When is the best time to buy cheap Steam games?

PC game prices vary a lot depending on when and where you buy. Here’s when you’ll find the best prices.

Steam sales

Steam runs big sales several times a year:

Summer Sale (June–July) — The biggest of the year. 50–90% off thousands of games.
Winter Sale (December) — Almost as good as the Summer Sale. Perfect for gifting.
Autumn Sale (November) — Coincides with Black Friday. Solid discounts.
Spring Sale (March) — The newest one, added in 2023. Moderate discounts.
Halloween Sale (October) — Especially good for horror games.

Trick: Steam sales aren’t always the cheapest

During Steam sales, key stores (Eneba, Kinguin, IG) usually drop their prices even further to compete. So even during Steam Sales, it’s worth comparing.

Key marketplaces — deals all year round

The big advantage of marketplaces is that they always have discounts, not just during sales. Prices drop when:

A game has been out for a few months — Sellers compete and push prices down
A new entry in the series comes out — Previous games plummet in price
Bundles — When a game appears in a Humble Bundle, leftover keys end up on marketplaces

How long should you wait after release?

Time	Typical discount	Example
Day 1	0–15%	$60 game → $50–55
1–3 months	20–30%	$60 game → $40–50
6 months	40–50%	$60 game → $30–35
1 year	50–70%	$60 game → $15–25
2+ years	70–90%	$60 game → $5–15

Tips to pay less

Never buy on day 1 at full price (unless you really can’t wait)
Always compare between Steam and key stores
Add games to your Steam wishlist to get sale alerts
Wait for the next sale — there’s always one around the corner
Buy bundles when they show up on Humble Bundle or Fanatical

The easiest way: compare prices

Instead of checking 6 stores manually, use a comparator. It shows you the lowest price instantly.

Compare PC game prices →