Steam Users Have Until January 18 to Claim Free Game
Steam users have until January 18 to add yet another free game to their digital libraries. PC gamers have had all kinds of free games to enjoy this past month, largely thanks to the holiday season. Over the holidays, PC gamers were able to check out the Epic Games Store free mystery games, as well as a variety of random Steam games.
There is a big difference between free games on the Epic Games Store and free games on Steam. On the Epic Games Store, PC gamers know that they can check in every Thursday at 10:00am CST and to get a new freebie or two, while Steam is completely random. This makes it easier for Steam users to miss out on free game giveaways, but at least there’s usually a decent-sized window for claiming any given freebie on the platform.
Best Co-Op Games On Steam To Play Right Now
From online multiplayer titles to local masterpieces, Steam has plenty of fantastic co-op games that cover a wide spectrum of genres.
Current Steam Free Game
The latest Steam free game is Initial Drift Online, and it will be free on Steam until January 18 at 12:00pm CST. Originally released in 2023, Initial Drift Online is essentially a racing MMO with a “semi-open world” Japan that includes Mt. Haruna, Mt. Akagi, and the road to Irohazaka. The gameplay loop involves earning money to buy new customization options and cars, with players able to compete with others online, battle for dominance on the leaderboards, and more. The game boasts “realistic but dynamic physis” as well as a day/night cycle. It’s earned “Mostly Positive” reviews since its initial release, so genre fans should be sure to claim it while they still can. If you happen to miss the freebie window, note that Initial Drift Online is only $4.99 anyway, so it won’t break the bank to buy it outright.
Initial Drift Online is being made free mere months before the next game from the developer is releasing. The new arcade racing game Akina, set in early 90s Japan, will feature similar gameplay as Initial Drift Online, with a focus on multiplayer and drift racing. Akina is expected to release at some point in early 2026, though a specific release date is unavailable at this time. Racing game fans can expect an update for Initial Drift Online to be released that will serve as a crossover between the two games.
Racing games are admittedly niche, but you can’t beat free, and so Steam users should be sure to snag Initial Drift Online while they still can. Again, Initial Drift Online will be free until January 18 at 12:00pm CST. In the meantime, there are other free games that PC gamers can claim. Over on the Epic Games Store, Bloonds TD 6 is free to claim, and will be until January 15 at 10:00am CST. At that point, Bloons TD 6 will be cycled out of the Epic Games Store free games list and replaced by two more freebies.
Current Epic Games Store Free Games
Once Bloons TD 6 is cycled out, it will be replaced by Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness. For those unfamiliar with the games, both Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness are stealth games developed by Cyanide that earned mixed reviews at the time of their individual launches, but should still appeal to fans of the genre. Styx: Masters of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness will be free on the Epic Games Store from January 15 until January 22, with their replacement yet to be announced.