How Steam playtests work

What a Steam playtest is

A playtest is a free, separate app attached to a game on Steam. Developers use it to let players try a game, or a new part of one, before it's finished, so they can find bugs, test their servers and hear what people think.

It doesn't have a store page of its own. The signup sits on the main game's store page, in a box titled "Join the [game] Playtest". Because it's a separate app, it doesn't touch the real game: your wishlist stays as it is, and your time in the playtest doesn't count toward reviews, achievements or refunds.

How to join a Steam playtest

1. Find a playtest you want to try. The feed lists every open one, newest first, and you can browse by genre, players or platform.
2. Open the game's Steam store page and sign in to Steam. On this site, the Join playtest and Request access buttons take you straight to the signup.
3. Sign up in the playtest box on the store page. It's free and doesn't commit you to anything.
4. Once you're in, the playtest shows up in your Steam library. Install it and play like any other game.

Instant access or by request

Each developer picks how players get in, and can change it whenever they like.

• Instant playtests use open signup: Steam adds you the moment you sign up. 1,674 are open now.
• By request playtests use limited signup, which is Steam's default. The developer adds players when they're ready, often in batches, and Steam picks who gets in at random from everyone who asked. 2,141 are open now.

Signing up for a by-request playtest early doesn't put you ahead in line, since Steam picks at random, but it does put you in the running for every batch.

Common questions

Are Steam playtests free?

Yes. Valve doesn't let developers charge for a playtest or sell access to one, so anyone selling playtest keys isn't playing by Steam's rules.

How long does it take to get into a playtest?

An instant playtest lets you in the moment you sign up. For the rest it's up to the developer: they add players when they have room, often in batches, and Steam picks who gets in at random from everyone who asked. That can take hours, weeks, or never happen. Some developers only let in players from certain countries, to keep them close to their servers. Steam emails you when you're in, and the game's store page shows your status.

I have access. Why can't I play yet?

Developers can take signups before the playtest is playable, or open it only at set times, like a weekend server test. Steam doesn't email you when a playtest becomes playable, so keep an eye on the game's announcements on Steam.

Do I keep the game after the playtest?

No. A playtest is a separate app from the game, and the developer can end it at any time, after which Steam won't launch it. If they open the same playtest again later, you keep your access, unless they've started over with a new group of testers.

Does joining a playtest count as owning the game?

No. It doesn't change your wishlist, it can't earn achievements or trading cards, and playing it doesn't let you review the full game or affect a refund if you buy the game later.

Can I stream or talk about a playtest?

Steam playtests don't come with a non-disclosure agreement, and Valve tells developers not to expect secrecy. Still, read the developer's announcements: some ask testers not to share footage, and confidential tests are run with keys and agreements outside Steam's signup.

Can I invite friends to a playtest?

Only if the developer turns on friend invites, which some multiplayer playtests do. Each tester gets one to three invites, and you can only invite people you've been friends with on Steam for at least 30 days. The invite shows up in Steam's notifications and on the game's store page.

What's the difference between a playtest, a demo and Early Access?

A demo is a finished slice of a game that's there to stay. A playtest is a work in progress the developer is testing and can switch off at any time. Early Access is the game itself, sold before it's finished. Demos and playtests are free; Early Access costs money.

Why don't I see a signup on the game's store page?

The playtest may have closed, or the developer may have hidden its signup for now: they can show and hide it whenever they like. This site finds new playtests within minutes and drops closed ones within the hour.

Where to find new playtests

Steam doesn't have one list of open playtests, which is why this site exists. It watches Steam around the clock and lists every playtest you can sign up for.

• The live feed shows every open playtest, newest first, with filters for genre, players, platform, language and AI use.
• Alerts: turn them on in the feed with the bell button, and your browser tells you when a playtest opens that matches what you like.
• Categories gather playtests by genre, player mode and platform.
• Post them to Discord: connect a channel and it gets a post for each new playtest, for every genre or just the ones you pick.
• The RSS feed lists new playtests as they open, for feed readers.
• Stats show how many playtests open each day and which genres are busiest.

For developers

Valve's Steam Playtest documentation covers setting one up, choosing open or limited signup, keys and friend invites. Once your signup is visible on your store page, your playtest shows up on this site within minutes. To reach more players, get it featured at the top of the feed.

Facts on this page come from Valve's Steamworks documentation. Updated November 10, 2026.