Steam users have five free games to claim this week, according to a roundup published by Estadão. The selection, assembled from the outlet's weekly free-games recommendations, includes a competitive card game, a brief horror title, a post-apocalyptic RPG, a satirical walking simulator and a second card game built around cryptid-inspired creatures. Some are free to keep permanently, while others are free-to-play releases in Early Access.
The list was reported on Friday, October 30, 2026, and covers titles that are either entirely free or offer demo versions players can try before buying a full release.
Why it matters
Free giveaways have become a regular part of how storefronts like Steam keep players engaged between major releases. For players, the appeal is straightforward: several of this week's titles can be added to a library at no cost and kept indefinitely. For smaller studios, free releases and Early Access launches serve as a way to build an audience without a marketing budget.
The mix here is notably varied. Rather than a single genre, the list spans horror, strategy, role-playing and comedy, which gives players with different tastes something to sample over a weekend.
What's on the list
Playable Archive is a short horror game that runs roughly thirty minutes to an hour, according to Estadão. It has no save system, so players must finish the campaign in one sitting. The story follows a couple in New England who come across a strange object, drawing the player into dark rituals and multiple timelines. It can be claimed free and kept permanently on an account.
Outcast Tales blends turn-based RPG mechanics with roguelite elements in a post-apocalyptic setting. Players lead a group of mismatched heroes, and the twist is managing each member's volatile personality: depending on the choices made, party members may fall for each other or come to despise one another. The game has just moved out of its demo phase into a full free release with no stated end date.
The Onion Voting Simulator 3D is a satirical walking simulator from the humor outlet The Onion. It recreates the bureaucratic chaos of election day, from long lines in a school gymnasium to hunting for lost documents, with a detour into what the game describes as an infernal dimension. It was recently made free for all Steam users.
Origins Trading Card Game is a competitive card game built around matches lasting up to seven minutes. Turns happen simultaneously, so players are not left waiting on each other. Strategy centers on controlling three constantly shifting battlefields, and the roster includes public-domain figures such as Robin Hood and Mulan. The game is in free Early Access, and every competitive card can be unlocked through play without spending money.
Portentum also falls into the card game category but combines deck-building with auto-battler combat. Its creatures are drawn from legends and cryptids from around the world. The game offers several modes along with its own progression and achievement systems, and it is available in free Early Access.
How to approach the week's offers
The distinction between "free to keep" and "free to play" matters for anyone building a library. Playable Archive is a limited-time claim that stays in a player's account permanently once redeemed, according to Estadão's reporting. Origins Trading Card Game and Portentum, by contrast, are free-to-play Early Access titles, meaning access carries no upfront cost but the games remain in development.
Outcast Tales sits somewhere in between: it has left its demo stage and is now available as a complete free release, though the reporting does not specify how long that arrangement will last.
For players who prefer to try before committing, the roundup also notes that some Steam offerings include demo versions of paid titles, a category the outlet includes in its weekly recommendations alongside fully free games.
Estadão's list is published as a recurring Friday feature aimed at weekend play, and the outlet invites readers to share their own free-game suggestions. Players interested in any of the five titles should check each store page for current availability, since limited-time claims can expire.
