Best Nonlinear games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated nonlinear games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals nonlinear games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
I'm on Observation Duty 4
A spot the difference -type of puzzle horror game about monitoring live surveillance camera footage and spotting anomalies. Anomalies range from furniture movement to intruders. Fix anomalies by filing reports. You will need sharp eyes and good memory. The goal is to survive the entire night.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
At the close of the Iraq War, Special Forces hunting for weapons of mass destruction unearth something far deadlier – a buried Sumerian temple containing a nest of unearthly creatures. To survive the night below, they must forge a brotherhood with their enemies from the world above.
Fractal Block World
This is a surreal exploration game. Explore a massive fractal with great complexities. You can shrink infinitely to go deeper into the fractal. Or you can become larger by growing. Inner space awaits you in this infinite world.
Eye of the Temple
Embark on a VR adventure to explore a vast and treacherous temple and uncover the ancient legend of the Eye. Keep your balance as you step between moving blocks, dodging hazardous traps and solving environmental puzzles with just your torch and whip in hand.
Book of Travels
Ready your pack, grab your walking stick and step into a world of mystery. Craft your character and immerse yourself in the enchanted lands of Braided Shore. Set your own goals and adventure alone or together with Travellers you meet on the road in this serene TMORPG.
Gamedec - Definitive Edition
Gamedec is a single-player cyberpunk isometric RPG. You are a game detective, who solves crimes inside virtual worlds. Use your wits to gather info from your witnesses and suspects, getting to the bottom of deceptive schemes. The game continually adapts to your decisions and never judges.
Serin Fate
Evil is afoot... Wielding your new Magic, bound into mysterious Monster-infested lands to uncover ancient relics and restore the Fate Stone. Along the way, explore the depths of every nook to find creatures, garner ingredients, train in Witchery, and craft new equipment.
Purrgatory
A slice-of-death visual novel about making friends, cracking cat puns, and waiting for eternity to pass.
Road 96 🛣️
Hitchhike your way to freedom in this crazy procedurally generated road trip. No one's road is the same!
Vomitoreum
Vomitoreum is an FPS Metroidvania with a focus on atmosphere and horror, inspired by the paintings of Zdzisław Beksiński.
Chernobylite Complete Edition
Chernobylite is a science-fiction survival horror RPG. Set in the hyper-realistic, 3D-scanned wasteland of Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone, explore a non-linear storyline in your search to uncover the truth of your tortured past.
HighFleet
Battle for survival in the skies of a mysterious future Earth in this unique action-strategy game mixing arcade combat, exploration, management and diplomacy. As giant flying ships wage spectacular aerial warfare, a prophecy tells of one who will save the world – could it be you?
Idol Manager
Idol Manager is a business sim about conquering the entertainment industry using any means you deem necessary.
Til Nord
Discover a sublime open world on your snowmobile! Drive among the frozen environment of Snøfall øyer to discover beautiful vistas, time trials and quests that permanently change the open world in Til Nord; a free snowmobile driving game for PC.
Legend of Mana
The HD Remaster of Legend of Mana is coming to Steam. Meet a colorful cast of characters, use the unique "Land Make" System to build the World Map, and square off against fearsome monsters in the vibrant world of Fa’Diel.
PULSAR: Lost Colony
The co-op open-world space sim where everyone has a role! Pilot the ship. Reroute power. Launch nukes. Explore alien planets. Research new talents. Work together to find the Lost Colony! ...or just deliver some biscuits
Spellcaster University
Develop a prestigious university of mages. Build rooms, train your students, fight orcs, slay the bureaucrats, manage your budget... a director's life is not a quiet one.
Class of '09
This is the anti-visual novel. Instead of playing as some guy magically able to score with beautiful anime girls, YOU play the anime girl and create mass chaos in the lives of your potential "suitors". Earnest comedy, social accuracy, and late 2000's aesthetic await you in Class of '09!
Causa, Voices of the Dusk
Causa, Voices of the Dusk is an intriguing turn-based strategy card game with innovative game mechanics. Sacrifice cards to raise your Cause, and bring them back later for unexpected powerful plays. Prove your abilities in battle and draft your way to Victory in extremely challenging campaigns.
Lunch Lady
Lunch Lady is a 1-4 player online co-op survival horror game. The school final exams are coming up and the best idea you and your friends had was to steal the test answers. Find all 10 pages and don't get caught by the murderous Lunch Lady!
CARNAL
CARNAL is a fast and challenging retro FPS straight from the mid '90s. The Sons of Anak are opening portals to extract Dark Matter from the "other side". Combat the possessed soldiers, the manifested demons helping them, and any inanimate objects standing in your way!Most played nonlinear games on Steam
Take a look at the top nonlinear games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 16th 2025.
1. Mind Over Magic
Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse. Mind Over Magic is a survival, building and colony sim game developed by Sparkypants and published by Klei Publishing. Released on February 12th 2025 has received 3,298 reviews of which 2,915 were positive and 383 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played nonlinear game, thanks to its 437 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.5
2,915
383
437
players
2. Another Crab's Treasure
In a vibrant undersea kingdom on the verge of collapse, a hermit crab embarks on a treasure hunt to buy back his repossessed shell. The second game from AGGRO CRAB. Another Crab's Treasure is a souls-like, 3d platformer and funny game developed and published by Aggro Crab. Released on April 25th 2024 has received 16,185 reviews of which 15,337 were positive and 848 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. While seeing 158 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among nonlinear games based on player count.
9.2
15,337
848
158
players
3. Islands of Insight
Seek out and solve 10,000+ puzzles at your own pace across this sublime puzzle game. Islands of Insight is a puzzle-platformer, nonlinear and puzzle game developed by Lunarch Studios and published by Behaviour Interactive Inc.. Released on February 13th 2024 has received 2,950 reviews of which 2,113 were positive and 837 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
7.0
2,113
837
32
players
4. The Bible
A digital recreation of The Bible in Kinetic Novel form! Read through and save passages in any order with an original soundtrack, or listen through the greatest story ever told in audiobook form. Featuring an extensive Trivia section to find out how well you really know the stories of Old and New. The Bible is a singleplayer, relaxing and nonlinear game developed and published by Bible Games. Released on November 14th 2022 has received 970 reviews of which 853 were positive and 117 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.3
853
117
17
players
5. Dreamcore
Step into the surreal with Dreamcore, a body-cam styled psychological horror game that plunges you into the eerie beauty of "liminal spaces." Unravel the mysteries of Dreamcore’s non-linear worlds and uncover its hidden secrets. Can you discover what lies beyond the edge of reality? Dreamcore is a exploration, walking simulator and psychological horror game developed by Montraluz and published by Tlön Industries. Released on January 23rd 2025 has received 641 reviews of which 562 were positive and 79 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.2
562
79
10
players
6. Taiji
Solve puzzle panels and uncover the meaning of the symbols within. Explore a dense world where secrets are hidden in plain sight. Taiji is a puzzle, nonlinear and difficult game developed and published by Matthew VanDevander. Released on September 09th 2022 has received 1,220 reviews of which 1,114 were positive and 106 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.6
1,114
106
8
players
7. Turbo Kid
A nostalgic metroidvania adventure with insane weapons, skills, and pixel gore. Ride your BMX and blast your enemies as you discover the secrets of the Wasteland. Turbo Kid is a gore, action and narration game developed and published by Outerminds Inc.. Released on April 09th 2024 has received 421 reviews of which 402 were positive and 19 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.8
402
19
6
players
8. The Mobius Machine
Discover a vast alien world. Fight the ferocious local fauna and killer machines. Reveal its secrets and find a way to escape. The Mobius Machine is a side-scroller action adventure, with an emphasis on free-form exploration and intense combat. The Mobius Machine is a metroidvania, exploration and side scroller game developed and published by Madruga Works. Released on March 01st 2024 has received 341 reviews of which 293 were positive and 48 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.0
293
48
5
players
9. Majotori
How many lives will your ignorance ruin? Majotori is a trivia, multiple endings and nonlinear game developed and published by Majorariatto. Released on March 28th 2017 has received 1,892 reviews of which 1,829 were positive and 63 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
9.2
1,829
63
2
players
10. Myths of Rules
This is a text-based adventure puzzle game, where you must struggle to survive in a world filled with ghosts and urban legends. While collecting clues, you'll uncover the truth behind the world and find the way out. The game features a wealth of levels, unconventional rules, and a touch of horror. Myths of Rules is a word game, psychological horror and nonlinear game developed and published by Sugarcane Games. Released on August 30th 2023 has received 972 reviews of which 868 were positive and 104 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played nonlinear games.
8.4
868
104
1
players
Best deals on nonlinear games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of nonlinear games available on Steam right now, updated on April 16th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted nonlinear games.
1. Another Crab's Treasure
In a vibrant undersea kingdom on the verge of collapse, a hermit crab embarks on a treasure hunt to buy back his repossessed shell. The second game from AGGRO CRAB. Another Crab's Treasure is a souls-like, 3d platformer and funny game developed and published by Aggro Crab. Released on April 25th 2024 has received 16,185 reviews of which 15,337 were positive and 848 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Featuring a massive 53% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for nonlinear category.
9.2
15,337
848
-53%
29.77€
13.99€
2. Turbo Kid
A nostalgic metroidvania adventure with insane weapons, skills, and pixel gore. Ride your BMX and blast your enemies as you discover the secrets of the Wasteland. Turbo Kid is a gore, action and narration game developed and published by Outerminds Inc.. Released on April 09th 2024 has received 421 reviews of which 402 were positive and 19 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Thanks to its 25% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in nonlinear games.
8.8
402
19
-25%
19.52€
14.64€
3. Mind Over Magic
Mind Over Magic is a colony sim set at the site of a cursed magic school. Build and optimize your own magical academy, train powerful Mages, and master mighty relics in order to battle through the Underschool, a mysterious underground dungeon that holds the key to liberation from a deadly curse. Mind Over Magic is a survival, building and colony sim game developed by Sparkypants and published by Klei Publishing. Released on February 12th 2025 has received 3,298 reviews of which 2,915 were positive and 383 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Thanks to its 25% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in nonlinear games.
8.5
2,915
383
-25%
22.99€
17.24€