Find out when the next Steam sale is and how to save money while growing your game library

Steam is one of the most popular PC gaming platforms, having sold more than 400 million games in 2023, according to statesman. The digital PC games service boasts a massive catalog of over 76,000 titles. I first discovered Steam at university — I’d never had my own computer until then, so the allure of PC gaming proved irresistible. What started as a modest dozen games (such as Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life) has grown into a collection of over 220 titles, thanks mainly to Steam sales. (Please don’t ask me how many items in my library I’ve actually played.)

Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks for one of the latest big-name AAA games, want to add more indie games to your digital shelf, or need to fill out your Steam Deck hard drive, here’s everything you need to know about Steam sales and how to save money.

When are the next Steam sales?

There are four main seasonal sales on Steam. Steam’s next big sale – the Steam Spring Sale – will take place from March 13 to 20, 2025. There are also smaller sales called Fests. Steam’s winter and summer sales typically last about two weeks, while the spring and fall sales last a week or so.

• Steam Spring Sale (March 13-20, 2025)
• Steam Summer Sale (June 26 to July 10, 2025)
• Steam Fall Sale (November 27 to December 4, 2024)
• Steam Winter Sale (December 19, 2024 to January 2, 2025)

How often do Steam sales happen?

Steam sales are pretty frequent, with at least one a month. While the big seasonal sales are quarterly—winter, fall, spring, and summer—there are dozens of smaller sales or holidays. Typically, these Steam Sale Days revolve around a specific theme, with discounted prices for titles in a specific genre, such as fighting games or RPGs.

Here’s How I Save Money Selling on Steam (And You Can Too)

Take advantage of your wish list

Adding games to your Steam wishlist makes it simple to find what to grab – or miss – during a sale. You can sort your wishlist by discount, so finding the biggest savings is easy.

Add a game to your wishlist whenever you see one you like but don’t want to play right away. Then, during a Steam sale, log in, sort by discount, and see which prices have dropped the most. Or you can sort your wishlist by most wanted titles, then choose what to buy that way during one of the upcoming Steam sales.

Use SteamDB to find the biggest discounts

SteamDB is an excellent source for uncovering trades. Its many filters allow you to sort by attributes including discount percentage, rating, price, or reviews, making it a useful tool for tracking Steam sales. You can even narrow down a list based on platform — Windows, Linux, or MacOS — and features like controller support. I’ve even used SteamDB to find free games, like a free copy of Tell Me Why.

I usually go to SteamDB during a Steam sale to look for solid discounts on highly rated games. It’s worth checking out SteamDB even outside of seasonal sales and festivals if you’re looking to expand your Steam collection.

Shop older titles, indie games, DLC and full catalogs

Often newer AAA games get big discounts – but due to their usually high prices, even the discounted price isn’t cheap. However, you can find wallet-friendly older games, indie games, or downloadable content. For example, I picked up a copy of The Sum of All Fears for only $2, which wasn’t even on sale on Steam.

Complete catalogs for publishers or franchise packages save you a lot of money. I’ve seen the Activision Collection bundle — normally $900 — for only $355. While over $350 might not be pocket change, the title breakdown is pretty cost effective when you’re getting 53 games. Likewise, I saw the Call of Duty Franchise Pack for $443, a steep drop from the usual $1,010.

You can often get DLC packs pretty cheap during Steam sales that provide more in-game content to enjoy. On the other hand, these comprehensive bundles could leave you overspending if you don’t actually plan to play, say, every single Call of Duty game under the sun.

Check your other game libraries to make sure you’re not double-dipping

Although Steam is incredibly popular, it is not the only source for digital game purchases. Check your other libraries GOG, Epic, EA Origin and Xbox Game Passfor example to make sure you don’t double dip. While you can buy Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam and GOG, you probably don’t need two copies.

Deals between stores on other platforms

With many Steam alternatives including GOG, Epic, Origin and Fanaticyou can find sweet discounts from several outlets. While you can—and should—check out these individual storefronts, IsThereAnyDeal is a comprehensive source for savings. So you might spot a great deal on Skyrim from Steam, but it might be available for an even lower price on Epic at the same time.

Set a budget

Adding a bunch of games to your cart can be tempting, especially with prices marked down by 75% or more. However, many cheap games can still be added. I usually set a budget – whether it’s money or a limit on the number of games – and stick to it.

Don’t feel pressured to buy anything

The best way to save money is by not spending it in the first place. I know it’s tempting to load up your cart with $5 or $10 worth of games, which is almost as satisfying as grabbing in-game loot. But only buy what you will play now or soon after purchase. While there are rare instances where games are delisted on Steam, chances are if you miss out on a sweet deal, it will still be available during the next Steam sale.

Full list of Steam sale dates

Outside of Steam’s seasonal sales, there are sales or festivals across genres. Steam festivals revolve around a game genre or theme. Here are the upcoming Steam Festivals for the rest of 2024 the first half of 2025, as announced by Steamalong with examples of Steam games on sale you might find:

• Real Time Strategy Festival (January 20-27, 2025): Take advantage of discounted RTS strategy game rewards – you might find Hearts of Iron IV, Manor Lords or DOTA 2 on sale.
• Idler Fest (February 3-10, 2025): If you want to play a video game that allows you to progress without too much effort, idler is a great choice. Examples of what you can find for cheap include Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm, Firestone, and Rusty’s Retirement.
• Couch Co-Op Fest (February 10-17, 2025): Cooperative couch gaming lets you play with friends in the same room. You might see games like It Takes Two, Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection at wallet-friendly prices.
• Steam Next Fest February Edition (February 24 – March 10, 2025): Demos, developer chats, and live streams featuring future games.
• Visual Novel Festival (March 3-10, 2025): Stock your Steam library with anime-like graphic novels and games without breaking the bank. You might see Persona 3 Reload, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy or Vampire Therapist at attractively low prices.
• City Builder & Colony Sim Fest (March 24-31, 2025): Build your own virtual worlds and sell cop titles like Anno 1800, Ages of Empires IV or RimWorld.
• Sokoban Fest (April 21-28, 2025): Choose some puzzle games like Isles of Sea and Sky or Schein.
• Wargames Fest (April 28 – May 5, 2025): Continue your fight with discounted prices on titles that may include Six Days in Fallujah, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Europa Universalis IV.
• Creature Collector Fest (May 12-19, 2025): If you like Pokémon, you’ll love these discounts on games like Palworld, Digimon World: Next Order, and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
• Zombies vs. Vampires Fest (May 26 – June 2, 2025): Unreal Undead and Undead Deals – Titles you might see on sale include Resident Evil 4, The House of the Dead Remake and Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines.
• Steam Next Fest June Edition (June 9-16, 2025): Demos, live streams, and developer chats showcasing upcoming games.
• Fishing Festival (June 16-23, 2025): No fishing license is required for these great games. You might see prices drop for games like Bassmaster Fishing, Fishing Planet, Bass Pro Shops Fishing Sim World, or Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos.

When is the next Steam Next Fest?

Steam Next Fest is coming up, which will take place from February 24th to March 3rd, 2025. Steam Next Fest highlights upcoming game releases, featuring developer chats, free game demos, and live streams. Some of the most played demos from June 2024 Steam Next Fest included Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, Once Human and Level Zero: Extraction.

Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

So what did I stock up on at a recent Steam sale? Mass Effect Legendary Edition — three games for $2 each was too good a deal to pass up. I also caught Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Although I picked up Shadow of Mordor in a previous Steam sale, I have yet to add its sequel to my metaphorical shelf. As a huge cinephile and fan of movie games (like Peter Jackson’s King Kong), I was excited to get Indiana Jones and the Inferno Machine along with Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb for a total of $4. Even though I own it on EA Origin, I picked up a $1 copy of Alice: Madness Returns because at that price it was too juicy a discount to pass up.

How to get the most out of Steam after you’ve ravaged your wallet during a Steam Sale

Once you’ve drained your bank account to the brim with games you’ll probably never play, there are plenty more you can do with Steamsuch as sharing your library with friends or family, using Remote Play Together, and adding non-Steam games. I suggest installing the Steam Link app on your phone, tablet or streaming device to play your games away from your computer. You can also play on the go with Steam Deck or another handheld game console like on Asus ROG Ally. Or you can share your Steam library with up to five family members using Steam families.