Good recent free or free-to-play games on Steam 7/16/24

[ZedClampet]

I made the cut-off 95 percent positive since that's what Steam calls Overwhelmingly Positive (but you have to have a certain number of reviews to qualify). A couple of these are not complete games but are first chapters or a free version of a full game (generally means there are a few unnecessary things left out). I did not include prologue games, as they are often uneven in how much of a game you actually get.

Arcanists on Steam

Players take turns in a race against the clock, utilising an array of spells to defeat their opponents in battle! Victory is accomplished by becoming the 'last man standing' (or last team) after all other players have been reduced to zero hitpoints.

store.steampowered.com

95 percent: Free-to-Play: Looks like multiplayer Dig Dug to me.

Illusion Carnival on Steam

A lost soul wanders through a whimsical, eerie pop-up book like amusement park. Dive into fun-filled stages, encounter unique characters, fend off spirit erosion, and uncover the park's hidden secrets. The enchanting yet dark Illusion Carnival begins now.

store.steampowered.com

98 percent: Free (it's the first chapter only): RPG/Psychological horror. I LOVE the graphics.

Save 10% on Horticular on Steam

You have been magically summoned by mysterious gnomes to restore a long-lost garden. Attract adorable animals, build a lush environment, and immerse yourself in this relaxing garden-builder. Will you manage to reclaim the wasteland or succumb to a looming corruption?

store.steampowered.com

95 percent: Free-to-Play. Looks like a mobile game, but people seem to like it.

Ale & Tale Tavern: First Pints on Steam

This is the free version of the game "Ale & Tale Tavern". Get ready for a thrilling mix of genres: a cooperative, first-person, open-world fantasy tavern simulator, action, fishing, hunting, exploration, and completing fun and diverse quests. And, of course, COOKING!

store.steampowered.com

95 percent: Free: Adventuring and tavern running.

The Powder Toy on Steam

The Powder Toy is a classic physics sandbox game, which simulates air pressure and velocity, heat, gravity and a countless number of interactions between different substances

store.steampowered.com

98 percent: Free: Arcade-like physics (and other things) simulator

Nightmare Kart on Steam

Zoom through gothic streets in this horror themed vehicular combat racing game!

store.steampowered.com

97 percent: Free: Gothic racing. @Frindis another one you might be able to make a tournament out of

[Nightmare Files] Clap Clap on Steam

Clap Clap is a short indie horror game that puts you in the shoes of a house sitter, experiencing strange occurrences in a seemingly ordinary home.

store.steampowered.com

96 percent: Free: Horror

 

[Frindis]

@ZedClampet Thank you, I'll check out when we do the Death Rally competition.

 

[neogunhero]

Nightmare Kart is an awesome little game that I recommend anyone with an internet in kart-racers to give a shot. I beat the main “story mode” within about 2-3 hours, though there are lots of other game modes as expected in these kinds of games. I felt like I’ve had my fair share of it by that point though, however if they ever add online multiplayer to it I’ll jump back in. Controls were a bit janky at launch but I believe there has been updates making the controls tighter.