Ellingboy House Becomes a Free-to-Keep Puzzle Adventure on Steam
A realistic first-person puzzle adventure, Ellingboy House, has permanently dropped to a $0 price point on Steam. The game previously went for roughly five dollars, but it’s no longer a paid purchase—players can now add it to their libraries for free and keep it.
While Ellingboy House isn’t tied to one of Steam’s usual free-to-keep giveaway events, it still fits the broader “claim and retain” appeal that PC players like. Steam’s July free-to-keep lineup also includes at least two other titles to watch: The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante and Yet Another Zombie Defense HD. That said, neither of those promotions has a confirmed start time yet, so the exact moment they’ll go live remains unclear. For now, anyone hunting for a free puzzle experience on Steam can jump into Ellingboy House since it’s already permanently available at no cost.
Steam’s database also indicates that a separate game release from 2018 is planned to enter the ongoing Free-to-Keep Promotion during August 2026.
Ellingboy House Used to Cost $4.99, Now It’s Free
- Developer Jepfore Games announced on June 20 that its 2025 puzzle game would shift from a paid release to a free-to-play offering on Steam.
- SteamDB records show Ellingboy House originally launched with a $13.99 price, later reduced to $4.99, and ultimately moved to fully free pricing.
- Jepfore Games stated that the title will remain free indefinitely on Steam, not as a limited-time deal.
- The developer’s stated reasoning was to attract additional players and increase review volume, explaining that making the game free-to-play would help bring in more people and get more reviews.
Free Game Giveaways
Ellingboy House Gameplay Features
- First-person point-and-click puzzle design
- Many interactive objects
- Realistic 3D visuals
- British locations inspired by real-life settings
- Environmental storytelling elements
- A detailed narrative woven into the puzzle progression
Because Ellingboy House is structured as a point-and-click experience, navigation is carried out by selecting the area where the protagonist should move. The same control approach applies to interacting with objects and progressing through puzzles. One standout feature is the game’s low level of hand-holding—players are expected to learn the rules quickly and interpret each challenge on their own, which makes the pacing heavily dependent on how fast you grasp the mechanics.
Story-wise, the game centers on a grim day where people awaken to a “ransomware plague.” Alongside that premise, the narrative also explores themes tied to financial instability and corporate wrongdoing, all framed inside a British setting.
On Steam, Ellingboy House currently shows a 92% positive review rating, though under 100 users have submitted reviews at the time of writing. A frequent compliment is the amount of content included, with many players describing it as strong value even when it cost $5. One review summed up the sentiment by saying they paid for the game and felt they received more than their money’s worth. With the move to permanent free pricing, Jepfore Games is aiming to encourage more players to try the title and, in turn, leave additional reviews.
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Ellingboy House isn’t the only Steam game to shift away from a paid label in July 2026. Another solo developer has also made their 2025 2D platformer permanently free. That title is Greenhouse: Schism, which previously sold for around five dollars but can now be claimed at no cost and kept in your library like Ellingboy House.
Separately, Steam indicates that at least two games are scheduled to be delisted soon, and players who claim them before removal will keep access permanently. One of those titles is Glitched Out, a first-person horror game. The other is The Lonely Helmet, a 2D retro-styled platformer.
