Steam has become such an integral part of our daily lives that it’s almost like a natural reflex to turn it on when you boot up and surf, even when you’re not playing the game. And while it’s an incredibly useful tool for buying games, connecting with friends, and spending hours buying and selling trading cards, there are other ways to use Steam.
Over the past few years, as many websites, extensions, and downloads have popped up around Steam as pawnshops have sprung up during the World Cup. And here are some useful tools to help you make better use of Steam (link is included in the title).
Note: You need to make your account public to use some of the tools below, because your Steam account is now automatically set to private.
Steam Trade Matcher
Got a few similar cards from a certain game that you want to throw away and collect other cards to complete the collection? Log in with Steam via this site, and it will scan for matching cards, list other users who need them, and you can make an offer to sell.
Steam Library Filters
If you have a large Steam library and want a cool and useful way to organize it, then simply enter your account name into this tool (make sure it’s public first). After it finishes loading the library information, you’ll be able to apply a variety of filters to organize your games. In order of genre, playtime, player ratings and GPA, release date, platforms and VR support, languages supported, Steam tags, and more.
Steam Sale Countdown
The eternal problem with money is that you want to use it wisely, and the wisest way is to wait for a discount. Luckily, this feature has a countdown timer (estimated) of the next Steam sale. Get you ready to empty your wallet.
Steam Inventory Helper
This Chrome extension makes the process of buying, selling and repeating transactions on Steam easier and more streamlined. It allows you to bulk select cards and sales, automatically adjusts prices based on market fluctuations, and many other handy features for an easy marketplace experience.
Enhanced Steam
This browser add-on provides a lot of important information when you are considering buying a certain game. While browsing the Steam store, you will see not only current prices, but also past lowest prices, and promotions on other sites, including links. This is a quick and easy comparison tool you can use before you buy.
SteamDB
Includes many useful tools for analysts and curious people alike, SteamDB can show you stats on player count, server status, price changes, database updates and many other things. It is a repository of information that can be edited, tracked and compared with an easy to use interface.
Is There Any Deal?
The functionality of this website is built into Enhanced Steam, but not everyone likes installing browser add-ons so having a website of its own is quite good. Search for a game and it will tell you not only if Steam has any discounts, but also prices elsewhere. Guaranteed to bring you the best price.
Depressurizer
For those who have amassed a huge Steam library, organizing it can be an exhausting process. Depressurizer is a utility that can quickly and easily organize almost everything in your game inventory into categories (you may still have to sort some things out yourself), making your library look like a more library.
Steam DB Calculator
Want to brag, or shudder at the monetary value of your Steam game library? Just type in the account name, and the value (there are many currencies you can choose from) of the game collection will appear. It also tells you some other information, like how many games in your library you’ve never touched.
Wasted hours on Steam
There is a saying, “Time spent enjoying what you enjoy is not time wasted.” A pretty good quote to motivate yourself when you spend hours playing games. And if you’re curious to know how much time you’ve “wasted” on Steam, type your account name into this website. And don’t worry: if you’re embarrassed about the numbers received, check out the Hall of Shame – which includes users with even bigger numbers than you – and you’ll feel a lot better.
Steam Customizer
Want to decorate your personal Steam page? Steam Customizer is a tool that you can download or sign in directly to quickly give your Steam a bit of color. There are tons of themes available for you to choose from, or create your own skin. Don’t use
How Long To Beat
If you’re wondering how long a certain game in your Steam library takes to complete, type your account name into this site. Some of the information may seem a bit absurd (how can anyone “finish” CS:GO?), but at least it helps you decide whether or not to play a certain game right now? For example, a game called 60 Seconds (60 seconds) takes about 2 hours to complete, strange right?
Steam Coupons
Unfortunately, Steam doesn’t always have a sale, but that doesn’t mean there’s no way to get a bargain on your favorite game. If you don’t have any coupons in your inventory, you can use this tool to check your friends’ inventory to see what coupons they have, and feel jealous.
Steam Game Gauntlet
How many times have you sat in front of your PC screen, faced with tons of game options to play, but couldn’t make a decision? This site generates a random spin, which you can spin, and where it stops, go buy it and play it!
Fair Steam
We all know Steam game trailers aren’t always… yes, mostly cinematic trailers, not showing what the actual gameplay will be like. This add-on will let you add a few videos from YouTube right next to the trailer. Of course you can go directly to YouTube, but it will need to open another tab, type in a search, who has time to do that, right?
What Can We All Play?
Want to play a game with friends, but don’t want to find out how many players are available for that game? The site allows you to enter your friends’ Steam IDs, and gives you a list of all the games available, so you can easily pick up a game and start playing.
Bnetlauncher
We’ve been using Steam for so long that it feels strange to use other game launchers. This tool allows you to use the Steam interface while playing Blizzard games through the Battle.net launcher. Download and add the .exe extension as a non-Steam game, and add parameters to the shortcut’s properties (eg ‘wow’ for World of Warcraft or ‘ow’ for Overwatch)
By PC Gamer
Source link: Weird, fun, and useful tools to get the most out of Steam
– https://emergenceingames.com/
