GOG
Digital PC game store that sells DRM-free games with downloadable offline installers.
Liked for DRM-free games with offline installers1234 that you can download, back up and keep for life.567 The most common caveat is that it trails Steam on convenience,8910 especially easy online co-op and Linux or Steam Deck support.111213
Why people recommend it
DRM-free installers · 3
Commenters value buying DRM-free games and downloading standalone installers.
“GOG will let you download DRM-free installers”
“But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.”
Show 1 more
“I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again”
Lasting ownership · 3
Downloads can be kept for life and backed up, unlike stores where you lease games.
“I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.”
“I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly”
Show 1 more
“That’s why I’ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library”
Liked company · 3
Commenters like GOG and its mission and hope it competes with Steam.
“from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.”
“I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them”
Show 1 more
“I used to love gog.”
Caveats and dissent
Online co-op · 2
Commenters turn to Steam for easy online co-op and working multiplayer.
“I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them”
“I used to love gog.”
Linux, Steam Deck · 2
Getting GOG games working on Steam Deck takes more effort, and Valve leads on Linux support.
“I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.”
“I used to love gog.”
Ease of use · 2
Commenters find it slightly less user-friendly than Steam, with a smaller library.
“But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.”
Game updates · 1
One commenter says half their GOG library no longer runs on their hardware because games aren't updated.
Cloud saves · 1
Reduced cloud save storage forced one user to delete old saves and go back to Steam.
“I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again”
Sometimes pricier · 1
Games are sometimes a bit more expensive than on Steam.
“But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.”
Often compared with
Threads where it came up
- GOG is getting acquired by its original co-founder: What it means for you 4 mentions
- Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc 2 mentions
- The new owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and Nightdive 2 mentions
- The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80% 1 mention
- Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation 1 mention
- Show HN: European alternatives to Google, Apple, Dropbox and 120 US apps 1 mention
Data: gog.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 11
“That’s why I’ve been shifting over to GOG and making sure to back up my library”
“GOG will let you download DRM-free installers”
“I mostly buy from gog because they give your the download to keep for life.”
“I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly”
“I love GOG”
“from what I know of their mission, I like it. I hope they become a worthy competitor to Steam.”
“I love GOG and buy a lot of games through them”
“I then gradually switched to GOG, sometimes buying things again”
“I love it to be honest, and I think that's how it should be”
“I used to love gog.”
“But getting DRM free games is worth every penny and extra few moments.”