Steam, it can power engines and burn the fingertips off of tiny Italian children. However, it can also be the name of a very popular online marketplace that gamers spend hundreds of dollars on each December! Yes, Steam is a very delightful place to get full-priced games on sale, or maybe even buy movies and software as of recently. But in an online world dominated by the big websites such as Amazon, Steam, and CatFancy.org, sometimes gamers want something a little bit different. So this editorial will cover three other online marketplaces to buy video games on in case someone is feeling a little adventurous.
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First up to slam-dunk is Itch.io, a popular marketplace that centers in on indie games ranging from the…popularity of titles like Gone Home to games that one would see on Steam Greenlight except fully “developed.” One thing that is very nice about Itch.io is the plethora of free indie games up for the taking, and while not all are sure to winners there is a surprising amount of games that one can enjoy if they look in the correct places. Another plus is that most of the games are not super graphically intensive like AAA games would be so they are very accessible to computers of almost all shapes and sizes. The website also has a simple desktop app so no bookmarks are needed, and the games sold are DRM-free which is always nice. So, if one is in the mood for an avant-garde gaming experience, Itcho.io is the place to go.
GOG will also put your games in a retirement home once they get too old.
Second to get a birdie is GOG, also known as Good Old Games, which offers games of yester-year to gamers of todayer-today? This website is fantastic for those who find legal/easier solutions to playing games of the past like Sam & Max Hit the Road or Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Not only older games, GOG also offers some current games as well and does so without DRM which could also lead to an advantage on Steam if that suits the gamer’s fancy. Another fantastic benefit of shopping on GOG is that it regularly offers games at the same price at other online marketplaces but with more additions such as soundtracks, concept art, or developer commentaries. GOG ain’t messin’ around when it comes to added goodies because they will shove those soundtracks down the customer’s throat, and they will enjoy the added bonuses. Not to forget that GOG has a generous 30-day money back guarantee so if someone does not enjoy their game, they are not tied to it. As for a desktop client, GOG offers the delightful GOG Galaxy which is a light-weight app that looks as good as it operates.
The sales, the sales, the sales will tell!
Last to leave the frying pan and enter the fire is Humble Store, which is the online marketplace that is run by the same folks that run Humble Bundles. One of the best perks that Humble Store has to offer is that 5% of a given purchase is donated to Child’s Play, an organization that helps children in hospital and domestic violence shelters. Customers can also choose to donate another 5% to Child’s Play (which would be 10% total) or 5% to their own Humble Wallet which would be used on their next purchase in the Humble Store. Those who have subscribed to Humble Monthly, Humble’s monthly service that gives subscribers a collection of video games) also get a 10% discount on all Humble Store purchase, leading to oodles of savings! Humble Store also offers a unique “Build Your Own _____ Bundle,” where customers can arrange games from different developers and the more they add the cheaper the games become, leading to incredible savings of being able to add two or more titles for only an added $2. Unfortunately though, Humble Store does not have a desktop client as of this editorial’s publication, but others can dream.
So that was it for this editorial all about different websites to buy your video games aside from Steam. What marketplaces do you use and/or recommend? Have you sworn off Steam because of DRM, or do you not really mind as long as it never interferes with you being able to play? Make sure to leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
