When it comes to PC games, Steam is arguably one of the top storefronts, and of course, we had to pick fifty of our favorite best games from there. From the likes of Dishonored, Dying Light, and the Batman Arkham collection to Hotline Miami and Hades, among many others, we have a stellar collection of Steam games here for you. With Steam sales happening periodically throughout the year, you should know which games to add to your wishlist or get right now. So, without further ado, let’s look at the 30 best Steam games that you should play in 2024.
Remember that I have considered various criteria before adding games to this list. While one game might rank higher for you, it might not for me. Another thing to consider is that graphics are an afterthought while making the list. As long as the game is fun to play, they deserve a spot on this list. With that said, let’s dive right in!
1. Black Mesa
Half-Life by Valve changed gaming in a turbulent way. While the second Half-Life and its episodes paved the way for features like realistic game physics, the first Half-Life gave us the gift called the GoldSRC engine. Unfortunately, the original Half-Life never got a Source engine treatment by Valve. Crowbar Collective, a group of modders turned developers banded together to remake the first Half-Life. And well, that resulted in Black Mesa.
As mentioned above, Black Mesa is a source engine remake for the first Half-Life, adding every feature that the engine brings with itself. Black Mesa also deviated from the original game by making subtle level design choices, giving a unique spin to it while not losing the Half-Life identity. So, this is worth picking up if you never played Half-Life. Or, if you have played it before, why not replay it again?
Buy Black Mesa ($19.99)
2. Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an action beat-em-up game and canonically the first entry in the long-running series by SEGA. It features a gripping storyline involving two of the series’ staples — Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, during the bubbling 80s in Japan. The game features fun combat, various side activities, and quirky side-quests. Furthermore, Yakuza 0 features the popular karaoke song “Baka Mitai.” If you ask me, that alone warrants a playthrough of the title. Because of its fun gameplay and gripping story, we had to add Yakuza 0 to our best Steam games list.
Buy Yakuza 0 ($19.99)
3. XCOM 2
A tactical-strategy game, XCOM2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed XCOM: Enemy Unknown. While the previous title put you in the shoes of the commander of a secret organization battling against an alien invasion, XCOM 2 makes you control the same organization. Only this time, the aliens are running the Earth, and you and XCOM have become fugitives. The game has an active timer system, making most missions time-sensitive. Furthermore, the game features character permadeath, giving a sense of urgency to the gameplay.
XCOM 2 is a top-notch title that warrants a playthrough, and a Steam game that made me obsessed with tactical turn-based combat titles.
Buy XCOM 2 ($23.93)
4. Fallout: New Vegas
While Bethesda’s Fallout 3 gained a polarising reception among the fans, Fallout: New Vegas, a standalone spin-off, gained critical fame. And for good reasons. While the gameplay of first/third-person shooting remains the same, and most of the features from Fallout 3 are there, its writing sets this game apart. Fallout: New Vegas puts you in the shoes of a courier in the Mojave desert, searching for answers after they get ambushed and shot in the head by a mysterious group of people.
What ensues is them getting entangled in a civil war between two factions and venturing into the oddities in a post-nuclear Vegas. The game’s brilliant writing and exploration make it a must-play title in our best Steam games list. However, much like every Bethesda title, this game requires modding to run properly. Hence, we suggest following this guide to fix your game before exploring the Mojave desert.
Buy Fallout: New Vegas ($9.99)
5. Deep Rock Galactic
Rock and Stone! This quote will become all too familiar as you start teaming up with your friends and clear multiple mining expeditions in the Deep Rock Galactic, a co-op tactical mining shooter. The goal in this game is simple – pick a job, assemble a team of dwarves, complete your mining expeditions, and drink beer upon success. You get to choose between four unique classes before each journey and venture into a procedurally generated cave system, which is fully destructible.
Deep Rock Galactic has amassed a lot of goodwill over the years, and anyone who enjoys co-op games will tell you that this is the go-to title if you have friends to spend some time mining. And if you do not, fret not, as the game has one of the most helpful communities.
Buy Deep Rock Galactic ($29.99)
6. Hades
Hades is a roguelike action game that puts you in the shoes of Zaegreus, the son of Hades, as he tries to escape the underworld realm. Battle your way through a changing labyrinth filled with mythological creatures, powerful weapons, and divine abilities.
Furthermore, its rich narrative and stunning visuals will enamor you while playing Hades for the first time. Hades has become a universally loved videogame and for the right reasons. There is hardly anything to complain about, and the gameplay loop is satisfying to ensure that you return to it very often.
Buy Hades ($24.99)
7. Dishonored
Stealth-action game with immersive sim features, Dishonored puts you in the shoes of Corvo Attano, a falsely accused bodyguard of an Empress in a distant European isle country. An island nation suffering from the rat plague and a supposed coup, Corvo becomes a masked assassin, taking out people responsible for falsely framing him. He also uses the supernatural powers given by the elusive Outsider, allowing him to traverse the world in various ways.
Dishonored lets you decide on the approach, giving you multiple tools to experiment and have fun with. This results in two people having different gameplay experiences from each other. Furthermore, if you want to play the game like a traditional stealth game, then do not opt into the Outsider’s powers and boons. The sheer choice the game provides you makes Dishonored a great title.
Buy Dishonored ($19.99)
8. Devil May Cry: HD Collection
Step into the shoes of Dante, the protagonist of Devil May Cry: HD Collection, as you battle hordes of supernatural enemies in stylish hack-and-slash combat. This version of the game comes with three classic games remastered for modern platforms, delivering epic demon-slaying action, jaw-dropping visuals, and a devilishly good time. Oh, and just as a reminder, you can skip Devil May Cry 2.
Buy Devil May Cry: HD Collection ($29.99)
9. Darkest Dungeon
A 2D-roguelike RPG, Darkest Dungeon, sees you assembling a team of flawed heroes and guiding them through nefarious dungeons filled with deadly creatures and traps. Manage their sanity, battle horrors, and make tough decisions in this nail-biting turn-based game. With its haunting atmosphere, strategic depth, and punishing difficulty, Darkest Dungeon will test your courage and sanity.
Buy Darkest Dungeon ($24.99)
10. Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium has a lot of drama revolving around how the original creators were ousted by investors. Regardless, we cannot deny that this is a work of art in the form of video game. An open-world CRPG, Disco Elysium puts you in the shoes of a detective unraveling a murder mystery in a gritty city plagued by corruption and decay. You navigate a dystopian world, engage in deep conversations, and influence your character’s morality, skills, and sanity. With a thought-provoking narrative and beautiful art style, Disco Elysium is a masterpiece.
Buy Disco Elysium ($39.99)
11. Dying Light
While Dying Light 2 is slowly getting updated and improved, Dying Light deserves every bit of attention now that the development for the game has wrapped up. Players get to explore two locations in the fictional city of Harran, overtaken by a zombie outbreak. Utilize agility and combat skills to survive, scavenge, and parkour during the day.
By night, brace yourself for a battle against supercharged predators. With its tense gameplay, intense atmosphere, and dynamic day-night cycle, Dying Light deserves a playthrough. We also suggested the game in our Best Steam Deck Games article.
Buy Dying Light ($29.99)
12. Batman: Arkham Collection
The collection of three critically acclaimed trilogy of games, Batman Arkham Collection, puts you in the shoes of the eponymous DC Comics character. Each game happens in three locations, starting with Batman Arkham Asylum, where players fend off Joker’s trap in Arkham Asylum of Gotham.
In the next installation, the story shifts to the open world of a closed-off section of Gotham in Batman: Arkham City, where Batman tries to unearth a conspiracy theory. Finally, explore the entirety of Gotham Islands and try to thwart the plans of Scarecrow in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Each title has an addictive beat-em-up gameplay, utilizing iconic Batman gadgets, and with each successive sequel, the gameplay improves. Arkham Knight also introduces a fully drivable Batmobile. Play the games, and become Batman. Not literally.
Buy Batman Arkham Collection ($59.99)
13. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Embark on a fantasy adventure in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, an action RPG made by the brains behind Devil May Cry. In this game, players venture into a vast world filled with mythical creatures and treacherous landscapes. With satisfactory customization for the Arisen nail-biting real-time battles, they are utilizing a deep and dynamic combat system.
With its rich lore, thrilling quests, and the ability to recruit AI companions known as Pawns, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a must-play for fans of action RPGs.
Buy Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen ($29.99)
14. Hotline Miami 1 & 2
The game that popularized the sub-genre of music synth-wave, Hotline Miami 1 and 2 puts players in the shoes of multiple people through 80s Miami. Dive into a psychedelic world of violence, wearing animal masks as you unleash top-down shooter action. With its soundtrack by the likes of Carpenter Brut, challenging gameplay, and a head-scratching narrative, Hotline Miami 1 and 2 delivers an adrenaline-fueled experience that will hook you to the last bullet.
The game also got a homage recently in the action movie John Wick: Chapter 4, so why not give it a try? Especially seeing that the game goes for cheap during the Steam sales.
Buy Hotline Miami 1 ($9.99)
Buy Hotline Miami 2 ($14.99)
15. Hitman: The World of Assassination
Hitman: The World of Assassination combines the three new Hitman games by I/O Interactive into one single pack. Offering a vast sandbox to explore, take control of Agent 47, the world’s deadliest assassin, and travel to stunning international locations to eliminate your targets.
With enhanced gameplay, fun level design, & a serviceable storyline, this game takes assassination to new heights. You need to plan, adapt, and become the ultimate assassin in this gripping experience.
Buy Hitman: World of Assassination ($69.99)
16. Dark Souls: Remastered
The remastered release of the original Dark Souls game, Dark Souls: Remastered fixes the critically acclaimed action RPG, providing an enhanced experience for everyone. Journey through the interconnected world of Lordran, filled with challenging enemies, intricate level design, and atmospheric storytelling. This version of the game comes with better visuals, performance, and fixed online. It brings the punishing yet rewarding gameplay of the original Dark Souls to a newer audience, solidifying its status as a modern classic.
Buy Dark Souls: Remastered ($39.99)
17. Resident Evil 4 Remake
The original Resident Evil 4 is a generational title that popularized numerous gameplay features. Given its rich legacy, many expected Capcom to fumble while making the remake. However, it doesn’t seem to be the case. The remake tastefully recreates the 2005 original for modern gamers, introducing a new gameplay system. The writers also went ahead to rewrite numerous sections of the game. And while that should be a red flag, it isn’t the case. The rewrites give this game a new, yet familiar identity. That alone allows this game to stand beside the original on equal footing.
Buy Resident Evil 4 ($59.99)
18. Va-11 Hall-A
Deep dive into the cyberpunk world of Va-11 Hall-A, a visual novel and bartender simulator. In this game, you play a bartender at the Va-11 Hall-A bar, mixing drinks for a cast of characters while listening to their stories and navigating their struggles. With its gorgeous pixel art, captivating storytelling, and branching narrative, Va-11 Hall-A offers a thought-provoking experience that explores themes of identity, technology, and the human condition.
Buy Va-11 Hall-A ($14.99)
19. Slay The Spire
Slay the Spire is an addictive deck-building roguelike game. It sends you on a journey through the Spire, facing off enemies and collecting cards to build a unique deck. With its blend of turn-based combat, strategic decision-making, and procedurally generated levels, Slay the Spire provides replayability and a sense of progression. Prepare to face countless challenges and discover strategies as you conquer the Spire and claim victory
Buy Slay The Spire ($24.99)
20. Dead Space Remake
Dead Space Remake does everything that the Resident Evil remakes did. It remade the game on a new engine, it did subtle rewrites to the story and delivered the same bone-chilling experience from the original. Developed by EA Motive, Dead Space Remake follows the story of Issac Clarke on an abandoned mining ship USG Ishimura. Overrun by bloodthirsty Necromorphs, Issac tries to survive, while finding the whereabouts of his girlfriend Nicole. These changes alone warrant a playthrough from you if you enjoy spooky horror games.
Buy Dead Space Remake ($59.99)
21. Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat has become a legacy fighting game franchise that has managed to entice the casual audience. And, Mortal Kombat 1 is no different. A soft reboot and continuation of the storyline introduced in MK9, Mortal Kombat 1 features a new timeline re-written by Liu Kang, now a time-keeper and fire god. The game features a new backstory for existing characters, new alliances, and a brand-new storyline which is honestly a step above the previous entry. Outside of that, Mortal Kombat 1 features a brand-new fighting game system, where you can call in Kameo fighters to assist you during a match, the usual fighting game system, and brand-new fatalities. Definitely a must-try if this is your first Mortal Kombat game, or if you’ve been an existing fan.
Buy Mortal Kombat 1 ($69.99)
22. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a charming farming simulation game that mesmerizes players with its beautiful gameplay and heartwarming storytelling. Escape the city and embrace the simple countryside life. Cultivate your farm, engage in rewarding activities, build relationships with the townsfolk, and uncover the valley’s secrets. Additionally, there is a new co-op mode, where you and your friend or partner can team up and create the best farm. With its beautiful pixel art and comforting soundtrack, Stardew Valley offers a peaceful escape into a vibrant virtual world.
Buy Stardew Valley ($14.99)
23. Baldur’s Gate 3
One of the surprising launches of 2023 also inadvertently became one of the best RPG games of all time. Baldur’s Gate 3 is the sequel to the age-old tabletop CRPG games made by BioWare. It takes place in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, specifically Faerun, and follows a band of adventurers infected by a parasitic tadpole. The reason why this game gained its recognition is because of its memorable characters, and impressive amount of player agency available throughout the experience. How you approach a situation is totally on you, and there are multiple outcomes to a situation. A must-try for gamers who enjoy choices in their gaming experience.
Buy Baldur’s Gate 3 ($59.99)
24. Return of the Obra Dinn
Another indie title by Lucas Pope of Papers Please, Return of the Obra Dinn is a puzzle-adventure game that challenges players to uncover the truth behind a ship tragedy. Step into the shoes of an insurance investigator with a magical pocket watch that can recreate the final moments of the ship. With its captivating narrative, unique visuals, and deduction gameplay, Obra Dinn offers a thrilling experience that keeps players engaged until the final reveal.
Buy Return of the Obra Dinn ($19.99)
25. Left 4 Dead 2
When it comes to the best Steam games article, you know we have to add this game. One of the most popular co-op shooters to grace the earth, Left 4 Dead 2 is the sequel to the equally satisfying Left 4 Dead. It is a cooperative first-person shooter that drops players into a world infested with hordes of zombies.
Team up with friends or AI companions to fight for survival, and battle waves of the undead. With its intense gameplay, dynamic AI director that changes the level of difficulty based on the team’s performance, and diverse weapons and characters, Left 4 Dead 2 is the best way to spend your weekend with friends.
Buy Left 4 Dead 2 ($9.99)
26. Hollow Knight
The final game for our best Steam games list is one of the critically acclaimed modern Metroidvania platformers. Hollow Knight lets you control the silent knight, who dives into the depths of the ancient kingdom of Hallownest wielding a nail as your weapon. Explore intricate and interconnected caverns, battle challenging foes, and uncover the secrets of a lost civilization. With simplistic albeit challenging combat, rewarding exploration, and deep lore, Hollow Knight offers an unforgettable journey through a beautiful and melancholic realm.
Buy Hollow Knight ($7.49)
27. Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs launched during an era when first-person shooters were gaining a lot of traction. Amidst such a landscape, this game managed to pull off certain things with a lot of style and personality. For one, it presented a beautiful recreation of mainland Hong Kong, that still holds to this date. While it does not have the interactivity you’d expect from an open-world game, it makes up through its hard-boiled crime drama story of an undercover cop Wei Shen trying to thwart the powerful Sun-On-Yee Triad. Along with the story, the combat, and the soundtrack also elevates the experience to create a game that you’d visit once every year.
Buy Sleeping Dogs ($19.99)
28. Doom (2016)
When 2016 was full of first-person shooters populating the market, DOOM appeared out of nowhere. And, while everyone expected the game to be another generic shooter, it thwarted everyone’s expectations. For once, DOOM approached the idea of a minimal storyline in favor of environmental storytelling and doubled down on the gore and gameplay. Be it the glorious “glory kills,” the fast-paced shooting, or the head-banging soundtrack, DOOM helped contribute to the resurgence of old-school shooters alongside the indie darling Dusk.
Buy DOOM ($19.99)
29. Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games might not launch games frequently like the other studios, but when they do launch a game, you can expect it to be a generational experience. Red Dead Redemption 2 is no different, where the studio showcased its technological prowess in full glory. A prequel to Red Dead Redemption, it follows the final years of the Van Der Linde gang, putting you in the shoes of Arthur Morgan. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a great showcase of Rockstar’s technological knowledge, providing a brilliant Hope County map to explore, accompanied by impressive gameplay.
Buy Red Dead Redemption 2 ($59.99)
30. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter is one of the legacy franchises that have stood the test of time. Running for generations, we’ve witnessed multiple entries. While Street Fighter 5 fumbled, Street Fighter 6 managed to fix numerous problems of the fifth entry and take it to brand-new heights. The sixth entry fixes nearly every problem of the previous entry while celebrating the franchise’s legacy. Furthermore, it introduces a new gameplay system to make the title accessible to everyone, and a fun battle system. If anything, the future of the franchise is bright from here onwards.
Download Street Fighter 6 ($59.99)
These are our picks for some of the best Steam games you can play in the current year. I know, there are more titles that we could’ve picked. And that is where you people come in. What are your favorite games of all time? What should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below. Meanwhile, you can also check our list of the best free Steam games that you can play right now.
