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Best Steam games to play on Chromebook

We've got a list to get your gaming started

Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

Last Updated on December 1, 2023
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Looking for some good steam games to play on your Chromebook? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the best Steam games that work on Chromebooks. These games are sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. Chromebooks are slowly but surely becoming more and more popular. And as their popularity increases, so does the number of steam games that work on them. So whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore one, there’s something for everyone on our list.

Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked

Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked is a standalone expansion pack to the 2013 video game Don’t Starve. The expansion was released in 2016 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. Like its predecessor, Shipwrecked is a wilderness survival game in which the player must gather resources to survive.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a role-playing video game with a unique twist: instead of controlling a party of adventurers, you’re the lone protagonist. This makes for an intimate and engaging gaming experience as you build up your farm, make friends in the small town, and uncover the mysteries of the valley. Easy to play for hours, and we mean hours.


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It was originally created by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone and published by Chucklefish Games for Microsoft Windows in February 2016. The game was subsequently ported to macOS, Linux, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (via PortingStudio), and iOS.

Faster Than Light – FTL

Faster Than Light is a 2011 independently-developed rogue-like space sim video game created by Justin Ma and Matthew Davis. As you may expect, the game’s title refers to the common science-fiction term “Faster-than-light travel”. In the game, the player controls a starship from a top-down perspective. Now it all adds up.

Grim Fandago is a classic. And fun!

Grim Fandango

Grim Fandango is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, with Tim Schafer as the game’s project leader. Not just a brilliantly named title, it is the first adventure game by LucasArts to use three-dimensional graphics overlaid on pre-rendered static backgrounds.

Oxenfree

Oxenfree is a 2016 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Night School Studio. The player controls teenage girl Alex as she navigates an abandoned island, uncovering its mysteries. As the story progresses, Alex discovers that she can manipulate time, which allows her to change the course of events that have already transpired.

The Walking Dead: Season One

The Walking Dead: Season One is an episodic adventure video game developed and published by Telltale Games. The game is based on Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic book series, with five episodes released between April and November 2012 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire HDX, and Windows Phone.

Minecraft: Story Mode

Minecraft: Story Mode is an episodic point-and-click graphic adventure video game developed and published by Telltale Games, based on the sandbox video game Minecraft. The first five episodes of the game were released between October 2015 through March 2016, while the sixth episode was released as a separate standalone title called Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two in July 2017. Yes, of course, we included Minecraft.

The Wolf Among Us is a fun point-and-click adventure

The Wolf Among Us

The Wolf Among Us is an episodic point-and-click graphic adventure video game based on the Fables universe created by Telltale Games, and was published in October 2013. As a point-and-click it’s got more than a hint of nostalgia to it too, which adds to the joy.

World of Goo

World of Goo is a puzzle video game developed and published by independent game developer Ron Carmel and Kyle Gabler. It was released on Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, WiiWare, and iOS. The game was later published by Nintendo for the Wii U’s eShop in October 2014.

Papers, Please

Papers, Please is a puzzle video game developed and published by Lucas Pope. The player takes the role of a border guard in the fictional country of Arstotzka during the 1980s. The player must inspect passports and other documents to check for errors, such as mismatched names or expired visas. If an error is found, the player can choose to detain or arrest the traveler. The game was released on Microsoft Windows and OS X in August 2013, and was later ported to Linux, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, PlayStation IV, and Xbox One.

Rocket League

Rocket League is a unique twist on the classic soccer video game genre. In Rocket League, players use rocket-powered cars to battle it out in fast-paced matches. The game features multiple game modes and allows players to customize their cars to suit their playing style.

Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore competitive player, Rocket League has plenty of joy about it – although learning some skills will help you have more of an impact in games.

Rocket League was originally published in July 2015 on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4, before being ported to Xbox One, macOS, Linux, and Nintendo Switch.

Portal

Portal, based on “The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device” of Half-Life lore fame, is a puzzle-platform video game. It was released in October 2007 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. The player controls Chell, the protagonist, from a first-person perspective as she tries to flee the Aperture Science Enrichment Center with the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device to create portals.

Limbo

Limbo is a puzzle-platform video game developed by independent studio Playdead. The game was released in July 2010 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation Network, and OS X. In the game, the player controls a young boy who is searching for his missing sister in a dark forest. The player must use stealth and problem-solving skills to avoid deadly creatures and escape from the forest.

Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy – what a name – is a platformer video game developed by Team Meat and originally published by Edmund McMillen’s label Brutal Deluxe Games in October 2010. The game was later published by McMillen and Tommy Refenes’s company, Nicalis, in November 2011. The game is available for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and iOS.

Bastion is an accessible and highly-engaging RPG

Bastion

Bastion is an action role-playing video game developed by Supergiant Games and originally published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in July 2011. The game was later published by Supergiant Games in April 2012 for Microsoft Windows and OS X. In the game, the player controls the protagonist, known as “the Kid”, from a third-person perspective as he explores the floating world of Caelondia and fights enemies known as the Ura. The title was well-received upon release; critics praised its artwork, narration, music, and gameplay. And we wholeheartedly agree.

The Stanley Parable

The Stanley Parable is a first-person narrative video game developed by Galactic Cafe and originally published by Davey Wreden in October 2013. The game was later published by Wreden’s company, Crows Crows Crows, in November 2013. In the game, the player controls the titular character Stanley from a first-person perspective as he explores an office building and makes choices that affect the course of the story.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a roguelike video game developed by Nicalis and originally published by Edmund McMillen in November 2014. The game was later published by Nicalis in April 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player controls the titular character from a top-down perspective as he explores dungeons full of enemies and treasure.

Spelunky is one for platformer fans

Spelunky

Spelunky is a platformer video game developed by Mossmouth and originally published by Derek Yu in August 2008. The game was later published by Microsoft Studios in July 2012 for Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player controls the titular character from a side-scrolling perspective as he explores procedurally generated caves full of enemies and treasure. Well-received upon release, Spelunky’s roguelike elements, difficulty, and replay value are all to be admired.

The Witness

The Witness is a puzzle video game developed by Jonathan Blow and originally published by him in January 2016. The game was later published by Thekla, Inc. in September 2018 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player explores an open world island full of puzzles that must be solved to progress.

Oxenfree

Oxenfree is an atmospheric point-and-click adventure video game developed by Night School Studio and originally published by them in January 2016. The game was later published by Ska Studios in July 2016 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player controls a teenage girl named Alex from a third-person perspective as she explores an abandoned island full of supernatural creatures.

Superhot

Superhot is a first-person shooter video game with smart mechanics and level design, developed and published by Superhot Team in February 2016. In the game, the player controls a red-and-black silhouette from a first-person perspective as they fight their way through levels full of enemies. The player’s movements are slowed down when they are not moving, and time only moves when the player moves. This allows the player to plan their actions carefully and execute them flawlessly.

The Talos Principle

The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle video game developed by Croteam and originally published by Devolver Digital in December 2014. The game was later published by Croteam in April 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player controls a robot from a first-person perspective as they solve puzzles to progress.

The Room

The Room is a puzzle video game developed and published by Fireproof Games in September 2012. In the game, the player controls an unseen character from a first-person perspective as they solve puzzles in a room. The Room was well-received upon release; critics praised its puzzle design and atmosphere.

The Swapper

The Swapper is a puzzle video game developed by Facepalm Games and originally published by them in May 2013. The game was later published by Curve Digital in April 2014 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player controls an astronaut from a first-person perspective as they explore an abandoned space station. The Swapper was well-received upon release, particularly for its puzzle design, art style, and atmosphere.

How to install Steam on your Chromebook – quick list

  • Check if your Chromebook can run Linux apps within ChromeOS
  • If it can, open a Terminal window and enter the following command:

sudo apt install steam

Once Steam is installed, you can launch it by opening the “Games” folder from your Chromebook’s main menu. Alternatively, you can check out our step-by-step Steam on Chromebook guide.

How to create a Steam Account

  • Go to steampowered.com and select “install steam”
  • Follow the instructions that steam gives you
  • Create a username and password
  • Once your account is created, you can sign into steam on any computer and begin buying and playing games
  • Select and run Steam games!

Kevin is the Editor of PC Guide. He has a broad interest and enthusiasm for consumer electronics, PCs and all things consumer tech - and more than 15 years experience in tech journalism.