New Steam Sports Game with ‘Very Positive’ Reviews Is Free to Play

The Spike Cross is a new sports game on Steam that plays like a 2D volleyball simulator, and it’s completely free. While Steam offers plenty of free games, The Spike Cross has caught players’ attention with its appealing visuals and unique approach to recreating volleyball matches.

Freebie hunters know they should always keep an eye out for indie games on Steam, as many of them launch as experimental projects for free. The Spike Cross seems to be one of these, developed by a small team, but it shows potential to grow into something bigger, with current sentiment toward the game being quite positive.

The Spike Cross Is a Volleyball Sim with Haikyu!! Vibes

Developed by the Japanese team SUNCYAN Inc. and published on September 19, 2025, The Spike Cross is a 2D volleyball sim on Steam featuring a campaign and some competitive modes. It’s completely free and offers immersive single-player modes where players control just one athlete on the court, as well as local multiplayer to enjoy with friends. The game also comes with a rich story reminiscent of the popular sports manga and anime series Haikyu!!, made even more enjoyable with its anime-style visuals. As of this writing, The Spike Cross has nearly 300 reviews on Steam with an average user score of “Very Positive.”

Unlike real-life volleyball, The Spike Cross uses three-player teams, creating 3v3 PvP and PvE matches. Despite this less realistic setup, the game still lets players recreate well-known volleyball strategies and techniques, including quicks, pipes, open attacks, and fast-tempo plays. The story mode, meanwhile, follows Siwoo, an aspiring volleyball player facing many struggles on the path to going pro.

In The Spike Cross, players can perform special moves with unique visual effects that heighten the adrenaline of each match. According to the developer, the indie title is aimed at those who feel traditional volleyball games can get boring over time, offering varied content such as tournament, colosseum, and even beach volleyball modes. With its high replay value and risk-free $0 price tag, The Spike Cross is a must-try for sports game fans, especially those who also have a thing for Japanese manga and anime like Haikyu!!.

Steam users seeking a similar action-packed sports experience should also check out Rematch, a game that blends elements of soccer with martial arts for a distinctive style of gameplay. For those after more freebies regardless of the genre, Steam’s new idle game Idle Pixel Fantasy is another option. It is a newly released indie title that’s quickly gaining popularity among fans of clicker and idle games.