We keep having to make new free multiplayer lists because there are just so many good games coming out. Every year, more solid titles hit Steam without costing anything, and it is honestly impressive how far free games have come.
You might notice a couple of repeats from past lists, but most of the games here are newer picks that we have not covered before. The goal is always the same: highlight free multiplayer games you may not already know about, not just the usual big names that show up everywhere. That is also why you will not see Warzone, Apex Legends, or the standard picks on this list. We did keep a few more popular ones where it made sense, but for the most part, these are fresh games worth your time.
With that said, here are the best free multiplayer games you can play right now on Steam.
16. Sport Animals
Sport Animals is a simple multiplayer game where you and your friends pick an animal character and jump into short matches to see who can score the most goals. The controls are easy to learn and the game gets right to the point, which makes it perfect for quick sessions without needing to warm up.
There is also a surprising amount of customization. You can change colors, add accessories, and mess around with lots of different looks. Matches use physics-based movement, so every round feels a little different. The ball bounces in weird ways and you will end up in funny situations just because the physics do their own thing.
Each match only lasts a couple minutes, so it is easy to rotate players, switch teams, or run quick rematches. Since it is completely free with no paid cosmetics, you do not have to worry about spending money just to look the way you want.
If you want a laid-back game for a few rounds with friends, Sport Animals is a solid pick and a fun way to start the list.
15. Garden Rivals
Garden Rivals is built around quick 2v2 matches and it works well when you want something simple to play with one friend. The goal is straightforward: collect fertilizer around the map and bring it back to your flower so it can grow before the other team finishes theirs.
The game runs on a day and night cycle that adds strategy without making things complicated. At night, everyone is invisible, so movement becomes sneaky and cautious. During the day, things speed up and you are scrambling to grab fertilizer while keeping track of the other team.
The player base is still small, but the concept is fun and matches do not drag. It feels like the kind of game you play when you want something different from shooters or giant competitive titles.
If you want a free multiplayer game with light strategy and fast rounds, Garden Rivals is worth checking out.
14. Slappy Ball
Slappy Ball takes a simple concept and turns it into a surprisingly fun multiplayer game. You play as a walking hand on a small volleyball court, and once you get used to the movement, matches start to feel smooth and satisfying. The physics make every hit feel intentional, so a perfectly timed spike feels way better than you would expect from a free game.
You can play 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3, and there are both casual and ranked modes depending on how sweaty your group feels. The game really clicks after a handful of matches once you start understanding positioning and timing.
There is also plenty of customization and you can style your character without needing to spend money. Ranked can expose the skill gap sometimes, but that is normal for any game with a learning curve.
If you want something quick, competitive, and easy to jump into with friends, Slappyball earns its spot.
13. FragPunk
FragPunk is a free 5v5 hero shooter that mixes fast gunplay with a unique card system. Before each round, both teams pick Shard Cards that change how the match plays out. These effects can boost movement, shift the pace of fights, or completely alter the way you approach a round.
The format is familiar with attackers versus defenders, but the hero abilities and card effects make every round feel a little different. The game is at its best when you start experimenting with different characters and seeing how certain card combos can flip a fight.
It can feel chaotic and a bit unbalanced at times, but that comes with a system that changes constantly. If you want a shooter that feels different without being hard to learn, FragPunk is worth trying.
12. Who’s Who 2.0
Who’s Who 2.0 is a free multiplayer party game built around deception and blending in. You get dropped into a crowd of NPCs and your job is either to figure out who the real players are or hide well enough that nobody spots you. The tension builds fast because everyone starts second-guessing every movement.
Each character has small abilities, so you are not just hiding, you are actively trying to trick people. The game shines with friends because everyone starts getting bold, doing suspicious movements, and baiting each other into mistakes. When someone slips up and the whole lobby chases them down, it is genuinely hilarious.
It is simple on purpose, which makes it easy to jump into without learning complicated systems. If you like social deduction games, this is an easy install.
11. Skate
Skate. is a free-to-play skating game focused on movement, flow, and pulling off tricks. It keeps things straightforward so you can hop in and start messing around immediately. Once you get the timing down, chaining tricks together feels smooth, and the map has plenty of spots for grinding, flips, and lines.
Multiplayer is where it really clicks. You can skate with friends in shared sessions, chill, and practice without pressure. It is not trying to be a hardcore competitive game. It is just a fun space to skate and vibe.
Customization helps too, letting you tweak your skater and board to match your style. If you liked skate 3, there is a good chance Skate. will hit the same itch.
10. World of Sea Battle
World of Sea Battle is a free naval MMO set during the age of sail. You command your own ship, take on missions, and explore a world full of islands, ports, and dangerous trade routes. Ships handle with weight and momentum, so combat feels slower and more tactical, which fits the theme perfectly.
The multiplayer side is where the game feels alive. You can raid merchant ships, join larger naval battles, or team up to defend ports. Sailing alongside friends makes every fight feel more earned because you can coordinate shots and positioning.
It is still in Early Access, so some parts can feel rough, but there is enough here if you like strategic naval combat. If your group wants teamwork that feels meaningful, this is a solid option.
9. Arena Breakout: Infinite
Arena Breakout: Infinite is a free extraction shooter built entirely around tension and risk. Every raid is a gamble because whatever gear you bring can be lost if you fail. The slower pacing, heavier movement, and grounded gun handling make the whole experience feel intense and personal.
The game gets even better with friends. Communication matters, callouts matter, and deciding when to push or retreat can be the difference between losing everything or escaping with a full backpack. Those moments where you barely survive a fight and sprint for extraction are where the game really hooks you.
It is not casual, but that is why it stands out. If you want a multiplayer shooter that rewards patience and smart decisions, this one is absolutely worth trying.
Play Arena Breakout: Infinite Here
8. Play Together
Play Together is a lighthearted social game built around mini-games, exploration, and small activities in a shared online world. It is cozy, relaxing, and designed to be something you can play for a few minutes or an entire evening.
There is a big focus on hanging out with friends. You can race, fish, explore, and jump into small events as they pop up. It works best in a group where everyone is doing something different but still chatting and meeting up for random activities.
You can also customize your character, decorate your home, and slowly build your little space. Nothing feels stressful. It is just a friendly world to chill in.
7. Cave Crawlers
Cave Crawlers is a free-to-play roguelite where you and up to nine friends dive into randomly generated caves filled with monsters, loot, spells, and bosses. The loop is simple: build your character, run a cave, fight the big threat at the end, then repeat with new builds.
The co-op shines when you have a full group sharing loot, covering each other, and discovering secrets deeper in the caves. Different playstyles keep runs fresh, whether you are tanking with heavy weapons or dodging around while casting spells.
It is still under active development, so you may run into bugs or balance issues, but for a free game, the value is strong and the replay loop is easy to come back to.
6. SCP: Secret Laboratory
SCP: Secret Laboratory is a free multiplayer horror game set inside a chaotic underground facility where everything is going wrong. Every round assigns you a different role: security, scientists, Class-D inmates, or one of the SCP creatures. That variety keeps every match unpredictable.
The game thrives on moments you cannot script. One second you are creeping through a hallway whispering through proximity voice chat, and the next you are sprinting for your life because someone opened the wrong door. It gets tense, it gets hilarious, and it rarely plays out the same way twice.
It also keeps getting updated and the community stays active, which is why it keeps earning a spot on lists like this. If you have never played it with friends, you are missing out on some of the funniest chaos Steam has to offer.
Play SCP: Secret Laboratory Here
5. STRAFTAT
STRAFTAT is a free multiplayer FPS built around speed, movement, and chaos. Matches are intense because the game rewards fast strafing, sharp aim, and using the map to outmaneuver other players. Once the movement clicks, combat starts to feel like nonstop momentum.
The multiplayer is where it shines. Lobbies get wild fast with everyone flying around, trading hits, and trying to outplay each other through movement alone. Matches are quick, so you are always jumping back in and adjusting your approach.
The developers have been updating it consistently with improvements and new options. If you want a free shooter where movement matters just as much as aim, this one is worth installing.
4. Redsec
Redsec is a free battle royale that focuses on fast matches, streamlined pacing, and constant action. You still get the classic BR loop of dropping in, gearing up, and surviving, but it avoids the slow stretches where nothing happens.
The game creates a lot of wild moments naturally. Third parties show up fast, fights chain together, and the map design encourages risk-taking instead of hiding. It clicks even harder with friends once you start pushing together and pulling off clutch revives.
It could use more polish in audio and some mechanics, but even with that, it is still a blast. If you have been craving a new BR to mess around with, Redsec is worth trying.
3. Supermarket Together
Supermarket Together takes a simple idea and turns it into chaotic co-op fun. You and a bunch of other players run around a supermarket completing tasks, stocking shelves, grabbing items, and trying to keep everything from falling apart.
It shines with friends because coordination is always half-working, which creates hilarious moments. Someone is racing a cart across the store while someone else is restocking an item customers will not stop grabbing. The game gets funnier the messier it gets, especially when everyone leans into the chaos instead of trying to be perfect.
It also gets steady updates and tweaks, and since it is free, it is an easy sell for a friend group. If you want cooperative chaos that does not take itself seriously, this is a great pick.
Play Supermarket Together Here
2. BAPBAP
BAPBAP is a free top-down multiplayer brawler that feels like a condensed MOBA without the extra fluff. You pick a hero and jump into quick matches where fights break out constantly. The maps are small, so you are always close to the action.
The controls feel clean and abilities are easy to understand, but there is still plenty of room for skill. Timing, positioning, and team coordination matter, especially when fights get hectic and everyone is trying to land clutch abilities.
It is easy to learn, hard to master, and perfect for shorter sessions with friends. If you want fast multiplayer action without long match commitment, BAPBAP is a must-try.
1. Where Winds Meet
Where Winds Meet is a free open-world action game with stylish combat, strong presentation, and a setting that makes exploration feel rewarding. The swordplay feels crisp, the atmosphere is impressive, and the world gives you freedom to roam, fight, and take quests without feeling locked into one path.
The game has been getting a lot of attention recently, and it makes sense. Once you get comfortable with the movement and combat, it becomes the kind of game where you keep pushing forward just to see what is over the next hill. It does not try to reinvent everything. It just delivers a solid, polished experience that feels good to play.
There are still areas that could use refinement, but for a free title, the scale and quality are rare. If you like open-world action games with fast combat and a beautiful setting, this one is absolutely worth checking out.
Final Thoughts
That wraps up our list of the best free multiplayer games you can jump into right now on Steam. There is a ton of variety here, whether you want something competitive, something chaotic, or something you can relax and play with friends. Free games can be hit or miss, but these are solid picks that are absolutely worth trying, and you might even find a new favorite to sink hours into.
If any of these caught your eye, let us know which one you are checking out first. And if you have a free multiplayer game you think deserves a spot on a future list, drop it in the comments so we can take a look.