Five Things to Check on a Steam Store Page Before You Buy
By Lowstamp Editor · 2026-07-05
We've all done it. Grabbed a game because it was cheap, then found out it won't run on our PC, or it was nothing like we expected. Thirty seconds on the store page before the buy button prevents most of it. These are the five lines I read every time, separate from whether the price is any good.
1. Will it run on my PC: system requirements
Scroll down the store page to 'System Requirements'. 'Minimum' is the barely-runs level, 'Recommended' is the runs-smoothly level. Compare the graphics card, memory and storage against your own machine. If your graphics card is below the minimum, the game either won't start or will stutter constantly. Not sure what's in your PC? Windows Settings has an 'About' page, and Task Manager shows the graphics card.
If your specs barely scrape by, don't push it. Steam refunds anything under 2 hours of play bought within 14 days, so buy it, run it once, and refund right away if it won't run.
2. What did people think: overall reviews
Near the title you'll see an overall rating like 'Very Positive' or 'Mixed'. That's how satisfied people who actually bought it were. 'Positive' or better is generally safe. 'Mixed' or lower often means it's divisive or has real problems. Look at the count too. A rating built on a handful of reviews isn't worth much yet.
3. Is it finished: Early Access
An 'Early Access' tag means the game is still being built. That's fine if plenty of reviews say it's already fun. Buying purely on the hope that it'll get better once it's done is a gamble, because there's no guarantee it ever will be.
4. What's in this edition
The same game often comes in several editions: Standard, Deluxe, Complete. The pricier ones usually add DLC or a soundtrack. Know whether you're buying the base game or the everything-included version. If you plan to play all of it, the complete edition is often cheaper than the pieces. If not, there's no reason to pay for DLC you'll never touch.
5. Is your language supported
There's a 'Supported Languages' table on the page. Check whether your language is ticked, and whether that's just the interface or subtitles and full audio too. A story-heavy game with no subtitles in your language is hard to enjoy, so for anything text-heavy this is a must.
Thirty seconds on specs, reviews, edition and language cuts buyer's remorse in half.
Specs, reviews (count included), release status, edition, language. Skim those five and almost every 'bought it, can't play it' story goes away. Then, for whether the price is any good, check the stamp on Lowstamp against the tracked low. Store page first, price second.