As of this writing, Steam users have just 48 hours to claim two games via the storefront’s popular Free-to-Keep Promotion, meaning they’ll be able to add them to their Digital Libraries and keep them forever. Once they expire on September 23, however, this Steam Free-to-Keep Promotion is over.
Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion typically makes a handful of games free every month, making it a reliable (if usually unpredictable) way of claiming free PC games. It’s pretty simple. Publishers initiate the promotion on Steam, setting when it will launch. It’s usually during a typical Steam update around 10am PT/1pm ET every day, but from there it varies. Then, usually for less-than-a-week, anyone who downloads the available game can keep them forever.
Steam Free-to-Keep Games (September 21-September 23)
The current Steam Free-to-Keep Games are Space Menace and Deadshot, both of which expire at 10am PT/1pm ET on September 23. As long as Steam users claim the two games before that date/time, they’ll be able to keep it in their digital libraries forever and play it whenever they want. They’re not revolutionary, mind-blowing games, but they are well worth the asking cost during this promotion.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Space Menace is a sci-fi space RTS that puts players in control of a captain starting out with a single ship and trying to build a larger fleet. Players can take freelance missions, attack other ships for salvage, manage resources, customize ships with weapons and utilities, and make decisions that affect relationships with different factions. Combat plays out from a top-down perspective, with players able to use friendly ships and space stations while working to survive in a hostile galaxy. It’s worth noting that Space Menace currently has a Mixed rating on Steam, with 58% of 39 user reviews being positive. The relatively small review sample means the rating should be taken in that context, but the game’s strategy, fleet customization, and space combat are central to the experience players are evaluating.
Meanwhile, Deadshot is a retro-style first-person shooter inspired by games such as Half-Life, Doom, and Quake. Players take control of a soldier caught in the middle of a mutant apocalypse, exploring tunnels, laboratories, buildings, and storage areas while searching for items, uncovering secrets, and fighting mutants. The game has a three-chapter campaign with six levels per chapter, seven weapons, and five weapon attachments. Deadshot has a Positive rating on Steam, with all 12 user reviews currently recommending the game. The sample is incredibly small, meaning there’s very little context here, so Steam users should keep that in mind before they delve in.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
For those looking for more Steam games, it remains to be seen if anything more comes to the Free-to-Keep Promotion on Tuesday or Wednesday, but Thursday is typically a good day for free Steam games. Steam’s Free Weekend Promotions typically go live on Thursday, although it sometimes varies, skips a week, or goes live a little early or a little late. At least ahead of Thursday, there are still some new games to check out.
