On the website Steam Unlocked, users can play games for free that normally would have to be bought through the famous digital game store Steam. People who want to play games without spending money will like this site because it lets them download and play games for free. But the service comes with some important things to think about when it comes to safety, law, and other options.
This blog post will explain what Steam Unlocked is, talk about some similar sites, look at the legal issues that come up with it, and check to see if the games on the site are safe to play.
How do I get Steam Unlocked?
Steam Unlocked is a website that is not affiliated with Steam that lets you play games for free. According to its description, it gives users these games for free, so they don’t have to buy them from the official Steam shop. Action, adventure, and simulation games are just some of the famous games that can be played on Steam Unlocked. You can get full copies of these games for free and play them on your computer.
It might look good to download games for free, but there are some things you should think about, especially when it comes to whether or not the games are legal and how safe they are.
Steam Unlocked Alternatives and Similar Sites & Apps
There are a lot of websites and apps that say they can give you free games or the same service as Steam Unlocked. Most of the time, these options involve getting games in illegal ways, like downloading cracked versions of games. These are some of the most well-known sites that are like Steam Unlocked:
1. Epic Games Store
Epic Games Store is a popular platform where you can find free games every week. They regularly offer high-quality games for free, and once you claim them, they are yours to keep forever. Epic also has big sales and discounts throughout the year, making it a great option for gamers looking to save money.
- Why Use It: Weekly free games and regular discounts.
- Key Feature: No subscription required to claim free games.
2. GOG (Good Old Games)
GOG is an online store offering a variety of DRM-free games. This means once you buy a game, you can keep it forever without needing an internet connection. GOG also often offers free games and huge discounts during sales. The site focuses on older titles, as well as newer indie games.
- Why Use It: DRM-free games with no activation or connection requirements.
- Key Feature: Great collection of classic games and indie titles.
3. Itch.io
Itch.io is a platform for indie games, offering free games as well as games that you can pay for. It’s known for supporting small developers and offering unique games that you won’t find on bigger platforms. Many games are free to download or can be purchased at a “pay what you want” price.
- Why Use It: A large selection of indie games, many of which are free.
- Key Feature: Discover creative, unique indie games.
4. Origin (by EA)
Origin is EA’s digital platform for purchasing and downloading games. While it doesn’t offer free games regularly like Epic Games Store, EA does offer discounts and promotions from time to time. EA also has a subscription service called “EA Play,” which gives you access to a library of games for a monthly fee.
- Why Use It: EA games and regular sales.
- Key Feature: EA Play subscription for access to a wide range of EA titles.
5. Uplay (by Ubisoft)
Uplay is Ubisoft’s gaming platform, where you can buy and download their games. Ubisoft offers free games and discounts to Uplay members. They also have a subscription service called Uplay+, which gives access to many Ubisoft games for a monthly fee.
- Why Use It: Ubisoft’s major game titles and a subscription option for access to a large catalog.
- Key Feature: Access to popular franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry.
6. Game Jolt
Game Jolt is another platform that focuses on indie games. It allows game developers to upload their games for free or at a set price. You can find games across all genres, from action to adventure, and even experimental games that are different from mainstream titles.
- Why Use It: Free and paid indie games, with many unique titles.
- Key Feature: Explore creative and experimental indie games.
7. Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store is home to many PC games, including exclusives for Windows. They often offer free-to-play games and discounts, especially during seasonal sales. The Xbox Game Pass for PC is another great option, providing access to hundreds of games for a monthly subscription fee.
- Why Use It: Free-to-play titles and Xbox Game Pass for access to a large library.
- Key Feature: Access to Xbox and Windows-specific games.
8. Humble Bundle
Humble Bundle is an online store that offers bundles of games, books, and software at discounted prices. What makes it unique is that you can choose how much to pay, and part of the money goes to charity. Sometimes, they also offer free games as part of their promotions.
- Why Use It: Pay what you want for bundles, with part of the money going to charity.
- Key Feature: Great deals on games, often with charity donations.
9. Kongregate
Kongregate is a platform offering a variety of free-to-play browser games. While it doesn’t provide downloadable PC games, it has a large collection of flash and HTML5 games that you can play directly in your web browser. You can enjoy casual games across different genres without needing to download anything.
- Why Use It: Free browser-based games with no download required.
- Key Feature: Easy access to free games directly in your browser.
10. Green Man Gaming
Green Man Gaming is an authorized online retailer that sells game keys for platforms like Steam, Uplay, and Origin at discounted prices. While you won’t find free games here, you can get many games at a much lower price compared to regular stores.
- Why Use It: Discounted game keys for major platforms.
- Key Feature: Legal discounts on game keys for Steam, Uplay, and more.
Is Steam Unlocked allowed or not?
It’s not clear if Steam Unlocked is allowed or not. Pirated versions of games that you would usually have to buy on Steam can be found on Steam Unlocked. In most countries, it is illegal to download or share copyprotected content without permission. This is called piracy.
Is it safe to play every game on Steam Unlocked?
A lot of people are interested in getting games from Steam Unlocked because they think they are safe. There are a few risks when you download some of the games on the site that aren’t safe:
One of the biggest risks of downloading games from places like Steam Unlocked that aren’t legal is that you might get malware. A lot of the games on sites that sell stolen games come with viruses, ransomware, or Trojans that can hurt your computer or steal your personal data. There is no promise that a game is safe, even if it looks like a real one.
Corrupted Files: When you download cracked copies of games, the files that you download are often broken or missing parts. The game might stop, make mistakes, or lose your progress if you do this. Also, cracked games might not be updated very often, so you might miss out on changes or fixes that make the game more stable.
Lack of Support: Official game makers help customers and keep their games up to date. You can’t use these services though if you use stolen versions from sites like Steam Unlocked. There will be no way for you to get help from the creators if you run into bugs or other problems.
Conclusion
You can get free games on Steam Unlocked, but it’s not safe or legal to use the site. People on the site share illegal copies of games, which is against the law and could lead to legal trouble for users. You might also end up with malware or damaged files on your computer if you download from these sites, which would ruin your game experience.
You should only buy games from official stores like Steam, GOG, or the Epic Games Store if you want to stay safe and help devs. These might not be as free, but they make sure you can play games in a safe and legal way.
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