Ethan Crossfield 
Steam users have five more games to add to their libraries without paying anything. Tactical Mission: Target Rush, Journey Through The Nightmare Realm 2, Cosmo Chaser, Twin Trials, and Donut Smash have all shifted from paid releases to free games in recent months. Unlike a short promotional giveaway, these titles are presented as permanently free, giving players an opportunity to try a varied group of small indie projects at no cost.
What happened
Valve's storefront regularly hosts temporary giveaways, but some developers instead remove the price from a game altogether. That is what happened with this group of five titles. Most have limited visibility and relatively few user reviews, although Tactical Mission: Target Rush stands out for offering a more recognizable modern shooter format.
Target Rush became free on September 1. It is a realistic first-person shooter with several modes and shooting-range environments. One mode pits players against zombies, while another focuses on hostage rescue against human opponents. Its presentation and gunplay concept may appeal to players looking for a smaller-scale alternative to Bodycam.
Journey Through The Nightmare Realm 2 became free-to-play on August 24, 2026. The retro bullet-hell roguelite supports local couch co-op, with players navigating maps, avoiding projectile patterns, collecting power-ups, and competing for leaderboard scores.
Why it matters
The five games cover more than one genre, so the change gives Steam users several different ways to spend a few minutes or settle into a longer session. Cosmo Chaser is a shoot 'em up built around movement around large space stations, adding 360-degree encounters to the familiar vertical-shooter formula. Its boss battles can also shift into side-scrolling perspectives.
Twin Trials takes a more experimental route by combining first-person shooting, 3D platforming, and arcade scoring. Its dual gun can open routes and destroy obstacles while players complete parkour courses. Donut Smash is the most immediately straightforward of the group: falling donuts must be smashed, while occasional broccoli creates an unexpected reflex test. The game launched in May 2026 before developer Enigma Verse made it free in August.
For players, the main advantage is low-risk discovery. These are not premium releases being offered for a weekend; they are former paid games that can now be explored without an upfront purchase.
What to watch next
Players should check each game's Steam page and add the titles directly to their libraries rather than assuming every free offer is temporary. The biggest question is whether any of these projects will attract enough attention to receive continued development or a larger player base. Free access can improve discoverability, but it does not guarantee a busy community or a long content roadmap.
The broader pattern is also worth following. Hayfever recently removed its $14.99 price tag, showing that the move from paid release to free access is not limited to brand-new experiments. Steam users who track these business-model changes may find more permanent additions than they would through giveaway calendars alone.
Games to claim on Steam
- Tactical Mission: Target Rush: realistic FPS with zombie and hostage-rescue modes.
- Journey Through The Nightmare Realm 2: local co-op bullet-hell roguelite with leaderboard competition.
- Cosmo Chaser: space shooter featuring vertical, 360-degree, and side-scrolling battles.
- Twin Trials: FPS, platforming, and arcade gameplay built around a dual gun.
- Donut Smash: reflex-focused arcade action involving falling donuts and surprise broccoli.
Expert View
This is a useful reminder that Steam's free-game ecosystem is broader than limited-time promotions. The value here is not that every title will become a major hit, but that permanent access lowers the barrier for players to discover unusual indie concepts. Tactical Mission: Target Rush has the clearest chance to draw attention because its shooter format is immediately familiar, while the other games may benefit most from curiosity-driven downloads.
