Best Steampunk Games

A video game with a design style that uses darker, grittier technological traits, often related to the Victorian era in Europe, is called steampunk. The unique, rich imagery invokes the imagination with its 19th-century themes of rusted steam-powered machinery and gear-laden gadgets.

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While this overlapping theme doesn't garner quite as much attention outside its own niche, it's nonetheless a rich subgenre with a passionate fanbase. Steampunk is based on steam and electrical power, and a video game based on this aesthetic traditionally takes place in a Victorian setting, but there are plenty of creative exceptions.

Naturally, this helps set the foundation for some epic, atmospheric gaming experiences. The oversized metal gears, steam-powered flying machines, and primitive electric gizmos of the steampunk genre make awesome game visuals. While there's not a long list to draw from compared to sci-fi novels, films, or anime, there are plenty of examples of great steampunk video games.

Updated on April 24, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: It's not difficult to find great steampunk games, and with the remakes and updates of older titles, classics are also becoming more popular and widely available. Updated graphics are making older steampunk games that were originally designed for computers available for console-friendly versions. This includes bringing computer games to handheld devices and brand crossovers, giving anyone who likes the genre an array of choices.

22 Sunless Sea

Metacritic Score: 81

Steampunk games are often known for their gloomy atmosphere, and there's certainly a palpable sense of these traits when exploring the desolate waters of the Sunless Sea. The game is partly an expansion of the browser adventure title called Fallen London, fleshing out the experience with loads of readable backstories and ominous sea creatures.

This steampunk game consists of a slow-moving and simple journey for the most part, as the rich settings and somber tunes take center stage. There's a sense of wonder as players explore these sunken ruins of Victorian-era London. This roguelike survival romp for PC and PS4 is worth giving a try if players fancy the 19th-century motif.

21 Professor Layton And The Curious Village

Metacritic Score: 85

• Developer: Level-5
• Genre: Puzzle, Adventure
• Platforms: Nintendo DS, mobile, iOS, Android

One of the more endearing projects that showcase the whimsical side of steampunk games is the Professor Layton series. The eponymous character has a whole franchise with his name on it, and this one also takes place in a world based on Victorian England.

Like the others in this franchise, these are games for the Nintendo DS; however, their popularity has prompted an expansion to Andriod, so this can also be an ideal choice for a mobile game. The Curious Village is the very first game in the series, making it an ideal pick for anyone interested in exploring this universe.

20 The Room

Metacritic Score: 75

• Developer: Fireproof Games
• Genre: Mystery, Puzzle
• Platforms: Android, Windows

A steampunk game made in the spirit of classic first-person POV like the CD ROMs of a bygone time, The Room has a similar mysterious backstory. The player has to discover the secrets of the past, while also using a series of clues to escape some kind of confinement in the present.

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It's a highly rated and popular game, even though it's not as widely available when it comes to different platforms. The Room works on Android devices and anything running Windows, and the graphics are an impressive use of both operating systems considering its budget and size.

19 The Chaos Engine

Metacritic Score: TBD

• Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
• Genre: Shoot-em-up (Run and Gun)
• Platforms: MS-DOS, Super NES, Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, macOS

This game is named for the game's antagonist, a steam-powered computer that has gained sentience and decided to wipe out humanity. The protagonists have to grab their Victorian-style projectile weapons and stop the Chaos Engine before it's too late.

The original game dates from 1993, and it looks surprisingly good with its vibrant colors and unique designs, telling a unique story about a wayward time traveler and an alternate version of history. The 2013 remake was mostly a disappointment, barely improving anything about the combat or gameplay, scoring only 40 on Metacritic with a slightly better user score of 7.5.

18 Guns of Icarus Online

Metacritic Score: 64

Also known as Guns of Icarus: Online, this game was released in 2012 and has been online in some form ever since. Its 2018 release tweaked the title slightly, which explains why it's also known as Guns of Icarus: Alliance. The design integrates both steampunk and dieselpunk elements with its airships, which are the center of this creative first-person shooter.

The multiplayer angle comes in with the ships themselves, of which there are a variety, and each of them requires the cooperation of four players to operate. Players can choose between the classes of pilot, engineer, or gunner, with one designated as the captain who decides what weapons the ship uses.

17 Frostpunk

Metacritic Score: 84

Frostpunk is a city-building strategy steampunk survival game that takes place in an apocalyptic future in which any kind of energy source is jealously guarded. The entire planet is frozen under a volcanic winter, and the player has to build a city, gather other survivors, and get through the winter.

Players can experience several different scenarios, all of which include variations in the same setting. The game was released for Microsoft Windows first, with consoles, macOS, and Android following a year later.

16 Machinarium

Metacritic Score: (2009)

There's the potential for some charming, lavish art styles when running with the steampunk game look, and Amanita Design's graphic adventure by the name of Machinarium is a solid example.

This game utilizes an intuitive point-and-click mechanic and dresses it up with some authentically gritty, detailed wastelands and run-down machinery. The steampunk-style assets prove a suitable fit, given that it features an array of puzzles that will have players tinkering with various buttons, knobs, and other gadgetry. This is a cool little artistic adventure that's worth the time.

15 Professor Layton And The Unwound Future

Metacritic Score: 84

• Developer: Level-5
• Genre: Puzzle Adventure
• Platforms: Nintendo DS, iOS, Android

This delightful steampunk game adventure feels like a virtual cartoon show mixed with a fantastical storybook. Fans of the Professor Layton puzzle series often point to this third iteration as the peak in the franchise. There's also a prequel series of four games and a spinoff series called Layton Brothers: Mystery Room.

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The creative point-and-drag puzzles have drawn a slew of fans over the years, as have the entertaining animated cutscenes that further paint the scene. The rich English settings are laced with cool set pieces and steampunk-themed gadgets, namely the time machine, which Layton and Luke are called upon to check out during the game's introduction.

14 The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Metacritic Score: 87

Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda series has been a staple in fantasy-based adventures which tend to stress magic over machinery. Yet, this unique journey for young Link largely revolves around the use of traveling by train. Much like Skyward Sword's usage of flying, and Wind Waker's adherence to sailing, the means of transport here is a 19th-century-style train, which officially makes this a steampunk game.

Players still get the familiar fantasy tropes and thrilling sword-based combat fans have come to love, but DS' Spirit Tracks injects a bit of its retro-technical flair that allows it to stand out. It's easy to get roped in when chugging along in this 25-hour odyssey.

13 Steamworld Dig 2

Metacritic Score: 88

This charmingly colorful romp is oozing with a steampunk atmosphere and exploration-based gameplay that Minecraft and Terraria fans will love. Indeed, the Steamworld Dig games play like a somewhat smaller version of Re-Logic's epic; but one that's similarly rife with fun content.

It's tough to get more prototypically "steampunk" than a clanky robotic protagonist powered by steam. In addition to steampunk, players likely be getting some Indiana Jones vibes too, as they spend their time exploring vast caverns and mining for various goods. Unlock new steam-powered mechanisms and weapons like pressure bombs for more efficient bots, making for an increasingly rewarding journey.