As we have come to Friday again, here is another assortment of free games to consider on Steam! This week has among the hardest to categorize that I’ve seen thus far. Some of the prominent genres include a variety of platformers, adventures, exploration-related, and simulation games.
As is per usual, all of the images below come from the respective game’s Steam page.
I hope you find something fun to play this weekend!
The Adventures of Candle Boy (3D Action Platformer)
This is a cute 3d platformer with puzzle elements where you are a kid in search of treasure that you want to steal from a giant. To do this, you have actually turned yourself into a candle. Don’t ask me why! According to one of reviews it seems like it’s a fun little game. It may not have the greatest narrative, but it seems enjoyable. I also enjoy the art style of this title!
Byte Wars (PvP Strategy Shooter)
This is a player versus player game where you are trying to shoot a missile at your opponent while also having to account for the gravitational pull of the different objects in space. Note: Be aware that this is a purely PvP title, with no enemy AI. While there is online multiplayer, thee isn’t many who are playing the game. I still like the idea around it, and hopefully the developer will continue to fine tune it so that it can be played with one player against an AI opponent in the future.
Changelog (Simulation Action Adventure)
I definitely wanted to showcase this title when I saw the trailer for it and read the description. It is a game that is about a group of students who tried to make the best adventure game ever in 2016, but eventually failed in their project. What we have here is supposed to be a record of the different builds of the game along with the ability to chat with one of the people who worked on it back then. It seems to be a simulation as well, as you explore the development logs from 2016 and check out their wiki pages. Eventually you learn what happened and why it failed. I thought it sounded really fascinating, and especially for those who are interested in game development. As the trailer says, it also allows you to play with the different builds of the game which is some sort of action adventure title.
Curyeux (Puzzle Platformer)
In this fascinating 3D puzzle platformer you play as Lucienne who is a tormented painter. You travel through dreamlike, surreal locations trying to solve puzzles. One thing I like about it is the art style, which I thought was really neat. I also enjoyed the sound design, too! Do be aware that the trailer is in French (I think), however the game does support multiple languages, including English. 100 percent of 13 reviews are positive.
Don’t Let Me Fade (Adventure)
An interactive fiction game in which memories are really important while also being in a place where there is no time. It seems to be a title where you explore areas, click on items to progress the story, and learn more about the world. It features a pixel art style with an emotional and intriguing story. 100% of 55 reviews are positive!
The Dreamcatcher (2D Platformer)
Admittedly, this title is said to be a proof-of-concept, so it’s probably not very long. Still, I like the look of it and it seems to include platformer and adventure aspects as well. The trailer shows you cutting down trees and obtaining wood from them, so I guess there’s a crafting aspect as well. It doesn’t have many reviews, but I wanted to show it off anyway!
Elf Miner (Metroidvania)
The graphics may not be amazing, but I like the theme of this little metroidvania title that is set around the holiday of Christmas. The music seems nice as well, along with different gameplay concepts such as time trials and collectathon aspects as well.
The End of the Sun: Prologue (Mystery Adventure)
For those who like first-person mystery adventure games that take place in different cultures, then this one is really fascinating! In it, the setting is a Slavic fantasy world where time travel is big part of the game. The graphics are really nice and impressive, but what really grabbed me was the singing that was present in the trailer which made me want to show it off. 96% of 31 reviews are positive!
Forest Rites (Card Battler)
Here you play as some sort of animal in a forest while fighting others with martial arts skills through the use of a card battle system. This doesn’t have a lot of reviews, but I do kind of like the concept behind it and I am curious about the gameplay.
Horizon Valley (Side-scrolling Runner)
This is an endless runner game where as you play it repeatedly, you’re able to unlock more cosmetics of how your character looks, ships, and the like. The reason I’m including it is because I like the art style a bit! Even though it doesn’t seem to do very much stuff that is innovative for the genre, I still find it to be an interesting looking game.
INSERT GAME HERE (First-person Adventure?)
It’s hard for me to say a lot about this game due to its description. Still, it seems to be a first-person adventure or shooter with a semi abstract art style. Comedy is also a big part of the game, with story and character being other big components of it. 90% of 11 reviews are positive!
Legion TD 2 (Multiplayer Tower Defense)
Originally a Warcraft 3 mod, this is now its own standalone title in the tower defense genre. It has been in development for several years and according to the sales page, it has thousands of players each month. It is currently free on the Epic Games Store this week!
God Fishing (Idle Clicker Puzzle)
This seems almost like a first-person point and click adventure game, but according to the tags, it’s actually an idle clicker where you are supposed to discover the society of some fishes and the god they serve, or something like that. The reason that I am including it is because I like the minimalistic black and white art style. Plus, the fact that they ask questions about certain topics that is also intriguing. This is one of the first idle clickers I’ve shared on Friday’s Free Games!
Ice Dodo (3D Platformer Racer)
As a first-person parkour runner game this is a bit distinctive in the sense that it has a very simple 3d aesthetic. As such, the graphics look a bit like before the PlayStation 1 era graphically, but with a smoother frame rate. Something else that makes it stand out is the large number of levels (over 600!) and 30 different cups to compete in. I also really like that while the trailer is playing, it specifically mentions the name of level and cup that is being shown. Plus, many of the stages have been made by the community!
Janitori (First-person Action Adventure)
Oddly enough, this is a first-person adventure game simulation where you are a janitor who is trying to clean up a museum after dark. However, the place is infested with creatures who want to harm you! it reminds me of one of those clean up simulation games. According to one of the reviews, it is also a good game if you want to dabble into the horror genre so that is intriguing as well. I like the lighting effects and the tone of the game.
Kip 2 : Beyond Boundaries (Precision Platformer)
If you like cute, but brutally difficult precision platformers, then this one might be right up your alley! It is a game that has nice 8-bit aesthetics and an overworld that you get to explore. But once you get to the stages, it turns into a side scrolling precision platformer where you play as a chicken! People say it is extremely difficult, but be careful not to start the game on hard mode! It looks like most of the reviews are positive!
Knight Crawler (Dungeon Crawler)
As an overhead dungeon crawler with procedural generated levels, this doesn’t look like much. However, it is clear that quite a bit of work has gone into this game, and it seems to have a number of ways to modify your character as you play. That makes me hope that the gameplay is good! Also, it is developed by a small team, so I wanted to show my support to them! A number of the reviews for it are positive.
Lest – Deluxe 24 (Hide and Seek?)
I’m including this game because it’s really weird. Apparently, it’s a surreal hide and seek game where you go through different stages of denial, acceptance, resentment, and so on. As you doing so, you are also trying to hunt someone down. All the while your house is decomposes over time (huh?), and I have no idea how that is connected with the gameplay. Essentially, I watched the trailer and I found it oddly fascinating, so I wanted to include it here.
Maze (Parkour Exploration)
As an overhead parkour exploration game with speed running elements. This game has a number of things going for it, one of which is that significant thought about the game’s design has gone into it. I appreciate this! As is shown on the Steam page, you are supposed to make your way through one screen to another as quickly as possible without dying. It seems like you are trying to navigate around beams of light that will kill you if they touch you. It reminds me of games like Super Meat Boy with its focus on speed, precision, and difficulty.
MOLD (Exploration Simulation)
This is an extremely short experience where you play as a bug in a dying colony underground in the sewers. You go around and find the corpses of dead bug kin and give them to the queen so she may live longer. Apparently the graphics, the graphics and sound look incredible and it is a really impressive title that can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Many of the players wished that the game was longer and more fleshed out, but they’ve really enjoyed it. 88% of 34 reviews are positive!
Playing With The Big Boys (Point and Click Narrative)
I really like the art style of this game as it seems to take place in the early 20th century. It is a point and click action adventure where you are a kid going through town trying to have freedom where every choice seems to take you deeper into a trap. The trailer shows gameplay of obtaining items and beating up thugs. I’m quite curious about this one!
Purrates (Overhead Point and Click Adventure)
This is a cute overhead adventure game where you play as a captain of a bunch of pirate cats! At least you were captain. Now you are trying to get your crew back together. This is done through crafting items and other means. Reviews say it can completed in about 15 minutes, but I have to say it is very cute and charming looking!
PyramidValley: Reborn (City Builder)
Apparently this is a remade version of a game that was popular in the past that is sort of like SimCity on a small scale in Egypt. It looks like a fun game! Many of the reviews said things like, “Oh, I loved this game as a kid!” I really like the music in the trailer too, it fits the tone of the game’s setting. 96% of 29 reviews are positive!
Rezarus (PvP Tank Battle)
Even though this is a player versus player game that is designed to be like an old-school game with better graphics, I felt compelled to showcase it because the reviews are are rather enthusiastic! It reminds me of Battlezone, but with way more modern graphics and tanks that can hover and fly as they shoot against each other. Again, it is a PvP with teams of multiple sizes available, so it won’t be for everyone. Yet, it sounds like the developer is responsive to feedback so that is great to hear! Hopefully it continues to find an audience!
Ruby and The Lost Crystals (Puzzle Adventure)
For those who enjoy bright, colorful puzzle adventure games this may be interesting. I really liked the artistic design of this title, especially considering that there’s a lot of games that are really dark and moody. This is in contrast with those by its nice and pleasant tone! You solve puzzles in various environments with the use of two different characters. This might involve moving beams of light, flipping switching, using projectiles, and more. People say that it has potential and so I wanted to highlight it!
Skull Hotel (First-person Horror)
A first person 3D game where you clean hotel rooms, but there are also monsters waiting in the rooms to kill you. I like the premise and the fact that it is a different kind of location than what I’m used to in these kinds of titles. 90% of 41 years are positive!
Space Alien Hangar (3D Adventure)
In this third person 3D sci-fi adventure game, you explore an alien space hanger with little puzzles and tasks to do. Some include fixing a broken shuttle engine or powering up a hover jack, among others. It’s supposed to be charming and I hope it’s good! Note: Artwork was started using AI, but then edited by the developer.
Touhou Crawl (Roguelike Dungeon Crawler)
Touhou is a very popular series of shmups that also has a variety of fan-made games that are related to the its world and storyline. In this one, you play a classic roguelike game with simple graphics and interface, along with a grid-based movement. It looks like something that may be from the mid eighties, and I actually kind of like the look of it! 96% of 31 reviews are positive!
Trapped (2D Puzzle Platformer)
Although with really basic art design, this seems to be a puzzle platformer where you walk around in rooms and try to break blocks. With the metaphor being that you are trapped in a box in your life and you need to break out of it. In the reviews, they say that it has a good message and that it is worth playing even with its simplicity. In fact, the simple art style and the music really actually seems to come together so that this is a pretty relaxing experience, but it prompts you to think about your life whenever you’re done with it. 100% of 10 reviews are positive!
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