Steam is one of the best platforms for discovering free games, and it’s widely acknowledged. It offers demos, occasional 100% discounts on major releases, and a diverse selection of completely free indie games. There’s always something new, making it worthwhile to check regularly.
With the abundance of free games on Steam, it can be challenging to determine which ones are truly worth your time. This can also lead to an overwhelming backlog of games that sit untouched in your Steam library, waiting for you to play them.
Currently, there is a free download available on Steam for one of the best games of 2026 so far.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors (yes, that is its full title) has just been released, and it’s easily one of the most engaging games I’ve played this year. Like Vampire Survivors before it, developer Poncle has perfected the “one more game” concept that leads to late-night gaming sessions.
“From the creators of Vampire Survivors comes a turbo-charged, turn-based roguelite deckbuilder,” states the game’s synopsis. “Deal world-ending combos, blitz through infested dungeons, and master the Turboturn to obliterate hordes of familiar foes with a chaotic hand of cards.”
One of the best aspects of Vampire Crawlers is its price point, as it retails for less than $10. However, if you need more persuasion, there’s a demo available in the Steam store that allows you to experience the game firsthand.
As of now, Vampire Crawlers boasts a 96% rating on Steam with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews. It’s easy to understand why. I purchased it for Nintendo Switch 2 over the weekend and have already lost track of time.
Additionally, it is available for free with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, so if you already have access to Game Pass, you might want to skip the demo and dive straight into the action.
If you prefer not to let Vampire Crawlers take over your life completely, there are many other free demos available on Steam. For example, there’s a demo for the highly acclaimed Capcom title Pragmata. If that doesn’t interest you, there’s also a hilarious new comedy/puzzle game called Trees Hate You that I recommend checking out. The choice is entirely yours.
