Rare maybe yes, but the problem is that even just few exceptions means I can't just blindly skip or delete all "patch_*" files, because some of them are still relevant.

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/gogrepopy_python_script_for_regularly_backing_up_your_purchased_gog_collection_for_full_offline_e/post2438

Of course if they are rare enough, one could make a separate bash (maybe awk would work for this) or python script that removes entries from the gogrepo manifest file after "update", and takes input from a file like:

Remove:
+ patch_*
Except:
- patch_dragon_age_origins_ultimate_*
- patch_giana_sisters_rise_of_the_owlverlord_*
- patch_trine_enhanced_edition_*
Remove:
+ *_russian_*
Except:
- setup_russian_roulette_the_megalomaniac_version_*
- setup_russian_revolution_simulator_*
Remove:
+ *_ru_*
Except:
- setup_ru_ru_the_japanese_game_with_a_funny_name_containing_ru_*

And so on and so forth... Then you could use that edited manifest file for gogrepo download, clean and verify afterwards. I guess it would have to be re-applied whenever you run update though, as the entries you removed get back to the manifest file at that point.

The separate script should log which files exactly it removed so that you can more easily tell if it removed files it shouldn't have. Still, managing the list might be quite a lot of work if related files change often, but I guess it could be a community effort...

Oh well, such is life, constantly struggling with dilemmas ahead of you.

Yes, I agree it's a headache. The russian stuff are not that many to bother. The patches are huge, I once removed a few hundred GB of patches. I'm now checking which games don't have the latest version inside the standalone installer. I already made a ticket for trine and will try to raise the issue about the others aswell to GOG staff. Maybe we get some resolution.

1. 418 games vs library size of 769.53 GB
(thank you! I haven`t got a clue before your post)
2. 2TB HDD ; USB 2.0 ; external drive with fair case, named Astronauta :D (10yrs old in great shape)
3. No, it turns out I`ve only downloaded about 1/3 and played 1/2 of games collected here.
Games are in top 5 of my ways to lost mind for an hour or few, it need to be easy to download and in line with tech spec and... look interesting e.g. calling, install me...install me... I will show you different worlds, take me with you and I will take you with me..., play me... some games have this something that is pulling you to play it
4. It is varies, for some gems I adore, all possible content is going to be checked,
Got Ubuntu on a stick and
Kali:P Linux at hand but
for games using windows 10 on lenowo, call me mainstream watcher lol
I support ideologically games for linux, like 8 years ago I made boot start with menu for five different systems on a same hard drive and same machine (intelnvidiatoshiba based creature) win xp + win 7+ Mac OS X 10.6 + Ubuntu 10.04 + DiagSystem, all thanks to hardware compatibility and thanks to the option to hide the partition with the old system before installing the new one
5. When a game is compatible with system and hardware, there is no need to update anything! neither system or game, you can literally freeze in time your machine and call it pc no more, as it just becomes arcade everlasting monster :D but for this type of archive a good number of machines is needed, and a fair size gaming room : ) Some of us have this patience to run game in any conditions with help of external software by all necessary means, for those no compatibility updates are necessary and for those updates of offline archive are not needed,
exempli gratia I am able to build a machine(physical or virtual) around a game rather than try to change a game making it compatible with new machine/system, it is mirrored in backup, I do not really update my backup, and what goes with it an automatic update of a game and especially automatic installation of dlc`s are not my cup of tea either, as long as there are options there is happiness or something close to ^
6. To calculate my lib size I read this post thanks all!
7. However it sounds, use cable :D, my bandwidth jumped from 5.5 to 13MB/s real download speed redistributed by a router.
It will save you time and waves and stabilise connection better for this massive task.

Great topic! Good luck Maniacs!
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