Some of these services even allow you to downloadold MS-DOS games.
Here are some of the best PC game download platforms currently available.
Steam
Huge selection of titles.
Steam client works with non-Steam games.
Spotty customer service and technical support.
It was unveiled in 2002 and officially released in 2003.
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.
Green Man Gaming
Cool contests and giveaways.
Limited selection of older games.
Bare bones search feature.
Many games can be found with discounts of up to 75 percent off.
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.
GamersGate
Responsive customer service.
Lots of older games no found elsewhere.
Manual review process required for each purchase.
GamersGate is a Swedish-based digital distributor of PC games launched in 2006.
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.
If a game uses Steam DRM, however, there may be a requirement to install Steam.
Blue coins are earned through purchases, reviews, pre-orders, and user-created game guides.
GOG.com
Classic titles configured to run on modern machines.
Fair pricing and refund policies.
Limited selection of new releases.
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.
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
Electronic Arts
Early access to new releases.
Exclusive content for new EA games.
Origin rounds out the list of PC game digital distributors.
It was launched by Electronic Arts in 2011 as a competitor to Valve’s Steam.
Some popular EA game titles are available exclusively through Origin.
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.
Amazon Prime Gaming
Amazon
Great deals for Amazon Prime members.
Limited to newer titles.
That makes it a great alternative option for purchasing the latest and greatest titles.
Where Amazon is lacking compared to other digital distributors is with older titles.
Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard
Exclusive content forOverwatchand other Blizzard titles.
Small selection of free games.
Blizzard Battle.net app required to play most games.
No classic Blizzard titles like the originalDiabloorStarCraft.
Blizzard Entertainment first launched in 1994 with the release of a title calledBlackthorne.
For PC, the same year they releasedWarcraft: Orcs vs. (Overwatchis Blizzard’s first new game franchise since the original StarCraft was released in 1998.)
