Steam users have a fresh batch of free games to pick up this week, according to a roundup published by Estadão. The list mixes titles that can be claimed and kept permanently with others that are free to play or available in early access at no cost. The highlight, per the report, is Origins Trading Card Game, a competitive card game that has drawn thousands of players on the platform.
Estadão's selection also includes a short horror game, a post-apocalyptic tactical title, a satirical voting simulator and a second card game built around mythological creatures. Some of the offers are permanent giveaways, while others are free-to-play releases that may change later.
Why it matters
Free game promotions are a regular feature of the Steam calendar, but they matter for two reasons. For players, they are a low-risk way to sample genres they might otherwise skip, from horror to deck-builders. For developers, a free window or early access launch can build a player base and gather feedback before a full commercial release.
The mix in this week's list reflects that strategy. Origins Trading Card Game and Portentum are both in free early access, meaning their developers are still shaping the games while players try them. Playable Archive, by contrast, is a finished short experience being given away outright.
The headline pick: Origins Trading Card Game
According to Estadão, Origins Trading Card Game is built around fast matches that can wrap up in as little as seven minutes. Turns play out simultaneously rather than in sequence, which removes the downtime players often spend waiting on an opponent.
Matches revolve around controlling three battlefields that shift as the game progresses. The roster draws on public-domain figures, with Robin Hood and Mulan named in the report as examples. The game is in free early access, and Estadão reports that every competitive card can be unlocked through play, with no spending required.
The rest of the lineup
Playable Archive is a brief horror title that runs roughly thirty minutes to an hour, according to the report. It has no save system, so players must finish it in one sitting. The story follows a couple in New England who come across a strange object, pulling them into dark rituals and shifting timelines. Estadão reports it can be claimed free and kept on the account permanently.
Outcast Tales blends turn-based role-playing with roguelite elements in a post-apocalyptic setting. Players lead a group of mismatched heroes whose personalities drive the experience: depending on the choices made, team members may fall for each other or turn on one another. The game has just moved from a demo phase to a full free release, with no end date announced.
The Onion Voting Simulator 3D comes from the American humor outlet The Onion, per the report. It is a satirical walking simulator about the chaos and bureaucracy of election day. Players queue in a school gymnasium, hunt for missing documents and try to avoid slipping into an infernal dimension. It has just been released free for all Steam users.
Portentum is the second card game on the list. It pairs deck-building with auto-battler mechanics, and its creatures are drawn from legends and cryptids around the world. The report notes varied game modes plus its own progression and achievement systems. Like Origins Trading Card Game, it is in free early access and costs nothing to try.
What to watch
Free-to-play and early access status can change, and giveaways with short windows can close quickly, so players should confirm each offer on its Steam page before counting on it. Estadão's roundup points readers to the platform for redemption details.
