Despite the emergence of competing online digital marketplaces like Humble Bundle, the Epic Games Store, and Green Man Gaming, the Steam Store still trumps them all when it comes to user activity. It’s one of the few online game stores to feature third-party sellers, game sharing, and, perhaps most importantly; a close-knit community.

These hidden gems are some of the best that the Steam Store has to offer. Many were made by indie developers, which is why they are often so inaccessible to the average gamer. Though their creators seldom have the kind of marketing budgets needed to make their work stand out, however, the fantastic content on offer in these hidden gems is able to do that just fine on its own.

Updated August 21, 2022, by Tom Bowen: When it comes to the huge variety of titles available on Steam, gamers really are spoiled for choice. The sheer volume of games can sometimes create problems, however, with many wonderful titles slipping through the cracks or being buried beneath mountains of other games with larger marketing budgets behind them. With just a little bit of digging though, it’s possible to unearth some real hidden gems on Steam, many of which can be picked up for bargain prices if purchased during one of the platform’s regular sales. For those looking for something a little different, these are some of the most underrated games on Steam.

A Short Hike

  • Developer: adamgryu Publisher: adamgryu Initial Release Date: July 30, 2019 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (9,296 reviews) Steam Page: Click Here

Though it may not look like much at first glance, A Short Hike is a wonderful game that is absolutely worth playing. Everything about it, from its charming yet simplistic visuals to its wonderful non-linear story is incredibly well-realized, with players encouraged to explore the game’s wonderful world however and at whatever pace they see fit.

The dynamic soundtrack and the game’s slow pacing combine to create one of the most relaxing video games ever made, which is some achievement, really, considering how few people actually worked on it. As the title might suggest, it’s a relatively short affair, though, given its low pricing, few could complain about that.

Ib

  • Developer: kouri Publisher: PLAYISM Initial Release Date: April 11, 2022 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (1,438 reviews) Steam Page: Click Here

Ib was originally released back in 2012 but was remade a decade later using the latest version of RPG Maker. Like the original, it’s a 2D exploration game that takes place in a mysterious art gallery, with the playable character losing her parents and being forced to roam the ever-changing exhibits like a character from Night at the Museum.

Though Ib isn’t a particularly scary game once all’s said and done, it can be a little creepy at times, making it a great game for anyone looking for something to raise the hairs on the back of their neck. It’s also one of the most underrated horror games on steam, with only a few thousand people having discovered the remake at the time of writing.

Cats Organized Neatly

  • Developer: DU&I Publisher: DU&I Initial Release Date: October 13, 2020 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (1,868 reviews) Steam Page: Click Here

In keeping with its title, Cats Organized Neatly is a 2D puzzle game in which players need to arrange a series of cats so that they fit into the provided grid. It’s like one of those shape games that many people played with when they were younger, only with cute cats instead of little plastic pieces. It may sound a little dull, but it’s actually surprisingly fun and relaxing to boot.

Though there’s not much to the game in terms of actual gameplay, it can actually be fairly challenging due to the huge amount of variety that’s on offer. There are eighty different stages and a wide array of cats covering all different shapes and sizes, which should be enough to keep players busy for quite some time.

Hypercharge: Unboxed

  • Developer: Digital Cybercherries Publisher: Digital Cybercherries Initial Release Date: April 27, 2020 Steam Reviews: Very Positive (2,375) Steam Page: Click Here

Hypercharge: Unboxed is what the vast majority of the Toy Story video games failed to be: fun. Granted, some may prefer an adventure with recognizable characters like Buzz and Woody, but those looking for a toy-based title with fantastic combat could definitely do a lot worse. When the game is at its very best, in fact, they’ll struggle to find much better.

The amount of love and care that Digital Cybercherries has put into the game is clear for all to see and this extends not only to the game’s fantastic visuals, but also its perfectly executed gameplay mechanics. As a result, when it comes to hidden gems on Steam, Hypercharge: Unboxed is one of the most unique and enjoyable on offer.

Deceit

  • Developer: Baseline Publisher: Baseline Initial Release Date: March 4, 2017 Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive (83,140) Steam Page: Click Here

Deceit is a multiplayer game with a large focus on communication. Rather than teamwork, however, the game is designed to test a player’s abilities to deceive their fellow players, just as its title suggests. It’s more of a mind game than a horror game, but it does contain plenty of horror elements.

Deceit is unlike most of the other games on Steam, but it can be compared to games like Among Us, although Deceit came out first. The game can be purchased for a bargain on the Steam Store, so there’s very little reason for fans of social deception and imposter games not to at least give it a try.

Spiritfarer

  • Developer: Thunder Lotus Games Publisher: Thunder Lotus Games Initial Release Date: August 17, 2020 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (19,450) Steam Page: Click Here

With its beautiful art style and thought-provoking narrative, Spiritfarer really sets itself apart from its peers. Players are tasked with ferrying the souls of the dead to their eternal resting places and must build their own boat to not only transport all of the wayward spirits, but also to find them throughout the game’s wonderfully whimsical world.

Though the exploration itself is certainly enjoyable, it’s perhaps the player’s interactions with the spirits that make the experience so enjoyable. The presentation is top-notch as well, with the hand-drawn art and animation making for one of the most visually appealing games of the past few years. There are even crafting and farming mechanics too, for those who enjoy that kind of thing.

Hidden Folks

  • Developers: Adriaan de Jongh & Sylvian Tegroeg Publisher: Adriaan de Jongh Initial Release Date: February 15, 2017 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (6,502 reviews) Steam Page: Click Here

This hidden object game presents players with some folks to find across a wide range of beautifully hand-drawn areas. The game takes after the book series Where’s Waldo, with all of the locations found in Hidden Folks first sketched on paper before being scanned and put into the game. The results are often quite stunning.

Interestingly enough, most of the objects in the game can be interacted with, even if they’re not what players are supposed to be looking for. For those looking for a relaxing game that doesn’t require a lot of effort, Hidden Folks might just be the perfect title for them.

My Time At Portia

  • Developer: Pathea Games Publisher: Team17 Initial Release Date: January 15, 2019 Steam Reviews: Very Positive (29,489 reviews) Steam Page: Click Here

It’s easy to compare My Time At Portia to games like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. Where it sets itself apart though is its post-apocalyptic setting, which somehow manages to come across as being incredibly pleasant despite the end of the world connotations that come along with it.

Players must rebuild a workshop by growing crops and raising livestock, among other things. There’s enough content to keep people engaged for well over 60 hours, making it a great game for fans of simulation games who are looking for a new title to sink some serious time into.

The Room

  • Developer: Fireproof Games Publisher: Fireproof Games Initial Release Date: July 28, 2014 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (20,065) Steam Page: Click Here

The puzzles found throughout The Room are an inspiring part of the genre. It’s a point-and-click game filled with mystery and a dark atmosphere that keeps players on the edge of their seats. It has plenty of scary moments, but will also have players marveling at the ingenious nature of its overall design.

The Room has been remastered since its original release, and the PC version is now truly masterful. It’s a short game to play, but it’s well worth the time spent, particularly as the game is incredibly cheap. For those who like it, there are also three direct sequels, each of which builds upon the excellent foundations laid by the series’ fantastic first entry.

Game Dev Tycoon

  • Developer: Greenheart Games Publisher: Greenheart Games Initial Release Date: August 29, 2013 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (34,622) Steam Page: Click Here

Developer Greenheart Games ingeniously decided to make a game that’s primary gameplay loop is built around designing video games. Players control their own development studio, hiring game developers and coming up with new projects that they think might appeal to the average gamer.

The objectives are to become a worldwide leader in the industry and generate a massive following, and doing so can be incredibly satisfying. Like many big tech start-ups, players start out in their garage, before working their way up to the top. For those with an interest in the industry, Game Dev Tycoon is one of the most enjoyable lesser-known games on Steam.

Paper Sorcerer

  • Developer: Ultra Runaway Games Publisher: Ultra Runaway Games Initial Release Date: November 21, 2013 Steam Reviews: Very Positive (387) Steam Page: Click Here

Although it is a modern game, Paper Sorcerer takes a retro approach to the dungeon-crawling RPG genre. It’s an old-school-themed game with a turn-based combat system, exciting dialogue, and some fantastic puzzle-solving moments that will have players scratching their heads as they struggle to come up with the correct solutions.

As well as puzzle-solving, the game also incorporates creature-collecting mechanics, with players able to defeat monsters and get them to fight alongside them in battle. Subtle details like hand-drawn sprites in high resolution are just one of many things that make Paper Sorcerer an absolute knockout of a game.

Wuppo: Definitive Edition

  • Developers: Knuist & Perzik Publisher: SOEDESCO Initial Release Date: September 29, 2016 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (3,818) Steam Page: Click Here

In Wuppo, control a fictional creature known as a Wum as it searches for a new place to live. After being exiled from his home, he embarks upon an adventure filled with puzzles and monsters. Despite what its art style might suggest, this isn’t just a game for kids, with players of all ages able to enjoy this epic adventure.

The game is continually changing environments, which is part of the reason why Wuppo: Definitive Edition is so much fun. Many will go into the experience with low expectations, but they’ll soon change their outlook after enjoying every bit of Wuppo: Definitive Edition. It’s a hidden gem that too few people have played.

House Flipper

  • Developer: Empyrean Publishers: Frozen District & PlayWay S.A. Initial Release Date: May 17, 2018 Steam Reviews: Very Positive (57,470) Steam Page: Click Here

For those who like to smash things and want to combine that with their interest in renovating houses, House Flipper is a phenomenal hidden gem. Everything, from the engineering to the clean-up, is involved when playing House Flipper, making the game a lot more nuanced than just point, click and destroy.

Players who do their job correctly will be able to turn houses around and sell them for a profit. Those who just want to destroy things can still have a lot of fun too though, even if the end result is a little less rewarding. The game can also be played in VR for those with the hardware to do so, allowing players to really feel like they’re a part of the action.

The House In Fata Morgana

  • Developer: Novectacle Publisher: MangaGamer Initial Release Date: May 14, 2016 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (2,445) Steam Page: Click Here

The House in Fata Morgana is a visual novel that will take players on a time travel adventure. They’ll awaken in a creepy mansion with no recollection of their life or their maid as she stands before them. As they begin to explore the game’s world though, they’ll soon discover that the mansion is filled with mysterious doors that can transport them to the distant past.

With no sense of time, living, or death, the story is gripping right up until the very end. It’s a fairly lengthy game, particularly for a visual novel, that will take players approximately 27.5 hours to complete. It’s definitely worth it though, as this hidden gem is an absolute must-play.

TY the Tasmanian Tiger

  • Developer: Krome Studios Publisher: Krome Studios Initial Release Date: December 13, 2016 Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (2,106) Steam Page: Click Here

TY is a Tasmanian tiger from the Australian Outback that wields a boomerang. TY the Tasmanian Tiger originally debuted in the early 2000s and feels like a video game time capsule of that era. This hidden gem has an old-school vibe to tie in with exploration and plenty of nods to some of the great mascot-based platformers of yesteryear.

The version on the Steam Store is the remastered version, which plays in high-definition and at 60 frames per second. For anyone who enjoyed Yooka-Laylee, Banjo-Kazooie, or Super Mario Odyssey, TY is definitely worth a look. It’s more like an indie game when compared directly to those titles, but there’s arguably just as much fun to be had with it.