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Do you keep Steam free weekend games?
No. A Free Weekend lends you the full game for a few days. When it ends, you can only uninstall it unless you buy it. A 100% off Steam game is different: click Add to Account and you keep it. Here's how to tell them apart, straight from Valve's Steamworks docs.
Updated . We check every morning.
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Short answer
No. A Steam Free Weekend lends you the full game for a few days, usually Thursday 10 AM PT to Monday 10 AM PT. When it ends, the game stays listed in your Steam library but you can only uninstall it; to keep playing you have to buy it. A 100% off Steam promo is different: click Add to Account while it's free and the game is yours to keep. There's no free-to-keep Steam game in our feeds today.
Updated . Rules from Valve's Steamworks documentation; live list from FreeGG's daily check of Steam.
⏳ How a Steam Free Weekend works
- A free package appears on the game's store page next to the normal paid one, with a countdown showing how long the event has left.
- You get the full game, not a demo, using the same game files as buyers.
- Valve says Free Weekends typically run from Thursday 10 AM Pacific to Monday 10 AM Pacific (noon to noon Central).
- When it ends, the free package disappears. The game still shows in your library, but you can only uninstall it. Continued play requires buying it.
- Most Free Weekends come with a discount on the paid version, and Valve recommends developers keep that discount running a few days after the weekend ends.
Source: Steamworks: Free Weekends and Steamworks: Discounting.
🧭 Free weekend vs free to keep vs free to play
- Free Weekend: borrowed for a few days, then locked unless you buy it.
- 100% off (free to keep): a paid game priced at $0.00 for a short window. Click Add to Account and it stays in your library for good (how to claim free Steam games).
- Free to play: always free, usually with in-game purchases. Nothing to claim.
- Demo: a separate, cut-down version of the game with its own store entry.
Tip: if the green button says Play Game with a countdown, it's a Free Weekend. If the price shows -100% and the button says Add to Account, you can keep it.
💾 Do you keep your progress if you buy it later?
Usually, yes, but it depends on the game. Free Weekend players use the same game and files as buyers, so saves stored on your PC or in Steam Cloud are generally still there after you buy. A game that doesn't use Steam Cloud keeps saves only on the PC you played on, so check the store page for "Steam Cloud" before you uninstall.
🎁 Free to keep on Steam right now (0)
No free-to-keep Steam games in our feeds today. We check every morning.
Want every store, not just Steam? Epic gives away new games every Thursday at 10 AM CT (this week's Epic freebies), and here's everything free this week.
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FAQ
Do you keep Steam free weekend games?
No. A Steam Free Weekend lends you the full game for a few days, usually Thursday 10 AM PT to Monday 10 AM PT. When it ends, the game stays listed in your Steam library but you can only uninstall it; to keep playing you have to buy it. A 100% off Steam promo is different: click Add to Account while it's free and the game is yours to keep. There's no free-to-keep Steam game in our feeds today.
How long is a Steam free weekend?
Valve says Free Weekends typically run from Thursday at 10 AM Pacific to Monday at 10 AM Pacific, about four days. The exact end time shows on the game's store page during the event.
What happens to a free weekend game after it ends?
It stays listed in your Steam library, but you can only uninstall it. To keep playing you need to buy it, often at a discount that runs a few days past the free weekend.
How do I get a Steam game free forever?
Watch for 100% off promotions. While the price is $0.00, click Add to Account on the store page and the game stays in your library permanently.
How do I find out when a Steam game is free to keep?
FreeGG checks Steam and every other store each morning and emails every free-to-keep PC game, with end times, in one free daily email.
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