Hey, everybody! This thread is meant to provide an updated link to the database of DRM-free Steam games. The old thread was getting pretty outdated, so everyone thought it would be a good idea to update it a little bit. The list of games can be found here:

http://steam.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games

WHAT IS DRM?
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management, and is commonly seen as the system or systems that require extra steps to be able to run software like games, Adobe products, Windows itself, etc. Current DRM schemes usually involve validating files online, and they were created in order to prevent -- or at least to slow down -- piracy, but I think we're all aware that that doesn't work. In the end, DRM does nothing but restrict and confine paying customers. GOG's anti-DRM policy is why it has become such a beloved website, but there are some companies that just won't budge away from Steam. That's why we've worked so hard to keep this list updated.

STEAM IS NOT DRM!
A common (and understandable) misconception is that the Steam client itself is DRM, but this isn't true. Valve gives developers and publishers several DRM options which they can implement if they so choose, but choices are exactly that; absolutely nothing is required. Whether a Steam game has any restrictions or not is up to the individual companies, and keeping track of the ones that are DRM-free -- some having even been confirmed as such by the developers themselves -- is why we have this list.

WHY KEEP THIS LIST?
I don't know about you, but I still play the NES and DOS games with which I grew up. There will be times when services like Steam will not be available, or they could even shut down completely. This list exists to make sure we know which Steam games will NEVER be a problem to run in the future, at least not because of DRM in the games themselves. Essentially, we want to keep track of the Steam games over which the paying customer has complete, unrestricted control.

ABOUT THESE GAMES
Every game listed here can be run without the Steam client even being installed anymore after the game is downloaded. In these cases, Steam is used as the method of distribution and nothing else; the games are essentially portable programs once they're on your hard drive. These particular games have no restrictions whatsoever, and can be copied/pasted to any number of machines or external drives and played without any network connections present.

HOW TO TEST STEAM GAMES FOR DRM
Checking Steam games for DRM is a simple process: Just rename your main Steam program file and try to run a game. If the game runs, then it's DRM-free, and it does not require Steam at all. If it doesn't run, then it's dependent upon Steam or some other third-party DRM. An even better way of testing would be to copy the game folder to a totally different machine, but I understand that this may be difficult for a lot of people. In my experience, renaming the main Steam program file should suffice. Keep in mind, however, that renaming the main Steam program file will ONLY work to check for Steam DRM, and third-party restrictions may be missed; moving the game to an entirely different system really is the best way to check, if possible.

If you discover a DRM-free Steam game that isn't on this list, please leave a comment with the game title and the operating system on which it was tested. We'll all love you forever!

Thank you for taking the time and stating the facts (some users just don't understand). However I have one additional note: just because you can run the game without the steam client does not mean that it is DRM-free. It still might contain third party DRM as well. So the only possibility to make sure a game is completely DRM-free would be to copy it to a completely other PC-System. The way you decribed can only be used to make sure that it runs without the Steam client present.

Has anyone tested to find out if Quake 3 Arena works when removed from steam? I need my quake fix after so many years of blowing people to shit in unreal tournament haha.


And thanks for the list boss!

Try running it with ioquake3.

Dude I love you that is all.

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection can be added to the list.

Also, older id games that use Dosbox -- Doom, Hexen, etc.

They are already in the list.

I want to say thank you too for this list. I never expected that there are DRM free games on Steam too. Thanks to all for keeping the list up-to-date!

Real Boxing runs without steam. It even shows the achievements when you unlock them.

Thanks for making the new thread, and +1 for the fantastic opening post!

How long do y'all figure it will be until someone comes in and argues that there is no such thing as a DRM free game on Steam?

Reminder: Steam is DRM.

^ Minutes.

I think that pedrovay2003 lost an opportunity to name the new thread to something different, so there wouldn't be people that debated every once in a while whether Steam carries DRM-Free games or not.

OK, i'll play :-P

Tested on a different PC without STEAM, seem to play fine:

B-17 Flying Fortress Mighty 8th
Bit Dungeon 2
Evoland
Fist of Jesus
Planet Stronghold
Syder Arcade
Year Walk
Zen Bound 2

DOSBOX games, also tested OK on different PC:

1942 Pacific Air War
Across the Rhine 1944
Task Force 1942

IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 works too, but I have plenty of mods, so do not know if standard game will be OK.

Valkyria Chronicles Work on STEAM PC with steam.exe renamed, but not on different PC. Maybe it need some other things to install, as VB or some dll, OR it has another DRM.

However you put, or name, or try to spin it, if I want a game off steam I need to install their client, or some similar software (Jmich pointed that out the other day). I am not able to just, by using my already available browser, download the games as stand-alone archives ready for offline install. It may not be DRM, but it is still an unacceptable impediment to some, including myself who will not even use GOG Downloader.