Free Steam Game 'Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman' Faces Spyware Allegations and Asset Flip Criticism

A limited-time free promotion on Steam is rarely met with anything other than excitement, but the current offer for Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman has the community divided. The indie action simulator, published by GrabTheGames, is free to keep until January 22, 2026. However, the game's store page is dominated by a highly upvoted review that raises serious security concerns, alleging the presence of spyware.

Spyware Claims and Antivirus Flags

The primary concern stems from a prominent user review on the game's Steam page, which explicitly warns of spyware. While the review itself does not provide technical proof, the claim has gained traction in discussions elsewhere. A thread on the r/FreeGameFindings subreddit explored the issue, with participants noting that various antivirus programs flagged the game's executable file.

This situation highlights a common point of confusion for PC users. Many antivirus alerts are heuristic, meaning they guess a file might be malicious based on its behavior, not because they have a definitive signature for a known virus. Unity-based games, in particular, can sometimes trigger these false positives because of how they handle assets and memory. Without a detailed malware analysis of the game's files, it is impossible to confirm or deny the spyware claims. For now, the community is split between those who believe it is a genuine threat and those who see it as a typical false alarm common with indie Unity projects.

Beyond Security: The Asset Flip Debate

Separate from the security scare, Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman has also drawn criticism for its quality. Many players have labeled it a "low-effort asset flip," a term used to describe games that are quickly assembled from pre-made assets purchased from a store, with little original development or creative input. These games are often criticized for lacking polish, originality, and meaningful content.

The game's "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 66% positive reviews out of more than a dozen, reflects this divided opinion. Critics point to the low-quality visuals and repetitive gameplay as evidence of its minimal development cost. However, some players find a certain charm in its simplicity. The game's combat mechanics are described as mildly entertaining and addictive, and the basic visuals ensure it will run smoothly on almost any modern PC, including low-power mini-PCs like the Minisforum UM890 Pro.

The Verdict: Claim It, But Be Cautious

The situation presents a classic dilemma for gamers: a free game that might be a security risk or, at the very least, a disappointment. The standard price is only $2.99, so the financial risk is zero, but the potential security risk is not fully quantifiable.

The most prudent advice circulating online is to claim the game while it is free—adding it permanently to your Steam library takes only a moment—but to hold off on downloading and installing it until more information becomes available. If the spyware rumors are debunked by a security researcher, or if the antivirus vendors update their definitions to classify it as a false positive, you can always download it later. If the concerns are valid, you have lost nothing by simply adding it to your account without running the executable.

For players seeking a genuinely free and well-regarded stickman combat game, the community often recommends Boring Man - Online Tactical Stickman Combat. It is also available for free on Steam and has a much more positive reception, offering a more polished and feature-rich experience without the associated security worries.