Steam Gains 12 Free Games, Backlogs Everywhere Groan

Steam has become a really great place to get cheap, or even totally free games across a ton of different genres.

As smaller, independent developers seek to get their releases in front of as many people as possible, they elect to offer it out at no cost, and there are some real gems to be found if you know where to look.

Over on X (formerly Twitter), the aptly named Free Steam Games shared 12 new games that have just hit the storefront, and there's a little something for everyone, regardless of your personal tastes.

Kicking off the selection on Steam this time around is Shrouded Depths, an atmospheric horror where you're stranded in the fog and murky waters on a ferry which has been stopped dead by the presence of something unknown and nefarious out there in the darkness.

Darkzan Adventure is a medieval fantasy arcade RPG, rendered in a genuinely lovely pixel art style, that tasks the player with facing off against the titular cult of Darkzan.

LunaticMoon

It can be played solo or co-op and it looks like one of the more extensive gameplay offerings on this list. It even has an idle mode if you really can't be bothered to earn your rewards.

Heading back to horror for a second, we have Im Bann Der Dunklen Jagd, a game where you and a friend take on the role of detectives.

It is specifically designed for two players, so you'll have to work as a team if you want to progress.

Maou's Crucible is a community-driven horde survivor roguelite featuring dozens of playable characters from several different creators. If you've ever wanted to directly collaborate on a project with a dedicated base around it, then this could be a great one to try out.

If you're looking for something a little more relaxing to play through, then look no further than Death Drive, an American road trip visual novel inspired by classic American Gothic fiction. The art direction in particular seems to be a highlight here, with the game currently sitting on positive reviews.

We won't go into detail on the rest, but you can also pick up cute puzzler Butterfly X, tower defense game FreakShow, metroidvania platformer Wattson the Bulb and creepy action adventure Whisper of Anima at absolutely no cost.

To get to a round dozen, Chess With Idiots, Miiridian Prime and Warriors Across Worlds are also now free to download.