Best Early Access Games on Steam

Steam currently has 11,196 Early Access games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Early Access game rankings were last updated on 4/3/2025.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Vampire Survivors

Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you.

Vampire Survivors banner

Vampire Survivors holds the #1 spot for "best Early Access game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 248,095 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 244,322 positive reviews and 3,773 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

  • Price:
    $4.99
  • Release Date:
    10/20/2022
  • Developer:
    poncle
  • Publisher:
    poncle
  • Last Updated:
    4/3/2025
  • Steam App Id:
    1794680

2. Wallpaper Engine

Use stunning live wallpapers on your desktop. Animate your own images to create new wallpapers or import videos/websites and share them on the Steam Workshop!

Wallpaper Engine banner

Wallpaper Engine has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 879,609 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 862,335 positive reviews and 17,274 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Wallpaper Engine on the Steam Deck.

3. Slime Rancher

Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.

Slime Rancher banner

Slime Rancher has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 136,115 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 133,322 positive reviews and 2,793 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Slime Rancher on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

4. ULTRAKILL

ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weapons and shower in their blood to regain your health.

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ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 160,762 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 157,143 positive reviews and 3,619 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

5. Schedule I

From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.

Schedule I banner

Schedule I has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 44,698 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 43,956 positive reviews and 742 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.

  • Price:
    $19.99
  • Release Date:
    3/24/2025
  • Developer:
    TVGS
  • Publisher:
    TVGS
  • Last Updated:
    4/3/2025
  • Steam App Id:
    3164500

6. BeamNG.drive

A dynamic soft-body physics vehicle simulator capable of doing just about anything.

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BeamNG.drive has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 311,753 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 303,722 positive reviews and 8,031 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play BeamNG.drive on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

  • Price:
    $24.99
  • Release Date:
    5/29/2015
  • Developer:
    BeamNG
  • Publisher:
    BeamNG
  • Last Updated:
    4/3/2025
  • Steam App Id:
    284160

7. Lethal Company

A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.

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Lethal Company has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 483,117 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 469,778 positive reviews and 13,339 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Lethal Company on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

  • Price:
    $9.99
  • Release Date:
    10/23/2023
  • Developer:
    Zeekerss
  • Publisher:
    Zeekerss
  • Last Updated:
    3/29/2025
  • Steam App Id:
    1966720

8. Dyson Sphere Program

Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.

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Dyson Sphere Program has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 84,397 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 82,425 positive reviews and 1,972 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Dyson Sphere Program on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

9. Rhythm Doctor

Save patients with your rhythm mastery! Rhythm Doctor is a rhythm game where you heal patients by defibrillating in time to their heartbeats. Learn each patient's unique heartbeat and defeat boss viruses trying to sabotage your rhythm, all set to heart-pumping, soul-soothing music.

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Rhythm Doctor has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,026 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,699 positive reviews and 327 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $15.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

10. Subnautica

Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril. Craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive.

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Subnautica has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Early Access games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 308,886 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 299,703 positive reviews and 9,183 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

More Early Access Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Early Access games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Vampire Survivors banner image
2,589
10/20/2022
97
$4.99
View
Wallpaper Engine banner image
48,073
11/16/2018
97
$4.99
View
Slime Rancher banner image
726
8/1/2017
97
$19.99
View
ULTRAKILL banner image
3,238
9/3/2020
96
$24.99
View
Schedule I banner image
281,276
3/24/2025
96
$19.99
View
BeamNG.drive banner image
17,456
5/29/2015
96
$24.99
View
Lethal Company banner image
4,097
10/23/2023
96
$9.99
View
Dyson Sphere Program banner image
2,028
1/21/2021
96
$19.99
View
Rhythm Doctor banner image
43
2/26/2021
96
$15.99
View
Subnautica banner image
2,798
1/23/2018
96
$29.99
View
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