Steam has thousands of indie games, but plenty of smaller releases can be easy to overlook, especially when they come with a price tag. Fortunately, some developers eventually remove that barrier entirely, giving more players a chance to discover their work. One such change has now come to Heavy Wake, a dark-fantasy RPG that Steam users can permanently add to their libraries without spending a cent.
Heavy Wake currently sits at 95% Very Positive reviews on the beloved Valve storefront, which is especially interesting because this game began as a student project. In other words, it’s a unique game compared to many to download and check out because it’s a potential up-and-coming developer’s very first game—from Cold and Wet Studios.
Heavy Wake Drops Its Price Tag, Goes Permanently Free
Originally released on Steam in July 2026, Heavy Wake launched with a $1.99 price tag, but the indie RPG has now dropped its price entirely, becoming a permanently free-to-play game on Steam. This is not a limited-time giveaway, meaning players do not have to claim the game before a deadline or worry about paying for it again later. Anyone interested can download and play Heavy Wake for free.
Heavy Wake is a compact dark-fantasy deckbuilding RPG on Steam that follows Fyodor, whose people are dying from an unknown affliction. After learning of an old legend that might offer a cure, he ventures to a cursed island where previous expeditions have disappeared. Players explore unsettling locations, encounter monsters and mysterious survivors, and piece together the island’s secrets while searching for a way to save their people.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Combat in Heavy Wake revolves around turn-based card battles, with party composition and card choices playing important roles in each encounter. Players can recruit unusual companions who bring their own cards and passive effects, allowing different combinations to shape how battles unfold. The game features seven handcrafted combat encounters and is designed to be completed in about an hour or two, making it a relatively short experience for players who prefer focused, shorter RPGs over sprawling campaigns.
Other Free Games Available on Steam Right Now
Dark fantasy is a beloved game genre, but the card-based combat could certainly push some folks away. That’s understandable. The good news is there are plenty of games shifting from paid to permanently free-to-play on Steam. Heavy Wake is just the latest, following in the footsteps of the Cartomancy Anthology, Phobos Down, Jump Adventures, and Cyberfrags ’69.
Cartomancy Anthology is technically 22 free games in one, as it is a collection of 22 short indie games inspired by tarot cards, while Cyberfrags ’69 is a fast-paced and dynamic cyberpunk shooter, which should help it stand out as a free PC game. Meanwhile, Phobos Down is a sci-fi twin-stick shooter, and Jump Adventures is a short, colorful 2D platformer, all of which users can download for free at their leisure.
