We’re going to take a deep dive into Valve’s iconic gaming platform that has become a household name among almost all gamers around the world – Steam. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside Steam, what kind of benefits it offers, or whether it’s actually worth investing your time in, then you’re definitely reading the right guide. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
What is Steam?
Steam is a digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation. Launched in 2003, it has risen to be the largest online gaming service with millions of users from around the globe and a library of endless games. If anything, Steam is your source to buy, download, and manage all of your games and software. With Cloud Saves, auto-updates, and the world’s biggest community backing it, this service has undoubtedly turned into a gamer’s best friend.
Advantages of Using Steam
1. Big Library of Games
Arguably, one of the major boons that come from using Steam is the big library of games within your hands. It spans from indies to big franchise hits; Steam got it all. With over 50,000 games, from “Half-Life 2” to new titles such as “Baldur’s Gate 3,” you’ll definitely get one that fits your taste.
2. Seasonal Regular Sales and Discounts
Everybody is pretty aware that Steam is famous for selling games during the seasonal sales, in which you can buy games for as much as 90% off, be it the Summer Sale, Winter Sale, or other periodic discounts. Such a moment is the right moment for spending gamers. Just pay attention to these activities because it may greatly slash the price of your gaming library.
3. Reviews and Recommendations of Users
The Steam user review system is very useful for gamers. You will be able to check other player reviews before purchasing, which will help to understand whether this game will be of interest and worthy of the time spent on it. Next up, Steam’s recommendation engine provides recommendations based on your play history and preferences, making way to find new favorites.
4. Cloud Saves and Game Syncing
With Steam Cloud, your progress pans online, enabling you to alternate between computing devices. This is pretty helpful in the case that you have some computers on which you’re playing games, or maybe you just need to reinstall a game. This way, you will never lose your progress and be able to continue from that exact place where you left off.
5. Community Features
It’s not just a place to pick up and played games: Steam is a place to connect with friends, discuss games, share content you’ve created, download or create mods, and more.
Cons of Using Steam
1. Restrictions on DRM
Some cons of Steam are that their games are platform-locked. It’s a bad thing if you appreciate hard copies or despise DRM, Digital Rights Management. On the one side, while this system protects games from piracy, it also means that you have to be connected most of the time in order to verify your games and, as a result, gain access to some special features.
2. Overwhelming Library
While a large library is, without a doubt a boon, sometimes it may turn out to be a bane. Scrounging through thousands of games in search of the perfect or the title game may be overwhelming. Steam has just the adequate amount of search and filtering options to prevent this from taking place. At this instance, the choices might just be too overwhelming, but this will really happen on a rare occasion.
3. Performance Issues: This is where Steam can start to lose
It can do with being temperamental at times, with slow updates and crashing, although only very few users experience this, and it is often only transitory. This can, of course, be super frustrating. Keeping your client up-to-date will help you avoid most of these problems.
Best Games on Steam Right Now
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
This critically acclaimed RPG has won the hearts of many gamers with its deep storytelling and complex character development; it is also a must-play for fans of this genre.
2. Hades
This rogue-like dungeon crawler developed by Supergiant Games is also a home to an invigorating play system with brilliant artwork. This indie title ranks highest in eyes of the indie game fans.
3. Cyberpunk 2077
After the controversial launch, CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG was patched to perfection. These days, it is one of the best choices for a player interested in a long journey into the open world.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
What is more suitable to end this list if not a game that continues to be trendy to this day? A game with a huge lore on a fleshed-out world that just seems timeless on Steam.
5. Counter-Strike 2
Any true player must possess this follow up to the first pistol shooter of all time because of the better graphics and more honed mechanics it provides; it is not up for debate, it beats its predecessor.
Conclusion
While technically nearly fifteen minutes long, Steam remains unchallenged as a powerhouse in the field of digital gaming. It has features unmatched by any such as games, sales throughout the year, and a highly professional user base. Some of the cons are DRM and the abundance of choices it hosts, but surely the pros easily outweigh it all. In every way, Steam is most definitely a great help toward all purposes; be it professional gaming or fresher into the scene, Steam is there for all. Happy gaming!
Note: Please refer to the official Steam Store page for current pricing and pricing in general.
