Each card features unique artwork provided by the developer of the associated game.

Some free-to-play games provide them only if youspend money on in-game purchases.

What Is the Point of Steam Trading Cards?

Steam with username selected

Additional rewards come in the form of game badges which you then display on your profile page.

When a game includes Steam Card support, you earn them just by playing the game.

SelectBadgesin the drop-down menu.

Steam menu with Badges selected

Locate a game that can still drop cards and clickPLAY.

Games that include Steam Trading Cards can each provide a set number of cards.

If a game can no longer do so, it will say that zero cards are left.

The Steam Badget screen showing games with available badges

You don’t have to play a game to earn cards.

Launching the game and leaving it running will amass cards as long as it remains open.

When you earn a card, the envelope icon at the top of the Steam window turns green.

City Skylines game.

tap the greenenvelope iconto see what you earned.

nudge the card to see more information about it.

you’re able to sell, trade, or hold on to them for later.

A Steam card in a Steam inventory

Here’s how to sell Steam Cards:

Open your Steam inventory by clicking yourusername>Inventory.

Click aSteam Trading Cardthat you want to sell.

If you use the Steam Guard app, tap the(three vertical lines) icon and then tapConfirmations.

A Steam card with Turn into Gems and Sell options highlighted

go for the box next to the card you put up for sale and chooseConfirm Selected.

Your card appear on the Steam Market.

When it sells, you receive an email.

Inventory selected in menu under username

What Are Steam Gems?

Steam gems are a relic of the Steam holiday sale in 2014, but they’re still relevant.

Gems have two purposes.

A card selected in the Stream Inventory screen

you’ve got the option to also use them to create booster packs.

This process is not reversible.

you could’t switch it back once you’ve converted an item into gems.

The Sell button selected for a Steam card

TapOKin the confirmation screen.

Return to your inventory, and turn additional items into gems.

What Are Steam Trading Card Booster Packs?

Sell screen showing price and OK, put it up for sale button

Steam Trading Card booster packs are similar to those you might have seen for physical trading card games.

To maintain eligibility, you must log into Steam at least once each week.

As you level up your Steam profile, your chances of earning booster packs also increase.

The Steam Community Market with OK selected

you’ve got the option to sell booster packs with or without opening them.

Foil cards can be used to create foil badges, which feature unique artwork.

If you want to complete a badge, opening a booster pack for that game is a good idea.

Confirmation screen with OK selected

Otherwise, selling it unopened is usually a better idea.

This process is not reversible.

When you unpack a booster pack, you receive trading cards, and the booster pack item disappears.

Steam Guard app approval screens

An animation plays, and you see the individual cards that were in the booster pack.

What Are Steam Badges?

Steam Badges are cosmetic items it’s possible for you to display on your Steam profile.

Steam Inventory screen with Turn into Gems highlighted

You obtain most badges by crafting together full sets of Steam Trading Cards.

The primary purpose of Steam Badges is that every time you earn one, you earn experience points.

These experience points are used to level up your Steam profile.

Steam gem conversion screen with OK selected

Locate and nudge the badge you want to complete.

This next page provides several ways to obtain the cards you’re missing.

The fastest way to complete a badge is to clickBuy remaining cards on the Market.

Confirmation screen with OK selected

Make your selections and selectPlace Order.

Steam automatically sets optimal purchase prices for each card to ensure you’re free to purchase them immediately.

Return to the badges section of your profile and clickReady.

Steam inventory showing booster packs with Unpack highlighted

This process is not reversible.

When you craft the badge, the cards disappear.

An animation plays, and then Steam shows you the results of the craft.

Steam inventory with an opened booster pack.

You typically receive experience points to level up your profile and an assortment of profile wallpapers andSteam Chatemoticons.

FAQ

No, trading cards aren’t necessary to play any games.

No, they can only be turned into Steam Wallet cash for games or other in-game purchases.

Steam list of incomplete badges with one selected

you’re free to’t withdraw the Steam Wallet cash into your personal bank account.

Steam window showing three ways to obtain missing cards

Steam card order screen with Place Order highlighted

Steam Badges page with Ready highlighted

Steam Craft Badge page with Craft Badge highlighted

A crafted badge in Steam.