How to hide NSFW games on Steam without going completely offline

That makes it the cleaner choice when the issue is one adult game, an embarrassing curiosity or any title a player simply does not want broadcast to friends. Other games and normal online availability remain visible.

Steam also supports private purchases. In the shopping cart, select Mark as Private before checking out. The guide says this prevents the usual purchase notification from reaching friends and applies the per-game privacy setting from the start.

Broader controls come with broader tradeoffs

Players who want to hide all game activity can change a profile-wide setting. Open the profile menu under the username, select View Profile, choose Edit Profile, then open Privacy Settings. Set Game Details to Private.

That setting covers purchased games, wish-list titles, achievements and playtime. It also hides the in-game indicator and the title currently being played. The tradeoff is scope: friends will not see ordinary gaming activity either, so it is less selective than marking one game private.

The quickest temporary option is Invisible status. Open Friends and Chat, click the username and select Invisible. Steam will show the account as offline while still allowing chat. Friends will not know the player is available for invitations, however, unless told directly.

For most people trying to keep one title out of sight without vanishing from Steam, per-game privacy is the useful middle ground. Invisible mode is temporary and account-wide; private Game Details hides everything; Mark as Private limits the blackout to the title that prompted it.