Steam has an abundance of free games for users to download and keep forever, no strings attached. Sure, sometimes these come with a bevy of burdensome microtransactions that you’d rather do without, but for the most part, they are genuinely free experiences made by talented developers with a passion for the craft. The only problem with this is that, for the most part, the free games available on Steam are very long and will eat up most of your free time.

Fortunately, nestled among all of the best free games on Steam are a handful of short yet extremely sweet experiences that won’t cost you a dime. From spin-offs of popular IP to adorable adventures, these short free Steam games are absolutely beatable in under five hours, making them the perfect games to play on a cozy weekend evening. So, set aside an hour or two, get comfortable, and start downloading these great short Steam games.

4

Helltaker

Helltaker is a fun, gorgeous, and a little cheeky puzzle game in which the player assumes the role of a human searching for a harem of sharply dressed demon women in Hell. While it may sound a little risqué to some, Helltaker is actually an incredibly endearing experience with creatively designed puzzles that, while not quite head-scratching, will get you thinking across its roughly one-hour runtime. It is the definition of short and sweet, and one of the highest-rated games on Steam.

With over 50,000 reviews, 97% of which are positive, Helltaker is a must-play for fans of puzzle experiences, great art, or charming stories. It is playable on the Steam Deck, making it the perfect play-on-the-go title, and it received an anniversary update back in 2021 that added a new chapter, increasing the content significantly enough to make it even more worthwhile, but still keeping it well under that 5-hour mark. Its developer, vanripper, also made another completely free game a few years later called Awaria; so, if you enjoy Helltaker and want more, this is essentially a two-for-one deal.

3

Mandagon

Mandagon is an open-world puzzle platformer on the surface, and an incredible one at that. The world itself, which is the developer’s own interpretation of Bardo, the Tibetan form of limbo, is gorgeously detailed and full of breathtaking sights designed with intricately crafted pixel art. The puzzles are simple and intuitive, yet nevertheless satisfying to solve, and the platforming is elevated by the simultaneously peaceful yet uneasy atmosphere that pervades the entire experience.

However, deep down, Mandagon is an excellent narrative game, one driven by exploration and player-led discovery. It never outright tells you exactly how you should feel or what conclusions you should come to, but instead leaves hints about the people who came before, about your tale and how it fits into it all. Mandagon weaves its roughly 40-minute-long narrative through its environments, atmosphere, and even soundtrack to an extent. It is a beautiful game and a thought-provoking experience that everyone should play at least once.

2

The WereCleaner

The WereCleaner is, as the title somewhat implies, a relatively funny and mostly stress-free experience in which players take on the role of Kyle, a janitor by day and, well, a janitor by night, just with a nasty affliction that makes him turn into a Werewolf. Sadly, even Werewolves can’t avoid work just because they’ve suddenly got a taste for human flesh, and Kyle needs to keep cleaning the office. Thus ensues a mix of Metal Gear Solid and Power Wash Simulator, as you navigate the complex office environment, cleaning everything while attempting to avoid your co-workers.

Of course, if you get caught, there’s only one option: eat them. The problem with that is it creates even more mess, and thus more for Kyle to clean. The WereCleaner is a ridiculous amount of fun, a cleverly crafted, enviably creative, and gorgeously detailed experience from start to finish that is a must-play for anyone looking for a short game to brighten up their evening. Coming in at just about an hour or so, The WereCleaner won’t take too long to beat, but there is absolutely scope for additional playthroughs for those who aren’t quite done being Kyle.

1

Streets of Kamurocho

Streets of Kamurocho is a completely free side-scrolling beat ’em up published by SEGA and co-developed by Yakuza series creator Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and indie studio Empty Clip Studios. It was designed as a promotional tie-in product to commemorate SEGA’s 60th anniversary and was made available via Steam. Sadly, the game has been delisted. However, it isn’t gone completely. It can still be added to your Steam library via this link, meaning it very much continues to be a free game on Steam that takes less than 5 hours to beat.

Streets of Kamurocho is based on Streets of Rage 2, with its singular level being a Yakuza-themed makeover of that game’s first level. Indeed, the three playable characters (Goro Majima, Kazuma Kiryu, and later Ichiban Kasuga) all play the same and use Axel Stone’s moveset and even voice clips. However, that shouldn’t prevent you from playing it, as Streets of Kamurocho is a lot of fun (in large part because Streets of Rage 2 was), and serves as a fun tie-in to the Yakuza series.

Fortunately, you don’t need to understand the complex Yakuza timeline to play Streets of Kamurocho, making it the perfect jumping-on point. Considering it’ll only take around 20 or so minutes to beat it (although the level is replayable and gets harder each time), it is a great little free Steam game to play when you’ve not got much time on your hands but still fancy diving into a quick game.

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003