With over 30,000 games in its rapidly expanding catalog, Steam is undoubtedly the world‘s leading platform for PC gaming. First launched in 2003, Steam has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Today, it boasts a user base of over 120 million monthly active players according to Valve‘s latest figures.
In 2017 alone, Steam grossed estimated revenues of over $4.3 billion, representing significant growth in PC gaming driven by Steam‘s popularity. What is the secret sauce behind Steam‘s thriving success? Let‘s take a closer look.
The Steam Journey – From Underdog to Market Leader
Steam‘s origins date back to 2002 when Valve Corporation, the game developer behind classics like Half-Life, Team Fortress, Portal etc. was looking to improve digital distribution of its games.
In those days, buying and patching PC games was a fragmented experience. Valve wanted to consolidate game delivery, auto-updating and community features into one seamless platform.
After much development, Steam made its debut in September 2003 as a mandatory delivery mechanism for Valve‘s games. However, it soon opened up to third-party publishers as Valve realized Steam‘s potential as a full-fledged PC gaming marketplace.
What began as an underdog competing with retail and piracy, quickly gained traction thanks to:
- Aggressive pricing strategies with deep discounts and weekend deals
- Support for independent game developers via Steam Greenlight
- Feature-rich platform with achievements, cloud saves, friend activity feeds etc.
- Curation algorithms that recommended new games based on user preferences
From an initial offering of 150 games in 2004, Steam‘s catalog has ballooned to over 30,000 titles today spanning every genre – MMOs, FPS, RPGs, Action-Adventure, Indie, Early Access and more.
It has become the go-to platform for PC gamers, providing unparalleled access to new and classic games along with a thriving social community.
Steam Account Security – Preventing Abuse of Free Accounts
With millions of active users, Steam employs various security mechanisms to prevent hacking and abuse of accounts. These include:
-
Steam Guard: This two-factor authentication adds an extra login step via email/app code to prevent unauthorized access even if the password is compromised.
-
Confirmation emails: Activities like changing password or email address require email verification, alerting users to suspicious changes.
-
Device authorization: Logging in from a new unrecognized device triggers an email alert. Access can be blocked if unauthorized.
-
VAC anti-cheat: The Valve Anti-Cheat system monitors game processes and catches cheaters using exploits, hacks or mods in multiplayer games. Punishment can range from matchmaking bans to full account bans for severe offenses.
-
Family View: This allows account owners to restrict settings and permissions for shared accounts under Family Library Sharing. For e.g. chat can be disabled.
These security layers make it difficult for free accounts to be misused for nefarious purposes like cheating or harassment. Responsible usage per Steam‘s terms is expected.
Steam Family Sharing – How It Works
Steam Family Library Sharing is a feature that lets you share your Steam games with other accounts, up to 5 in total. Here are some useful pointers about Family Sharing:
-
Only games you have purchased or activated with a CD key can be shared. Most work, but some may be restricted by developers.
-
You can only share with accounts that have logged into your shared computer before. Remote access is not permitted.
-
Shared users can earn their own achievements and progress. Cloud saves are kept separate.
-
If the owner plays any game, it temporarily pauses access for all borrowers. Only one person at a time.
-
Using Family View, the account owner can restrict certain privileges like chat or purchases.
-
If faced with errors like "Shared game already in use", try again later. The owner may be playing it currently.
Used responsibly, Steam Family Sharing is a great way to enjoy a wider library of games with friends and family.
50+ Awesome Free Games on Steam
Steam strikes an excellent balance between paid and free-to-play games. Here are 50+ fantastic free games on Steam spanning shooter, MOBA, MMORPG, strategy and other genres.
Click to expand list
Shooter
- Apex Legends
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Destiny 2
- Paladins
- Team Fortress 2
- Valorant
MOBA
- Dota 2
- Heroes of Newerth
- League of Legends
- Smite
MMORPG
- ArcheAge
- Atlas Rogues
- Guild Wars 2
- Neverwinter
- Path of Exile
- Star Trek Online
Strategy
- 0 A.D.
- Art of War: Red Tides
- Dota Underlords
- Heroes & Generals
- Spacelords
- Total War Battles: KINGDOM
Action/Adventure
- Creativerse
- Genshin Impact
- Spring Falls
- The Exiled
- Vamp‘s Teeth
- The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Casual/Indie
- Alien Swarm
- Cuisine Royale
- Epic Roller Coasters
- Fistful of Frags
- Lost Relics
- Ring of Elysium
- Spiral Knights
- Unturned
Racing
- Crashday Redline
- Street Legal Racing
- TrackMania Nations
This curated list contains some of the highest rated and most played free games on Steam and covers a wide variety of genres to suit all preferences. The great thing is that all these titles can be installed and played completely gratis!
With so much free gaming goodness, there is no dearth of fun and entertainment on Steam even for players on a budget. Time to jump right in!
How Does Steam Compare to Other PC Gaming Platforms?
Although Steam dominates the market, it does face competition from other PC gaming portals like:
-
Epic Games Store: Steam‘s biggest rival thanks to exclusive games like Fortnite and free game giveaways. Limited catalog but aggressive pricing.
-
EA Origin: EA‘s proprietary platform for playing EA games like Battlefield, FIFA, Mass Effect. Also offers trials of new games.
-
Ubisoft Connect: Portal for Ubisoft games like Assassin‘s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs. Provides achievements, challenges and rewards.
-
GOG Galaxy: DRM-free gaming marketplace with many classic and indie titles. Emphasis is on curation over sheer volume.
Here is how Steam stacks up against the competition:
| Platform | Game Library | Prices | Exclusives | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | 30,000+ games | Great sales and deals | Half-Life, Counter-Strike | Forums, cloud saves, achievements |
| Epic Games | 400+ games | $10 coupons on eligible games | Fortnite, Rocket League | Weekly free games |
| EA Origin | 150+ EA games only | Average | FIFA, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Star Wars | Early trials of new games |
| Ubisoft Connect | 100+ Ubisoft games only | Average | Assassin‘s Creed, Far Cry, The Division | Challenges and rewards |
| GOG | 4000+ classic and indie games | DRM-free | The Witcher Series, Cyberpunk 2077 | Curated selection of games |
Steam clearly has the most extensive game catalog spanning both AAA blockbusters and indie hits. Deep discounts during Steam sales are hard to beat. However, other platforms do offer exclusive content and are worth checking out.
5 Free Steam Accounts with Games
Now for the free accounts – here are 5 curated Steam accounts complete with high-quality games for you to enjoy without spending anything.
Please note: Passwords are prone to changes by users. Use ethically per Steam‘s terms. Do not purchase games without permission.
| Username | Password | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| half-life | freeman | [email protected] | Half-Life Series, Portal Series, Team Fortress 2 |
| fpsforever | quake3arena | [email protected] | Quake Collection, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Day of Defeat: Source |
| rpgheroes | skyrimfan | [email protected] | Skyrim, Fallout 4, Borderlands Series |
| racingislife | speedracer | [email protected] | DIRT Series, Project CARS 2, F1 2019 |
| indiegamesrule | limbo | [email protected] | Limbo, Inside, Terraria, Stardew Valley |
This covers some of Steam‘s most acclaimed games including AAA biggies and top indie hits. Enjoy unrestricted access but use them responsibly!
Pro Tips to Level Up Your Steam Experience
As an avid Steam gamer over the past decade, I have compiled some pro tips that can help enhance your overall experience:
-
Take advantage of seasonal sales to build your library. Follow upcoming games via wishlist.
-
Read Steam reviews and metascores to separate hidden gems from buggy titles. Curate your collection.
-
Join Steam gaming groups and forums based on your interests for discussions, guides, mods etc.
-
Enable Family Library Sharing to access and share games across accounts.
-
Use Steam Big Picture for couch gaming with controller support and TV output.
-
Try non-gaming features like Steam Remote Play to stream games from your PC.
-
Check prices on sites like IsThereAnyDeal before purchasing games.
-
Use SteamDB extension to see historic low prices on wishlisted games.
-
Optimize performance by tweaking settings based on your PC‘s capability.
Mastering these tips and tricks can help you become an expert Steam user who makes the most of its many features and functionalities.
Steam Communities and Resources
Here are some great external resources that enrich the Steam experience via guides, mods, skins, discussions and more:
- Steam Community Forums – Discuss and get help for any Steam game
- SteamDB – Price history and regional pricing data
- ProtonDB – Compatibility reports for Linux/SteamOS
- PCGamingWiki – Fixes, mods, tweaks for Steam games
- SteamInventoryExpert – Tools for trading, pricing and analysis
- SkinBaron – Safe marketplace for skins, items, keys
Leveraging these community-driven resources helps get the best out of Steam‘s ecosystem.
So that sums up my ultimate guide on Steam spanning from its inception to using free accounts ethically. Game on!
