Last updated: July 2025

When you’re eyeing that new game on Steam but cringing at the £49.99 price tag, you’ve probably wondered: “Are those third-party key sites actually legit?” The short answer is yes – but there’s more to the story than just saving a few quid.

What Are Third-Party Game Keys?

Third-party game keys are digital licenses sold by authorized retailers like CDKeys, Green Man Gaming, and Eneba. These aren’t sketchy “grey market” operations – they’re legitimate businesses that buy keys in bulk or from different regions where games cost less.

Think of it like buying a book from Amazon vs. your local bookshop. Same book, different price, both completely legal.

Real Price Comparison: Steam vs Third-Party Retailers

Let’s look at some actual numbers from popular games:

Black Myth: Wukong

• Steam: £49.99
• CDKeys: £31.79 (36.4% savings)
• Keycense: £32.41 (35.2% savings)

Psychonauts 2 (Such a good game!)

• Steam: £54.99
• CDKeys: £7.69 (86% savings)
• Eneba: £5.16 (90.6 savings)

Hogwarts Legacy

• Steam: £49.99
• CDKeys: £11.79 (76.4% savings)
• Green Man Gaming: £46.69 (6.6% savings)

On average, you’re looking at 15-35% savings on new releases and even bigger discounts on older titles.

Why Are Third-Party Keys Cheaper?

Regional Pricing Differences: Games cost different amounts in different countries. A £50 game in the UK might be £35 equivalent in Eastern Europe.

Bulk Purchasing: These retailers buy thousands of keys at wholesale prices, passing some savings to you.

Publisher Partnerships: Many work directly with publishers, getting better rates than individual consumers.

No Platform Fees: Unlike Steam, they don’t need to maintain massive gaming platforms, so overhead costs are lower.

What about official providers?

We care about publishers, and partner with official providers such as Greenman Gaming. Here at KrakenKeys, we will display if a provider is an official one - and sources its keys directly from the publisher.

Are Third-Party Keys Safe?

The legitimate ones absolutely are. Here’s what to look for:

✅ They are shown on this site: Here at Krakenkeys, we only partner with sites we trust. If it’s listed - we back it. ✅ Money-Back Guarantees: Reputable sites offer refunds if keys don’t work ✅ Customer Reviews: Check Trustpilot scores and user feedback ✅ Secure Payment: Look for SSL certificates and standard payment methods

Red Flags to Avoid: ❌ Prices that seem too good to be true (80%+ off brand new releases) ❌ No customer service contact information ❌ Requests for unusual payment methods ❌ No refund policy ❌ It’s not on KrakenKeys

When to Buy from Steam vs Third-Party Sites

Choose Steam when:

• The game is on a major Steam sale

Choose Third-Party when:

• The game is new and full price on Steam
• You’re buying multiple games
• You want the best possible price

How to Find the Best Game Deals Quickly

Rather than checking multiple sites manually, use a price comparison tool. Sites like KrakenKeys aggregate prices from Steam and authorized retailers in one place, showing you the cheapest legitimate option instantly.

This saves you the hassle of opening 5+ browser tabs and comparing prices manually – especially useful when you’re browsing during a lunch break or want to quickly check if a game in your wishlist has dropped in price.

The Bottom Line

Third-party game keys from authorized retailers are completely safe and can save you significant money. The key is sticking to reputable sites and using price comparison tools to find the best deals without the legwork.

Your wallet will thank you, and you’ll still get the exact same game that launches through Steam – just at a fraction of the cost.

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Side Note: How many tickles does it take to make a Kraken laugh? ten-tickles