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It can be rough trying to keep up with all the different PC game storefronts like Steam, GOG, and Epic. But, if you’re a fan of indie games, it’s worth adding itch.io to your list of regular haunts, and here are some reasons why.
What Is itch.io?
On its surface,itch.iois another digital games storefront offering games you may buy and download. However, unlikeSteam,GOG, andEpic, you won’t find a lot of (if any) AAA games there. That’s probably because itch.io offers DRM-free games (that’s Digital Rights Management, the software used to stop pirating). That means the game you download is what the developer uploaded to the service; there are no added copyright controls or spyware.
This means you don’t need to download a launcher to use itch.io, either. Just download the file and install the game wherever you want on your system.
What Makes itch.io Different From Steam?
Not only do you not need a launcher to play games on itch.io, but for many games, you don’t need to download anything at all because those titles can be played straight in the browser. This applies to all sorts of titles, from simple arcade games to complexvisual novels. This is great for when you’re using a computer that doesn’t belong to you or when you’re just impatient and want to play somethingright now.
itch.io has a much looser review process for uploaded games, that is, none at all. If you’re a game developer, you can make any game you want (provided it’s legal in your country) and upload it to be available to play immediately. As a player, this means the selection of titles can get pretty wild. If you can imagine it, there’s probably already a game for it on itch.io.
And those games aren’t just limited to being played on Windows, Apple, and Linux machines; you can findtitles for Android devices you can sideload, the handheldPlaydate system, and new games for vintage systems like the Commodore 64, Amiga and NES (emulators may be required).
What Are itch.io’s Best Features?
For many players, itch.io can be a great throwback to the early ‘00s internet, when Flash was taking off and in-browser gaming exploded. It has hundreds of thousands of titles, many of which don’t require a single download, so you’re able to jump between games quickly and easily.
And it’ssuper easy to find the right games for you on itch.io, thanks to the filters on the left side of the main games page. Not only can you search for things like systems and the number of players, but itch.io also lets you filter by accessibility features and average session length.
Accessibility features include things like whether a game is colorblind-friendly or features subtitles, while the average length will be a godsend for gamers who are short on time (or with a lot of time to fill). The fact that itch.io doesn’t require DRM or a launcher also means the site is great for players using older or under-powered PCs; it’s rare to download a game from itch.io and wonder if it’s playable on your particular setup.
What’s the Best Way to Use itch.io?
If you visit itch.io regularly, one must-do is to check the big charity sales posted on the front page. These are usually huge bundles of games you may grab for a low price, and they often include indie games that are popular all over the internet and not just itch.io, likeA Short Hike,Celeste, andFar From Noise. Not only can you snag many of these titles for even cheaper than a Steam sale, but your money will go to a good cause.
For game streamers (and aspiring streamers), itch.io is great for finding weird, low-cost-to-free games that will really make your channel stand out; check the front page as well as thelatest games pageregularly for new titles to play.
Overall, itch.io is a pretty laid-back site, so there is no real “wrong” way to use it, but it does help if you have something in mind when you open the site. It’s easy to get lost in the myriad of options, so making good use of the filters even when you’re just browsing will help keep things manageable.
