The free-to-play section of Steam expanded significantly in May 2025, welcoming a broad spectrum of new releases.
Among them are pixel-art dungeon crawlers, surreal horror shorts, arcade sports games, and quiet exploration titles. What stands out is the variety, both in genre and production value. Some games are vertical slices or shareware versions, others full indie productions, but all are free and legally distributed via Steam.
Here is a detailed look at 20 such titles released in May, each of which offers something different, from artistic experimentation to polished gameplay mechanics.
Free-to-play games on Steam – MAY 2025 rank:
- Grimwar
- Tales From Hoia Baciu Forest
- MUZY
- Rogue Worlds
- HeXpunk
- Cannon Guys
- Granvir: Zero Front
- Scare Crow
- Sirocco
- Football Heroes League
- Booklet’s Big Story
- Ichor Burns
- Solanis
- Neon Digital
- Midnight Snack
- Diplomacy is Not an Option: Shareware
- Double Down
- The Mr. Rabbit Magic Show
- Banshee
- 12.12.25
Ready to check all of the goodies?
1. Grimwar
Grimwar is a retro-style dungeon crawler with pixel-art visuals and a heavy focus on magical combat. You play as a lone warlock attempting to escape a mysterious, vertical dungeon filled with hostile creatures, traps and ancient secrets. The core mechanic revolves around absorbing the abilities of defeated enemies, which gives the gameplay a flexible and tactical edge.
Despite its minimalist presentation, the game offers tight controls, well-paced progression and a solid variety of spells. It’s a short experience but delivers a focused challenge reminiscent of classic 2D action games. For players who enjoy straightforward but rewarding exploration-based gameplay, Grimwar is a notable addition to the free-to-play scene.
2. Tales From Hoia Baciu Forest
A first-person psychological horror rooted in Romanian folklore. You play as a man searching for his sister in the eerie Hoia Baciu forest, guided only by a mysterious phone call. The game focuses on mood and subtle horror over jump scares. It’s brief but atmospheric, with some clever environmental storytelling.
3. MUZY
A rhythmic 2D platformer starring a cartoonish creature named Muzy, who moves and jumps in sync with a catchy electronic soundtrack.
The game features colorful environments, fluid controls and an upbeat tone. Despite its simplicity, the level design is well thought out, and the musical integration feels satisfying.
4. Rogue Worlds
A roguelike twin-stick shooter with multiple worlds to explore. Each run offers new weapons, enemies and upgrade paths. The pixel visuals are clear and colorful, and combat is challenging but fair. While still early in development, it shows promise for future updates.
5. HeXpunk
A cyberpunk-themed top-down action game with neon-lit environments and fast combat. Players control a hacker navigating hostile zones filled with drones and turrets. The visual style is minimalist, but the gameplay is smooth and arcade-like. Missions are short and replayable.
