Steam: Best Casual Video Games

Key Takeaways

• Casual games on Steam cater to those seeking a relaxed gaming experience without intense challenges.
• Titles like Coffee Talk and A Short Hike are perfect if you want a cozy game.
• Other games, like Vampire Survivors and Dave the Diver, provide strategy-based casual gameplay.

Steam is a massive marketplace of PC games from a variety of genres. The hardcore gaming audience has a lot to choose from, including difficult 2D platformers and action-packed dungeon-crawler roguelikes. However, there is also an audience for more of a casual gaming experience.

Luckily, Steam has thousands of casual games that are perfect for those who want to chill while going through the gameplay loop. These titles are more relaxing experiences without sacrificing quality or engagement. While there are many games to choose from, quite a few are among the very best the service offers.

Updated on December 3, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Looking for some casual games to play over the holidays? We’ve updated the list with some of the best casual indie games of 2024.

UFO 50

50 Games For The Price Of One

Do you remember those old 50-games-in-one cartridges? Picture those, but if the games were actually good. That’s UFO 50 in a nutshell. It’s a collection of short, retro-inspired games developed by the creators of Spelunky and Downwell.

The variety here is astounding, featuring everything from a Western-themed JRPG to a spooky point-and-click survival horror. The premise may sound too good to be true, but thankfully, each game has a surprising amount of depth and creativity. Overall, UFO 50 is an ambitious indie gem you won’t want to miss.

Neva

A Stunning Journey About Healing From Grief

If you want to go on an emotional journey, there’s no better choice than Neva. Take control of a woman named Alba, who winds up in a dying world after a traumatic experience. What follows is a breathtaking adventure as she explores the decaying land in search of a way to restore peace.

In addition to being visually stunning, the game is an accurate, heartwarming, and tasteful metaphor about loss, grief, and healing. Throw in some gorgeous animations and well-designed platforming, and Neva is a modern masterpiece everyone should experience at least once.

Balatro

The Best Casual Deck-Builder

Often considered the best deck-builder in years, Balatro is an enthralling indie roguelike with a fascinating spin on the game of poker. The goal is to find the best hands in your deck to score points. The catch? You can purchase Joker and Tarot cards with special abilities that raise your combo or provide exciting new power-ups.

Simply put, the gameplay loop is endlessly replayable and incredibly rewarding. Collecting powerful cards and watching your score increase never stops being satisfying. Plus, the game is so accessible that even those who have never played poker can immediately grasp the rules and have fun.

Webfishing

Go Fishing And Make Friends

Webfishing is an MMO fishing game with chatroom features. The game has you create an adorable kitten character, then places you in a serene autumn forest where you’re free to relax, catch some fish, and make a few friends.

If you’re tired of fishing, you can partake in a number of other calming activities. Learn to play guitar and perform for your fellow fishers, or make chalk drawings on the ground with your friends. The cozy, low-ploy graphics and relaxing setting make for the ideal peaceful atmosphere to get immersed in for hours.

TCG Card Shop Simulator

Open Your Very Own Game Store

TCG Card Shop Simulator puts you in the shoes of a game store manager. The premise is simple: you buy trading cards, sell them, and use the profit to upgrade and customize your store. You can even host tournaments to attract even more business.

Running a store may sound stressful, but TCG Card Shop Simulator turns it into a surprisingly chill gameplay loop. It’s endlessly rewarding to see your shop grow and your trading card collection expand. Check it out for a strategic yet laid-back experience.

Pico Park 2

Solve Puzzles With Friends Locally Or Online

Pico Park 2 is a short yet engaging multiplayer puzzle platformer. You and up to seven others can team up locally or online to solve a series of challenging brain teasers, each requiring equal effort and communication from everyone.

Pico Park 2 strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and difficulty. The simple controls and minimalistic gameplay are so easy to learn that anyone can immediately understand how to play. Yet the puzzles are just challenging enough to make you and your friends really think.

Thank Goodness You’re Here

A Comedy Adventure About Slapping Things

Arguably the funniest game on Steam, Thank Goodness You’re Here is a top-down comedy adventure set in the fictional Northern England town of Barnsworth. Take control of a tiny business person who gets roped into doing a series of bizarre jobs, many of which involve slapping things.

A food truck is blocking the street? Slap the chef’s backside until he closes up shop. Is the supermarket too messy? Slap everything that’s blocking the aisles until they break. A silly joke or visual gag waits around every corner, keeping you laughing from start to finish.

A Little To The Left

A Relaxing Puzzle Game About A Mischievous Cat

Looking for something relaxing? A Little to the Left is a cozy puzzle game about tidying up a messy house. Each level tests your organization skills as you flip, rotate, and stack household items to make everything fit in its proper place. It’s surprisingly cathartic.

The catch? A mischievous cat pops in from time to time to obscure your view of the puzzle, distract you from the solution, or mess up your progress. You’ll need to think outside the box to find ways around the meddling kitten. Overall, it’s a delightful, engaging experience without being too difficult.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

A Top-Down Adventure About Breaking The Law

Turnip Boy is not just an adorable vegetable character. He’s also a federal criminal. After getting caught evading taxes, the titular turnip must adventure around the kingdom in search of money to pay off his debt to the government and maybe destroy any tax documents he finds along the way.

Similar to 2D Zelda games, you explore a top-down overworld filled with dungeons, puzzles, bosses, and plenty of secrets. It’s a short adventure brimming with goofy humor. Plus, it’s not too difficult, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a casual experience.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

A Cozy Mystery Game

In Duck Detective, terror strikes a small town when the notorious Salami Bandit goes on a lunch-stealing spree. Only Eugene McQuacklin – a divorced, hapless investigator – has the brains to quack the case. Everyone is a suspect, but only one is at the bottom of this deli meat conspiracy.

Throughout this pun-filled mystery, you investigate crime scenes, interrogate suspects, and use your powers of deduction to solve puzzles. While the adventure is short, the charming characters, twist-heavy plot, and hilarious tone more than compensate for it.

Little Kitty, Big City

An Open-World Game Featuring A Troublemaking Cat

Little Kitty, Big City is an open-world adventure starring the world’s most mischievous cat. You control a lost kitten trying to find his way home. The entire city is yours to explore as you search for collectibles, unlock new abilities, and cause as much trouble as possible.

As the kitty, you can swipe objects off ledges, trip people on the sidewalk, steal anything within reach, and much more. With so many ways to cause mayhem, Little Kitty, Big City never fails to evoke a smile.

Wylde Flowers

A Magical Farming Sim

Wylde Flowers combines farming simulation with fantasy elements to create a fresh take on the cozy game genre. You control Tara, an aspiring witch who moves to the whimsical town of Fairhaven to manage a farm. On top of fishing, harvesting crops, and crafting, you can take to the skies on your broom, create potions, and do many other magical activities.

The best part of Wylde Flowers is its exceptional LGBTQ+ representation. You’ll meet people of many genders in Fairhaven, and Tara can romance men, women, and non-binary villagers. Overall, this game is a must-play for anyone looking for an inclusive, wholesome experience.

A Short Hike

A Delightfully Adorable Platformer

A Short Hike is a cozy 3D platformer with collect-a-thon elements. You play as a bird named Claire, tasked with climbing a mountain in Hawk Peak Provincial Park. To reach the top, you must gather enough golden feathers to expand your stamina bar, allowing you to climb and fly higher.

The world is open for you to explore and find secrets, mingle with charming characters, and take on side quests. With no enemies or a time limit, you’re encouraged to go at your own pace, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and take in the heartwarming story. It’s a short game but well worth it for a relaxing experience.

Coffee Talk

A Cozy Fantasy Visual Novel

Coffee Talk is a charming visual novel set in a fantasy world where humans and mythical creatures coexist. You run a late-night cafe where every species, from vampires to mermaids, comes for a hot drink. Everyone has a fascinating story to listen to while you create new recipes and top them with the latte art of your design.

The magic of Coffee Talk comes from its relatable character arcs. Whether you hear about Freya’s struggle to write a groundbreaking novel or Lua’s disapproving family, every tale is well-written and never fails to tug at the heartstrings. Overall, it’s like reading a delightful fantasy book, making it perfect for cuddling up in bed.

Game Dev Tycoon

Learn How To Make Video Games While Playing One

Playing a game about making a game seems like an ironic experience. Still, Game Dev Tycoon is quite a beloved entry in Steam’s casual library. Made by Greenheart Games, the experience focuses on your career in game development in the 1980s, when many games were made out of pixel art.

After starting the journey in a garage, you begin to dissect what makes a good video game and what direction to take to attract more people to play it. If the business succeeds, you can enjoy rewards such as making bigger titles and moving into an office.

Cookie Clicker

The Tastiest Idle Game On Steam

A common form of casual PC title is the idle game. Instead of zeroing in on gameplay, these experiences revolve around building a system where you don’t have to do much to keep leveling up and getting stronger. Cookie Clicker is the most well-known example.

The premise is simple: keep clicking the big cookie to produce as many sweets as possible. Along the way, you will be offered upgrades in exchange for the cookies, including hiring grandmas and creating facilities like farms and factories.

Brawlhalla

A Free-To-Play Online Fighting Game

Ubisoft joined the platform fighting genre in 2017 with the launch of Brawlhalla, a free-to-play multiplayer title similar to Super Smash Bros. Up to eight people battle it out in online matches filled with colorful weapons and quirky fighters.

Since its launch, Brawlhalla has added over 50 crossover fighters to the roster, including characters from Shovel Knight, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. The best part is that there are over 20 modes that cater to different play styles, such as casual free-for-alls and competitive ranked matches.

Dave The Diver

A Deep-Sea RPG With Management Simulator Elements

Dave The Diver is perfect if you want a straightforward experience while enjoying the depth of having many systems to play around with. This adventure RPG mixes deep-sea exploration with restaurant management simulation to create an accessible yet strategic gameplay loop.

During the day, Dave does what he has always been known to do: being a diver. Going into the sea, you can collect resources, gather fish, and discover mysterious aspects of the ocean. At night, you serve the fish you caught at a sushi bar. Not too complicated yet not too simple, Dave the Diver’s mechanics strike the perfect balance for a casual title.

Mini Motorways

A Management Game About Building A City

Keeping a city running can feel a bit stressful, but a casual approach can revolve around focusing on one aspect of city management games. Mini Motorways is all about setting up the road map for a civilization so that traffic can flow perfectly and the city can keep growing.

This unique puzzle game lets you create a map by building one street at a time, keeping traffic moving at a decent rate. In addition to level-based gameplay, there’s an endless mode if you want to continue playing one stage for a long time. There’s also an expert mode for those who want a challenge.

Wobbly Life

The Silliest Ragdoll Physics Simulator

Silly games are the funniest type of casual title on Steam. A prime example is Wobbly Life, where the main goal is to have fun and laugh along the way. It’s a ragdoll physics simulator that revolves around living on an island and exploring every aspect of it.

The game starts with you taking on jobs and making enough money to buy a home, vehicle, or various customizations. Then, you set off into the world, visiting different locations and having goofy adventures. It can even be played single-player or online with friends.