Brand-New Steam Free-to-Keep Game for August 2026 Revealed Ahead of Time

Steam’s backend information confirms that the popular roguelike RPG Moonlighter will join the storefront’s beloved Free-to-Keep Promotion in August 2026. Of course, it’s possible it joins sooner, and something may come up between now and then, as dates are never specified ahead of their addition, but PC gamers should keep in mind that Moonlighter is lined up for a Steam free-to-keep deal in August.

This is especially important because of the ongoing Steam Summer Sale. No doubt, there are a lot of great deals on the Steam Summer Sale, including Moonlighter. It currently has an 85% discount through July 9, meaning Steam users can pick it up at the low, low price of $2.99 (down from $19.99), but the only thing better than a solid game (80% Very Positive reviews) for $3 is a solid game for free. In other words, some fans may want to skip this Steam Summer Sale deal and wait for the Free-to-Keep Promotion, but it’s worth mentioning that the latter will only last a few days. Buy now for cheap, and it’s still a fantastic bargain. Or wait and try to claim it completely free of charge, either is solid.

Steamdb has added Moonlighter to Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion listing, thanks to recent changes on the backend, making it the first game listed for August. So far, it’s the only one for August, while only 2 full games are listed as part of Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion games for July: the hardcore, decision-based RPG The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante and Yet Another Zombie Defense HD (says it all in the name).

For those unaware, Moonlighter is an action RPG that combines roguelike dungeon crawling with shop management in a way few games have attempted. Players take on the role of Will, a shopkeeper who explores dangerous dungeons by night, collecting weapons, artifacts, and other treasures before returning home to sell them during the day. That constant cycle of fighting monsters, upgrading gear, stocking shelves, and growing both the shop and the nearby village creates an addictive gameplay loop—in many ways, it’s a merchant spin on games like classic Zelda, with added roguelike features to boot.

Such comparisons are earned too, as aforementioned. Moonlighter has earned an 80% Very Positive rating on Steam, with players praising its rewarding gameplay loop, charming pixel-art style, and satisfying balance between combat and business “simulation.” Many reviews point to the game’s unique premise as its biggest strength, saying the shop management gives every dungeon run a greater sense of purpose. While some players feel the combat and dungeon variety become repetitive later in the 2D Steam game, the overall consensus is that Moonlighter successfully blends two very different genres into one memorable experience.

The original game’s success also paved the way for Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, which expands on nearly every aspect of the formula. The sequel introduces fully 3D visuals, new regions to explore, deeper progression systems, and even more opportunities to grow Will’s business, while keeping the dungeon-crawling and merchant gameplay that made the first game so popular.