Buying guide · Updated November 8, 2026
How to Get Free PC Games Legally: Epic, Prime Gaming and Steam
Free PC games are real, and you do not need sketchy downloads to get them. Official stores give games away every week, and a few free-to-keep rules decide whether you actually own what you claim. Here is the SteelGames routine for building a library at zero cost.
Free to keep vs. free to play vs. free weekend
These three get mixed up, and the difference matters. Free to keep means the game is added to your library permanently when you claim it before the deadline. Free to play games are always free to start, but may sell in-game items. A free weekend or trial lets you play for a short window, and then the game goes back to paid. Only the first one is a true giveaway, so check which kind an offer is before you count it as a win.
Epic Games Store weekly giveaways
The Epic Games Store is the best-known source of free-to-keep PC games. It runs a rotating giveaway, with new games typically appearing on a weekly cycle and extra giveaways around big sales. Claim a game while it is listed as free and it stays in your library. The catch is timing: miss the window and the game goes back to its normal price. Sign in, claim the current game each week, and you build a library for nothing. See Epic Games Store deals for discounted games as well.
Prime Gaming monthly claims
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, Prime Gaming adds a set of PC games you can claim each month, often delivered as codes for stores such as GOG or as Amazon's own launcher titles. It is a benefit of a subscription you may already have, not a reason to subscribe. Terms and lineups change, so read Amazon's current Prime Gaming page before counting on any specific game.
Steam: free weekends and free-to-keep promos
Steam runs free weekends and occasional free-to-keep promotions, and has a huge catalog of free-to-play games. A free weekend is only a trial, so do not buy anything on impulse just because the trial ended. For permanent savings, pair these with real discounts from best Steam deals today, and see how Steam Winter Sale 2026 pricing works.
GOG and other official sources
GOG runs occasional giveaways, and its games are DRM-free, which means you can keep installers. Check GOG game deals for discounts between giveaways. Publishers and developers also give away keys during promotions on their own official pages; follow only the official accounts of studios you trust.
How to spot a fake free game offer
- It asks for a survey, a card number or a login on a lookalike site. Real giveaways happen on the official store.
- It links to a "cracked" or "full version" download. That is piracy and a common malware route.
- It promises a new, expensive release for free. Genuine giveaways are usually older or smaller games.
Our guide to telling a real PC game sale from a fake one applies the same instincts to discounts.
A simple free-games routine
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Claim the current Epic Games Store giveaway |
| Monthly | Claim Prime Gaming games if you have Prime |
| Before buying anything | Check the live free list, then your wishlist and price history |
| Before a big sale | Read the Black Friday 2026 guide |
Once your backlog is free, spend only on games you actually want. Our lists of PC games under $5 and under $10 are the next step, and the best PC games under $5 worth buying guide helps you pick. Where to buy matters too: Steam vs Epic vs GOG.
Key resellers: a separate decision
This section is about third-party key sellers, not official stores. Giveaways come from official stores; resellers sell discounted keys, which is a different purchase with different refund and region rules. If you go that way, read Are cheap PC game keys safe? and our labelled key resellers page first.
Bottom line
Claim free-to-keep games from official stores, ignore anything that asks for money or a survey, and treat free weekends as trials. SteelGames is veteran-owned and operated, and we stick to one job: the best PC game deals, with the lowest price per game.
Questions
Are free Epic Games Store games really free to keep?
Yes. When you claim a weekly free game on the Epic Games Store before the offer ends, it stays in your library permanently. Claim it during the promotion window; after it ends the game returns to its normal price.
Do I keep Prime Gaming games if I cancel Prime?
Prime Gaming has long offered claimed games as yours to keep, but terms can change. Check Amazon's current Prime Gaming terms before you rely on it. Checked November 8, 2026.
What is the difference between a free weekend and a free-to-keep game?
A free weekend lets you play for a limited time, then the game goes back to paid. A free-to-keep offer adds the game to your library permanently if you claim it before the deadline.
How can I tell a fake free game offer?
Real offers appear on the official store page and need no survey, download from a link in a message, or payment details. If a site asks you to install a launcher you do not recognize, close it.