Ethan Crossfield 
Steam users looking to add games to their libraries without paying should keep an eye on two upcoming October 2026 offers. Asleep: Act 1 and Hexologic are confirmed for Steam's free-to-keep promotion, meaning players who claim them while the deals are active will retain access after the promotion ends. The exact start time has not been confirmed, so interested players will need to monitor the relevant store pages.
What is changing on Steam
Steam is preparing to close out October with two additional free-to-keep games: Asleep: Act 1 and Hexologic. These promotions differ from Steam's free weekend events, where access expires when the limited period ends. Once either game is added to a Steam account during its giveaway window, it remains in that user's library permanently.
Valve's storefront frequently runs sales and temporary free access events, but free-to-keep offers can be especially useful for players willing to build a backlog. Neither title's giveaway launch time is currently known. That makes this a promotion to track rather than one readers can necessarily claim immediately.
Who these games are for
Asleep: Act 1 is the pick for horror players. Released in May 2024, it is a 2D psychological horror adventure centered on Ana Lúcia, a young woman navigating a setting where nightmares and reality begin to blur. Progress involves exploring unsettling locations, working through puzzles and staying clear of dangerous creatures.
Light is a core survival mechanic, as enemies respond to it in different ways. That gives encounters a more deliberate edge than a straightforward chase-focused horror game. The title currently holds a Very Positive Steam user rating, with 92% favorable reviews.
Hexologic targets a very different audience. Its puzzles combine Sudoku-style number placement with hexagonal boards, requiring players to make values add up correctly across the grid. The challenge grows as players advance, while its colorful presentation and relaxing soundtrack position it as a calmer alternative. It has an Overwhelmingly Positive Steam rating, with 96% positive user reviews.
What players should do next
The practical move is simple: visit the Steam store pages for both games regularly until the promotions become active, then add any title you want to keep to your account. Players do not need to begin playing immediately for the permanent-library benefit to apply.
The pairing offers a useful split for October's final days. Horror fans can pick up a compact psychological adventure with a survival-minded light system, while puzzle fans can claim a number-based game designed around steadily tougher logic challenges. With November approaching, Steam will likely continue to feature new discounts and promotions, but these are the two confirmed late-October free-to-keep additions to watch.
What players should know
- Asleep: Act 1 and Hexologic are confirmed as upcoming Steam free-to-keep games for October 2026.
- A claimed game stays in a player's Steam library after the offer ends, unlike a free weekend title.
- The source does not specify when either promotion will begin, so checking the store pages is necessary.
- Asleep: Act 1 is a 2D psychological horror adventure with puzzles, creatures and light-based survival decisions.
- Hexologic blends number puzzles with hexagonal grids and has a more relaxed presentation.
Expert View
This is a worthwhile pair of giveaways because the games serve clearly different moods rather than overlapping genres. Asleep: Act 1 appears best suited to players seeking an unsettling Halloween-season experience, while Hexologic is the safer choice for a lower-pressure puzzle session. Neither offer has a confirmed activation time yet, so the only real downside is the need to watch for the promotion to go live.
