameplay. Players can use magic, melee weapons, and firearms to defeat enemies. The player can also interact with other NPCs as they explore the game world.
Here are two versions of it, Standard and Premium. The price is $69.99 and $89.99 respectively.
- HELLDIVERS 2
HELLDIVER 2 is a cooperative third-person shooter released on February 8, 2024, by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Players take on the role of an elite team of Hell Divers battling a growing alien threat in the galaxy. They use a variety of weapons and strategies to accomplish their mission.
- Regular Edition: $39.99.
- Super Citizen Edition: $59.99.
- Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is a 2001 horror game released by Konami and is the second installment in the remake series. In this game, you will return to Silent Hill with the protagonist James following a letter from his late wife.
Along the way, you will meet many characters that will make you nervous, and the background sounds and environment renderings create a scary atmosphere.
- Standard Version: $69.99.
- Deluxe Version: $79.99.
What Is Steam?
Steam is a digital distribution service and storefront developed by Valve. It’s one of the largest digital distribution platforms for PC games. It can be used for purchasing, downloading, and playing video games.
In the beginning, Steam was only available for Windows in 2003, providing automatic game updates for Valve’s games. It wasn’t until 2005 that it expanded to start distributing games. It also offers social features, cloud saves, game streaming, and a marketplace for in-game items.
The key features of Steam are:
- A handheld gaming console that runs SteamOS.
- The gaming progress can be synced across devices, and games can be streamed.
- A community used for friends’ chat and user reviews.
- Frequent sales bring huge discounts on popular games.
- Abundant game libraries are provided for users.
What Can You Do If Your Steam Doesn’t Launch?
When you are ready to start playing these Steam games, you may encounter the “Steam game not launching” issue. We present you some ways to fix it:
- Reinstall Steam: Reinstalling the game is the quickest solution to replace any missing or corrupted files.
- Administrator Permissions: Sometimes the game won’t launch because you don’t have the permission to run Steam. Running Steam with administrator privileges can fix it.
- Check for Updated Devices: Check if your device is the latest version, if not, update to the latest version first. Installing an updated device with the latest version can resolve unbootable issues caused by compatibility issues.
- Integrity of the Game: Incomplete game files are also one of the reasons why Steam won’t launch. Repair the game files by verifying them with Steam’s built-in features.
- Regional Restrictions: Due to different regional policies on game introduction and management, some games may not start in your region. Changing your IP address with LightningX VPN can solve this problem.
First of all, go to the official Steam Games page to check which regions the game you want to play is available in. LightningX VPN offers more than 2,000 servers in more than 50 countries, so you can switch between them at will.
It also offers a fast Internet connection with no bandwidth limit, so you’ll never get a lag even when you’re playing Steam games. If you’re interested, LightningX VPN also has a free trial plan, so you can try it out.
Final Words
This post lists the best free and paid Steam games respectively, and how to fix Steam not launching. If you still don’t decide to play which Steam game, try the games recommended in this post first, and you will not be disappointed.
