Six fascinating free games have hit Steam in the past week, all of which you can claim now to keep forever. As the biggest online storefront for PC gaming, Steam is never short on variety, and quality, low-cost indie games abound.
We're highlighting six of those indies today as we look at what's new and free-to-play on Steam's Featured page the week of January 19, 2026. The following six games are all free-to-play forever, and became available on Steam in the past week; here's everything you need to know about them.
To begin, let's look at Heartopia, a new life sim/city builder that came out on January 16. This is a cute, casual, cozy game that's very much in the vein of The Sims meets Stardew Valley. You'll design your own home, partake in hobbies like fishing, gardening, and birdwatching, and dress up your character in a variety of different outfits.
The big draw here is that Heartopia is designed for multiplayer, so you can build, explore, and enjoy with a group of friends. It's a good way to spend some time with long-distance loved ones, with a laid-back vibe and lots of opportunities for...
