Steam refund: return it and save with a key
Steam refunds a game if you request it within 14 days of purchase and have played it for less than 2 hours (as of 7 Nov 2026, according to Steam). The money goes to your Steam Wallet or back to your payment method, and Steam pays approved refunds within a week. If you just bought a game on Steam and the key costs a lot less, you can refund it and buy the key. Below you see for which top sellers that pays off today.
Steam's refund rules
- Request within 14 days of purchase.
- Less than 2 hours played.
- The money goes to your Steam Wallet or back to the payment method you used.
- Pre-purchases: the 14 days start at release. If you can't play the game before release, you can refund it any time until then.
- DLC from the Steam store: also within 14 days, with conditions on play time and use.
- Steam does not refund keys from key shops or gift cards from other sellers. For those, the shop you bought from handles the return.
Rules according to Steam, checked on 7 Nov 2026: store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds, help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/784C-923B-A4A1-C825
How to request a refund
- Go to help.steampowered.com and sign in with your Steam account.
- Choose Purchases, then the game you want to return.
- Choose that you want a refund and where the money should go: Steam Wallet or your payment method.
- Send the request. Steam confirms it by email and writes again when the money is on its way.
Do it now and then, not with every purchase
Steam says refunds are there to take the risk out of buying, not to get games for free. Valve can stop offering refunds to people who abuse them.
Steam itself names one case that is not abuse: buying a game just before a sale, refunding it and buying it again at the sale price. Refunding a game once because the key is a lot cheaper fits that spirit. Just don't make a habit of it.
Check your game
Steam refunds the price you paid. If you bought on sale, your saving is smaller than shown here.
Top sellers that are cheaper as a key than on Steam
If you bought one of these games on Steam in the last 14 days and played less than 2 hours, this is roughly what you save by refunding it and buying the key. Steam top sellers in Germany, updated every hour. As of 11/11/2026, 10:12 German time.
| # | Game | Steam price | Cheapest key | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | €59.99 | €32.97at Driffle | −45% (€27.02) | |
| 4 | €3.89at Kinguin | −22% (€1.10) | ||
| 6 | €69.99 | €59.00at GAMIVO | −16% (€10.99) | |
| 8 | €59.99 | €42.89at GameSeal | −29% (€17.10) | |
| 10 | €4.84at Driffle | −28% (€1.90) | ||
| 12 | €8.50at Kinguin | −53% (€9.49) | ||
| 15 | €16.00at Kinguin | −13% (€2.44) | ||
| 16 | €12.71at Kinguin | −32% (€5.98) | ||
| 18 | €19.99 | €6.63at Eneba | −67% (€13.36) | |
| 20 | €32.03at Kinguin | −15% (€5.46) | ||
| 21 | €33.32 | €23.86at GAMIVO | −28% (€9.46) | |
| 24 | €69.99 | €48.02at CJS CD Keys | −31% (€21.97) | |
| 27 | €8.99 | €7.30at GAMIVO | −19% (€1.69) | |
| 29 | €21.45at Driffle | −31% (€9.74) | ||
| 35 | €3.89at Kinguin | −22% (€1.10) | ||
| 37 | €13.30at Kinguin | −14% (€2.22) | ||
| 39 | €69.99 | €47.99at Loaded | −31% (€22.00) | |
| 40 | €6.95at GAMIVO | −19% (€1.59) | ||
| 41 | €21.16at Kinguin | −19% (€4.93) | ||
| 44 | €39.99 | €24.55at GameSeal | −39% (€15.44) | |
| 45 | €39.99 | €8.29at Loaded | −79% (€31.70) | |
| 49 | €19.49 | €16.25at Kinguin | −17% (€3.24) | |
| 51 | €8.30at Kinguin | −5% (€0.42) | ||
| 53 | €69.99 | €37.48at Driffle | −46% (€32.51) | |
| 54 | €39.99 | €16.81at Kinguin | −58% (€23.18) | |
| 56 | €15.20at Eneba | −24% (€4.79) | ||
| 59 | €39.99 | €26.48at GAMIVO | −34% (€13.51) | |
| 61 | €24.99 | €12.14at Eneba | −51% (€12.85) | |
| 63 | €30.60at GAMIVO | −15% (€5.39) | ||
| 64 | €39.99 | €21.59at Loaded | −46% (€18.40) | |
| 65 | €49.99 | €36.00at GAMIVO | −28% (€13.99) | |
| 66 | €59.99 | €39.98at Kinguin | −33% (€20.01) | |
| 67 | €69.99 | €59.60at GAMIVO | −15% (€10.39) | |
| 68 | €39.99 | €27.99at Loaded | −30% (€12.00) | |
| 69 | €25.43at GAMIVO | −27% (€9.56) | ||
| 70 | €5.39at Loaded | −28% (€2.10) | ||
| 71 | €49.99 | €38.99at GameSeal | −22% (€11.00) | |
| 72 | €2.75at GameSeal | −41% (€1.89) | ||
| 73 | €15.47 | €13.00at GAMIVO | −16% (€2.47) | |
| 74 | €49.99 | €10.85at GameSeal | −78% (€39.14) | |
| 75 | €10.25 | €8.72at GAMIVO | −15% (€1.53) | |
| 76 | €59.99 | €36.00at GAMIVO | −40% (€23.99) | |
| 78 | €4.98at Kinguin | −30% (€2.09) | ||
| 81 | €49.99 | €32.00at GAMIVO | −36% (€17.99) | |
| 82 | €22.99 | €14.40at Kinguin | −37% (€8.59) | |
| 85 | €20.76at Driffle | −48% (€19.23) | ||
| 87 | €14.71at Eneba | −26% (€5.28) | ||
| 90 | €16.60at Kinguin | −26% (€5.89) | ||
| 92 | €24.99 | €16.79at Eneba | −33% (€8.20) | |
| 94 | €49.99 | €10.20at Kinguin | −80% (€39.79) |
Steam prices are for Germany. We only compare Steam keys that work in Germany (region Europe or Global). We leave out savings over 85% and single offers far below every other shop, because the listing is usually wrong.
Steam refund questions
How long do I have to refund a game on Steam?
14 days from purchase, if you have played it for less than 2 hours. For pre-purchases the 14 days start at release.
How long does a Steam refund take?
Steam pays approved refunds within a week, to your Steam Wallet or back to your payment method. Steam confirms your request by email.
Can I refund a key from a key shop on Steam?
No. Steam only refunds what you bought on Steam. For keys and gift cards from other sellers, the shop you bought from is responsible.
Is it okay to refund a game and buy it again as a key?
Steam's refund rules say nothing specific about it. But refunds are meant to take the risk out of buying, not to get games for free, and Valve can stop offering refunds to people who abuse them. So only do it when the price difference is worth it, not with every purchase.
Do I get money back if a game goes on sale after I bought it?
Steam has no price guarantee. But Steam says explicitly that buying just before a sale, refunding and buying again at the sale price is not abuse. The normal rules still apply: 14 days, under 2 hours.