Steam players have another opportunity to play two games completely free this September. At first glance, it sounds like Valve is handing out two full games without asking for a cent.
Unfortunately, there is one rather important catch.
The games are only free for a limited period. Unlike traditional giveaways where players can add a game to their Steam library and keep it forever, these promotions give players temporary access. Once the free period ends, you’ll need to purchase the games if you want to continue playing.
Still, free is free, and there are two very different games available to try.
Two Steam Games Are Free to Play
The current promotion includes Sid Meier’s Civilization VII and First Class Trouble.
Both games can be downloaded and played without purchasing them during their respective promotional periods.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
The biggest name of the two is undoubtedly Sid Meier’s Civilization VII.
Civilization VII is the latest mainline entry in Firaxis’ long-running strategy franchise. As usual, players build a civilization, expand their territory, manage resources, develop technology, interact with other civilizations, and attempt to survive across different periods of history.
The free promotion gives players an excellent opportunity to see whether Civilization VII is worth buying before spending any money.
Civilization VII will remain free to play until September 10, 2026.
After that date, players who want to continue their campaign will need to purchase the game.
First Class Trouble
The second free game is First Class Trouble, a multiplayer social deduction game where cooperation and betrayal go hand in hand.
Players take the role of passengers aboard a luxury space cruiser controlled by a rogue artificial intelligence. Most players need to work together to shut the AI down, while hidden Personoids attempt to sabotage the group from within.
Think social deduction, accusations, questionable friendships, and plenty of opportunities to throw someone under the bus.
First Class Trouble is available to play for free until September 7, 2026.
No, You Don’t Get to Keep Them
This is where the wording surrounding Steam’s latest promotion becomes important.
These aren’t traditional free-to-keep Steam games.
Players can download and play them without paying during the promotional period, but the licenses aren’t permanently added to their accounts. When each free period ends, access disappears unless the player purchases the game.
That distinction matters, especially when headlines advertise games as being “100% free.”
Technically, they are free to play right now.
They’re just not free to own.
More Free Steam Content Is Coming
Steam users also have additional free promotions to watch later this year.
Several upcoming releases are expected to offer free downloadable content that players can permanently claim during limited promotional windows.
These promotions are different from the current free weekends because eligible content can remain associated with a player’s account after it has been claimed.
However, players should check exactly what is being offered before assuming another full game is being given away.
Free Weekends Are Still Worth Checking Out
Despite the catch, Steam’s free weekends remain a useful way to test games before buying them.
Demos don’t always represent the complete experience, while refund windows can leave players watching the clock. A free weekend provides access to the actual game without requiring an upfront purchase.
For Civilization VII in particular, that’s useful. Strategy games can require several hours before players know whether their mechanics and pacing are going to click.
First Class Trouble is similarly dependent on its multiplayer experience, making a temporary free period an easy way to convince a group of friends to give it a shot.
Grab Them While They’re Actually Free
So yes, two Steam games are currently free, but don’t expect them to remain sitting permanently in your library.
First Class Trouble’s promotion ends on September 7, while Civilization VII remains available until September 10.
If either game has been sitting on your wishlist, now is the time to try it without spending anything.
Just remember the catch before clicking that download button: Steam is letting you play them for free, not keep them for free.
