This section covers PC games that cost nothing and are meant to be free: publisher giveaways, free-to-play titles, and games their makers released without a price tag. You will find ranked destinations that let you start playing right now, without paying, without a card on file, and in most cases without even creating an account. The focus is on services that are straightforward to use, so you can get a game and get back to playing.
Epic Games Store
Epic Games Store is the most useful single destination for most people, because it combines recurring publisher giveaways with a free-to-play catalog. Every week, Epic offers one new free game. When you claim a giveaway game, it stays in your library after the promotion ends, so you keep it permanently. The free tier also includes a selection of free-to-play titles that you can install and play at any time.
To claim games, you do need a free Epic account. The service does not require a payment card to sign up or to claim free games. Epic Games Store is available in most countries, except where prohibited by U.S. law, such as North Korea and Iran. On iPhone and iPad, availability is limited to the European Union. If you are on a PC, this is the first place to check, because the weekly giveaway alone is worth the few minutes it takes to make an account.
Why it is free: the games come from publisher and store giveaways, plus free-to-play releases chosen by the rights holders. You are not getting a trial or a demo; you are getting the full game, and you keep it.
Steam
Steam is the broadest general-purpose destination for free-to-play PC games. The free status comes from the game maker’s own decision, not from a store giveaway. That means you will find a very large catalog of games labeled free-to-play, which you can install and play without an upfront purchase. Steam also runs free weekend and play-for-free promotions, where a normally paid game becomes temporarily free for a limited time.
You do need a free Steam account to download and play anything. The service does not require a payment card for free-to-play games, and you can use the store without ever adding a payment method. Steam works worldwide, though the specific games available in your region depend on the publisher’s own choices. For a huge variety of free games across every genre, Steam is the place to go, but you have to check each game’s page to see if it is permanently free or just free for a weekend.
Why it is free: the game maker has released the base game free-to-play or temporarily opened it for a free play event. You are not getting a cracked copy; you are getting the official version straight from the platform.
How to Choose Between Them
If you want a guaranteed free game every week and do not mind making an account, start with Epic Games Store. The weekly giveaway is a reliable source of new titles, and the library you build is yours to keep. If you want a massive catalog of free-to-play games that you can browse and install on a whim, Steam is the better choice, because the selection is far larger and the games are free because the developers want them to be.
For most people, the answer is to use both. Epic gives you the weekly freebie, and Steam gives you the deep catalog. Neither requires a card, and both are legal and official. If you only want to spend five minutes, go to Epic and claim this week’s game. If you want to browse for an hour, go to Steam and sort by free-to-play. There is no wrong answer, only different priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a credit card to get free games on Epic or Steam?
No. Both services allow you to create an account without adding a payment method. You can claim and download free games using only an email address and a password.
Are the free games on Epic and Steam really free forever?
On Epic, claimed giveaway games stay in your library permanently, even after the promotion ends. On Steam, free-to-play games are free indefinitely, but free weekend promotions only last for the event period.
Can I play Epic free games on any device?
Epic Games Store is available on PC, and on iPhone and iPad only in the European Union. Steam is available on PC, Mac, and Linux, and also on mobile for streaming, but the free games themselves are tied to the platform you claim them on.
What if a game I want is not free on either store?
Then it is not a free game, and you should not look for it elsewhere. The only legal free games are the ones the publisher or store has chosen to give away or release for free. If a game is not free on Epic or Steam, it is not free anywhere legally.
Are there any hidden costs or subscriptions on these free games?
No. The base game is free. Some free-to-play games offer optional in-game purchases, but you never have to buy anything to play. The game itself is free, and you can ignore all microtransactions.
The guides in this section
Each one takes a single question from the list above and answers it properly.
- Where to Get Free PC Games Legally
- How the Weekly Free Game Giveaways Actually Work
- Free-to-Play Games That Are Actually Free to Play
- Abandonware: What You Can Legally Download
This section is one part of Where to Download Files Safely: Software, Apps, Games and Books.
