Best PvE 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 pve games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free pve games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Darwinia
Darwinia blends real-time strategy, action, and puzzles with a unique gesture-based control system. Save the Darwinians, battle viruses, and restore order in a retro-inspired digital world. Winner of multiple prestigious awards, including the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at IGF 2006.Most played pve games on Steam
Take a look at the top pve games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 15th 2025.
1. HELLDIVERS™ 2
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter. HELLDIVERS™ 2 is a online co-op, pve and third-person shooter game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by PlayStation Publishing LLC. Released on February 08th 2024 has received 987,024 reviews of which 752,293 were positive and 234,731 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played pve game, thanks to its 44,372 peak concurrent players over the last day.
7.6
752,293
234,731
44,372
players
2. Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic is a 1-4 player co-op FPS featuring badass space Dwarves, 100% destructible environments, procedurally-generated caves, and endless hordes of alien monsters. Deep Rock Galactic is a dwarf, co-op and pve game developed by Ghost Ship Games and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on May 13th 2020 has received 338,542 reviews of which 329,265 were positive and 9,277 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 16,343 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among pve games based on player count.
9.6
329,265
9,277
16,343
players
3. MIR4
MIR4 is a free-to-play open world K-fantasy MMORPG that can be cross-played on both PC and mobile devices. MIR4 is full of action and features numerous large scale clan PVP battles. Join now and become a legend. MIR4 is a pve, mmorpg and pvp game developed by Wemade Next and published by Wemade. Released on August 25th 2021 has received 14,485 reviews of which 9,450 were positive and 5,035 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.4 out of 10. While seeing 13,897 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among pve games based on player count.
6.4
9,450
5,035
13,897
players
4. XCOM® 2
XCOM 2 is the sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year. Earth has changed and is now under alien rule. Facing impossible odds you must rebuild XCOM, and ignite a global resistance to reclaim our world and save humanity. XCOM® 2 is a isometric, post-apocalyptic and turn-based combat game developed by Firaxis Games and Feral Interactive (Linux) and published by Feral interactive (Mac), Feral Interactive (Linux) and 2K. Released on February 04th 2016 has received 100,674 reviews of which 85,250 were positive and 15,424 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. With 4,779 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played pve games.
8.4
85,250
15,424
4,779
players
5. GrandChase
Grand Chase is a free side-scrolling online action RPG with anime inspired graphics. Enjoy exciting adventures in dungeons and PvP with unique characters. GrandChase is a action, free to play and pve game developed and published by KOG. Released on July 27th 2021 has received 23,988 reviews of which 15,145 were positive and 8,843 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. With 3,607 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played pve games.
6.3
15,145
8,843
3,607
players
6. Biped
Biped is a coop action adventure game with a strong focus on moment-to-moment collaboration between 2 players. Biped is a character customization, pve and emotional game developed by NEXT Studios and published by NEXT Studios and META Publishing. Released on March 26th 2020 has received 8,521 reviews of which 7,345 were positive and 1,176 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. With 1,219 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played pve games.
8.4
7,345
1,176
1,219
players
7. Gems of War - Puzzle RPG
Gems of War is a Match-3 RPG from the original creators of Puzzle Quest! Start your RPG journey and fight puzzle battles through hundreds of quests, or build your army of troops and go to war in strategic PVP match-3 combat! Gems of War - Puzzle RPG is a free to play, match 3 and puzzle game developed by Infinity Plus 2 and published by 505 Games. Released on November 20th 2014 has received 8,790 reviews of which 7,067 were positive and 1,723 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. With 763 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played pve games.
7.8
7,067
1,723
763
players
8. Pax Dei
Welcome to a vast, social sandbox MMO inspired by the legends of the medieval era. Here, myths are real, ghosts exist, and magic is unquestioned. Join thousands of players as you explore the land, build your home, forge your reputation, and craft your own stories. What world will you make? Pax Dei is a pve, sandbox and mmorpg game developed by Mainframe Industries and published by Mainframe Industries and New Tales. Released on June 18th 2024 has received 5,831 reviews of which 4,067 were positive and 1,764 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. With 655 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played pve games.
6.8
4,067
1,764
655
players
9. Counter-Strike Nexon
Counter-Strike Nexon is a Free to Play MMOFPS offering competitive PvP and PvE action including content from the original Counter-Strike and all new game modes, map creation function, weapons, and hordes of Zombies! Counter-Strike Nexon is a free to play, fps and zombies game developed by Valve and NEXON and published by NEXON. Released on October 07th 2014 has received 42,587 reviews of which 28,304 were positive and 14,283 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. With 519 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played pve games.
6.6
28,304
14,283
519
players
10. Age of Darkness: Final Stand
Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a dark fantasy survival RTS where you must illuminate, build and defend humanity’s last bastion against hordes of Nightmares. Set in the remnants of a kingdom consumed by a deadly fog, you decide. Will you hide in the light? Or take back your world. Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a action rts, tower defense and rts game developed and published by PlaySide. Released on January 15th 2025 has received 9,280 reviews of which 7,144 were positive and 2,136 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. With 480 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played pve games.
7.5
7,144
2,136
480
players
Best deals on pve games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of pve games available on Steam right now, updated on April 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted pve games.
1. XCOM® 2
XCOM 2 is the sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year. Earth has changed and is now under alien rule. Facing impossible odds you must rebuild XCOM, and ignite a global resistance to reclaim our world and save humanity. XCOM® 2 is a isometric, post-apocalyptic and turn-based combat game developed by Firaxis Games and Feral Interactive (Linux) and published by Feral interactive (Mac), Feral Interactive (Linux) and 2K. Released on February 04th 2016 has received 100,674 reviews of which 85,250 were positive and 15,424 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for pve category.
8.4
85,250
15,424
-95%
49.99€
2.49€
2. Biped
Biped is a coop action adventure game with a strong focus on moment-to-moment collaboration between 2 players. Biped is a character customization, pve and emotional game developed by NEXT Studios and published by NEXT Studios and META Publishing. Released on March 26th 2020 has received 8,521 reviews of which 7,345 were positive and 1,176 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 86% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in pve games.
8.4
7,345
1,176
-86%
12.07€
1.69€
3. SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE
SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a multiplayer Gundam action RPG where you can smash foes solo or with friends in thrilling mechanized combat. Acquire new mobile suits, power them up, and take them into battle in various missions! SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE is a mechs, action rpg and robots game developed by Artdink and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released on August 24th 2022 has received 5,809 reviews of which 3,659 were positive and 2,150 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 82% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in pve games.
6.2
3,659
2,150
-82%
50.78€
9.14€
4. Orcs Must Die! 3
Slice, burn, toss, zap, grind and gib massive hordes of repugnant orcs in this long-awaited successor to the award-winning Orcs Must Die! series. Orcs Must Die! 3 is a tower defense, co-op and strategy game developed and published by Robot Entertainment. Released on July 23rd 2021 has received 13,977 reviews of which 11,965 were positive and 2,012 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for pve games.
8.4
11,965
2,012
-80%
24.90€
4.98€
5. Tribes of Midgard
A vibrant blend of survival and action RPG for 1-10 players! Craft legendary items, grow your home base and embark on an epic journey through procedural realms to face towering creatures hel-bent on unleashing Ragnarök. Valhalla can wait, Einherjar! Tribes of Midgard is a open world survival craft, online co-op and multiplayer game developed by Norsfell and published by Gearbox Publishing. Released on July 27th 2021 has received 22,298 reviews of which 17,079 were positive and 5,219 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 80% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for pve games.
7.5
17,079
5,219
-80%
19.95€
3.99€
6. Dungeons of Sundaria
Adventure through epic dungeons facing fearsome creatures either solo or with a group of friends. Master your class, loot everything, and destroy the foul creatures of the deep! Will you become a hero of legend? Dungeons of Sundaria is a dungeon crawler, hack and slash and rpg game developed and published by Industry Games. Released on December 12th 2023 has received 2,777 reviews of which 2,063 were positive and 714 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 75% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for pve games.
7.2
2,063
714
-75%
9.75€
2.43€
7. CryoFall
CryoFall is a sci-fi colony simulation survival game set on a forgotten planet in a distant future. Master technology, agriculture, trading, industry, cybernetics, exploration, and more! CryoFall is a colony sim, crafting and pve game developed by AtomicTorch Studio and published by Daedalic Entertainment. Released on April 29th 2021 has received 6,115 reviews of which 4,819 were positive and 1,296 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 74% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for pve games.
7.7
4,819
1,296
-74%
20.00€
5.20€
8. Inkbound
A turn-based tactical roguelike from the creators of Monster Train. Play solo or co-op, create powerful builds, and save the Atheneum. Inkbound is a tactical rpg, turn-based tactics and rogue-lite game developed and published by Shiny Shoe. Released on April 09th 2024 has received 3,632 reviews of which 3,182 were positive and 450 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 60% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for pve games.
8.4
3,182
450
-60%
28.99€
11.59€
9. Age of Darkness: Final Stand
Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a dark fantasy survival RTS where you must illuminate, build and defend humanity’s last bastion against hordes of Nightmares. Set in the remnants of a kingdom consumed by a deadly fog, you decide. Will you hide in the light? Or take back your world. Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a action rts, tower defense and rts game developed and published by PlaySide. Released on January 15th 2025 has received 9,280 reviews of which 7,144 were positive and 2,136 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 60% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for pve games.
7.5
7,144
2,136
-60%
27.33€
10.93€
10. Hellbreach: Vegas
Hellbreach: Vegas is a Wave-based First-Person Shooter for 1-4 players, made with passion by a one man dev team! Set your loadout, kill, and earn cash. Take a spin on the various slot machines and level up to improve your survival chances. Are you ready to try your luck? Hellbreach: Vegas is a online co-op, indie and fps game developed by Infinity Ape Studios and published by Iceberg Interactive. Released on August 14th 2024 has received 525 reviews of which 392 were positive and 133 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 56% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for pve games.
7.1
392
133
-56%
14.95€
6.58€
Free pve games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play pve games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 15th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play pve games.
1. MIR4
MIR4 is a free-to-play open world K-fantasy MMORPG that can be cross-played on both PC and mobile devices. MIR4 is full of action and features numerous large scale clan PVP battles. Join now and become a legend. MIR4 is a pve, mmorpg and pvp game developed by Wemade Next and published by Wemade. Released on August 25th 2021 has received 14,485 reviews of which 9,450 were positive and 5,035 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.4 out of 10. With 13,897 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free pve games on Steam.
6.4
9,450
5,035
13,897
players
2. GrandChase
Grand Chase is a free side-scrolling online action RPG with anime inspired graphics. Enjoy exciting adventures in dungeons and PvP with unique characters. GrandChase is a action, free to play and pve game developed and published by KOG. Released on July 27th 2021 has received 23,988 reviews of which 15,145 were positive and 8,843 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 3,607, this pve game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free pve games on Steam.
6.3
15,145
8,843
3,607
players
3. Gems of War - Puzzle RPG
Gems of War is a Match-3 RPG from the original creators of Puzzle Quest! Start your RPG journey and fight puzzle battles through hundreds of quests, or build your army of troops and go to war in strategic PVP match-3 combat! Gems of War - Puzzle RPG is a free to play, match 3 and puzzle game developed by Infinity Plus 2 and published by 505 Games. Released on November 20th 2014 has received 8,790 reviews of which 7,067 were positive and 1,723 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 763, this pve game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free pve games on Steam.
7.8
7,067
1,723
763
players
4. Counter-Strike Nexon
Counter-Strike Nexon is a Free to Play MMOFPS offering competitive PvP and PvE action including content from the original Counter-Strike and all new game modes, map creation function, weapons, and hordes of Zombies! Counter-Strike Nexon is a free to play, fps and zombies game developed by Valve and NEXON and published by NEXON. Released on October 07th 2014 has received 42,587 reviews of which 28,304 were positive and 14,283 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.6 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 519 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
6.6
28,304
14,283
519
players
5. Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop
Co-operative top-down shooter game available for free. An epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop is a twin stick shooter, pve and top-down shooter game developed and published by Reactive Drop Team. Released on April 20th 2017 has received 22,477 reviews of which 21,333 were positive and 1,144 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 433 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
9.3
21,333
1,144
433
players
6. Minion Masters
An addictive fast-paced hybrid of Card games & Tower-Defense. Play 1v1 - or bring a friend for 2v2 - and engage in epic online multiplayer battles full of innovative strategy and awesome plays! Collect 200+ cards with unique mechanics, all free! Minion Masters is a pve, trading card game and stylized game developed and published by BetaDwarf. Released on May 24th 2019 has received 64,820 reviews of which 58,043 were positive and 6,777 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 413 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
8.8
58,043
6,777
413
players
7. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense
Infinitode 2 - a strategy in the Tower Defense genre, in which the player will have to build towers to protect his base from endless waves of enemies. The game features huge maps, lots of towers, resource miners, upgrade tree and map editor. Infinitode 2 - Infinite Tower Defense is a level editor, tower defense and building game developed and published by Prineside. Released on May 06th 2021 has received 3,592 reviews of which 3,277 were positive and 315 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 324 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
8.8
3,277
315
324
players
8. AdventureQuest 3D
The Void King is raising an army in secret. Death has chosen you as his champion to bring him down. Adventure & quest alongside your friends in this bizarre cross-platform MMORPG from the creators of the original, and comically-redundantly named... AdventureQuest! Weekly releases! AdventureQuest 3D is a mmorpg, exploration and hack and slash game developed and published by Artix Entertainment and LLC. Released on October 28th 2022 has received 9,235 reviews of which 7,550 were positive and 1,685 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 284 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #8 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
8.0
7,550
1,685
284
players
9. Idle Skilling
Idle Skilling is the ultimate Idle Game with years of content! Meant to be played for 5-10 minutes a day, you gradually unlock new skills like mining, fishing, pet breeding, crusading, potion-making, lab-research, construction, and more! With new updates coming, you'll never run out of stuff to do! Idle Skilling is a free to play, idler and simulation game developed and published by Lavaflame2. Released on September 15th 2022 has received 2,175 reviews of which 1,555 were positive and 620 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 276 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #9 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
6.9
1,555
620
276
players
10. Classic Marathon
From the team that brought you Aleph One, the classic sci-fi FPS Marathon from Bungie on Mac revived for modern hardware by the fan community. Classic Marathon is a fps, shooter and pvp game developed and published by Aleph One Developers. Released on May 10th 2024 has received 853 reviews of which 787 were positive and 66 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 143 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #10 position in the best free pve games on Steam.
8.7
787
66
143
players