Steam Free Anime RPG Is A 220-Hour Monster Of A Game

Published Jul 22, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work. Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work. Steam is a treasure trove of free games, making it the ideal place for both newcomers to the hobby and veterans to set up shop and begin building a collection. Without paying a single cent, dime, or otherwise, anyone can amass a library of genuinely incredible experiences, ranging from solo developer projects experimenting with form to huge triple-A-level open-world titles with a plethora of content to sift through. Frankly, it is astounding just how easy it is to take up gaming as a hobby for very little cost. Indeed, some of Steam's best free games are its several-hundred-hour-long RPGs, the likes of which will keep anyone entertained for weeks if not months. One such game currently offers upwards of 220 hours of playtime, a number that will only increase exponentially over the years. Obviously, for those looking for their next forever game, this anime RPG may just be the perfect choice. However, even those who find such lengthy games overwhelming will find something to love here. This Free Steam RPG Will Keep You Busy One of Steam's biggest games, in terms of content, at least, is the truly massive anime RPG, Wuthering Waves. While Wuthering Waves initially drew ire and criticism from fans of Genshin Impact for its striking similarities, over the years, it has managed to carve out its own niche within the gacha live service genre, garnering a sizable fanbase and boundless critical acclaim thanks to numerous updates, impressive crossovers, and an impressive gameplay foundation which more than rivals its competitors, if not surpasses them. Wuthering Waves, at the time of writing, offers upwards of 220 hours of gameplay for those who seek it out. There's absolutely the potential for more, for those eager to log in every day, reap the rewards, and grind its bevy of available missions (or simply explore its gorgeous open-world world), and less for those interested in trying it out, playing through its story, and little else. Really, you'll get from Wuthering Waves whatever you're willing to invest in, and that goes for money too. While Wuthering Waves is a completely free Steam game, there are microtransactions. This is to be expected of a gacha game, as there are boundless new characters to pull that are vastly superior to those handed out during the main story. That isn't to say that Wuthering Waves can't be played for free, as it can. It is just to warn those averse to in-game currencies to stay away if they feel so inclined. That being said, beyond that minor complication, Wuthering Waves continues to excel where even the likes of Genshin Impact struggles. Wuthering Waves Is Going From Strength To Strength Recently, Wuthering Waves made headlines for its groundbreaking, genre-defining, and critically acclaimed Cyberpunk 2077 crossover. Released completely for free (minus expected costs to unlock certain characters for those interested), the crossover added a Night City-inspired location, a brand-new story that ties into the Edgerunners series that features playable characters from said series, new mechanics based on Cyberpunk 2077's gameplay, and a slew of new quests. It expanded upon what makes Wuthering Waves so great while faithfully and respectfully integrating cohesive Cyberpunk 2077 mechanics. Even beyond this expansion, Wuthering Waves continues to garner positive reviews from fans thanks to its frequent major updates and new content. While every gacha game has its flaws, Wuthering Waves does feel like a cut above the rest in terms of quality. It isn't going to blow you away, and the aforementioned microtransactions are a problem, but it does enough to warrant sinking upwards of 220 hours into it without breaking a sweat. Wuthering Waves may truly be Steam's best anime RPG, or at least a close second, and, for those with the time, is a worthwhile investment. Systems Released May 22, 2024 ESRB T For Teen // Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Kuro Games Publisher(s) Kuro Games Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer PC Release Date May 22, 2024 PS5 Release Date January 2, 2025 Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 5 Genre(s) Action RPG, Open-World