5 Things to Check on a Steam Store Page Before You Buy

We've all done it at least once — grabbed a game just because it was 'cheap,' then found out it flat-out won't run on our PC, or it turned out to be nothing like what we expected. But if you take 30 seconds to skim the Steam store page before hitting that buy button, you can dodge most of these letdowns. This article lays out five things worth checking before you buy — separate from whether the price is actually good.

1. Will it even run on my PC — system requirements

Scroll down the store page and you'll find the 'System Requirements.' 'Minimum' is the barely-turns-on level; 'Recommended' is the runs-smoothly level. Compare the graphics card, memory, and storage listed there against your own PC. In particular, if your graphics card is below the minimum spec, the game either won't run at all or will stutter constantly. If you're not sure what's inside your PC, you can check under 'About' in Windows Settings, or in 'Task Manager.'

Quick check: if your specs only barely scrape by, don't push it. Steam lets you request a refund if your playtime is short after buying (check the policy on the refund screen), so buying it, firing it up once, and looking into a refund right away if it won't run is one way to go.

2. What did people think of it — overall reviews

Next to or beside the title you'll see an overall review rating like 'Very Positive' or 'Mixed.' That's the satisfaction level from people who actually bought and played it. 'Positive' or higher is generally a safe bet, while 'Mixed' or lower often means it's divisive or has real problems. Look at the number of reviews too, not just the ratio — a game with only a handful of reviews is hard to trust yet.

3. Is it a finished game — Early Access

If the page has an 'Early Access' tag on it, that means it's still in development and unfinished. It's fine if plenty of reviews say it's already fun as-is, but buying purely on the hope that 'it'll get better once it's done' is risky. There's no guarantee it'll ever be finished.

4. What does this edition include — check the edition

It's common for the same game to be split into several editions — 'Standard,' 'Deluxe,' 'Complete Edition,' and so on. The pricier editions usually pack in extra content (DLC) or a soundtrack. Make sure you know whether you're buying the 'base game' or the 'DLC-included' version. If you plan to play everything, the complete edition is often cheaper than buying the pieces separately — but there's no reason to shell out for a pricey edition stuffed with DLC you'll never touch.

5. Is your language supported — supported languages

The page has a 'Supported Languages' table. Check whether your language is ticked, and whether it's only the 'Interface' or also 'Subtitles' and 'Full Audio.' If it's a story-heavy game and there are no subtitles in your language, it can be tough to enjoy — so if a game is language-sensitive, this is a must-check.

30 seconds before you buy — just skimming specs, reviews, edition, and language cuts your buyer's remorse way down.

To sum up: before you buy, just skim these five things — 1) whether the specs will run on your PC, 2) whether the reviews are good (number included), 3) whether it's a finished game, 4) which edition you're getting, and 5) whether your language is supported — and you'll head off almost every 'bought it but can't play it' letdown. After that, to figure out whether the price is actually worth it, check Lowstamp to compare against the all-time low and see the 'Should I buy now?' verdict. Pre-purchase checks on the store page, price call from the all-time low — stick to that order and you'll shop smart.