Three Ways to Grow Your Steam Library for Free
By Lowstamp Editor · 2026-07-05
You don't have to pay every time you want more games. Keep an eye out and there are three reliable ways to pad the library for nothing: limited-time giveaways, free weekends, and games that are free to play from the start. Here's how each works and what to watch for.
1. Giveaways: claim it in time and it's yours for good
The best deal of all. A game goes free for a few days, and as long as you claim it to your account within that window, it stays yours after the giveaway ends. There's no downside to claiming something you never play, so even a genre you don't care about is pure upside. The Epic Games Store is famous for a new free game every week, and Steam runs giveaways now and then too.
A free giveaway and a free weekend aren't the same thing. A giveaway is yours to keep once you claim it. A weekend is a trial you can only play during a set window. Giveaways are always worth grabbing.
2. Free weekends: try before you buy
A free weekend opens a popular game up completely for a few days. During that window you can play the whole thing, which makes it perfect for checking whether a game you're on the fence about is really your taste. Free weekends usually run alongside a discount on that game, so if you love it, you can grab it cheap right there. Progress from the free weekend normally carries over if you buy, so you pick up where you left off.
3. Free-to-play: $0 from the start
Plenty of games launch free to play. The main game costs nothing, and the studio sells cosmetic items or conveniences inside it. Many of these are fully enjoyable without spending a cent, so if you're itching for something new, the popular free-to-play list is a solid place to look. Just go in knowing that a game built to get you spending can nickel-and-dime you past the price of a normal game if you're not careful.
Even free games deserve a second's thought
Hoard everything because it's free and the library fills with games you never open. Even with giveaways, a quick 'would I actually play this someday' keeps the list clean. And if a free weekend won you over, check the game's tracked low on Lowstamp before you buy. Try it free to confirm it's your taste, then buy at the cheapest moment. That's the thriftiest order.
Always grab the giveaways, use weekends as a test drive, and enjoy free-to-play with your wallet closed.
Giveaways are yours for good once claimed, so always take them. Free weekends are for trying a game you're unsure about. Free-to-play games are there to enjoy without spending. Use the three, and only buy the games you truly want when they hit their tracked low, and you'll play far more for the same money.