Steam has a new limited-time free offer, but this isn’t the kind of giveaway everyone is rushing to install.
Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman, an indie action battle simulator that normally sells for $2.99, is currently available for $0 to keep on Steam. The promotion runs until January 22, 2026, meaning you can add it to your library for free as long as you claim it before the deadline.
What’s making this free Steam game different from the usual “grab it and go” deals is the discussion happening around it. One highly upvoted Steam review alleges the game contains spyware. At the moment, that claim hasn’t been backed up with publicly shared technical proof, but it has still been enough to spark concern and hesitation among potential players.
Adding to the uncertainty, community chatter notes that the game has reportedly been flagged by some antivirus scans. Others argue these detections may be false positives, which can happen with certain projects made with popular game engines such as Unity. Still, for anyone who takes PC security seriously, even the possibility of unwanted behavior is enough to warrant extra caution.
Setting the security debate aside, the game is also being criticized by some players as a low-effort “asset flip,” suggesting it may reuse common store-bought elements with minimal originality. That said, not everyone thinks it’s a complete waste of time. A few players mention that the combat can be oddly addictive and mildly entertaining if you’re looking for something simple to jump into, and its basic visuals mean it should run smoothly on most reasonably capable PCs.
As of now, the game has a small number of user reviews on Steam, with a “Mixed” overall rating and roughly two-thirds of reviewers giving it a positive thumbs-up. It’s not a breakout hit, but it’s getting enough engagement to keep it on the radar—especially now that it’s free to keep for a short window.
If you’re tempted by the deal but unsure what to do, the safest approach is straightforward: claim Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman while it’s free so you don’t miss the offer, but consider holding off on installing it until you’re personally comfortable with the risk. Many cautious gamers follow that exact strategy with controversial freebies—add it to the library first, evaluate later.
And if what you really want is stickman-style combat without the surrounding debate, you may prefer trying Boring Man – Online Tactical Stickman Combat instead. It’s also free on Steam and is generally better regarded by players looking for that fast, chaotic stick-figure action.
