ssokolow:

helpo1: ...

mrkgnao: 1. I have never installed the steam client (I don't like GUI clients, or GUI interfaces in general). I use a command-line tool called SteamCMD (like a dumbed down gogrepoc, which is what I use for GOG) to download and install games, which I then backup. I play only from the backups (just like I do for GOG). I don't consider command-line tools to be clients, as they are essential for being able to maintain one's library updated. I don't believe it's feasible to maintain it manually via a web browser, not for large libraries such as mine, so having that option on GOG is pretty meaningless for me.

2. As for knowing whether a game is fully client-free ahead of time, it is indeed an issue (as it is for GOG games too, to a lesser degree). There are lists that people maintain of such games, but they are woefully incomplete. I looked at them initially, but don't bother any more. It's my experience that only a small portion of steam games cannot be played without the client (i.e. the vast majority can). Of the ~100 games I bought on steam, only three (3) proved unplayable without a client. That's a much lower percentage than that of games I bought and then abandoned because I ended up not liking them. So my impression is that while it is a valid theoretical issue, it is not --- for me --- a practical one. Mind you, I'm not really interested in AAA games, many of which are presumably DRM-protected, but then these are not for the most part available on GOG either.

3. When I say client-free, I don't necessarily mean client-free out of the box. In my limited sample, about 60% are so out of the box, the rest requiring some trivial non-game-specific modification (see below).

4. I use two tools to modify steam games that are not client-free out of the box:
- The goldberg DLLs (a pair of DLLs (32-bit and 64-bit) that replace the game's corresponding steam_api/_api64 DLLs, to remove client dependencies, such as achievements or multiplayer, not related to DRM)
- The steamless program (an application that removes basic steam DRM from game exes)

5. My procedure for testing a steam game:
- try it as is; if works, done (about 60%)
- if not, try the goldberg DLL; if works, done (about 25%)
- if not, try steamless, with/without goldberg; if works, done (about 10%)
- if not, give up and delete the game from my steam library (only 3 so far, all of them fairly big AA titles) --- if possible, get a refund

6.
SteamCMD can be found here: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD
Goldberg can be found here: https://mr_goldberg.gitlab.io/goldberg_emulator/
Steamless can be found here: https://github.com/atom0s/Steamless/releases

Syphon72: My experience has always been different getting games to work with Goldberg. It's been hit and miss for me. I'm curious about what games you are buying.

Thank you for the comparison list as well.

mrkgnao: You're welcome.

Here are a some games that became client-free for me after adding Goldberg (I have played all, except the last one):
- Tell Me Why
- Labyrinthine Dreams
- Fae Tactics
- Rollers of the Realm
- Glass Masquerade (1 and 2)
- Ticket to Earth
- Card Quest
- The Solitaire Conspiracy
- Disgaea PC (haven't played this one yet, just tested that it launches and reaches the main menu)

There were additionally games that required Steamless + Goldberg, like:
- Hitman GO
- Grotesque Tactics Evil Heroes

mrkgnao: I definitely prefer indie games over AA or AAA games. None of the three games you list holds any interest for me --- I probably wouldn't buy any of them, even for a buck.