How to Tell When You Bought a Game on Steam
Are you unsure when you purchased a game on Steam? Perhaps you have a long list of games on your account and you’re trying to recall the specific date you bought a particular title. If so, you’re in luck, as Steam provides several ways to easily find out when you bought a game.
The Simple Way: Check the Library Page
The most straightforward method is to head to your Steam library and locate the game in question. Click on the game icon to open its page, and check the "Purchase Details" section. This section displays the date and time you purchased the game, along with the price you paid at the time of purchase.
Use the "Purchased" Filter in the Library
Another way to quickly identify the date you bought a game is by using the "Purchased" filter on the Steam library page. To do this, go to the "Games" section in your Steam library, and then click on the "Filter" button at the top-right corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select "Purchased" as your filter. This will display all the games on your account that you’ve purchased, and you can then check the purchase date for each game by hovering over the game icon.
The Steam Community Page
You can also check when you bought a game on its Steam Community page. To find this, go to the game’s main page, and then click on the "Community" button at the top of the page. Hover over the "Overview" section on the Community page, and a popup window will appear displaying the game’s information. One of the pieces of information shown is the date the game was added to your library, which is often equivalent to the date you purchased it.
Checking Your Steam Purchase History
The "Purchase History" section within the Steam client is another place you can check to see when you bought a game. To access this section, go to the "Steam" menu at the top of the client, and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. In the Settings window, select the "Account" tab, and then scroll down to the "Purchase History" section. Clicking on this section will open a popup window displaying a list of all your purchases on Steam, including the date and price paid for each game.
Finding Games by Purchase Date
If you need to locate games purchased on a specific date or within a specific date range, you can use the "Search" function on the Steam library page. Type a search term such as "purchased after" followed by a date (e.g. "purchased after 2020-01-01") or "purchased in" followed by a month and year (e.g. "purchased in january 2020"). The results will display all the games that meet the search criteria, including the purchase date and time.
Table: Steam Features to Help You Track Purchases
| Feature | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Details | Displays date and time of purchase, along with original price paid | To quickly check purchase details for a specific game |
| Filter > Purchased | Displays a list of games purchased on Steam | To see a list of all purchased games with their corresponding purchase dates |
| Steam Community Page | Displays information about the game, including add date to library | To verify or research a game’s purchase history |
| Purchase History | Displays a list of all Steam purchases, including date and price paid | To track a large number of purchases over a long period of time |
| Search > Date | Allows you to search for games purchased on a specific date or date range | To locate games purchased during a specific period of time |
Conclusion
Identifying when you bought a game on Steam is a straightforward process that can be achieved through several methods. By using the Purchase Details section of the game’s page, checking the Steam library page with the Purchased filter, viewing the Steam Community page, checking your Purchase History, or using the search function with a date criteria, you should be able to easily determine when you bought a particular game on Steam.