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There are now three ways to get Mechabellum on PC, and two of them cost nothing. Since 22 September Steam has a permanent Free Edition. Since yesterday, 24 September, the Epic Games Store has been giving away the full game, until 1 October at 5pm CEST (3pm UTC). And the paid version is still on sale, both on Steam and as a key.
They don't get you the same thing, so here's the difference.
What kind of game Mechabellum is
It's a round-based strategy autobattler with mechs. Before each fight you place and upgrade your units, then you watch the battle play out on its own. Reflexes don't come into it. Where you put things, and how well you counter the other player's army, does.
It's made by Game River and published by Dreamhaven, and it left early access on 26 September last year. Steam reviews are "Very Positive": 84% of 17,993 (15,114 positive).
The anniversary 2.0 update adds Star Expedition, a mode for one player or two in co-op. It runs across nine planets, with asynchronous fights and no time limit against formations copied from real players. The loot you pick up changes your next runs, and the mode comes with new leaderboards. There's a new unit too, the Centurion, which uses a precision rifle at range and switches to two weapons at mid range or in melee. On top of that you get a Battle Contract (a free Standard one with cosmetics, plus a paid Elite one) and a friends leaderboard.
The Steam Free Edition: yours to keep, with limits
It's been out since 22 September and it isn't a timed trial. If you buy the full game later, your progress carries over.
What you give up:
- public chat is limited;
- less storage space in Star Expedition;
- cosmetics take longer to earn;
- Tech Points unlock more slowly.
To find out whether the game clicks with you, that's plenty.
The full game free on Epic until 1 October
This is the complete version, not the Free Edition. Claim it before 1 October at 5pm CEST (3pm UTC) and it stays in your Epic library. It normally sells there for €14.79.
The catch is the launcher. This copy runs through Epic and doesn't give you the game on Steam. We haven't been able to confirm whether progress or cross-play work between the two stores, so if your friends play on Steam, check before you settle on Epic.
How much the full game costs for Steam
Steam has it at €8.87 (no fees), 40% off the usual €14.79. We don't know when that discount ends.
A key works out a lot cheaper. The best one today is at Gameboost: €3.72 with coupon GCDK13 (€3.90 with fees), Steam Key. That's 56% less than Steam. There are around a dozen other keys under €5 before fees.
The lowest figure in the comparison is K4G at €3.04 with coupon GCDK14DEAL (€3.70 with fees). That one is a Steam Account, though: you get access to someone else's account, and the game never shows up in your own library. For 20 cents more you get a key that's actually yours, and that's what we'd buy.
Our history figures are without fees and mix formats. The monthly low has kept falling, from €4.85 in April to €4.30 in June, €3.70 in August and €3.10 in September. For keys, the lowest we've recorded is €3.10 on 6 September, and the median is €6.16. In 395 days of data, a key has been cheaper than today on only 17 of them.
Which one should you go for?
If you already play on Epic, or the launcher doesn't bother you, claim it before 1 October. It's the whole game for nothing.
If you just want to try it, the Steam Free Edition does the job, and you won't lose your progress if you buy it later.
If you want the full game on Steam, the €3.90 key costs less than half of what Steam is asking even on sale. Hoping it drops further? Set a price alert and we'll let you know.
Every shop we compare is on the page to buy Mechabellum key.
Prices checked on the morning of 25 September.
I have been a gamer for as long as I can remember, and for the last 14 years I have been making life easier for other gamers. CEO and co-founder of Gocdkeys.
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