A game key is just a code you redeem on Steam, Epic, GOG or another platform to unlock a game. The problem is that keys are sold everywhere, at wildly different prices, and not all of them were obtained legitimately. Buy from the wrong place and your game can stop working months later.
Short answer: buy from the platform itself (Steam, GOG, Epic, the PlayStation Store or the Microsoft Store) or from an authorized reseller such as Humble, Fanatical or Green Man Gaming. IsThereAnyDeal is the quickest first check, because it only lists stores it has verified as authorized. Treat key marketplaces such as G2A, Kinguin and Eneba, where third-party sellers list keys, as the higher-risk option.
Authorized stores vs. key marketplaces
An authorized store gets its keys directly from the publisher or an official distributor. A key marketplace is a platform where third-party sellers list keys, so the marketplace itself usually isn’t the one selling to you.
When you buy from an authorized reseller, the key entered the retail chain through a channel the publisher approved, and you’re buying from the store directly.
Marketplaces work differently. The site connects you with a seller, and you’re relying on that marketplace’s seller checks and sourcing rules rather than on a direct publisher relationship. Most marketplaces now require sellers to be verified businesses, but keys that were bought fraudulently have reached resale sites in the past. The developer of Factorio, for example, revoked more than 300 keys that had been bought with stolen credit cards, after buyers had already activated them. Steam’s own support pages confirm that publishers can revoke fraudulently obtained keys, which removes the game from your library. If that happens, getting your money back depends on the marketplace’s refund rules, the seller and the evidence you can provide.
Safe places to buy PC game keys
The platform’s own store is the lowest-risk option. Beyond that, these long-running resellers are listed as authorized by IsThereAnyDeal.
- Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store: buying directly from the platform carries the least risk, and all of them run regular sales.
- Publisher stores, such as the EA app and the Ubisoft Store, sell their own games directly.
- Humble Store: best known for its pay-what-you-want bundles, with a regular storefront as well.
- Fanatical: frequent sales and bundles, often with Steam keys at a discount.
- Green Man Gaming: a long-running authorized store for PC and Mac games.
- GamersGate, Gamesplanet, GameBillet, Nuuvem, WinGameStore and IndieGala: smaller authorized stores that sometimes beat the bigger names on price.
Some publishers also publish their own list of approved sellers. Ubisoft, for example, keeps a list of approved digital distributors on its support site and warns that keys from retailers without an agreement can be revoked, so if you’re buying a specific publisher’s game, it’s worth checking theirs.
One thing to know about refunds: if you buy a Steam key from another store, Steam can’t refund it. Refunds go through the store you bought from, so check its policy before you buy.
How to check an unfamiliar key site
Search for the game on IsThereAnyDeal. If the store you’re looking at isn’t covered there, don’t assume it’s authorized: check the publisher’s approved-seller list or the store’s own sourcing claims before you buy.
IsThereAnyDeal says it only covers shops it considers authorized, meaning their keys come from publishers or official distributors, and that it deliberately leaves out marketplaces and grey-market sites. It also shows each game’s current price across those stores and its price history, so you’ll see right away whether a deal is genuinely good. A store can be missing for harmless reasons too, which is why the next step is checking further rather than writing it off. Price-comparison sites like gg.deals also list key marketplaces, but they separate them from official stores, so pay attention to which section a price comes from.
Warning signs worth a closer look
Third-party seller listings, prices far below every authorized store, region restrictions and anything that asks you to use a VPN (virtual private network) to activate are all reasons to slow down and check.
- A key “sold by” a third-party seller. That means you’re on a marketplace, so you need to judge both the marketplace and the seller, not just the price.
- A price far below every authorized store. That’s a reason to check the seller, the region and the source more carefully. It isn’t proof the key is illegitimate, but authorized stores rarely undercut each other by huge margins on new releases.
- Region-locked keys. A key meant for another region may not activate on your account at all.
- Instructions to use a VPN to activate. Disguising your location to get around regional restrictions breaks Steam’s Subscriber Agreement, and Valve says that can cost you access to your account.
- Optional paid “buyer protection.” Some marketplaces still sell it; Kinguin, for example, offers an optional paid Buyer Protection add-on. Policies vary, and G2A dropped its old paid Shield program, so don’t assume you need to pay extra for basic refund rights.
Buying codes for PS5 and Xbox
Consoles use digital codes too. Buy from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store, or from a major retailer when the retailer itself is the seller, and check the code’s platform and region before you buy.
Big retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Target are safe sources for game codes and gift cards, as long as the listing is sold by the retailer itself rather than a third-party seller on its site. Region rules differ by platform: PlayStation codes generally need to match your account’s region, while Xbox rules vary by product. GTA6 is a good example. Its boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc, and Rockstar says the PlayStation codes are region-restricted while the Xbox codes are not region-locked. If you’re planning to pick it up, our guide to the best games to play while waiting for GTA6 covers the editions and pre-order details.
Quick comparison
| Where you buy | Where keys come from | Risk of a revoked key | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform stores (Steam, GOG, Epic, PS Store, Microsoft Store) | The platform itself | Lowest | Maximum safety |
| Authorized resellers (Humble, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming and others) | Publishers and official distributors | Very low | Sales and bundles |
| Key marketplaces (G2A, Kinguin, Eneba and similar) | Third-party sellers | Higher | Buyers who accept the risk |
Who this isn’t for
If you already buy from marketplaces, know the risks and are comfortable with them, this guide won’t change your mind, and that’s your call to make. It’s also not a guide to finding the lowest possible price regardless of source. For that, our guide to finding the best deals on open-world games covers how to time purchases around legitimate sales.
Bottom line
Buy from the platform or an authorized reseller, check unfamiliar stores against IsThereAnyDeal and the publisher’s own seller list, and treat a key that’s dramatically cheaper than everywhere else as a reason to look closer. Waiting for a real sale at an authorized store usually gets you a good price without the risk.
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