Between two trailers GTA VI and the hunt for the next big AAA, PC players did not expect to see a new open world RPG land on Steam this week. Without a thunderous announcement, a project from mobile has established itself in the top downloads, supported by an artistic direction in the style of an illustrated book which contrasts with the usual 3D clones.
His name: AFK Journeysigned Farlight Games and sequel to the hit gacha AFK Arena. You play Merlin, an amnesiac alchemist, launched across the world of Esperia to recruit heroes and repel a curse, in a mix of role-playing, exploration and tactical auto-battler. Completely free‑to‑play on PC, this newcomer seems ideal for waiting before GTA VI. But what does this Steam version really offer?
AFK Journey on Steam: the new free open-world RPG that’s getting people talking
Launched on Steam on April 27, 2026, the PC version of AFK Journey takes the content already available on Android, iOS and proprietary launcher, but in a more comfortable setting for keyboard-mouse gamers. On the Valve store, the game clearly appears as an “RPG, open world, free‑to‑play, card game”, with interface and subtitles entirely in French.
A few days after its release, the evaluations are already “very positive”: around 83% of 156 reviews recommend the title. Players especially welcome its picture book style heroic-fantasy universe, with maps divided into chapters, snowy villages, enchanted forests and environmental puzzles to solve in freedom, far from the simple sequence of menus that we sometimes associate with mobile gacha.
AFK Journey: a true tactical open world, even for players in a hurry
At the controls of Merlin, you cross Esperia in a top view, clicking freely on the map to launch quests, dialogues and fights. Each area is full of chests, resources to harvest, puzzles based on levers or rivers to freeze, but also more relaxed interactions like petting cats or starting a snowball fight.
The clashes are based on self-combat: you place your heroes on a grid, then they fight alone according to their class, their faction and the terrain. Everything therefore depends on team composition, with around a hundred characters, seven factions and six archetypes. Progression is driven by an “idle” system which continues to generate experience and resources offline, which greatly reduces grinding on the free‑to‑play side.
Free AFK Journey on Steam: why start now?
The economic model remains that of a classic gacha, with drawings of heroes and doubloons for premium currency, but the current version is rather lenient: the main campaign and a large part of the activities remain accessible without taking out the bank card, thanks to level sharing between heroes and generous daily rewards.
As a bonus, the launch on Steam is accompanied by an event AFK Journey x Frieren: Beyond the End of the Journeyfrom May 1 to 27, 2026, with time-limited themed quests and characters. If you’re looking for a free, pretty, and time-efficient open-world RPG, now’s the time to click “Install” and see if the magic of Esperia takes hold on you.