Steam is a wildly popular platform for PC gaming, with over 400 million games sold in 2023 and a vast catalog of 76,000 titles. I first encountered Steam during my university days and quickly amassed a collection of over 220 games thanks to their enticing sales. Steam hosts four major seasonal sales each year, with the next one being the Steam Winter Sale from Dec. 19, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025. In addition to these big sales, there are smaller themed sales throughout the year.
To make the most of Steam sales, it’s helpful to add games to your wish list to track discounts, use SteamDB to find the best deals, and shop for older titles, indie games, and DLC. It’s also important to check other platforms for deals and set a budget to avoid overspending. Remember, it’s okay to skip out on buying games during sales if you’re not planning to play them right away.
In addition to the major seasonal sales, Steam also hosts themed fests focusing on specific genres or game themes throughout the year. These fests offer discounts on games like real-time strategy, idlers, couch co-op games, visual novels, city builders, wargames, creature collectors, and more. By staying informed about upcoming sales and fests, you can make the most of Steam’s deals and expand your gaming library without breaking the bank.