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How to get free Steam games in 2025

By The IFTTT Team

March 19, 2025

How to get free Steam games in 2025

If you are a fan of PC gaming, chances are you are familiar with the popular gaming platform Steam. Considered the largest digital game distribution platform in the world, Steam is home to countless popular titles and has a huge community of avid gamers.

Steam is a digital distribution platform for PC gaming that was developed by Valve Corporation. It functions like an online shop and a community portal combined, making it one of the most popular gaming platforms out there. According to THEGAMER, it had an estimated 38.3 million active players, and this number continues to grow by the day.

Aside from providing a vast library of games for purchase and download, Steam also serves as a social platform where users can chat with friends, share their gaming progress, and join communities of gamers with similar interests. Its multifaceted nature, combined with its extensive range of games, has contributed significantly to its popularity among gamers worldwide.

But most games on Steam, especially popular titles, can be expensive. So how do we go about getting some of these top titles for free? In this guide, we will go over methods to get free Steam games legally.

We'll also introduce IFTTT, our free automation service that helps millions of gamers like you find the best deals on new games. We specialize in custom integrations with over 1000 apps and services, such as Reddit, Rust, and Discord. When time is of the essence, our dedicated userbase knows to turn to IFTTT for any automation need. Try us today for free and see why we are the most trusted time-saving platform on the market.

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The legality and ethics of free games

In this guide, we will go over how one can legally get free Steam games. Other methods, such as pirating games, are not legal and will not be discussed in this article. We do not condone piracy in any form, as it is considered illegal and unethical. Moreover, pirating games can also lead to malware or viruses damaging your computer or compromising your personal information.

As a rule of thumb, if a game is posted as free by the publisher, then it's legal to download. However, if a game is meant to be sold and you obtain it through questionable means, it could potentially be illegal.

From an ethical standpoint, downloading paid games for free without the consent of the publisher can be considered theft. It deprives the game developers of the profits they deserve for their hard work and creativity.

With all of these considerations in mind, there are many instances when a publisher offers discount codes or lists a game for free on purpose. Let's get into some of the ways you can get your hands on these free gems.

Legitimate ways to get free Steam games

There are several legitimate ways to get free Steam games:

Reddit communities: Certain Reddit communities like r/freegamefindings and r/gamedealsfree regularly post about free game deals and giveaways. You can also engage in game trades on the r/SteamGameSwap subreddit. A game trade means giving up one of your games for another, which is agreed on between two parties.

IFTTT makes it easy to get notified by free games in these communities. Click the Applet to get started!

Steam store deals and giveaways: The official Steam store often has deals and giveaways where you can get games for free. There is also a "Free to Play" category in the Steam launcher where you can find purpose-built free games.

Online retailers: Online retailers, such as Humble Bundle, occasionally offer free Steam games.

Reward sites: Platforms like GrabPoints offer tasks that you can complete to earn points, which can then be used to redeem free Steam games.

Crafting Steam badges: Crafting badges on Steam can sometimes reward you with games. Badges can be acquired for getting certain achievements, playing new games, and more.

Remember, while these methods can help you get free games, they require time and patience. Also, always ensure that you are obtaining games through legal and ethical means to support game developers.

Exploring external sites for free games

Gamesbolt

Gamesbolt is a platform where players can earn points, known as bolts, by completing various quests. These quests can range from simple tasks like visiting a website or watching a video, to more complex missions such as playing a certain game for a specified amount of time.

Once enough bolts have been accumulated, they can be exchanged for Steam game keys. This allows players to legally obtain games for free, while also supporting the developers who create these games.

Gamehag

Gamehag is another platform that rewards gamers with free games. Similar to Gamesbolt, users on Gamehag can earn points, or "souls", by completing tasks, playing games, and participating in community events.

These souls can then be exchanged for a variety of rewards, including free games, gift cards, and game accessories. The variety of rewards available, combined with the numerous ways to earn souls, makes Gamehag a popular choice among gamers looking to get free games.

Free Steam games with IFTTT

What if we told you that you can be notified about free Steam games without having to check all the individual subreddits, points sites, and giveaways? With IFTTT, our automation platform, scooping up the best Steam deals has never been easier.

Read on to hear about our mission and our top picks for Steam marketplace automations.

Join IFTTT for free today

IFTTT is our free web-based service and mobile app designed to boost productivity by automating tasks. The basic idea behind IFTTT is to create Applets that trigger when certain conditions are met. This can be turning on the lights automatically when you enter your house, for example.

For our gamer audience, we help you get notified when new games are released for free through Reddit. Click the Applets below to get notified when free games are released on Steam!

Top free Steam game notification Applets

To enable these Applets and millions more, try IFTTT today for free!

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