Best Free Anime Games On Steam

Steam is a platform that connects millions of gamers worldwide. With its wide range of games that span across genres, Steam offers players a place to purchase and play games that entertain them. It has more than 21 million active gamers on the platform and provides an avenue to bring gamers together to share their collective experience online.

From classic games to award-winning franchises such as Age of Empires and Grand Theft Auto, Steam has plenty of games in-store to attract new players and professional gamers. It also provides a ton of free-to-play anime games that are cute and can charm players with their gameplay.

Updated November 9, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Despite its undeniable popularity, the anime art style has not quite managed to become mainstream in the gaming industry. Most developers tend to prefer either a photorealistic or pixel-art-inspired approach to game design. Of course, games directly inspired by anime are exceptions. One of the gaming genres that has most readily adopted the anime aesthetic is gacha games, which, coincidentally, also happen to follow the free-to-play model. Thankfully, most follow the Genshin Impact formula, which dictates that even F2P players can clear all content in the game without being forced to spend money on pulls. The list has been updated with two new anime gacha games available on Steam to give readers even more options to pick from.

29 Grand Chase

Action-Packed Co-op

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: Jul 27, 2021
• Developers: KOG

Grand Chase is a side-scrolling game inspired by anime. The RPG has a simple control system that makes it easy for players to perform their attacks. Many gamers on Steam play Grand Chase to interact with its charming characters. The online anime game has a number of dungeons that can be explored to collect equipment and items to complete quests.

Each character has a distinct skill tree, allowing people to build their characters as per their liking in Grand Chase. Dungeons like the Heroic Dungeon and the Event Dungeon provide weapons to vanquish monsters in Grand Chase. It has a Co-op mode with up to 6 members.

28 CounterSide

Strategize, Hire, And Conquer

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: February 4, 2020
• Developer: STUDIOBSIDE

CounterSide is an RPG with elements of anime and a graphic novel merged into the game. Battle animations are vibrant and make fights appear fantastic on screen. Players must strike against Counters, corrupted beings, and objects that have taken over the lives of people.

Characters in CounterSide can play specific roles, like the Sniper and the Ranger, letting people plan their assaults throughout the story. The immersive soundtrack of CounterSide helps people delve deeper into the story to make the experience more realistic. People can hire employees to protect the people from Counters in the game.

27 Smash Legends

1v1 Duels And 3v3 Team Fights

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: March 15, 2021
• Developer: 5minlab

Smash Legends is an action game with plenty of fighting styles to turn battles into epic brawls. From 1v1 duels to 3v3 team battles, Smash Legends has several game modes that let people beat down their opponents to a pulp.

The robust roster of Smash Legends includes Peter from Neverland, Rapunzel with long golden hair, and Ali, a boy with a penchant for trickery. The Battle Royale mode in Smash Legends allows up to 8 players to crush each other till there’s only one left standing in the tournament.

26 SMITE

Anime MOBA

SMITE is an action game that has an active online community of over 35 million players. People can choose from more than 100 gods with unique abilities to smash foes and defeat them in battle. Zeus, God of The Sky, The Morrigan, Phantom Queen, Cernunnos, The Horned God, Neith, Weaver of Fate, and Guan Yu, Saint of War, are among the most feared gods in the game.

Players can begin their battles by entering any of 5 game modes of SMITE. Arena, Conquest, Assault, Joust, and Slash are the 5 game modes that challenge players to team up with their friends and destroy their opponents with exhilarating combat.

25 Sailing Era

Glory On The High Seas

• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
• Developer: GY Games
• Initial release date: January 11, 2023

Sailing Era is an RPG that lets people navigate the open seas in search of adventure. People will encounter turbulent waves from the ocean that will create difficult situations to test people during their sails. Players are likely to come across dynamic weather conditions that require people to adapt to their environments and the changing winds.

Fight pirates, find hidden treasure, and sail the seas to strengthen the crew. Sailing Era provides more than 200 exotic locations to dock, trade, and recruit sailors in the game. Players can collect historical ships or customize their own ships in Sailing Era.

24 DUELYST II

Turn-Based Card Battles

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: December 17, 2022
• Developer: Dream Sloth Games

DUELYST II is a turn-based strategy game. Players can take part in a highly competitive card game that lets people build their collection of decks online. These beautifully animated pixel art cards offer a wide variety of ways to destroy enemies. People can use their deck of cards to cast spells, summon minions, and deliver breathtaking attacks to annihilate opponents.

Developed by Dream Sloth Games, players can place their units using advanced tactics to mitigate the enemy General in DUELYST II. It is among the best anime games available for free that lets people attack enemies up close using characters from the Lyonar Kingdoms, cast potent magical spells using characters from the Songhai Empire, and summon minions to fight foes using characters from the Vetruvian Imperium.

23 AdventureQuest 3D

Join The Fight For Battleon

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: October 19, 2016
• Developer: Artix Entertainment, LLC

AdventureQuest 3D is a hack-and-slash game that can be played for free on Steam, Android, and iOS devices. The action game provides several combat options that can be decided in real-time to destroy beasts and monsters that are dwelling around the town of Battleon.

Players can team up with other warriors online to take down intimidating bosses every day in AdventureQuest 3D. People can venture forth together to raid dungeons for loot and Battle Gems. Gamers can craft amazing weapons and armor to defend themselves in the wild. AdventureQuest 3D also features a PvP mode that allows people to fight in 5v5 matches to test their mantle.

22 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links

Intense Deck Builder

Based on the hugely popular anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a free-to-play trading card game. It has intuitive controls to help beginners get up to speed and has a deep combat system that can satisfy veteran players of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. People can build their own decks with signature monsters from the anime, such as the Dark Magician and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Earn various rewards by completing Stage Missions while unlocking new cards and decks from the Shop. The Online PvP mode lets fans duel in real-time with their friends and other Duelists from all over the world.

21 TheDawn

Bend Time And Blast Robots

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: December 12, 2020
• Developer: LIMITED

TheDawn is a free-to-play third-person shooting game with a powerful protagonist. The game lets players use time-manipulating abilities and weapons to fight futuristic robots and machines. Be the only hope for humanity in a world that is left to decay. Make use of versatile abilities that can help players slow time, accelerate time, and turn it back to its previous state.

Explore post-apocalyptic towns and battle artificial intelligence with devastating weapons to beat the final boss, Blender. Stop time in a specific area and plan attacks to obliterate enemies and save humanity from its destruction.

20 Action Taimanin

Defend Tokyo Anime-Style

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: December 24, 2019
• Developers: Lilith Limited, LiLith

Action Taimanin is a free action-adventure game. The hack-and-slash style anime game takes place in Tokyo, Japan, where ninjas are tasked with the mission to drive out demons from dark realms. Fans can play as Igawa Asagi, the Almighty Taimanin, that wields a ninja katana and has the stunning ultimate ability Ninpo Satsujinka.

Additional Taimanins in the game can be unlocked as playable characters in Action Taimanin. Complete missions to unlock skills that can mutilate enemies in battle. Players can also level up their characters to unlock costumes to make them appear chic and stylish while pulling off incredible moves with simple buttons.

19 Bleach Brave Souls

Enter Soul Society And Fight Hollows

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: January 15, 2016
• Developers: KLab, KLab Global Pte. Ltd.

Bleach Brave Souls is a 3D action game. It follows the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student who has been chosen to become a valuable member of the Soul Society. Based on the extremely popular manga and anime series, Bleach Brave Souls is a hack-and-slash game that lets people play through the original story.

The anime game features several characters from the series, including Rukia, Aizen, and Ulquiorra. People can play through single-player mode solo or combine their favorite characters to progress along with the story. It also has an online Co-op mode and a PvP mode that lets people play with their friends.

18 Project Kat – Paper Lily Prologue

Puzzle, Explore, And Unravel Mysteries

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: October 16, 2021
• Developer: Leef 6010

Launched on 16 October 2021, Project Kat is a free-to-play RPG game. It is a story-based puzzle game, and every puzzle can be solved in several ways with varying outcomes. The game is centered around the life of a teenager, Kat, and her adventures after dark as she attempts to discover the truth behind a golden letter.

Project Kat is an unconventional horror game with many mini-games and multiple endings. The game can be completed within an hour and features likable characters in an eerie atmosphere. It is the prologue to an upcoming game, Paper Lily, that is yet to be released by Leef 6010.

17 Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis

An Anime Sci-Fi Adventure

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is the latest chapter in the Phantasy Star Online series. It is a free-to-play MMORPG game that lets players defend the planet of Halpha. Play as ARKS and fight DOLLS, huge mechanical monsters that have appeared out of nowhere to cause destruction.

Choose to play as different classes such as Hunter, Ranger, Fighter, Gunner, Techter, and Hero. Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis has introduced Photon Dash and Glide to traverse the vast open fields of Halpha. Players can team up with up to 32 members to protect the migrant planet from DOLLS.

16 Super Mecha Champions

Gear Up for Explosive Mecha Combat

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android
• Initial release date: March 25, 2021
• Developers: NetEase Games, Hong Kong NetEase

Released on March 25, 2021, Super Mecha Champions is a free-to-play action shooter game. The massively multiplayer game is set in Alpha City and pits players against each other in mecha combat that involves aircraft guns, high-explosive missiles, spreadshots, chainhooks, rocket launchers, and other thrilling weapons.

Super Mecha Champions lets gamers customize their mechas, add skins and graffiti. Players can also fight in groups with their friends and plan their battles in a fast-paced environment. It also has game modes such as PvP, 10-player arena, and 100-player shootouts to make the gameplay explosive and fun for everyone.

15 Soul Dossier

Battle Spirits Or Haunt the Living

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Developer: GKD Game Studio
• Initial release date: January 8, 2021

Released in March 2021, Soul Dossier is a multiplayer game based on Chinese culture. In the Classic mode, people can choose to play as a Psychic Detective to vanquish Resentful Spirits dispersed throughout the map. Players can also choose to play as a Resentful Spirit and kill the Psychic Detective and gain their souls to achieve victory.

The game lets people play in a 1v5 setting and provides props and skills to make the game confrontational at every corner. The skill system in the game combines the 5 elements to give each character a unique play style. The game has plenty of items and spells, such as Paper Doves, Talisman of Soul Calming, Talisman of Immobilization, and Smoke Bomb.

14 Closers

Fight As A Psychic Hero

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: December 23, 2014
• Developer: NADDIC GAMES Co,. Ltd

Closers is an action anime RPG with spectacular battle sequences and deep storylines. Play as one of the twelve Closers, humans with psychic abilities that allow them to fight interdimensional monsters. Every Closer character has their own personality and a character arc. Face the interdimensional monsters with the varying skills of each of the Closers characters and defeat them with unique combat styles.

The RPG game has a co-op mode that lets players fight together to beat the dimensional creatures. Players can also face each other head-on in a PvP arena to prove their skills.

13 Aura Kingdom

Explore, Fight, And Build Friendships

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS
• Initial release date: January 6, 2014
• Developer: X-Legend Entertainment

Aura Kingdom is a free-to-play anime MMORPG that has a rich story and comprehensive combat system. Become an Envoy of Gaia by playing as one of fifteen different classes. These classes include the Guardian, Duelist, Bard, Sorcerer, Brawler, Gunslinger, Reaper, and Ranger, among others.

Earn experience by completing quests across the land of Azuria to become stronger. Gamers can befriend interactive companions called Eidolons in Aura Kingdom. Eidolons can be powerful allies in battle and can help players win against opponents by performing lethal combos.

12 Digimon Masters Online

Raise, Evolve, And Battle Digimon

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: October 30, 2009
• Developer: Move Games

Digimon Masters Online is a massively multiplayer game. The RPG has enhanced graphics and real-time combat. People can become a Tamer and raise more than 100 Digimon, including Agumon, Gaomon, and Lalamon. The game offers numerous consumables and equipment to recover HP in battle and increase the ability of Tamers.

Players can team up with friends and raid dungeons and bosses in the game. Experience gained from these battles can be used to evolve Digimon from Rookie to their Champion, Ultimate, and Mega form. Digimon Masters Online has more than 50 maps and locations to explore.

11 NosTale

From Flame Druids to Berserkers

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: Sep 18, 2017
• Developers: Entwell

Published by Gameforge 4D Gmbh, NosTale is an anime action MMORPG game that is free-to-play. Play as Swordsman, Archer, and Mage in an epic adventure across the lustrous lands of NosTale. Gamers can choose one of 28 specialist classes, such as a Flame Druid, Sunchaser, Berserker, Assassin, and Magician, to battle incredible beasts in the wild.

The game has many pets that can be tamed. These pets can assist in fights and take down monsters to make the journey easier. Players can also challenge opponents from around the world in PvP mode to hone their skills in battle.

10 UNBEATABLE [White Label]

Rhythm-Based Adventure

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Initial release date: May 7, 2021
• Developers: D-CELL GAMES

UNBEATABLE is a musical adventure with an adorable story. Learn to play music in a world that considers it illegal. It has a wealth of unique and original concepts, such as planning an illegal concert and taking part in eating competitions. Venture across the city to find beats of tracks that can be composed with a band.

The action-adventure game lets players fight off monsters according to the rhythm of the songs in the game. Every episode of the game features a new narrative with fresh beat maps that can be played in battle through arcade mode. [White Label] is an off-shoot of UNBEATABLE, a crowdfunded project that will be released soon by D-CELL GAMES.