New 3D Platformer is Free to Play on Steam

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A new free-to-play platformer called Skybound is getting positive feedback from fans! While Steam has many free platformers, Skybound stands out by blending a chill, cozy atmosphere with challenging, quick-paced gameplay.

December 2025 was a great month for Steam users, with several games offered as freebies. Titles like Undercroft Warriors, Caveman World: Mountains of Unga Boonga, Rat Quest, and The Deed: Dynasty were available to keep for free, but those promotions have now ended. While we wait for more giveaways in 2026, Steam still has a large and growing selection of free-to-play games, including Skybound, to keep players entertained.

Skybound Is Free-to-Play on Steam

A group of students calling themselves Half Home Games recently released their game, Skybound, on Steam in late December. It’s free to play, with no hidden costs, though currently only the first part of the story is available. The developers have said they might add more chapters if players enjoy it, which is exciting for fans. Skybound is a 3D adventure game where you swing through a floating world using a grappling hook and solve puzzles. While it features three different islands to explore, it’s a fairly short game overall, making it perfect for players who like to complete games quickly.

Image via Half Home Games

Skybound Gameplay Features at a Glance

  • Parkour
  • Free exploration
  • Grappling hook
  • Three unique floating islands
  • Voice actors
  • 3D graphics
  • Environmental puzzles
  • Destructible objects
  • Hidden collectibles
  • Speedrun-friendly missions
  • Choice-based campaign

Skybound tells the story of Bell, a young archaeologist exploring a fantastical world. She’s sent on a mission to find old artifacts that might reveal secrets from the past. While searching the floating islands for these items, Bell realizes something is off and starts to dig deeper into the islands’ history.

Skybound Has a Heartwarming Development Story

What makes the development process unique is that each student came from a different university.

According to Half Home Games, the game Skybound was made by students from the Danish Academy of Digital, Interactive Entertainment. What’s special about how it was developed is that the students all came from different universities, making it a great example of teamwork and new talent. Because of the game’s size and the limited time they had, Half Home Games says Skybound might have some minor issues, and they appreciate players being understanding.

Image via Half Home Games

Fans of 3D Platformer Games Seem to Love Skybound

Early player reviews for Skybound on Steam are overwhelmingly positive, with 95% recommending the game. While the number of reviews is still relatively small, it will be interesting to see if this high score holds as more people play. Players who have tried it so far especially love the game’s beautiful, cozy visuals, the fast and fluid movement that makes exploring enjoyable, and the surprisingly high production values – including voice acting – for a free game.

Image via Half Home Games

Skybound Isn’t the Only Free-to-Play Student Project on Steam

If you enjoy this type of game, you might also like Palette Cleaners, another free 3D platformer available on Steam. Similar to this game, Palette Cleaners was created by passionate students and has been well-received. Dillo’s Dilemma is another excellent choice if you want to support up-and-coming developers; this student project has gained a lot of attention from 3D platformer fans and is free to play too.

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2026-01-01 02:04