Many gamers on Steam might believe that the platform is only home to paid titles, but such is not the case. There are plenty of free games available to all, and we are going to talk about some of the best free Strategy games on Steam today. For those who aren’t aware, strategy is one of the oldest genres where gaming is concerned. We can trace it back to the late 1980s and since then it has garnered huge popularity due to games such as Red Alert, StarCraft, and later, Dragon Age: Origins (PC).
The best Strategy games are on PC because they play better with a keyboard and mouse. Not to say they aren’t able to work on console or mobile, but from those platforms, the overall gameplay mechanics are limited.
Best free Strategy games on Steam
If you are looking to play some of the best free strategy games on Steam, then the ones on this list should fit your fancy:
- Governor of Poker 3
- Fallout Shelter
- GWENT: The Card Game
- Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming
- Conflict of Nations: World War 3
- EVE Online
- Crusader Kings 2
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
- DOTA 2
1] Governor of Poker 3
Steam users who are into poker games cannot go wrong with Governor of Poker 3. It has a 70 percent review rating on the platform, and despite being a free-to-play title, it comes packed with multiplayer features.
Not only that, but players can bluff others in online games, so if you are an expert at poker, then prepare to win big against the minnows.
Download Governor of Poker 3 via Steam.
2] Fallout Shelter
Fallout is one of the best game franchises today, but did you know a free version exists? It is called Fallout Shelter, and it is a spin-off from the regular games, and it is more of a management sim than anything else.
The idea here where the gameplay is concerned is to manage a shelter with a community of humans. Ensure resources are being mined and put to use, and if all goes well, you’ll have a happy community.
It might look easy at first glance, but that is not the case. Go in with strategic thinking or things will become chaotic.
Download Fallout Shelter via Steam.
3] GWENT: The Card Game
If you’re a huge fan of The Witcher game series, then chances are you must have heard about GWENT. It started out as a simple dice gambling mini-game, but the creators of The Witcher wanted GWENT to be its own thing, and that’s where the standalone card game came to be.
The idea behind this game is to simulate a medieval battle from within the world of The Witcher. Therefore, players must attempt to destroy every card from their opponents to win, and it is no easy feat.
Players who fail to plan and think strategically will surely fall to the wayside, so be sure to come with your thinking hat on.
At the time of writing, GWENT has an 88 percent positive rating on Steam and was released back in 2020.
Download GWENT via Steam.
4] Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming
Out of all the games based on Game of Thrones, we have to say that Winter is Coming is the best. Reviews on Steam have it sitting at around 61 percent, which is not bad. And since it is free to download and play, we can’t be too harsh on it.
Now, the style of play is similar to that of Civilization where players must control the Seven Kingdoms and perform political duties when required.
Additionally, we must note that dragons are a big part of this game, and it is based on the HBO series rather than the books.
Download Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming via Steam.
5] Conflict of Nations: World War 3
An impressive free video game that is set in the modern world and is quite similar to Civilization or Total War? Sounds like a good idea to us. So basically, if a player wants to take full control over another territory, they may have to go to war with tanks, planes, bombs, and whatever else.
Note that this is not just a single-player game, so for those who want something more, then worry not because multiplayer is here.
At the moment, the game has an over 70 percent positive review score on the Steam platform.
Download Conflict of Nations: World War 3 via Steam.
6] EVE Online
EVE Online is one of those strategy games that try to be accessible, so if you aren’t a fan of the strategy genre, then EVE Online should be easy to get into, but that is not the case. It is still, up to this day, one of the most difficult games to play, and that’s why it is so loved.
Now, this is a space simulator game with an open-space sandbox design. Here, players can travel to almost anywhere in the universe, but first, one must fully understand the management tools and how to use them.
Download EVE Online via Steam.
7] Crusader Kings 2
Crusader 2 is one of the best grand strategy games available on Steam for free. The title, which was released back in 2012, is still managing the draw attention all of these years, and that’s not going to change any time soon.
Now, as the name suggests, Crusader Kings 2 is a game set in medieval history, and the war simulation is set in the European theater. Players are required to select their preferred European country and manage the armies through war and diplomacy.
Gamers love this game because AI feels human-like when compared to other competing grand strategy games. Furthermore, the ability to micromanage the kingdom brings a new sense of control, something not found in most games in the genre.
Download Crusader Kings 2 for free via Steam.
8] Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
We suspect many of you have heard of the anime known as Yu-Gi-Oh!. Its popularity over the decades has amassed several video games, but from our point of view, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is the best of the bunch.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links was released back in 2017, and at the moment, it has over 80 percent positive ratings on Steam.
In terms of why you should play this game, well, the rules are easy to follow and the gameplay is versatile. Similar to the anime, players must summon their monsters to the playboard to do battle with an opponent. The player who uses their cards in the best way wins the game, and that’s easier said than done.
Download Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links from Steam.
9] DOTA 2
At the time of writing, the most played free game on Steam is a title called DOTA 2, a title that was released back in 2013. It has an over 80 percent positive rating on Steam from thousands of gamers, so you are in for a good time no doubt.
Note that game is a sequel to the Warcraft mod that turned the real-time strategy genre into a more action-orientated tower-defense game that works. At its core, however, DOTA 2 is still a strategy game, but with more action than your typical title in the genre.
Download DOTA 2 from Steam for free.
READ: Best Xbox One Strategy Games you want to check out
Are there free games on Steam?
Steam is home to a multitude of free-to-play games, some of which are excellent, while others are downright terrible. Still, bear in mind that while some free-to-play games are as the name suggests, you may have to spend real money to unlock cosmetics, new levels, or more.
What are the best free online strategy games?
Game of Thrones Winter is Coming, Elvenar, Travian, Naruto Forge of Empires, The Settlers Online are some of the best free online strategy games.
