After the effective departure of a popular gaming platform from Russia, many gamers were left wondering how to continue playing their favorite games. For instance, how can you top up Steam in Russia?
Despite the objective difficulties, these tasks are quite solvable if you know how. Here is a detailed guide on the topic: Topping Up Steam in Russia.
There are still several tools available to top up Steam in Russia in 2025, namely:
Let’s break down each method separately.
The simplest way to purchase games on Steam is by buying keys. For example, the latest versions of games previously available only on Sony consoles can be found on third-party platforms like Plati or from official distributors such as Buka. These companies provide keys for projects like Spider-Man, Uncharted, Returnal, and the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. However, it’s important to note that this method cannot be used to purchase Steam games unavailable in Russia, and some publishers restrict key activation in the region, even if you successfully top up Steam in Russia using keys.
It’s crucial to carefully read the product description and reviews before purchasing keys and to use trusted platforms to minimize the risk of fraud.
Another convenient method is purchasing a game as a gift. Simply contact the seller before buying on Steam in Russia in 2025, add them as a friend on Steam, and you will automatically receive the game as a gift from their account. This method avoids additional fees and the risk of account blocking but requires careful selection of the account region and checking the seller’s rating and reviews.
The downside is the potential blocking of certain games due to price differences between regions or other restrictions. It’s recommended to check the availability of the project for purchase as a gift with each new release.
With Visa and MasterCard leaving Russia, topping up the Steam wallet in Russia using bank cards has become impossible. However, there are still options available. This can be done either independently or through third-party platforms.
Many online platforms offer services for topping up gaming wallets. This method is suitable if you cannot purchase a Steam game in Russia. The process is simple: provide your account login, specify the required amount, and see the total transaction cost, including fees.
If you prefer to avoid third-party sites and additional fees, you can top up your Steam Russia account independently before purchasing unavailable Steam games in Russia. A popular method is using the payment system QIWI. Create an account, complete verification, and top up your ruble account using a bank card. Starting June 29, 2024, QIWI allows direct transfers to a ruble Steam account without detours through Kazakhstan.
Before topping up your wallet, make sure you enter your account login, not your nickname, and select the amount in rubles.
The departure of major gaming publishers from Russia has resulted in many games becoming unavailable for purchase by Russians, even after topping up Steam in Russia. When attempting to access such games, users may encounter a message stating, This product is not available in your region, and a suggestion to return to the store. This situation has prompted many Russian players to undertake virtual migration to other regions, particularly Turkey and Kazakhstan, to regain access to paid and free games on Steam that are unavailable in Russia.
If you have a working Turkish phone number, you can also register a Turkish or Kazakh Steam account independently. It’s best to use a virtual phone number from SMSBOWER, as it is inexpensive, reliable, and completely anonymous. By registering a foreign profile, you can make purchases on Steam in Russia using foreign bank cards or one of the methods mentioned in the previous sections of this article.
It’s important to note that using this method to purchase games on Steam in Russia violates Valve’s rules. There is a risk of account blocking by the company if a user attempts to bypass the established restrictions. Therefore, using this method should be done at your own risk.