Here are some of the best PC game download platforms currently available. Steam hosts thousands of titles, including most major releases, the exception being some EA titles that are exclusive to EA’s completing platform Origin. Valve has also developed games that are exclusive to Steam, such as Dota 2, the Left 4 Dead series, and Counter-Strike. Steam provides digital distribution for many independent developers and their games, some of which have become successful titles that would not have seen the light of day without such a platform. In the early days, many gamers were resistant to Steam. Many didn’t like the fact that some physical game copies still required the Steam client to play them. This complaint has dwindled as more and more companies embrace digital rights management and the always-online format. Like many brick-and-mortar retailers, Green Man Gaming offers a rewards program that provides incentives for frequent customers. Gamers can earn rewards through new purchases or trade-ins of digital purchases. Green Man Gaming also offers credit towards future purchases through friend referrals and user reviews of games. Finally, through their social media platform Playfire, Green Man Gaming offers an additional rewards program that allows players to earn credits towards purchases by linking their Steam account to Playfire. Through their rewards programs, competitive pricing, and its third-party referral program, Green Man Gaming has become a trusted service for serious PC gamers and a formidable competitor for Steam. GamersGate provides many of the same games found on Steam and Green Man Gaming. Unlike those services, GamersGate does not require the use of a client to download and play. Instead, it uses a small program that opens a download client to download the game files to your local PC. Once the download is complete, the micro download program can be deleted and the game installed as if you had purchased a physical copy of the game. If a game uses Steam DRM, however, there may be a requirement to install Steam. Much like Green Man Gaming, GamersGate provides discounts and incentives for purchasing games, including Blue Coins, a virtual currency that serves as a rewards program. Blue coins are earned through purchases, reviews, pre-orders, and user-created game guides. GamersGate also offers what they call unlimited DRM, where they provide you with unlimited activation codes or serial keys. GOG.com has released its own client known as GOG Galaxy, which serves as a storefront and download manager. All games on the platform retain their DRM-free status. In addition to DRM-free games, GOG.com offers a money-back guarantee that allows customers to return games within the first 30 days. GOG.com has also expanded its service to include Mac and Linux games. The service provides extra downloadable content for games, such as wallpapers and manuals. GOG.com has a dedicated fan base and is the go-to service for those looking to play classic games. Origin contains some third-party games and a large catalog of older EA titles. It also allows users to register or add non-digital retail copies of EA games released after 2009. Blizzard also offers Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone games, as well as older legacy titles like Diablo II, WarCraft III, and StarCraft. While it sports one of the smallest libraries of games, it is one of the most used digital gaming platforms due to the immense popularity of these franchises.
