Feed Your Steam Addiction: A Gamer‘s Guide to Gift Cards
As an avid PC gamer and content creator, I live and breathe Steam. From the latest AAA releases to indie darlings, Steam drives my never-ending hunger for immersive digital worlds and experiences. And like every gamer, finding ways to fund this not-so-cheap hobby is a quest in itself.
So can you satisfy your Steam cravings using gift cards? Absolutely.
Gift cards and Steam wallet codes provide easy avenues to fuel your game purchasing habits. And I‘m here to walk you through everything you need to know to redeem these on Steam.
Turning Gift Cards into Games – How to Redeem Codes on Steam
Redeeming gift cards on Steam is simple. Just follow these steps:
Login to your Steam account through the Steam client or Steam website.
Click on your username in the top right and select "Account details".
Choose "+Add funds to your Steam Wallet" to open the deposit funds page.
Click "Redeem a Steam wallet code" on this page.
Enter your gift card pin/code and follow any remaining prompts.
Once redeemed, the amount will be deposited directly into your Steam wallet for game purchasing pleasure!
Never Redeem Codes from Unknown Sources
I should caution, only redeem valid codes from trusted sources. Codes sold through unauthorized third parties may have been obtained illegally and could get your account locked or banned by Steam.
Stick to major retailers like Amazon or official Steam cards when buying codes to protect yourself.
What Can You Buy with Steam Gift Cards?
You may be wondering – what kind of Steam items can I blow this new wallet balance on?
Luckily Steam isn‘t restrictive with how you can spend funds added through gift cards or wallet codes. Here are some of the goodies those can buy:
Games
Of course the main attraction is new game releases and your ever-growing backlog. Any game listed on the Steam store can be purchased using your wallet balance from redeemed gift cards. This includes:
- Brand new AAA titles
- Older games from favorite series
- Popular indie hits
DLCs and Expansions
Additional content opens up even more adventures to be had in beloved games. Common examples are:
- Map packs
- Character skins
- Extra missions and quests
In-game items
Customize and deck out your in-game experience using wallet funds:
- Weapon and character skins
- XP boosters
- Loot boxes
- Battle passes
Software
Steam isn‘t just games. You can grab productivity software too:
- Drawing tools
- Video editors
- Music applications
- 3D animation suites
Movies
Even films are fair game if entertainment is what you seek:
- New releases
- Classic sci-fi
- Anime
- Documentaries
Anything you can buy directly on the Steam platform is redeemable with card funds – no restrictions.
Steam Gift Card and Wallet Code Options
Now that your mind is probably overflowing with gaming ideas, which gift cards should you actually get?
There is no shortage of card options offering instant deposits into your Steam wallet.
Official Steam Gift Cards
Sold at retailers across the world, these official cards come with unique Steam artwork in various denominations. Typically you‘ll find:
| Gift Card Value | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| $20 | $25 |
| $50 | $55 |
| $100 | $110 |
The $20 card runs about $5 over face value. But larger amounts give you slightly better rates overall.
Buy on Amazon / Buy on Walmart
Third-party Steam Wallet Codes
You can also buy Steam wallet codes online which work just like gift cards. Prices and rates depend on the retailer.
Reputable sites like PayPal Digital Gifts or PCGameSupply are safe options with instant online code delivery.
I don‘t recommend buying from unknown sites claiming to offer crazy low rates or deals. Many sell fraudulent codes obtained unethically.
Buy Steam codes on PayPal Digital Gifts
Multi-platform Gaming Gift Cards
For maximum flexibility, cards like PlayStation Network and Xbox from Amazon let you redeem towards not just console content, but Steam funds too!
Buy PSN cards on Amazon / Buy Xbox cards on Amazon
Retailer Gift Cards
In a pinch, any Visa, Mastercard or American Express gift card will work towards Steam purchases. Most major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy offer these.
Rates aren‘t as good. But when money is tight, a $100 Target card scores you $100 of Steam spending money!
Steam Gift Cards vs. Other Payment Methods
How else can you add money to Steam besides gift cards? And which funding source works best? Here I‘ll compare some pros and cons.
Gift Cards
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No need to provide sensitive banking info | Slightly higher rates from resellers |
| Convenient physical or digital delivery | Limited selection of denominations |
| Easy self-gifting option | Can‘t get cash back like a credit card |
| Stack cards from different brands | Require an extra activation step to add funds |
Credit/Debit Card
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Link card for automatic future payments | Inputting card # brings security risks |
| Earn cashback or card rewards | Dealing with card issuer if fraud does occur |
| Charges exact purchase amounts | Possibility of failed payments |
| Super quick checkout process | Some banks flag Steam transactions as suspicious |
PayPal
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Well-established service | Hassle if linked payment source has issues |
| Link multiple cards or bank accounts | Slight fees on currency conversion or intl. purchases |
| Ability to dispute purchases | Must wait for payments to clear to linked source |
| Provides some buyer protection | Still need a bank/card tied to account |
As you can see, gift cards hold up strongly against the competition with solid convenience perks. The extra step to redeem codes is a worthwhile trade-off!
Protect Your Account When Making Purchases
While adding funds through gift cards is mostly risk-free, I should touch on account safety whenever payments are involved.
Steam utilizes HTTPS encryption for all checkouts made through the Steam store site or desktop client app. This keeps your financial info secure when processing transactions using any linked payment method.
But standard precautions still apply any time you make purchases:
Verify you only login and shop directly from store.steampowered.com. Fake store pages are common phishing ploys to steal credentials.
Use strong unique passwords, enable 2FA, and don‘t save unencrypted payment info in your Steam account settings. This prevents unauthorized access allowing criminals to spend your money.
By taking basic security measures and only buying legitimate gift cards from trusted vendors, you‘ll have peace of mind to game on!
Latest Steam Gift Card Deals for 2023
Always looking to maximize my gaming budgets, I keep tabs on the best Steam gift card and wallet code promotions running.
Here are some current offers worth checking out:
Amazon: $50 & $100 Physical Cards (Best Value)
Buy on Amazon
PayPal Digital Gifts: 10% Off All Cards
Shop cards on PayPal
CDKeys: 5% Off $100 Steam Wallet Codes
Buy codes on CDKeys
Raise: $10 Off First Steam eGift Card Purchase
Buy cards on Raise
GamersGate: Large Game Bundles Discounts When Paying by Steam Wallet
View bundles on GamersGate
And there you have it – everything you could want to know about powering your Steam addiction with gift cards! May your game libraries overflow with glorious titles unlocked using this gamer‘s guide. Happy gaming!
