The Steam Summer Sale 2025 Is Live Now: Here Are the Best PC Game Deals We'd Add to Our Carts

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

I first discovered Steam in university -- until then, I’d never had my own computer, so the allure of PC gaming proved irresistible. What started as a humble dozen games, like Doom 3 and Half-Life, blossomed into a collection of over 220 titles, thanks mainly to Steam sales (please don’t ask how many items from my library I’ve actually played). Steam is one of the most popular PC gaming platforms, selling more than 718 million total games in 2024, according to Statista. The digital PC gaming service boasts a massive catalog of over 89,000 titles.

Steam runs four major seasonal sales -- winter, spring, summer and fall -- plus smaller sales called "fests" in between. The next major event -- the Steam Summer Sale -- kicked off on Thursday, June 26, and runs through July 10. Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks on one of the latest big-name AAA games, want to add more indie games to your digital shelf or need to fill up your Steam Deck hard drive, here’s everything you need to know about when Steam sales are and how to save money.

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts

Game prices are slashed across the board, from competitive discounts on recent AAA releases like Black Myth Wukong to wallet-friendly indie games and backlog-inducingly cheap older titles. If you're having difficulty wading through the deals aplenty, my gaming expert colleague Tyler Graham and I have curated a selection of games we'd add to our carts.

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Moe's picks

  • Black Myth: Wukong, 20% off (now $48, was $60): A fun action RPG with some soulslike elements, with great storytelling based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West.
  • Red Dead Redemption 2, 75% off (now $15, was $60): You can roll into the wild, wild West and sink hours of gameplay into this engaging game.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, 75% off (now $10, was $40): I spent a good chunk of my winter 2024 holiday playing Jedi: Fallen Order with my wife. $10 for hours of platforming, swinging lightsabers and using the Force is a no-brainer.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, 80% off (now $14, was $70): I just started playing Jedi: Survivor, and its improvements in gameplay mechanics make it feel noticeably smoother than the predecessor -- plus, you start off with your lightsaber this go around.
  • Control, 85% off (now $6, was $40): A Lynchian romp with a compelling narrative.
  • Broken Sword Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, 40% off (now $18, was $30): Arguably the best point-and-click adventure game of all time.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, 50% off (now $15, was $30): With up to four-player online or local couch co-op, this roguelike TMNT game oozes a delightful arcade vibe.
  • Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, 50% off (now $25, was $50): While not quite the tour de force of the OG, Double Exposure reunites you with Max Caulfield for a story with outstanding writing.
  • Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, 90% off (now $1.49, was $15): Graffiti and a hip-hop-laden soundtrack produced RJD2, all for less than $2 -- need I say more?
  • It Takes Two, 75% off (now $10, was $40): One of the best -- if not the best -- co-op games I've ever played.
Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Cassette Beasts is just $10 on Steam, and a great choice for Pokemon fans and audiophiles alike. Raw Fury

Tyler's picks

  • Cassette Beasts, 50% off (now $10, was $20): The best Pokémon-like game on Steam, with a banger soundtrack.
  • Neon White, 50% off (now $12.49, was $25): An FPS/puzzle hybrid speedrunning game.
  • Hypnospace Outlaw, 75% off (now $5, was $20): A narrative puzzle game where you clean up an alternate universe’s version of the early internet.
  • Cavern of Dreams, 60% off (now $5.19, was $13): One of the best modern N64-style platformers I’ve played. Cheerful characters contrast with a gloomy atmosphere.
  • Orbo's Odyssey, 50% off (now $2.49, was $5): A speedy precision platformer with lots of movement tech. Short but sweet, it has surreal and terrifying secrets to find hidden throughout the game.
  • Anger Foot, 50% off (now $10, was $20): A grungy but humorous FPS that combines gun and melee combat at lightning speed.
Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Neon White is a unique FPS/puzzle game, and at $12.49, it's worth considering for your Steam library. Annapurna Interactive

Many popular games are available at lower-than-normal prices. While some might only offer a modest 10% discount, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or 20% off for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, these are some of the lowest prices I've seen for these games. Plus, with rising video game costs, any sale is helpful.

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently
  • God of War Ragnarök, 20% off (now $48, was $60)
  • Spider-Man 2, 20% off (now $48, was $60)
  • Helldivers 2, 20% off (now $32, was $40)
  • Elden Ring, 40% off (now $36, was $60)
  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, 20% off (now $56, was $70)
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio, 40% off (now $42, was $70)
  • Hogwarts Legacy, 75% off (now $15, was $60)
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, 10% off (now $45, was $50)
  • The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, 20% off (now $40, was $50)
  • Baldur's Gate 3, 20% off (now $48, was $60)
  • Dave the Diver, 40% off (now $12, was $20)
  • Schedule I, 30% off (now $14, was $20)
Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

What better excuse to revisit the sprawling world of Oblivion -- or experience it for the first time -- than a solid 20% discount during the Steam Summer Sale 2025?? Bethesda Softworks

Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts

If you're looking for an unparalleled value, there are plenty of $10 and under games. You can get four major Borderlands games all for less than $25 total, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy for a mere $4, Guardians of the Galaxy for $6 and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition at a wallet-friendly $6. Here are some of the best deals I've seen.

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

$4 is a no-brainer for the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Activision

  • Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, 90% off (now $4, was $40)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy, 90% off (now $6, was $60)
  • RoboCop: Rogue City, 90% off (now $5, was $50)
  • Crypt of the NecroDancer, 90% off (now $1.49, was $15)
  • Borderlands 3, 95% off (now $3, was $60)
  • Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, 90% off (now $6, was $60)
  • The Forest, 80% off (now $4, was $20)
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, 75% off (now $10, was $40)
  • Doom Eternal, 75% off (now $10, was $40)
  • A Way Out, 80% off (now $6, was $30)
  • Stardew Valley, 50% off (now $7.49, was $15)
  • Hades, 66% off (now $8.49, was $25)
  • Fallout 4, 60% off (now $8, was $20)
Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

When are the next Steam sales?

There are four main Steam seasonal sales. The next major Steam Sale -- the Steam Summer Sale -- runs June 26 to July 10, 2025. There are also smaller sales, called Fests. Typically, the Steam Winter and Summer Sales last about two weeks, whereas the Spring and Autumn Sales last for one week, give or take. 

  • Steam Summer Sale (June 26 to July 10, 2025)
  • Steam Autumn Sale (Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, 2025)
  • Steam Winter Sale (Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026)
  • Steam Spring Sale (was March 13-20, 2025)

How often are Steam sales?

Steam Sales are pretty frequent, with at least one per month. While the big seasonal sales are quarterly -- winter, fall, spring and summer -- there are dozens of smaller sales or fests. Typically, these Steam discount days revolve around a particular theme, with lowered prices on titles within a certain genre, like fighting games or roleplaying games. 

Here’s how I save money with Steam sales (and you can too)

Take advantage of your wish list

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Adding games to your Steam wish list is a great way to find out when they're on sale. Screenshot by Moe Long/CNET

Adding games to your Steam wish list simplifies figuring out what to snag -- or skip -- during a sale. You can sort your wish list by discount, so finding the biggest savings is a breeze.

Add a game to your wish list whenever you see one you like the look of but don't immediately want to play. Then, during a Steam sale, pop in, sort by discount and see which prices have plummeted the most. Or, you can arrange your wish list in order of your most wanted titles, then choose what to buy that way during one of the upcoming Steam sales. 

Use SteamDB to find the largest discounts

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

SteamDB is an excellent source for uncovering deals. Its many filters let you sort attributes, including discount percentage, rating, price or reviews, making it a helpful Steam sales tracker. 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 nab free games, like a no-cost copy of Tell Me Why.

I typically hop into SteamDB during a Steam sale to look for hefty discounts on highly rated games. It’s worth checking SteamDB even outside of seasonal sales and fests if you want to expand your Steam collection.

Shop for older titles, indie games, DLC and complete catalogs

Often, newer AAA games get heavy markdowns -- but because of their usually high price tags, even the discounted cost isn’t cheap. However, you can find wallet-friendly older games, indies or downloadable content. For instance, I picked up a copy of The Sum of All Fears for just $2, which wasn’t even during a Steam sale. 

Complete publisher catalogs or franchise bundles save you a ton of money. I’ve seen the Activision Collection bundle -- typically $900 -- for as low as $355. While over $350 might not be pocket change, the per-title breakdown is pretty cost-effective when you’re getting 53 games. Similarly, I’ve seen the Call of Duty Franchise bundle for $443, a steep drop from its usual $1,010.

You can often get DLC packs pretty cheap during Steam sales, which provide more in-game content to enjoy. On the other hand, these comprehensive bundles might lead you to overspend if you’re not actually planning on playing, 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’s not the only source for digital game purchases. Check your other libraries on GOG, Epic, EA Origin and Xbox Game Pass, for instance, to ensure you’re not double-dipping. While you could buy Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam and GOG, you probably don’t need two copies.

Cross-shop deals on other platforms

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

While Steam is extremely popular, you can also find loads of competitive discounts at other outlets. IsThereAnyDeal lets you easily cross-shop. Screenshot by Moe Long/CNET

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

Set a budget

Adding a bunch of games to your cart can be tempting, especially with prices slashed by 75% or more. However, lots of cheap games can still add up. I typically set a budget -- whether it’s monetary or a limit on the number of games -- and stick to that. 

Don’t feel compelled 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 games, which is nearly as gratifying as an in-game loot grab. But only buy what you’ll play now or soon after purchasing. While there are rare instances where games get delisted on Steam, chances are if you pass up on a sweet deal, it’ll still be available during the next Steam sale. 

A complete list of Steam sale dates

Outside of Steam’s seasonal sales, there are different genre-themed sales or fests. Steam fests revolve around a genre or game theme. Here are all of the Steam fests for 2025, along with examples of Steam games on sale you might find:

  • Automation Fest (July 14-21, 2025): Automate all the things! Look for discounts on titles like Hydroneer, Railgrade and Voidtrain.
  • Racing Fest (July 28 to Aug. 4, 2025): Be fast and furious adding games like Forza Horizon 5, Snow Runner and Sonic Racing CrossWorlds to your cart.
  • 4X Fest (Aug. 11-18, 2025): The Steam 4X Fest celebrates games that feature all four Xs: Expand, Exploit, Exterminate and Explore. Look for deals on player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) games, like Duke: Awakening and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X.
  • Third Person Shooter Fest (Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, 2025): Reload your Steam library with third-person shooter titles, like Helldivers II, Star Wars Outlaws or Red Dead Redemption II.
  • Political Sim Fest (Sept. 8-15, 2025): Bring out your inner politician with deals on games like Tropico 6 and Victoria 3.
  • Next Fest: October 2025 (Oct. 13-20, 2025): Highlights of upcoming games -- demos, livestreams and developer chats, oh my!
  • Scream Fest 2025 (Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, 2025): Just in time for spooky season, stock up on horror games, such as Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic, Lies of P, Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil Village.
  • Animal Fest (Nov. 10-17, 2025): Go wild and grab cheap titles like Wolf Quest, Nightingale Downs and Goat Simulator.
  • Sports Fest (Dec. 8-15, 2025): Score goals and great deals with discounts on games like 2K25, FC25 and WWE 2K25.
  • Real-Time Strategy Fest (was Jan. 20-27, 2025): Reap the rewards of discounted RTS strategy games -- you might find Hearts of Iron IV, Manor Lords or DOTA 2 on sale.
  • Idler Fest (was Feb. 3-10, 2025): If you want to play a video game that lets you progress without too much demanding effort, an idler is a great choice. Examples of what you could find on the cheap include Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm, Firestone and Rusty's Retirement.
  • Couch Co-Op Fest (was Feb. 10-17, 2025): Couch co-op games let you play with friends in the same room. You may see games like It Takes Two, Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection for wallet-friendly prices.
  • Steam Next Fest February Edition (was Feb. 24 to March 10, 2025): Demos, developer chats and livestreams featuring up-and-coming games.
  • Visual Novel Fest (was March 3-10, 2025): Stock up your Steam library on graphic novel and anime-adjacent games without breaking the bank. You might see Persona 3 Reload, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy or Vampire Therapist at attractively low costs.
  • City Builder & Colony Sim Fest (was March 24-31, 2025): Build your own virtual worlds, and cop titles like Anno 1800, Ages of Empires IV or RimWorld on sale.
  • Sokoban Fest (was April 21-28, 2025): Pick up some puzzle games like Isles of Sea and Sky or Schein.
  • Wargames Fest (was April 28 to May 5, 2025): Get your fight on with slashed prices on titles that may include Six Days in Fallujah, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Europa Universalis IV.
  • Creature Collector Fest (was 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 (was May 26 to June 2, 2025): Unreal deals on the undead and living dead -- titles you may see on sale include Resident Evil 4, The House of the Dead Remake and Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines.
  • Steam Next Fest June Edition (was June 9-16, 2025): Demos, livestreams and developer chats showcasing upcoming games.
  • Fishing Fest (was June 16-23, 2025): No fishing license required for these great games. You could see prices sink 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?

There’s an upcoming Steam Next Fest running from Oct. 13 to 20, 2025. The Steam Next Fest highlights upcoming game releases, featuring developer chats, free playable game demos and livestreams. Some of the most played demos from the June 2025 Steam Next Fest included Vindictus: Defying Fate, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive and Ferocious. For more, check out the 10 best Steam Next Fest games you need to wishlist.

Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

Best Steam Summer Sale deals and discounts, Moe's picks, Tyler's picks, Best Steam Summer Sale 2025 deals on popular releases, Steam Summer Sale 2025 deep discounts, When are the next Steam sales?, A complete list of Steam sale dates, Here’s what I bought on Steam recently

I finally completed my Life is Strange collection on Steam by snagging Double Exposure thanks to the Steam Summer Sale. Moe Long/CNET

So what did I stock up on at a recent Steam Sale? Mass Effect Legendary Edition -- three games for $2 apiece was too good a deal to skip. I also snagged Middle-earth: Shadow of War. While I picked up Shadow of Mordor at a previous Steam Sale, I’ve not yet added its sequel to my metaphorical shelf. As a big cinephile and fan of movie tie-in games (like Peter Jackson’s King Kong), I was excited to get Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine alongside Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb for $4 total. 

Although I own it in EA Origin, I snagged a $1 copy of Alice: Madness Returns, because at that price, it was too juicy a discount to pass up. I grabbed Heavy Rain and Red Dead Redemption during the Steam Spring Sale. I also completed my collection of the Sherlock Holmes games by snagging Sherlock Holmes Chapter One and Sherlock Holmes The Awakened. I snagged Life is Strange: Double Exposure during the 2025 Steam Summer Sale.

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

Once you’ve drained your bank account dry on games you’ll likely never play, there’s a lot more you can do with Steam, like 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 for playing your games away from your PC. You can also game on the go with the Steam Deck or another handheld gaming console like the Asus ROG Ally. Or, you can share your Steam library with up to five family members using Steam Families.