Before you start: have the game's name, 70 GB or more of free space for the big ones, and your browser open. By the end you will have checked that the page you are about to get the game from belongs to the people who make the game. Not hands-on tested: the table and reports below come from Steam listings and cited articles. Common mistake: following a link that promises the game for free from a video description or an ad. If the names do not match, stop.
Check 1: start from the official page
Open the game's Steam page or its official site, and move from one to the other. Steam lists a website for each game. If the site on the Steam page is not the site you were sent to, you were sent somewhere else.
The table below shows eight games as of October 4, 2026 (UTC): the developer and publisher Steam lists, and the website Steam links to.
| Game | Developer on Steam | Publisher on Steam | Site listed on Steam | Steam page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenless Zone Zero | COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. | COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. | zenless.hoyoverse.com | Open |
| NTE: Neverness to Everness | Hotta Studio | Perfect World Games | nte.perfectworld.com | Open |
| Wuthering Waves | KURO GAMES | KURO GAMES | wutheringwaves.kurogames.com | Open |
| Where Winds Meet | Everstone Studio | NetEase Games | wherewindsmeetgame.com | Open |
| Marvel Rivals | NetEase Games | NetEase Games | marvelrivals.com | Open |
| Delta Force | Team Jade | TiMi Studio Group | playdeltaforce.com | Open |
| Arena Breakout: Infinite | Morefun Studios | Morefun Studios | arenabreakoutinfinite.com | Open |
| STALZONE | EXBO | EXBO | stalzone.com | Open |
Do this: find the game you want, then compare the name on the page you are on with the developer and publisher in the table.
Check 2: match the names
A genuine page should use the same developer or publisher names as the Steam listing. Some publishers use a studio name on Steam and a brand name on their site. Zenless Zone Zero lists COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. on Steam and links to a HoYoverse site. When names differ, find a page that connects them, such as the publisher's own site linking to the store page.
If the connection is not obvious, do not go ahead. Ask on the game's Steam community page or check the Steam page's own links.
Check 3: know the size before you click
Free does not mean small. Steam lists 150 GB for Wuthering Waves, 130 GB for Where Winds Meet and 110 GB for NTE. If a "free" setup file for one of these is a few megabytes, it is most likely a launcher that fetches the rest. Our system requirements comparison lists all 13.
Check this: confirm the target drive has the listed space before you start.
Check 4: know what a setup file or anti-cheat adds
Some games add extra software. PCGamesN reported at Delta Force's launch that players raised concerns about its kernel-level anti-cheat, called Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE), which is added automatically with the game. The developer, Team Jade, said the tool only runs while the game is active and later said it had fixed an issue where it was not fully removed with the game (PCGamesN, updated December 7, 2024).
That is one report from one game at launch. The lesson is general: read what a game says it adds to your PC, and know how to remove it.
Check 5: link accounts only from the game
Account linking happens inside the game or its official launcher, not on a web page you were sent. For Zenless Zone Zero on Steam, RPGSite reported that you link an existing HoYoverse ID or create a new one through Steam, with linking prompted on first launch (RPGSite, June 16, 2026). If a page asks for your password outside that flow, leave.
Safety checklist
- Start from Steam or the official site, and cross-check the other.
- Compare developer and publisher names with the listing.
- Confirm the storage figure before you start.
- Read what the game says it adds to your PC, including anti-cheat.
- Never enter game account details on a page you were sent to.
- If anything does not match, stop.
If that does not work
If you cannot reach the official page, search the game name plus "Steam" yourself instead of using the link you were given. If the Steam page does not exist, the game may not be on Steam. We did not find a Steam listing for Genshin Impact when we searched on October 4, 2026 (UTC).
For how free games make money once you are playing, see how free-to-play games make money.
Frequently asked questions
Are free PC games on Steam safe?
The Steam listing shows the developer and publisher, which lets you match them to the official site. That is a useful check. It is not a guarantee of safety for every game.
How do I know a game's official website?
Steam lists a website on each game's page. Compare it with the link you were given.
Why is a free game 100 GB?
Some listings state it: Wuthering Waves lists 150 GB on Steam.
What is Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE)?
PCGamesN reported it as the kernel-level anti-cheat used by Delta Force, which Team Jade said only runs while the game is active.
Sources
- Zenless Zone Zero on Steam, NTE: Neverness to Everness, Wuthering Waves, Where Winds Meet, read October 4, 2026 (UTC)
- Marvel Rivals, Delta Force, Arena Breakout: Infinite, STALZONE, read October 4, 2026 (UTC)
- PCGamesN, Delta Force launch reviews and anti-cheat, updated December 7, 2024
- RPGSite, Zenless Zone Zero Steam preload and account link FAQ, June 16, 2026
Last verified: 2026-10-04.
