Video game prices are constantly on the rise, which can make gaming quite an expensive hobby for both console and PC gamers. Whether you’re aSteamuser or you get nostalgic over on GOG (Good Old Games), you might find yourself waiting for a sale or limiting how many games you buy. Many titles are worth every penny, but sometimes you just want to enjoy a guilt-free game without potentially breaking the bank.
The price of a typical console game is currently as high as $80, and some speculate that the upcomingGTA6will cost a hefty $100. PC games fare no better, with new AAA titles costing about $60, though smaller titles often come in at around $20-$40. Between the cost of consoles and gaming PCs, and the price of the games themselves, you might begin to wish that there was another way to fill up your library. Luckily,there are several ways to get some excellent titles while spending as little as possibleon the hobby.
Entirely Free Games You Should Be Claiming
From Weekly Deals To Weekend Previews
There are several places online where you can find completely free games, no strings attached or obligations. It may seem too good to be true, but these places really have completely free games for you to download and enjoy.
Epic Gamesgives away one free game every Thursday at 8 a.m. PT.Games are free to download and yours to keep forever, but require an Epic account and must be accessed through the Epic Games PC platform (with even morefree games on the Epic mobile store). The games given away for free on Epic range fromindie hits likeCat QuestandDredgeto bigger titles from names likeJurassic WorldandCastlevania.The store occasionally gives out more than one free game at a time, so check back often for the latest offerings.
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GOG(Good Old Games) andSteamhave plenty of free gamesto peruse, too. GOG’s selection trends toward older titles like the originalPostal,Ultima,andElder Scrolls,while Steam has a wider range of free titles to pick from. Some now-iconic and well-known titles started as free Steam games,most notablyDoki Doki Literature Club,A Date with Death,and many others. My personal favorite free game on Steam isHeroine’s Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok, a unique Norse take on the classic 1989 Sierra game,Quest for Glory.
Steam doesn’t readily differentiate between truly free games and games that are free to play (like online multiplayer games or games with microtransactions) or free to try (like demo versions or first chapters of full games that aren’t free). You may have to dig a bit through the games to find the free titles.
Steam also hosts free weekend deals, making certain games free to play over the weekend. These aren’t completely free (as you don’t get to keep them after the event is over), but it’s agreat way to try games for as long as you like on a weekendbefore deciding if you want to buy and continue them. you may find the current free weekend on the Steam website or platform or see it onSteamDB.
One more excellent source of free games isitch.io. Many current and aspiring developers use this website to post their games for everyone to download and try for free. Take caution and read through the reviews when trying these games since they’re not vetted by a third party. This website is agreat place to find some more experimental games, as well as to supportdevelopers who are just startingon their game-making journeys. Some of my favorites include the nostalgic rhythm gamesFriday Night Funkin’andScratchin' Melodii, which found popularity on YouTube for a while, and the horror golfing game,Greener Grass Awaits.
The Best Places To Win Free Games
Giveaways Galore For Games Big And Small
The resources listed above regularly release free games, but there are even more ways to get your hands on free titles, thanks to the generosity of fellow gamers. Some of the best communities on Reddit for game giveaways are:
The last Subreddit listed above is perfect for anyone who has unused Steam keys lying around, such as unclaimed games from previous Humble Bundle collections. Post what games you have to offer and what you’re looking for, and you may find someone willing to make the trade.
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Sometimes, smaller developers will head to indie game Subreddits togive out free copies of their gamesto anyone interested in trying them. Keep an eye out on Reddit communities such asIndieGamesfor game giveaways from small studios and solo developers.
If you do end up snagging a free game key from an indie developer, and you like the game, consider leaving a review on Steam or the dev’s platform of choice. It’s not a requirement, but it will help them grow and reach a wider audience.
Finally, the best place to find even more deals, including more free games besides the ones mentioned above, is theGameDealsReddit page, where fans sharefree and deeply discounted titles. TheIsThereAnyDealwebsite is another excellent spot to find free and on-sale PC games, as well as find out if your wishlisted games have any sales going on anywhere around the internet. Thanks to all these great resources, fromSteamto GOG and beyond, you’ll soon have a robust library of free PC games.
