As of 2025, PC gaming remains stronger than ever—and players now have more choices than just Steam. Epic Games Store has quickly become a powerful contender, offering free games, exclusive titles, and competitive prices. But is Epic truly better than Steam, or is Valve’s platform still king? This article compares both stores across key criteria like game selection, features, pricing, community, and user experience to help you decide where to play.
1. Game Library & Availability
Steam:
- Offers over 50,000 titles, including AAA, indie, early access, and retro games.
- Huge genre diversity and region-specific catalogues.
- Frequent “hidden gems” thanks to community curation.
Epic:
- Much smaller library (~2,000–3,000 titles) but growing.
- Strong focus on AAA exclusives (e.g., Alan Wake 2, Fortnite, The Division Reloaded).
- Weekly free games to build your library gradually.
✅ Winner: Steam – broader, deeper catalog.
2. Pricing & Sales
Steam:
- Famous for its seasonal mega sales: Summer, Winter, Autumn, Lunar New Year.
- Regional pricing adapts to local economies.
- Developers keep ~70% of revenue.
Epic:
- Offers frequent store coupons (e.g., $10 off $15+).
- Takes only 12% commission from developers, encouraging more exclusives.
- “Epic Mega Sale” + free games every week (often high-profile titles).
✅ Winner: Epic – better deals for big games, plus free stuff.
3. Platform Features
Steam:
- Cloud saves, remote play, mod support (via Steam Workshop).
- Community hubs, groups, guides, and review systems.
- Steam Deck integration and Linux support.
Epic:
- Much simpler UI with limited features.
- No integrated mod support or discussion hubs (as of mid-2025).
- Focus is on game access, not social features.
✅ Winner: Steam – feature-rich and community-powered.
4. User Interface & Performance
Steam:
- Mature, but some users find it cluttered or dated.
- Well-optimized, especially for power users and large libraries.
Epic:
- Sleek, minimal UI – great for casual users.
- Lacks advanced filtering and customization.
✅ Winner: Tie – depends on whether you prefer complexity (Steam) or simplicity (Epic).
5. DRM & Game Ownership
Steam:
- Most games require the Steam client, even offline.
- DRM varies by publisher, but Steam has built-in restrictions.
Epic:
- Many games offered DRM-free (publisher dependent).
- Easier to launch and back up certain titles.
✅ Winner: Epic – slightly better for DRM-conscious gamers.
6. Community & Ecosystem
Steam:
- Integrated forums, guides, and real user reviews.
- Massive modding community via Steam Workshop.
- Steam Marketplace supports item trading and skins.
Epic:
- Limited user interaction, no workshop, and basic review system (introduced in 2023).
- Ecosystem still developing.
✅ Winner: Steam – hands down.
Final Verdict
| Category | Best Platform |
|---|---|
| Game Library | Steam |
| Free Games | Epic |
| Features & Mods | Steam |
| UI & Simplicity | Epic (for casuals) |
| DRM Flexibility | Epic |
| Community | Steam |