So you want to create public GAs, but you don't want bots and auto-join scripts to enter? Good. Just post a comment in this thread with a link to an invite-only giveaway. The idea is very simple and is really not different from many (most?) of the other threads in the forum, except that you don't need to invest much time or thought into it. Just post the link in a comment, and you're done :-)

A few additional guidelines:

  • Feel free to obfuscate the link to make it more difficult for bots/scripts to enter. This is completely optional and may not make much of a difference, because the forums are probably not as infested with bots and auto-join scripts as public giveaways (see example).
  • You may use itstoohard.com, sgtools.info or other sites as filters to the link, but do try to keep things easy (for humans) to enter.
  • Don't feel obligated to write anything to accompany the giveaway link. If you have stuff to share beyond just the link, you probably should create a dedicated thread for it. Needless to say, you can also write it here, but it's not required.
  • Cross-posting giveaways your posted in other threads is fine, as long as they are your giveaways.
  • If you want to add a dynamic signature showing the game name, giveaway end date and current number of entries, but without revealing the URL to bots, you can use this tool created by Reforced. It takes the signature created by SG and provides you with a new URL that hides the original giveaway address. Just add it to your comment using the regular format for posting images: ![](URL)
  • Just like public GAs typically have a lot of entries, there's no need to maintain a low number of entries in GAs posted here. If you want to give especially good odds to people who enter and still get CV, you may want to instead consider posting the link here (and then remove it when you have your 5 entries). This is not needed here in this thread. The more (humans) the merrier :-)
  • The best way to bump this thread is by posting a link to your own invite-only giveaway. With that said, if the thread drops from the first page a regular "Bump" would also be appreciated.

I'm trying to find how serious the issue with bots really is. So far the results don't really prove things one way or another. Here are some stats from my latest experiment:

Game: Space Trader: Merchant Marine
Number of giveaways: 5
Period: 3 days

Giveaway # Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
1 Level 0+ Public 891 0:82 No
2 Level 0+ Invite only, direct link 55 4:47 No
3 Level 0+ Invite only, SGTools (no restrictions) 48 6:71 No
4 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL, captcha-free 50 1:205 No
5 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL with "I'm not a robot" captcha 54 162:86 No

Yet some more stats:

Giveaway game Period Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Public 755 0:37 No
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 183 42:514 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Public 554 0:32 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 193 178:188 No
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Public 1596 0:28 Yes
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 234 88:107 No
8 years ago*

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Question: Can bots also enter group exclusive giveaways?

3 months ago
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Yup. Group giveaways show up in the main page for those accounts that have access to them, so if someone is using a bot it should also be able to enter them.
There's a reason why people like to do private giveaways and use some method to slightly obscure the url in order to avoid bots.

3 months ago
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Only if the bot account is a member of the group.

3 months ago
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How do you access them XD?
Edit: I am dumb, thank you :)

3 months ago
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Bump for short time left!

3 months ago
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Bump! :)

3 months ago
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lol! 5 seconds too late XD

Thx for sharing! o/

3 months ago
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I don't like having region restricted keys so here you have one.
Level 3+, +50 countries out, runs for 8 days, remove the obvious.
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/dOBVIOUSBOTMEASUREnrUl/star-renegades

3 months ago
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bump!

3 months ago
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Lol was wondering why the link wasnt working, oh...

3 months ago
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Niiiiice! Bump!

3 months ago
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I usually accept bl without commenting, especially because I know I don't have such great ratio, which is the reason for most people... But I find funny the way I pass the ratio requirement here lol

3 months ago
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Considering that all of your giveaways in the past 4 years and a huge part of the ones before that have been solely to tiny circle-jerk groups, your ratio was probably pretty irrelevant in that decision.

3 months ago
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In case you're wondering I blacklisted you because all your giveaways are group only.

3 months ago
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Thank you for explaining! I totally understand it, I actually have a long list of old unused keys ready for public giveaways, but a couple of years ago I started struggling to find time for being very active here and creating giveaways for them. Such a shame! I wish I could make them all with a couple of clicks

3 months ago
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Like any big task, break it down. Do one giveaway. Takes like 5-10 minutes.

3 months ago
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I did it! :)
Maybe I'll do another one tomorrow and in the following days, let's see.
It was a little but great advice, thank you!!
I also used to have some ideas for a long train with all my keys together, but I have to realize that it's not happening and just drop the idea. I can still give them little by little :)

3 months ago
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Removed from blacklist

3 months ago
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Oh that's super nice of you!
I'll keep your good deed in mind as motivation to keep creating public GAs little by little

3 months ago
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Why don't you save a few that go well together, and do like a three item mini train. That wouldn't take much work. Do it when the site is slow, or for a special occasion, or when you're really bored, or procrastinating on something.

3 months ago
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Thank you for the idea, but trying to plan trains or events is what actually kept me away from actually creating giveaways, so now I prefer to go for the simplest possible way, which is just random public GAs or invite-only GAs in discussions such as this one with simple anti-bot stuff, instead of risking to stop again

3 months ago
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bump!

3 months ago
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Banished
Level 1+, 2 days. And no puzzle this time, just remove the obvious letters in the link.

Click here! Or don't, I'm not your mom.

3 months ago
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Bump!

3 months ago
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Bump :3

3 months ago
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Bump.

3 months ago
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View attached image.
3 months ago
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Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story

Lv 3+. I'm currently in my number hating phase btw.

3 months ago
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Must be hard to look at your own name then.

3 months ago
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XD

3 months ago
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https://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/59dbc2e8-720b-4bb6-817c-febc7b9878d7

Steamworld Dig 2, Level 1

The yap part you can ignore:
Sorry I am really bad at math, slept at school (stay in school kids)
So I dont know what ratio should be, I just took random number I've seen often in this thread.
Hope its not too much for this :')
Next one will be jigsaw puzzle ig.

Game Ratings Cards Cheevos Platforms
SteamWorld Dig 2 95% of 4,247 reviews 🏆 W M L D✅

Chart created with Lex's SG Chart Maker

3 months ago*
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I'm not trying to be funny or rude in any way, but as a nerd, I have to help even if you are kidding. For ratios, simply take the top number and divide it by the bottom number. In this case, the ratio of sent games to won games would simply be sent games divided by won games. For example, I have sent 1 game and won 2 games. Therefore, my ratio would be 1/2 or 0.5. Hope this helps!

P.S. - Thanks for the giveaway as well :)

3 months ago
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It wasnt joke sadly. And you were not rude!
I had massive issues with math at school so I slept thro that stuff (plus its different term in my native language). I usually see ratio done in like 16:9 or I guess 1/2. Not really "0.4". Plus im currently sleepy so who knows how much that affects.

Thanks for explaining, it actually really helped for future! <3

3 months ago
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Haha no problem! I'm actually a math tutor as I just have a thing with numbers. Don't get me started with english or history though which I absolutely despised haha. As a quick parting note, for ratios, the colon, or :, can be used interchangeably with slash, or /. Therefore, ratios are basically fractions which can be converted into the decimals, i.e. 1/2 = 0.5 or 16:9 = 16/9 = ~1.778

3 months ago
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7 hours remains, bump

3 months ago
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Since nonograms are all the rage these days and I love them as well, here's a 5 copy giveaway for Piczle Cross Adventure, ~3 days (Jan 21, 4pm EST), SGTools + nonogram protected.

SGTools locked behind a 17x17 nonogram (because of course I'm doing a nonogram). Before you waste your time doing a 17x17 nonogram, please check if you pass the sgtools (+more unlikely blacklist) from my previous giveaway as the rules should be the exact same. If there's an issue, holla.
ENDED BUT HERE IS NONOGRAM

Also check out Murder by Numbers, Pixel Puzzle Makeout League, and Paint it Back. I'm sure there are others as well

3 months ago*
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So there's a game on Steam with "Pixel Puzzle" in the title that isn't part of the "Pixel Puzzles" series? That's kinda confusing, but I guess it makes sense that such a generic name wouldn't be copyrighted.

3 months ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 3 months ago.

3 months ago
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Got the link but when I 'check the requirements', it gives an error "Something wrong happened, please try again"

3 months ago
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Before you waste your time doing a 17x17 nonogram

Im doing it anyway >:)
Thanks for the nonogram!

3 months ago
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Thanks so much for this.

I'm actually playing Murder by Numbers currently and really enjoy it. If i manage to win this giveaway, I know what to play next! :D

And thanks for the recommendations, didn't know about Pixel Puzzle Makeout League yet, added to wishlist.

3 months ago
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I did waste my time, but also, I like doing nonagrams, so still had a good time.

3 months ago
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Thanks for nonogram but rules are secret all i can see :)

3 months ago
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Just "Check requirements" and it'll say at the bottom if you passed it or not.

3 months ago
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Thanks for nonogram and recommendations. I played Murder by Numbers and it was awesome!

3 months ago
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Cant pass the sgtools rules, still bumpy

3 months ago
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ouch, first time I get rejected by a SGTools, it stings a bit.

But thanks for the recommendations, I already have Murder by Numbers but had never come across the others!

3 months ago
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Bump!
There was a recent nonogram giveaway that had a bunch of Steam nonogram game recommendations in the discussion. Does anyone know which giveaway that was?

3 months ago
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I can't link the direct GA per SG rules, but it was from here.
If it can help you track it down, it was a Sable GA.

3 months ago
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That was it, thanks!

3 months ago
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accidentally solved twice xD

3 months ago
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"Nono" done, but my account failed me.
Thank you anyways

3 months ago
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Catnight

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1779070/Catnight/
3 hour quickie, level 1+
Remove the 7's.

3 months ago*
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I’ll be the first to say thanks I guess 🙂

3 months ago
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No need Maya, delighted my giveaway interests you :)

3 months ago
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A distant second, but have another appreciative bump :)

3 months ago
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Thank you! :)

3 months ago
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Bumperino!

3 months ago
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Bumpino!
Thanks

3 months ago
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Pirate Pop Plus
Valid until January 26th, Level +1
Enter here!

3 months ago
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View attached image.
3 months ago
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🏴‍☠️ Yo ho ho, it's a pirate's life for me 🏴‍☠️

3 months ago
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Being a pirate is all right to be!

3 months ago
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Better dust off my pirating hat
Bump

3 months ago
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Guess what I found, another game in my (short) key list with region restrictions! This time 54 countries are excluded. While I understand the principle and publisher reasoning for region restrictions, we all can agree they're a real royal PITA, right?

Ok so it's the classic "lose your friends" game, the pretty well known Friends vs Friends. Best name for a "friends vs friends couch PvP game" award for 2 consecutive years, and I'm sure it will repeat in 2025.

Level +3, runs until Feb 1st, remove what you'll be losing with this game...

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/laD6FRIENDSu/friends-vs-friends

3 months ago
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bump

3 months ago
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Thought I'd try my luck with some of Fanatical's mystery games during a purchase, but only ended up keeping 1 of the 4. Please feel free to take my leftovers!

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/06sLEFTOVERSaZ/gods-trigger
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/vjBLEFTOVERSj0/diluvian-winds
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/ZIlLEFTOVERSQl/absolute-drift

The first two have some heavy region restrictions, but the last should be region-free. Level 2+ running for 6 days.

3 months ago
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Thanks... for the last one :d

3 months ago
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Heh. Yeah Fanatical’s region restrictions are OP! Glad you could at least join one of them. :)

3 months ago
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LV1 End 30 Jan
https://www.steamgifts.com/goneaway/__bnB/boxes-lost-fragments

Clue = Resolution Above 1440p, below 8K

3 months ago
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You'd think my brain had gone away with how long it took me to see more than 1 part of the URL needed fixed.
Thanks for the giveaway

3 months ago
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Heh that's why I always just copy the code and paste it into another url for a GA I know works
My soft brain needs all the help it can get

3 months ago
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There’s actually another resolution as well in between I believe, but not as common. But still, that only gives two options.

3 months ago
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LV 1 Quick one, only 4 hours left!
A game about being a kid, and a game about being old

https://www.steamgifts.com/goawaybots/jIt__/kimmy
__F = the mythical creature, all caps

https://www.steamgifts.com/goawaybots/kxya5/later-daters-premium

xragon ball y = the anime, all lowercase

3 months ago
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Bump!

3 months ago
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3 months ago
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Thanks!

3 months ago
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Heads up to others, level 7 giveaway.
Thanks though!

3 months ago
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bump

3 months ago
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May i ask what are the rules?

2 months ago
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Happy 🎂day, Erhan!

2 months ago
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Thank you boss. Where are my gifts?

2 months ago
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See, I was about to ask the same thing bc of how backwards it works on SG. ;)

Edit: just found your cakeday thread :)

2 months ago*
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Must not be your cakeday to enter

2 months ago
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It's probably secret on purpose. But hey, I can't enter either if it helps :)

2 months ago
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Also failed, but not a game I'm interested in. Hope for other giveaways you can join on your cakeday!

2 months ago
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even is ur bypass have (US) lock lol

2 months ago
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Rules are secret, ¯_(ツ)_/¯

2 months ago
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I see you are still having issues with that right arm of yours.You should get that checked out. I can't keep handing out spares like that.
Here \

2 months ago
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Damn those arms, keep falling off. Thanks again, Calibr3 to the rescue \o

2 months ago
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And just in case you wanna keep your arm in the future, try the triple backslash:

¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯

should show up as

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2 months ago
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\(ツ)/

rebels to make it look zoomed in

2 months ago
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Now I feel compelled to pat your huge head or lift you up, tiny kiddo. :P

2 months ago
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As some said, they are secret, but I think you could bypass them... ;)

2 months ago
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Thanks for that but even if you bypass them that would be cheating and you get punish with region lock ;)

2 months ago
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I think you didn't see the message I sent to you... you had the link!

2 months ago
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I saw that and thank you for doing it but it's not for my region. Trying to say that in a funny way.

2 months ago
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Okey! sorry!

2 months ago
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Doing that, or suggesting it in some cases, seems like a good way to get on blacklists.

2 months ago
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Well, they are the giveaway creator...

2 months ago
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They should be able to bypass it easily then I suppose! 😀

2 months ago
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?

2 months ago
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Just that a lot of people don't like it when people cheat to go around sgtools, jigidis, or other devices used to prevent bots or encourage engagement or other filters. And so suggestions of doing that usually go over poorly.

2 months ago
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it wasn't that, I just gave him the link, but thanks for pointing it.

2 months ago
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I passed the rules, but the game is region restricted. 🤣

2 months ago
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sorry, but I already had a problem with a humble game because of the restrictions.

2 months ago
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you can always refer to the SG threads regarding bundles for region locks.

for this game
there are no region locks in this case.

2 months ago
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Ok, I assure you my key list is short (a dozen keys now) and I keep finding hateful region restriction keys. Off with all of them!

Level 3+, runs for a week, only for (some of) Europe. Nevermind the bollocks numbers.
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/X4z2oLv/atlas-fallen-reign-of-sand

2 months ago
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Bump!

2 months ago
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Bump!

2 months ago
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Can't believe they named it Cookie Cutter. Daisy Cutter would have had so much more impact.

https://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/2b7c515a-ccaa-4a83-9109-75d027653a02

level 5, one day, no RR

2 months ago
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Deathrun TV, Ziggurat, BEAUTIFUL DESOLTION. 32 hours, gambling is bad m'kay
https://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/69462623-e74c-4deb-933d-eeae3ad58838

2 months ago
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Bump!

2 months ago
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boop

2 months ago
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triple bump

2 months ago
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Quadruple Bump

Couple lootboy giveaways, agree to delete if not working blah blah blah. Gambling is still bad m'kay. Ends in 17 hours (or at the same time as the parent giveaway)

2 months ago
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septuple bump!

2 months ago
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Bump!

2 months ago
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Happy Cakeday!!

2 months ago
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