Do Free to Claim Games Stay in Your Library?
Yes, free to claim games stay in your library permanently after the offer ends, as long as you claimed them during the promotion window. Once you click the claim button and the transaction completes, the game is yours to keep and play whenever you want, even if the store later removes it from sale or makes it paid again.
What “Free to Claim� Actually Means
Stores like Epic Games Store, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming regularly give away full games for free for a limited time. This is different from a free-to-play title (like Fortnite or Warframe) where the game itself is always free but you pay for extras. A “free to claim� offer is a temporary promotion: during the giveaway window, anyone with an account can add the game to their library at no cost. After the window closes, the game goes back to its normal price, but your copy remains attached to your account forever.
The key is that you must actively claim it. Merely having an account or visiting the store page during the promotion does nothing. You have to click the claim button (or “Get� / “Add to Library�) and usually confirm the purchase at $0.00. Once that’s done, the license is tied to your account permanently.
How Claiming Works on Major Platforms
Each storefront handles the process slightly differently, but the underlying principle is the same.
- Epic Games Store: Offers one or two free games every Thursday. You click “Get� and then “Place Order� (even though the total is $0.00). The game appears in your library under “Owned.� It stays there even if you never install it.
- GOG: GOG occasionally gives away classic titles (e.g., Beneath a Steel Sky). You click “Get It Free� and the game is added to your GOG library permanently. GOG also has a “GOG Galaxy� client, but you can claim via the website too.
- Amazon Prime Gaming: If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you can claim games during monthly windows. These are usually redeemed through a code that you activate on the relevant platform (like Epic or GOG). Once redeemed, they are yours as long as that platform account exists.
- Steam: Steam rarely gives away full games for free (except during limited events or as part of a promotion). When it does, the game is added to your library permanently, just like any other purchase.
In all cases, the game is linked to your account, not to a specific device. You can uninstall and reinstall it later, or download it on a new computer, as long as you log in with the same account.
Do You Need to Keep the Store Client Installed?
No. You can uninstall the Epic Games Launcher or GOG Galaxy after claiming a game, and the game will still be in your account. When you reinstall the client later and log in, the game will be there, ready to download. The same applies if you switch to a new PC: just log in and download.
There is one caveat: some games require a third-party launcher (like Ubisoft Connect or EA app) even if you bought them on Epic or Steam. That’s a separate requirement, but it doesn’t affect whether the game stays in your library. The game remains in your Epic or Steam library regardless.
Can You Lose a Claimed Game?
In practice, very rarely. The most common reasons a claimed game might disappear are:
- Account closure: If the store permanently closes your account (e.g., for fraud or violation of terms), you lose access to all games, including claimed ones.
- Refund or chargeback: If you somehow get a refund on a free game (which is unusual) or a chargeback is filed, the game may be removed.
- Store shutdown: If the entire storefront shuts down, you could lose access. For example, when the Wii Shop Channel closed, users lost the ability to redownload purchases. But this is rare for major PC stores like Epic or GOG.
- Regional licensing: In extremely rare cases, a game might be removed from a specific region due to licensing changes. This is uncommon, but it has happened with some titles on Steam (e.g., Spec Ops: The Line was pulled from sale, but owners kept it).
In normal circumstances, a claimed game remains in your library indefinitely. Even if the store removes the game from sale (like Spec Ops: The Line being delisted), people who already own it can still download and play it.
Common Misconceptions
One frequent misunderstanding is that you must keep the game installed to “keep� it. That’s false. The license is tied to your account, not your hard drive. Another is that you need to keep a subscription active (like Amazon Prime) to keep the claimed games. That’s also false: once you claim a Prime Gaming game (by redeeming the code), it’s yours permanently, even if you cancel Prime. The only exception is if the game itself requires a subscription to play (like some MMOs), but that’s a separate matter.
Another misconception is that “free to claim� games are trials or limited-time demos. They are not. They are full versions of the game, identical to a paid copy. You get all the content, updates, and features.
How to Check Your Library
If you’re unsure whether you claimed a game, you can check your library on the store’s website or client:
- Log in to your account on the store’s website.
- Navigate to your library (usually labeled “Library� or “My Games�).
- Search for the game by name. If it’s there, you own it.
- If you can’t find it, try sorting by “Owned� or “All Games� – some stores hide uninstalled games by default.
On Epic Games Store, you can also check your “Order History� to see the $0.00 transaction. On GOG, your library page shows all owned games. If you’re still unsure, you can contact support, but generally, if you claimed it, it’s there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I claim a free game on Epic, can I play it forever?
A: Yes, as long as Epic Games Store exists and your account remains in good standing, you can play it forever. There’s no time limit on the license.
Q: Do I need to keep Epic Games Launcher installed to keep the game?
A: No. The game is tied to your account, not the launcher. You can uninstall the launcher and reinstall later; the game will still be there.
Q: If I cancel Amazon Prime, do I lose the games I claimed?
A: No. Once you claim a game (by redeeming the code), it’s permanently added to your library on the platform you redeemed it on. Cancelling Prime does not remove it.
Q: Can I get a refund on a free claimed game?
A: Generally, no, because you didn’t pay anything. Some stores allow refunds on $0.00 purchases, but it’s pointless and may remove the game from your library. It’s best to just keep it.
Q: What happens if a game I claimed is delisted from the store?
A: You keep it. Delisting means it’s no longer available for new purchases, but existing owners can still download and play it. This has happened with several games on Steam and Epic.
Q: Can I claim the same free game on multiple accounts?
A: Yes, but that violates the store’s terms of service if you’re doing it to resell or trade accounts. For personal use, it’s allowed, but you should not create multiple accounts just to hoard games – it could lead to a ban.
Final Thoughts
Free-to-claim games are a permanent addition to your library, provided you claim them during the offer period. The game is yours to keep, play, and redownload at any time. The only ways to lose access are account closure, store shutdown, or extremely rare licensing issues. So next time you see a free game, go ahead and claim it – it’s yours for good.
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