Despite the emergence of competing online digital marketplaces like Humble Bundle, the Epic Games Store, and Green Man Gaming, theSteam Storestill 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. To this day, fans love what Steam brings to the table and how their purchases are almost always justified, especially given just how cheap some of these titles can really be.
There are manyhidden gems on Steam, and players who discover these experiences attest to the fact that these games aresome of the very best that the storefront 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, the fantastic content on offer in these hidden gems is able to do that just fine on its own. With this word-of-mouth marketing, these titles gain the legs necessary to stand toe-to-toe with bigger AAA releases and prove why these games are so impressive in their own right.
Updated on Jul 05, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Steam is one of the best things to ever happen to PC gaming. The exposure this platform has given to so many developers coupled with affordable pricing and numerous sales has allowed people to go all out as they either purchase games that have been heavily marketed or discover some great indie gems that are certainly diamonds in the rough.
Any game with more than 5,000 user reviews will not be included.
There are many people who are still seeking the high thatHotline Miamigave with its frenetic action and tough-as-nails gameplay that forced players to learn the ins and outs of a level before even hoping to clear it. For these players,OTXOis the perfect game to fill the void left behind by that legendary indie game.
This indie shooter takes no prisoners, making sure that players either learn how the game worksor die over and over again. Making any progress inOTXOis quite rewarding, and makes it clear why its fans just can’t understand why this game’s popularity hasn’t blown up yet!
7En Garde!
Steam User Rating: 94% (From 918 Reviews)
It’s a shame thatEn Garde!is such a short game, with its players genuinely loving how charming and engaging the combat is. Unlike most other action games where players feel like the battlefield is pretty even,En Garde!pits players against the odds all the time, and the only way to circumvent this challenge is to play dirty.
The environment is the player’s best friend, and players need to use every object they can see to impede opponents and make them easier to deal with. Players will constantly be pitted against multiple opponents, making combat a dance where players chuck everything but the kitchen sink at enemies to deal with their relentless assault!
6Ib
Steam User Rating: 99% (From 2,812 Reviews)
Ibwas originally released back in 2012but 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 fromNight at the Museum.
ThoughIbisn’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 mostunderrated horror games on Steam, with only a few thousand people having discovered the remake at the time of writing.
5Cats Organized Neatly
Steam User Rating: 98% (From 3,078 Reviews)
In keeping with its title,Cats Organized Neatlyis 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 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.
4Hypercharge: Unboxed
Steam User Rating: 91% (From 3,134 Reviews)
Hypercharge: Unboxedis what the vast majority of theToy Storyvideo 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 tohidden gems on Steam,Hypercharge: Unboxedis one of the most unique and enjoyable on offer.
3Paper Sorcerer
Steam User Rating: 82% (From 405 Reviews)
Although it is a modern game,Paper Sorcerertakes aretro 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 alsoincorporates 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 makePaper Sorcereran absolute knockout of a game.
2Wuppo: Definitive Edition
Steam User Rating: 92% (From 4,306 Reviews)
InWuppo, players 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 whyWuppo: Definitive Editionis so much fun. Many will go into the experience with low expectations, but they’ll soon change their outlook after enjoying every bit ofWuppo: Definitive Edition. It’sa hidden gem that too few people have played.
1The House In Fata Morgana
Steam User Rating: 95% (From 3,380 Reviews)
The House in Fata Morganais a visual novel that will take players ona 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.
MORE:The Most Expensive Games On Steam (& How Much They Cost)
