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The self-publishing video game marketplace Itch.io is unique for its huge array of user-created video games spanning all styles and price points. There’s little moderation or editorialization of the listings, unlike Steam or Epic Games, so users can publish whatever they like (barring illegal or similar content) and have full control of the monetization of their work.
Developers can even choose to make their Itch.io games free or offer a pay-if-you-want scheme. While this can be used to release free versions of paid games, like a trial version, many developers choose to release full-fledged projects for nothing at all. Though lots of these are not worth checking out, this list of thebest free itch.io gameshighlights fifteen options that punch way above their weight.
Updated Jul 16, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: Itch.io is home to an enormous number of games, and perhaps surprisingly, some of the best itchio games are free. Though itch.io does let developers offer a pay-what-you-want scheme, a number of itch.io’s best games don’t require players to give anything to download full games. Two new additions, Bloodborne PSX and DELTARUNE, give players a unique approach to FromSoftware’s seminal Bloodborne and a follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Undertale. Look too for links directly to every project being recommended, and consider giving developers a donation if you enjoyed their free itchio games.
15Bloodborne PSX
Bloodborne PSXis a free re-creation of the first few hours of the FromSoftware gameBloodbornein a style reminiscent of PlayStation 1 games. A big genre on itch.io is the horror PSX genre, where games are made to intentionally call back to this early 3D era of games, and the world ofBloodbornefeels like a natural fit for this visual approach.
If you never had a PlayStation console and missed out onBloodborne,Bloodborne PSXis a great way to get a taste of the aesthetic and story of the regular game. But returning fans of the game will love its adjusted PS1-esque combat and its polygonal art style that forces the player to fill in the blanks with their imagination, often making the game’s already-horrific monsters look that much scarier.
14DELTARUNE (Chapters One & Two)
DELTARUNEis the latest project fromUndertaledeveloper Toby Fox, and has been in the works for more than a few years at this point. Though the full game isn’t available yet, Fox has released two Chapters that make up the first two parts of the game. In tandem, there’s at least a dozen or so hours of gameplay to get through, harkening back toUndertalein a kind of parallel universe, with new combat systems, characters, and even setting.
These first two chapters ofDELTARUNEare available for free on itch.io, and later chapters will likely be made available for free when they release, too.DELTARUNEwill be released in its entirety as a purchasable game at some point, but until then, these two chapters – and the chapters to come – should keepUndertalefans sated.
13Get In The Car, Loser!
Get In The Car, Loser!is a technically-paid game with a free base version that gives players a taste of its particularly colorful (and modern) world. Its active-time RPG mechanics feel fine-tuned compared to the turn-based RPGs it was inspired by, and its LGBT-centric story, characters, and aesthetics feel just as modern. It’s one of thosegood Itch.io gamesthat puts its own spin on a classic genre.
It’s a bombastic road trip adventure through a fusion of modern and fantasy settings as players go from being at the Gas Station refueling the eponymous car to battling the Machine Devil with the Sword of Fate. The creator of the game describes it as a game about “discovering yourself, whatever the f**k that means”.
12Right Click To Necromance
Right Click to Necromanceis a simple game with a simple concept - left click to control your skeletal army, and right-click to use your necromancer powers to resurrect your fallen enemies. It was created for the Indie Speed Run jam in 2015, and was amazingly developed in less than 48 hours. It’s one of thebest Itch.io gamesmade in such a short time span.
While the game itself was made by one person, two others worked on the game’s music. It’s impressive to see what such a small team can accomplish in such a short amount of time, and it’s well worth checking out for its totally unique gameplay.
11FAITH
FAITHis a lo-fi horror game that takes major inspiration from the MS-DOS and Atari era of video games, though it’s something quite unlike the innocent offerings of that time. Despite its graphical style, it’s one of the most spooky games on the Itch.io platform, and it’s surely one that will stick with horror gaming fans.
It currently has three chapters, though the third chapter is still in its demo phase. The game is technically free, but by paying only a dollar to the developer, players get access to a deluxe version of the game, a number of cosmetics, the game’s eerie soundtrack, and access to updates earlier than others.
10Friday Night Funkin'
Friday Night Funkin’is one of themost popular indie rhythm gamesever released, and for good reason. It’s got a huge amount of customization, the controls are perfectly intuitive and responsive, and the game’s variety of mods and custom tracks make it nearly infinitely replayable.
If gamers haven’t already seen this game in action, it’s well worth checking out for the art style and music alone. It’s regularly updated and has a huge following, despite being made by a tiny team, and it is regularly featured in thetop 10 Itch.io gameson the site’s front page.
9Juice Galaxy
Juice Galaxyis a mind-bending exploration sandbox with an art style reminiscent of the PlayStation One and fluid physics-based animations and models. It’s a really wacky game thatmight take some timeto get used to, but it’s worth it.
The game has RPG elements and a large and varied enough world to keep the player engaged for a few hours. It still receives regular updates, and as one of thebest free games on Itch.io, it’s worth checking out, even if its psychedelic and abstract style makes it hard to get into at first.
8Doki Doki Literature Club
Doki Doki Literature Clubis an innovative game, despite appearing like a normal Japanese visual novel. Without going too far into spoilers for the game, it’s much different than most people expect and well worth going in blind for.
If the visual novel gameplay bores players, just give it half an hour to an hourto really get going. It’s worth the ride, and the game’s popularity on YouTube and streaming platforms is a testament to that fact.
7We Become What We Behold
We Become What We Beholdis an open-source satirical game that puts its sights on the endless news cycles we experience all around us. It’s an extremely short game, but a great 5-minute experience for its commentary on how the media influences mass behavior.
Taking pictures of people doing different actions affects the mini-society, and even gets into some harsh subjects subtly. It’s hard to explain, but it’s as intuitive as it is ingenious.
6Baldi’s Basics In Education and Learning
Baldi’s Basics in Education and Learningis one of thebest games on Itch.iofor horror fans. It creates its scares through the incredibly off-putting main character, Baldi, and the nightmarishly bizarreworld the game takes place in.
It poses as a simple, badly designed children’s educational game, but after just a few minutes in-game the player finds it to be a much, much more sinister experience.
