The 7 Best Steam Alternatives

1

Steam

Each platform brings something a little different to the table, and you might be surprised about what's on offer. DRM-free games on GOG, monthly free games on Origin, or just exclusive releases are some of the things your good old Steam account can't match. If you're serious about PC gaming, we recommend you keep an eye on each of these services for the best deals available, and to make sure you're not missing out on games that don't release on Steam.

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2

Origin

Unlike Steam, Origin offers a premium subscription service called Origin Access for $5 a month, or $30 a year. This gives players unlimited access to the EA "Vault, which, at the time of writing, includes 91 games that range from older titles like Dead Space 2 to newer releases like Titanfall 2 and Mass Effect: Andromeda, for as long you stay an Access member. Members also get a flat 10 percent discount on game purchases, a monthly free game to keep with your membership, and the ability to download and play new EA releases before release date.

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3

GOG.com

GOG, formerly known by its full name Good Old Games, runs a strict no DRM policy. DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a system used by platforms like Steam and Origin to control access to your downloaded games by requiring an online authentication. GOG simply lets you download the game's EXE file in your browser from their website, no frills and no strings attached. The files can be copied and backed up as much as you like, for every game the platform sells, and are always accessible offline.

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4

itch.io

Itch.io has a strange name but a great premise: a place for independent PC game developers to sell their work with a pay-what-you-want model. Some games come with minimum prices, but you can pay more than this amount to help support the creators. Many free games are also available, which you can pay nothing or as much as you want for. Itch.io does offer some indie titles you can find on Steam, like Chuchel, but most of what you'll see are amateur efforts by aspiring developers and a lot of odd stuff. You won't find David Lynch Teaches Typing anywhere else (probably).

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5

GamersGate

Gamersgate is the oldest Steam alternative on our list, and offers many of the same high-profile releases you'll find on Steam. Resident Evil 7, Far Cry 5, Ni No Kuni II and more are all on offer either through their website or their downloadable client. And similar to GOG, Gamersgate provides all of its games free of DRM restrictions.

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6

Blizzard Battle.net

While the catalog is limited to eight games from a single publisher, Battle.net offers the standard complement of a friends list, chat function, links to the official game forums and automatic patching. You can also stream your gameplay to Facebook and keep tabs on the Overwatch League esports initiative via Twitch streams of tournaments, information about upcoming events and team stats.

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7

Epic Games

Steam has now got some serious competition from the house behind Fortnite. In December 2018, Epic launched the Epic Games Store, a PC gaming marketplace that will stand out from the bunch by offering developers 88 percent of all sales revenue -- a significantly higher cut than what most competitors offer.

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