How To Get Steam Games Cheaper

How to Get Steam Games Cheaper

Want to play all the awesome games on Steam but don’t want to spend all your money? You’re not alone! Many gamers are always looking for ways to save some cash when buying their favorite titles. The good news is that there are many smart strategies you can use to snag Steam games for less. This guide will show you some of the best ways to get those games without emptying your wallet.

Taking Advantage of Steam Sales

One of the most straightforward methods to save money on Steam is by being patient and waiting for the frequent sales. Steam is famous for its seasonal sales. These events, like the Summer Sale, Autumn Sale, and Winter Sale, offer significant discounts on a huge variety of games. It’s not uncommon to see some games at 50%, 75%, or even 90% off.

Seasonal Sales: The Big Ones

These sales are probably the most well-known. They happen around the change of seasons, so you can expect great deals during these periods:

• Summer Sale: Usually happens around late June or early July. Perfect for picking up games for your summer break.
• Autumn Sale: Typically occurs in late November, often around Black Friday. A great time to prepare for holiday gaming.
• Winter Sale: Happens in late December and early January. Great deals during the Christmas season.

These sales are not just about big discounts; they also include special features like trading cards and in-game activities related to the sale. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for news about these sales and prepare your wishlist beforehand so you don’t miss any great deals on the games you want.

Other Steam Sales

Besides the big seasonal events, Steam often hosts smaller sales throughout the year. These could be weekend sales, publisher sales, or special themed sales. Keep an eye on the Steam store page and social media channels to hear about these opportunities:

• Weekend Sales: Many games have discounts over the weekend. Often different publishers or developers are featured each week.
• Publisher Sales: If you love the games from a specific publisher, these sales are the best place to look for bargains.
• Themed Sales: Steam sometimes features themed sales, like strategy game sales or RPG sales.

To really take advantage of the sale, you need to be proactive. Add the games you want to your wishlist. Steam sends email alerts when games on your wishlist go on sale, so you never miss an opportunity.

Utilizing Third-Party Key Resellers

Another way to find deals on Steam games is through third-party websites that sell Steam keys. These sites often purchase keys in bulk from developers and publishers and then sell them at discounted prices. However, it is vital to be careful and only use trusted websites.

How Key Resellers Work

Key resellers get codes for games at a cheaper price than the usual retail price on Steam. They do this in a few different ways:

• Regional Pricing: Sometimes, a game will be cheaper in one country compared to another. Key sellers purchase keys from these countries and resell them.
• Bulk Purchases: Some publishers provide discounts for bulk purchase, which key resellers utilize.
• Promotional Deals: Game companies sometimes provide keys to bundles or promotional deals that key resellers take advantage of.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when using key resellers:

• Legitimacy: Always buy from reputable websites. Some sites sell keys that were acquired illegally and you could lose access to the game.
• Regional Restrictions: Some keys may be region-locked and might not work in your area. Check for information before you buy.
• Customer Support: Ensure that the website provides customer support if you face any issues with your key.

Trusted Reseller Platforms

Several key reseller websites have built a solid reputation for providing legitimate Steam keys. Here are some of the platforms that are often considered safe and reliable:

• Humble Bundle: Known for offering bundles of games, a portion of proceeds often goes to charity.
• Fanatical: Another good source for game bundles and discount keys.
• Green Man Gaming: Known to have regular discounts and sales, often with a good selection of games.

Before you finalize a purchase, check online reviews to ensure the website has a good track record. It’s better to spend a little more on a reputable site than to lose your money on a scam.

Game Bundles: More Games for Less

Game bundles are another great way to get lots of games for a low price. These bundles often combine multiple games together for a fraction of what they would cost if you bought them individually. You will generally find these on third-party websites.

How Bundles Work

Game bundles are often offered by platforms like Humble Bundle and Fanatical. These bundles are usually organized around a theme or game developer. The usual structure of a game bundle is tiers, or multiple tiers, which determine the number of games you receive, and thus the price. Here is how the system generally works:

• Tiered System: Bundles usually have a tiered system. Paying the minimum amount gets you a few games; paying a higher price gets you more games, usually with higher value.
• Theme Bundles: Sometimes, bundles are created with a specific genre like strategy games or horror games.
• Charity Bundles: Many bundle sites donate a part of the sales to different charities.

Benefits of Game Bundles

Buying game bundles has several benefits, some of them are:

• Cost-Effective: Bundles are significantly cheaper than buying the same games individually.
• Variety of Games: Bundles expose you to different games, some of which you may not have considered before.
• Supporting Developers: Often, a portion of your purchase goes to the game developers and publishers.
• Supporting Charity: Some bundles also help to support charities.

Finding Bundles

Keep a check on the official websites like Humble Bundle and Fanatical. Also, there are specific websites that list current bundles that are on offer. Also keep an eye on game news websites for news of any bundles.

Free Games and Giveaways

Sometimes, you can even get games for free! Developers and publishers periodically offer free games for promotional purposes. Keep an eye out for these events, as you might be able to grab some exciting titles without spending any money.

Steam Free Weekends

Steam occasionally holds free weekends. During these events, you can play certain games for free for a limited time. This gives you a chance to try a game before deciding if you want to buy it. This is also an awesome way to discover new games that you might like!

Other Ways to Get Free Games

There are several other ways that you can get free games, keep a look out for these!

• Promotional Giveaways: Sometimes, developers give away free keys to promote a new release or celebrate a milestone.
• Social Media Contests: Follow game developers and publishers on social media. They often have contests that offer free game keys as prizes.
• Third-Party Sites: Certain websites specialize in listing current free game giveaways, that can come from a variety of different platforms.

Using Steam Wishlist and Tracking Prices

The Steam Wishlist feature is one of the most useful tools available for saving money on games. When you add a game to your wishlist, you’ll be notified whenever that game goes on sale. This helps you track prices and avoid the temptation to pay full price.

Setting Up Your Wishlist

Here is how you can easily set up your wishlist:

• Adding Games: Go to the Steam store page of a game you are interested in and click “Add to Wishlist”.
• Organization: You can organize your wishlist by price, date added, or alphabetical order.
• Prioritization: Move your high priority games to the top of your list to make sure you see deals on them as soon as possible.

Price Tracking and Alerts

Once you have added games to your wishlist, Steam will email you whenever one of your games has a price reduction. However, there are also websites and apps that you can use to track the price changes of games and be alerted. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Email Notifications: Steam sends emails about price reductions for your wishlist games, but remember to check your spam folder!
• Third-Party Tracking Sites: Websites track game price data across multiple platforms, and alert you when there is a good deal.
• Browser Extensions: Some browser extensions track the price history of Steam games and show price graphs to show how much a game has historically gone down.

Trading and Community Markets

Steam has an active community market, where users can trade and sell in-game items, as well as Steam Trading Cards. You can trade games, items or Steam Trading cards with other users, or even sell them. This can sometimes help you obtain games, or other assets that you desire.

Trading with Other Users

Trading is a big part of the Steam experience. It allows you to exchange items or even games with other Steam users. Be very careful if you decide to trade, and only trade with trusted users. Here is a quick overview:

• Steam Trading Cards: You collect trading cards for certain games, and these can be traded with other users.
• In-Game Items: You can trade in-game items such as cosmetics or other assets with other users.
• Trading Games: Some users trade unused game keys, however always check these are legitimate.

Using the Steam Community Market

The Steam Community Market lets you buy and sell digital items with other users. Here is a quick breakdown of how it works:

• Selling Items: If you own an item that you no longer desire, you can sell it on the market, with the price determined by the seller.
• Purchasing Items: If there is an item that you desire, you can purchase it using funds in your Steam Wallet.
• Steam Wallet Funds: Funds generated from selling items are stored in your Steam Wallet, which can then be used to purchase other games or assets.

Waiting for Sales and Price Drops

Patience is often key to saving money when it comes to buying Steam games. Games often become cheaper over time, especially when they are not new releases. If you’re not in a rush, waiting a little while can save you a considerable amount of money.

How Prices Decrease Over Time

The prices of video games are likely to decrease over time. This is usually a gradual process. Here are some of the factors that determine how a games price goes down over time:

• Initial Release Hype: When a game first releases, it usually is sold at its highest price.
• Gradual Price Reduction: As time goes on, the games price will slowly decrease over the next few months.
• Sales and Bundles: During sales or when a game appears in a bundle, the price of the game becomes even cheaper.

Avoiding Impulse Purchases

Impulse buying of games is very common. However, being patient and taking some time before you buy can help save money in the long run. Here is how to avoid impulsive buys:

• Wait for Reviews: Before buying a game, see what reviewers say about it, you might decide that you don’t actually want the game.
• Add to Wishlist: Instead of instantly purchasing a game, add it to your wishlist. This allows you to track its price before purchasing it.
• Play Your Backlog: Play some of the games that you already own, rather than buying something new right away.

Regional Pricing and VPNs: A Word of Caution

Some users use VPNs to try to purchase games from countries where they are priced cheaper. However, this is something that you need to be very careful with, as it goes against Steam’s Terms of Service.

What is Regional Pricing?

Regional pricing is when a game costs different amounts in different regions. This is sometimes done to help accommodate differing costs of living in different regions. However, it leads to some users trying to circumvent the system:

• Price Differences: Some countries have a significantly lower cost for games than others.
• VPN Usage: Some users utilize VPNs to spoof that they are located in a different region to purchase games for a lower price.

Risks of Using VPNs

There are some big risks to keep in mind before you use a VPN to get cheaper games. Some of the risks include:

• Account Ban: You could get your Steam account banned.
• Game Revocation: Games bought using a VPN could be revoked by Steam.
• Security Risks: Some VPNs are unsafe, and could potentially expose your details to risk.

Be sure to follow Steam’s Terms of Service, and avoid using a VPN to purchase games from another region.

By following these tips and tricks, you can enjoy the games you love without spending excessive money. Whether it’s waiting for a sale, buying bundles, or using your Steam Wishlist, there are a multitude of approaches to help save money on Steam. By being patient, smart, and resourceful, you’ll be able to play more games while keeping your wallet happy.