59 minutes ago
7
Published Sep 15, 2026, 12:05 PM EDT
The colorful puzzle fighter mixes falling crystals with fighting-game mechanics and a crossover-heavy roster.
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Puzzle games have a special talent for turning a few innocent minutes into an entire afternoon. Whether you're matching colorful pieces, clearing lines, or trying to figure out exactly how you managed to create the worst possible board, there's always one more round to play.
If you're looking for something new to add to that rotation, there's an overlooked Steam game with a 'Very Positive' user rating that's currently available for the extremely reasonable price of absolutely nothing. And despite its colorful appearance, this isn't quite your standard falling-block puzzle game.
That's Crystal Crisis, and you can get it free and keep it on your Steam account as long as you claim it before Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m. The game normally costs $19.99.
The game has been on Steam since 2019, but its current giveaway has seemingly given it a fresh burst of attention, with recent players generally responding positively to its puzzle battle formula and eclectic roster of characters.
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What is Crystal Crisis?
Crystal Crisis is a competitive color-matching puzzle game from Nicalis that mixes falling-block mechanics with fighting-game ideas. Rather than simply trying to clear your own board, you're competing against an opponent, with your crystal-matching skills determining the attacks and defensive moves you can unleash.
The crossover-heavy roster is one of its biggest hooks. There are 20 playable characters, including Quote and Curly Brace from Cave Story, Isaac from The Binding of Isaac, and Astro Boy and Black Jack from Tezuka Productions. Each character has their own stage, music, voice lines, and offensive and defensive abilities.
Image: Nicalis, Inc.Matches are more than just clearing crystals. Combos and crashes build a Burst gauge that can be spent on 40 special attacks and defensive moves, while a wrap-around mechanic lets falling crystal pairs move from one side of the board to the other.
For solo players, Crystal Crisis includes Arcade, Survival, Tag Team, Training, and branching Story modes, alongside local and online multiplayer. It’s also Steam Deck Verified and supports customizable crystal colors, including a colorblind setting.
The game normally costs $19.99, but you can grab it for free and keep it as long as you claim it before Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m.
English (US) ·