Steam new free game has a 94% positive rating already

This brand new Steam title looks way too pretty to be given away for free, but there’s a pretty good reason for that.

Free games pop up on Steam on an hourly basis. The problem is, there’s usually a good reason as to why someone isn’t charging for something.

In the case of free games, it’s usually because said game is merely free-to-play (so it has microtransactions), or it’s so terrible that the developers can’t charge for it. Sometimes, it’s both.

Today’s example is neither, however, because this one is microtransaction-free, and, by all accounts, it’s actually a bit of a banger.

Curyeux is a puzzle platforming adventure game from developers Campus ADN 2024-2025 and publisher Campus ADN that sees you "dive into the mind" of the "tormented" painter Lucienne.

One look at the screenshots should tell you everything you need to know about this one, because this game looks absolutely stunning.

That’s probably why it’s managed to garner a 94% positive review score on Steam. Don’t take my word for it though, because here’s what the reviewers on the platform have to say about it.

“Liked this one. Well balanced, full of art, platformer that needs a bit of thinking”, writes Steam reviewer shadowarf.

“I wasn't expecting much, but this looks like an interesting narrative game. From what I've seen so far, the game looks beautiful”, writes Steam user Crossbow Legend.

Of course, that doesn’t really answer the question I alluded to at the start; why is a game as polished and as beautiful as this being given away for free?

Well, that’s because it’s a student game.

Campus ADN is a French video game school, and they give all of the projects that their students work on away for free through Steam.

I think that’s probably because it would be somewhat unethical for them to charge for the game and rake in profits (when they’re already charging the students for their tuition), but it’s also good for their students in the long run to get their work out there.

Seems like the class of 2024 - 2025 has some future stars in its midst too, if the quality of Curyeux is anything to go by.