Steam’s New Free 9/10 SNES-Style RPG Is A Welcome Surprise

There are so many amazing free Steam games that are actually worth playing, to the extent that one could build an entire library from among the available selection. From triple-A action RPGs to humble indies with bold new ideas, there is a plethora of phenomenal free games that you can download and enjoy right now. Of course, the only caveat is finding out about such games, as their being free typically means there’s little budget to market them to the masses.

Fortunately, we regularly document the many great free Steam games releasing today, including a particularly surprising Super Nintendo Entertainment System-style RPG. This new game has proven to be immensely popular, garnering rave reviews from those who’ve played it, and it isn’t difficult to see why. The expansive offering is a truly remarkable game considering its rather humorous and odd origins, and well worth playing if you’re a fan of the era and genre.

WendyQuest: Legend of the Four Corner Stones may sound like a somewhat innocuous RPG, but it is actually the product of a bizarre promotional campaign for the fast food chain, Wendy’s. The same people who produce your favorite (or perhaps least favorite) burgers have also created a SNES-inspired RPG video game available on Steam for free. We’ve seen this kind of fast food chain video game before, with KFC throwing its hat in the ring, but not on this scale or level of quality.

It turns out that Wendy’s attempt at publishing an RPG has been remarkably successful, with developer 81monkeys producing a high-quality experience with stunning pixel art, compelling combat, and a surprisingly fun story. Reviews have praised its great soundtrack, restrained but often funny writing, and aforementioned gorgeous visuals, all of which coalesce to create a 10+ hour adventure that harkens back to the golden era of SNES RPGs.

To be clear, this is a fully free experience with absolutely no strings attached. While its gameplay has been designed to appeal to as broad an audience as possible and therefore doesn’t contain anything particularly innovative, you’re still getting a huge game on the same scale as most indie RPGs for zero cost. Sure, it’s loaded with references to Wendy’s and is, at its core, a promotional item designed to get you to buy more burgers, but that doesn’t also mean it isn’t a fun RPG and one of the best free games on Steam.

If you’re interested, you can download WendyQuest: Legend of the Four Corner Stones from Steam right now. The game is still getting updated too, proving that it wasn’t just a quick throwaway gag like previous fast food-related gaming products. At the very least, WendyQuest will help fund 81monkey’s upcoming fantasy RPG, World of Anterra, scheduled for release on Steam sometime this year. Frankly, as farcical as it may seem on the surface, it is fun to see a return of tie-in games like this, especially ones so high quality and that you can add to your Steam library for free.