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General discussionList of DRM-free video games digital distributors(315 posts) (315 posts) 
(315 posts) 
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 01, 2018
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LongitudinalThrust: They don't sell, but they certainly do distribute. They only have abandoned titles, so dosbox bait for the most part. It's where old timers got the good old games before GOG started selling them. Your call if that fits your list.
There are too many abandonware websites in the world.
While they do "digitally distribute DRM-free video games", I will not list them in this thread.
In fact, almost all abandonware are not legally redistributable.
Posted February 01, 2018
There are different levels of DRM-free-ness on the list. In particular:

* Steam does not advertise whether a game is DRM-free, so it is not a suitable choice for those who want to avoid DRM. Also, Steam provides its own form of DRM, meaning that any purchases there are funding DRM. Therefore, I consider this particular store to not be an option if you are anti-DRM (like I am).

* Humble Bundle still distributes a lot of DRM-encumbered games, but at least you can tell, before buying the game, whether it's DRM-free. Unfortunately, their bundles sometimes contain DRM-encumbered games that you can't avoid if you want higher-tier DRM-free games at the bundle rate. Also, the Humble Monthly doesn't let you choose which games you get, and there is no way to choose to get only DRM-free games.

* itch.io is better; most games there are, I believe, DRM-free. DRM-encumbered games aren't specifically forbidden, but I don't think they're encouraged, either. One thing I note about this site is the lack of curation; if you want a game that GOG has refused, this site might be a good place to look for a DRM-free version. Of course, this also means that there's also garbage on the site.

* GOG it ideal, as they have an explicit policy forbidden DRM. Hence, when buying a game from GOG, you know it has no DRM, and that your dollars aren't supporting DRM.
Posted February 01, 2018
You can throw in Playism, just be aware that they have some Steam-only titles.
Edit: And MangaGamer (can't get the link working) and
JAST USA for visual novels, but beware that those sites are NSFW.
Post edited February 01, 2018 by SCPM
Posted February 01, 2018
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SCPM: You can throw in Playism, just be aware that they have some Steam-only titles.
Playism's a good call. They've got a few games that are only available DRM free from there, namely Armored Hunter Gunhound EX, Touhou 14, and Kero Blaster. The site, itself is super slow and not particularly pleasant to use, but then... once you've bought the games you want, it doesn't particularly matter.

I would also add Mangagamer and Denpasoft to the list as DRM-free distributors. They both specialize in visual novels (and uh... a lot of those are 18+, so tread with caution if you're at work.) Some of the games on Mangagamer aren't DRM-free (the vast majority are -- they shifted to DRM free after some point in time), but yeah.
Posted February 01, 2018
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SCPM: You can throw in Playism, just be aware that they have some Steam-only titles.
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Chacranajxy: Playism's a good call. They've got a few games that are only available DRM free from there, namely Armored Hunter Gunhound EX, Touhou 14, and Kero Blaster. The site, itself is super slow and not particularly pleasant to use, but then... once you've bought the games you want, it doesn't particularly matter.

I would also add Mangagamer and Denpasoft to the list as DRM-free distributors. They both specialize in visual novels (and uh... a lot of those are 18+, so tread with caution if you're at work.) Some of the games on Mangagamer aren't DRM-free (the vast majority are -- they shifted to DRM free after some point in time), but yeah.
Yep, I was trying to add MangaGamer but the URL kept getting messed up. Didn't know about Denpasoft as well. I'll take a look at what they have, though I prefer titles like the 'When They Cry' games than the 18+ stuff.
Posted February 01, 2018
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Chacranajxy: Playism's a good call. They've got a few games that are only available DRM free from there, namely Armored Hunter Gunhound EX, Touhou 14, and Kero Blaster. The site, itself is super slow and not particularly pleasant to use, but then... once you've bought the games you want, it doesn't particularly matter.

I would also add Mangagamer and Denpasoft to the list as DRM-free distributors. They both specialize in visual novels (and uh... a lot of those are 18+, so tread with caution if you're at work.) Some of the games on Mangagamer aren't DRM-free (the vast majority are -- they shifted to DRM free after some point in time), but yeah.
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SCPM: Yep, I was trying to add MangaGamer but the URL kept getting messed up. Didn't know about Denpasoft as well. I'll take a look at what they have, though I prefer titles like the 'When They Cry' games than the 18+ stuff.
Denpasoft is an imprint of Sekai Project, though, they only carry the 18+ stuff for now. That means that most of it is crap, but the Grisaia games are a notable exception. They're very good. An uncensored version of G-Senjou no Maou, which is excellent, is coming to Denpasoft at some point.
Posted February 01, 2018
Don't get me wrong, i've said about curation being BS, but there is such a thing as asking what you want on the front of your store. I swear most of these are like itch.io with the newest java final projects on the front page. I like that they're being hosted, but your front should be what you're trying to get moving.

Then again, it could just be that some games only want to use the big stores and the heck with the rest, which i can understand as well. So, what should we make big next?
Posted February 01, 2018
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kbnrylaec: In the past, 99% of my digital downloaded legal games were GOG version.
Are Steam and Humble your other go-to stores now?
Posted February 01, 2018
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SCPM: You can throw in Playism, just be aware that they have some Steam-only titles.
Edit: And MangaGamer (can't get the link working) and
JAST USA for visual novels, but beware that those sites are NSFW.
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Chacranajxy: I would also add Mangagamer and Denpasoft to the list as DRM-free distributors. They both specialize in visual novels (and uh... a lot of those are 18+, so tread with caution if you're at work.) Some of the games on Mangagamer aren't DRM-free (the vast majority are -- they shifted to DRM free after some point in time), but yeah.
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amok: There are some on GamersGate, but they have that strange downloader thingy of theirs which may disqualify them. However, you can grab DRM free installers there by using SirPrimalforms old trick
ADDED
- PLAYISM
- MangaGamer.com
- JAST USA
- Denpasoft
- GamersGate

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tfishell: Are Steam and Humble your other go-to stores now?
Now I have games on Steam, Humble Bundle, FIREFLOWER, Zoom Platform, itch.io, and Denpasoft.
And, I make DRM-free backup for all of them.
Post edited February 01, 2018 by kbnrylaec
Posted February 01, 2018
There are some on GamersGate, but they have that strange downloader thingy of theirs which may disqualify them. However, you can grab DRM free installers there by using SirPrimalforms old trick
Posted February 01, 2018
Strategy first has some drm free games, though now they only do steam keys for new stuff.
Some Dec sites sell their own, longnbow games for instance.
Also retail cds dvds sometimes are drm free.
Posted February 01, 2018
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nightcraw1er.488: Strategy first has some drm free games, though now they only do steam keys for new stuff.
Some Dec sites sell their own, longnbow games for instance.
Also retail cds dvds sometimes are drm free.
Official website of Strategy First just redirected to Steam page now.
Longbow Games is ADDED, thank you!
Posted February 01, 2018
Can you link to the claim that GOG is the only DRM-free digital distributor of PC games? As such, it is not a correct claim, but:
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kbnrylaec: An GOG staff claimed that GOG was the only DRM-free digital distributor for PC games.
No, it is not.

- Steam
No, I am not joking. Steam do have many DRM-free games.
Once you downloaded those true DRM-free games, you can backup them as you like, and run the game everywhere without Steam client installed. [1]
I think it is important to note whether the service/store sells and supports the games as DRM-free products. Steam does not. Steam service is merely not forcing DRM over all their games but lets the publishers decide, but they offer tools for it (CEG) and also allow the use of third-party DRM, and if you have problems running some game "DRM-free", you can't expect any support from Valve (nor the publisher) because you were never promised they would work as such.

For that reason, I don't count Steam as a"DRM-free digital distributor", even if it has some games that can be used in such a manner. If you list Steam only as "well, they have some games where the DRM component is not used", then I guess you should list also e.g. EA Origin, as they have some DRM-free games as well.

But besides that, yes there are other stores too which offer DRM-free games. DotEmu also used to be one, but they closed their doors, as did Desura. Gamersgate even lists (or listed) some of its games as DRM-free, but it was a bit odd thing, you needed certain workarounds to make them so (ie. copy the game installation files from the temporary directory somewhere else before you exit the download client, or some such shit).
Posted February 01, 2018
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nightcraw1er.488: Strategy first has some drm free games, though now they only do steam keys for new stuff.
Some Dec sites sell their own, longnbow games for instance.
Also retail cds dvds sometimes are drm free.
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kbnrylaec: Official website of Strategy First just redirected to Steam page now.
Longbow Games is ADDED, thank you!
Another one swallowed by steam then, they had only been doing steam codes for a while now so no surprise.
Posted February 01, 2018
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kbnrylaec: An GOG staff claimed that GOG was the only DRM-free digital distributor for PC games.
No, it is not.

snip
Just a quick thanks for this - it's nice to have options :)
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionList of DRM-free video games digital distributors(315 posts) (315 posts) 
(315 posts)