Can I get Steam achievements with games not from Steam?

The answer to this question is no, you cannot get Steam achievements for non-Steam games in the classical sense, as Steam achievements are tied to games that are purchased and played through the Steam client. However, you can add non-Steam games to your Steam library and access them through the Steam client, but the achievements will not be tracked by Steam unless the game is also available on Steam and you have purchased it through the Steam store.

Understanding Steam Achievements

To understand how Steam achievements work, it’s essential to know that they are a feature of the Steam platform that allows game developers to create achievements for their games, which can be unlocked by players as they progress through the game. These achievements are stored on the player’s Steam profile and can be viewed by others.

Related Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some related FAQs that provide additional information on Steam achievements and non-Steam games:

1. Can I earn Steam achievements for non-Steam games?: No, you cannot earn Steam achievements for non-Steam games, unless the game is also available on Steam and you have purchased it through the Steam store.
2. Do I need to be online to get Steam achievements?: Most of the time, yes, you can earn Steam achievements while playing in offline mode, providing you have launched the game at least once and have the achievement schema on your machine.
3. Can I get Steam achievements for EA Play games?: Yes, you can gain Steam achievements for EA Play games that you play, and some games also transfer achievements gained from Origin to Steam.
4. What happens if I get a Steam achievement while offline?: Typically, yes, you can earn achievements offline for most Steam games, and upon your next connection to Steam Online, all of those achievements earned offline will unlock at the same moment.
5. Do I keep my achievements if I refund a game on Steam?: Yes, your playtime and achievements will not be removed from your Steam Community Profile if you refund a game.
6. Can I still get Steam achievements with mods?: You can’t get Steam achievements on a modded world, but there are local game achievements per game that are not prevented by mods.
7. What is the app that gives Steam achievements?: Steam Achievement Manager, or SAM, is an open-source program that allows the user to organize and unlock any achievement available for any game on the Steam platform.
8. How do I add non-Steam games to Steam?: You can add non-Steam games to your Steam library by launching Steam, clicking the Games menu, choosing Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, browsing for games on your computer, and clicking Add Selected Programs.
9. Why do people hide their Steam games?: People hide their games and Steam activity for many reasons, such as not wanting others to know what they play or how much they’ve spent on games.
10. What does Steam hidden games mean?: Hidden games on Steam means that the game is not visible in your library, but it is still on your profile and can be viewed by others who can see your gamelist.
11. Can I delete Steam without deleting my games?: Yes, you can delete Steam without deleting your games by moving the steamapps folder outside of the Steam directory before uninstalling Steam.
12. Do free games increase Steam level?: Yes, you can level up your Steam account without paying a cent by managing trading cards and participating in events.
13. Does Steam track non-Steam games?: Steam can recognize that you are playing a non-Steam game and will even tell your friends the name of the game, but it does not track the time you’ve spent playing that game.
14. Does Steam track my browsing history?: Steam does not specifically look at browser history from other browsers, but it may check the DNS cache of your computer as a whole.
15. Does Steam actually look at reports?: Yes, reports are reviewed and typically resolved within 24 hours of submission, and you will receive a notification if action is taken.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while you cannot earn Steam achievements for non-Steam games in the classical sense, you can still add non-Steam games to your Steam library and access them through the Steam client. Additionally, some non-Steam games may offer their own achievements that are not tied to the Steam platform. By understanding how Steam achievements work and how to manage your Steam library, you can get the most out of your gaming experience on Steam.