Never before have game launchers brought such power and form together into an easy to use software. With the ability to craft games, manage digital currencies, and bundle software across platforms.
Valve may have a very steady grip on the digital distribution market, but that doesn't mean Steam should be your only port of call for buying PC games. There are a ton of options out there for the discerning PC gamer, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.For your convenience we have compiled the best of the rest, complete with a quick look at why they're worth caring about. We’ve even spoken to the folks behind the featured storefronts. We're nice like that.
Aug 18, 2013 Download Game Launcher for free. A Windows tray application that launches your games, quickly. Game Launcher is a simple application that lives in your notification area/system tray. It maintains a list of games you choose to have on it, and allows you to launch those games from anywhere by right-clicking the icon, or pressing Windows+G on your keyboard.
Game Launcher is the perfect solution for organizing all of your PC games in one centralized location. You may want to check out more software, such as Psyonix Game Launcher, Survival Launcher or JK-Launch Mod Manager, which might be related to Game Launcher.
Playnite is a free video games launcher that aggregates games from other 3rd party launchers like Steam, GOG, UPlay and Origin. Playnite congregates all your games libraries into a single library.
itch.io
The hook: Free of any immediate fees and barriers for developers, itch.io is the most indie-friendly games marketplace ever.
Summary: itch.io is the Bandcamp to Steam's iTunes – there are no big names here, just a marketplace full of intriguing, independently-created content. Just like its music-based counterpart, all of the games on itch.io offer a Pay What You Want system with an optional minimum. This allows indie developers to accept donations for their hobby projects and game jam creations without forcing the player into paying a fee.
In operation since: March 2013
Number of games: 1359. 3327 if you count games submitted for game jams.
DRM: DRM-free
Pros: Some real gems lurking here that are unlikely to ever make it onto Steam.
Cons: Lack of quality control can result in some games of somewhat dubious standards appearing on the store.
Download picks: Particle Mace, TRI, Heroes of Loot.
They say: “itch.io is a completely open game store and host. Any game developer can upload a game and start distributing and selling immediately. The game developer is in full control of their game's page and is free to design it how they want without any cruft typically seen on other store pages. All games utilize pay what you want pricing with an optional minimum price. itch.io's payment system pays the developer instantly, and itch.io currently takes 0% cut of transactions. itch.io is built with developers in mind and is constantly evolving with new features to make selling games as fast and easy as possible no matter how big or small the developer.” - Leaf Corcoran
GOG.com (Good Old Games)
The hook: A huge library of classic PC games, optimised to run smoothly on modern PCs and priced cheaply.
Summary: As gamers, it's very easy for us to get swept up in the cult of the new – new technology and innovation keeps beckoning, calling us closer and closer towards its exhilarating, blinding light of progress. But then, something like GOG comes along and we forget ourselves. Somehow, looking back becomes more exciting than looking forward. Nostalgia alone is a powerful thing, sure, but GOG makes some genuine stone-cold classics both easier and cheaper to play in 2014.
In operation since: 2009
Number of games: 719
DRM: “The largest 100% DRM-free digital distributor on the 'Net. Every single game on GOG.com comes with no DRM.”
Pros: Some bonafide gaming classics have made GOG their modern home, alongside some quality indies. It being entirely DRM-free is a big plus, too.
Cons: Nostalgia will only take you so far. Seeing your treasured childhood games become withered and faded through modern eyes can be a heartbreaking experience.
Download Picks: System Shock 2, The Last Express, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.
They say: “GOG.com is the source for the best games in history, 100% DRM-Free, for PC & Mac. We have a collection of over 500 classic games (games released as long ago as 1981!) and 100+ indie titles (games released as recently as yesterday), we provide our gamers with fair pricing all around the world, and we give extra content – like soundtracks, wallpapers, and other goodies – free with all of our games. Come check out the DRM-Free Revolution on GOG.com and see what we have to offer.” - Trevor Longino
Green Man Gaming
The hook: Offers an unparalleled level of rewards and kickbacks for loyal users – this includes earning store credit by progressing in games and even the ability to trade in your unwanted or completed digital games.
Summary: Green Man Gaming, along with their Martian mascot, have become a very big presence in the world of PC gaming. Currently ranked globally as the second biggest digital game retailer on PC, it's not difficult to see why they've won over so many. The smartest thing about GMG is their understanding that tempting their users away from Steam would be a fool's errand. Instead, appreciating the ubiquity of Valve's PC gaming client, they've created a store which provides Steam keys, often undercutting Steam's own prices. Alongside Playfire, the gaming network which rewards you for playing, Green Man Gaming is a great example of the great stuff that can be found when you shop around – yes, many PC gamers enjoy using Steam as their centralised gaming library, but stores like GMG show that using Steam does not have to mean buying from Steam.
In operation since: May 2010
Game Launcher Maplestory
Number of games: “Over 4,500 titles from over 300 official publishing partners sold in over 180 territories worldwide.”
DRM: “We’re proud to offer a range of DRM options when it comes to purchasing games. It’s important to us that gamers can choose to buy the games they want, how they want, so we allow access and activation via Steam, Uplay, Origin, other first party platforms such as Bethesda, NCsoft and Square Enix, as well as our own Capsule client.”
Pros: Fairly frequent sales mean that it's often cheaper to buy Steam keys from Green Man Gaming than to buy from Steam direct, while Playfire allows you to earn credit as you play and trade in games when you're finished. In a world in which we all likely have an unplayed pile of shame on our Steam accounts, an initiative which encourages play and progression can only be a good thing.
Cons: While it's a lot to expect of a major digital distributor, some would prefer Green Man Gaming's software to be free of Digital Rights Management rather than offering a range of DRM and activation options. At least they offer Steam activation rather than forcing their own Capsule client on their users, though.
Download Picks: Resident Evil 4 HD, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Goat Simulator
They say: “The most defining truth about Green Man Gaming is that unlike other retailers, we pay gamers to play!
We like to offer more than just a sale, so with our social network Playfire, we’re helping users to buy more games and content with Playfire Rewards.
By joining the Rewards BETA, users are credited for playing games linked to their account, regardless of where they purchased their game! This credit can be then used towards anything on the Green Man Gaming site where customers can also earn credit for making purchases, writing game reviews, referring friends, and trading in digital games.
We know this works! We had a user tweet us, saying he had bought South Park (not from us), and by linking his account, as we were offering rewards for starting South Park for the first time, getting achievements, playing for a certain length of time etc. He earned a nearly $6 in credit over a weekend!
We think it’s really important to reward positive game play, and to encourage gamers across the world to play more of the games they love or discover new games.” - Tracey McGarrigan