Steam 可能是PC 游戏中(biggest name in PC gaming)的佼佼者——拥有约 9500 万用户——但它并不是唯一的选择。在购买 PC 游戏方面,有许多替代Steam的选择,其中一些客观上更好。
在本文中,我们将介绍八家最好的在线商店来满足您的游戏需求。也要时刻注意交易,因为很多这些替代品也像Steam一样有很好的销售。
GOG,前身为Good Old Games,是CD Projekt的子公司。是的,巫师(Witcher)和即将到来的赛博朋克 2077(Cyberpunk 2077)背后的公司。正如CD Projekt有许多面向消费者的政策一样,GOG.com也是如此。
该网站是老派游戏玩家的金矿。它提供了经典游戏的更新和现代化版本,其中许多曾经需要DOSBox才能正常运行。游戏本身也都是无 DRM 的(DRM-free)。这意味着您可以将它们下载到 CD 并将 CD 放入 50 年后的驱动器中,它们仍然可以工作。
GOG Galaxy 2.0是该平台的管理系统,允许游戏玩家将来自不同平台的帐户链接到一个单一来源。您可以在一处查看任何兼容的 Steam、Epic Games Store,甚至Xbox和PlayStation游戏。
GOG也有频繁的销售,其中许多折扣高达90%。如果您正在寻找经典游戏(并且您关心DRM免费游戏),GOG.com值得一试。
Humble Store最出名的是Humble Bundles(Humble Bundles),这是遵循固定主题的定期游戏集合,通常以大幅折扣提供。Humble Bundles最初是一个按需付费的系统,购买的东西都捐给了慈善机构,大量的游戏只需几美分就可以买到。
然而,有一个传统的店面形式为Humble Store。您可以购买任何当前可用的捆绑包(其中许多包括电子书、创作者的免版税音乐和各种软件),但您也可以购买单个游戏。Humble Store经常销售,因此请留意潜在的节省。
当您购买游戏时,通常会收到Steam的密钥,尽管有一些直接下载。如果您正在寻找传统的每月Humble Bundle,它仍然可用:一个随心所欲的系统,每月费用从 15 美元到 20 美元不等。
您还可以访问Humble Trove,这是一个可供订阅者使用的 90 多个无 DRM 标题的集合。只需(Just)下载它们并永久保存,即使您取消订阅。这是支持您的图书馆的一种极好的、快速的方式。或者你的积压。
厌倦(Tired)了游戏行业的现状?您(Are)是否正在寻找更多打破规则的创新游戏,可能是因为他们不知道规则?Itch.io是关于独立游戏的。Steam的这个替代品有成千上万的游戏可用,其中许多是完全免费的。
当然,您最终可能会涉足齐腰深的铲子海洋,但有很多隐藏的宝石可以发现,它们违背预期并提供前所未见的体验。Itch.io是当开发人员可以自由地在没有任何监督的情况下创建他们想要制作的游戏时发生的事情。(create games they want to make)
许多最初在Itch.io上发布的游戏已经进入了更主流的平台,包括Night in the Woods、A Short Hike,甚至Celeste。如果您资金紧张或想尝试一些偏离传统游戏规则的东西,请尝试该网站。
您可以按热门(Popular)、畅销、评分最高(Top)等类别进行排序,然后您可以根据“可爱”、“浪漫”和“动漫”等标签进一步细分游戏。(Top)许多游戏都是免费的,但有些游戏要 20 美元左右。
Green Man Gaming是Steam密钥的知名网站之一,但您可能不知道的是,您还可以获得Origin和Uplay等服务的密钥。虽然销售频繁,但Green Man Gaming(或GMG)上的许多游戏都符合标准零售定价。
另一方面,您可以注册他们称为XP 计划的忠诚度计划(XP Program)。购买游戏时,您将获得奖励或 XP。获得(Earn)足够的 XP,您可以升级到不同的等级,包括青铜(Bronze)、白银(Silver)和黄金(Gold)。每个级别都会奖励不同的折扣、免费游戏等。
要记住的一件事是GMG不是无 DRM 的,(DRM-free)除非游戏是无 DRM 的(DRM-free)。公司遵守出版商制定的反盗版规则。没有专用客户端,因此您将下载您通过Steam或其他平台购买的任何商品。
Epic作为一家公司存在很多问题,平台上的反消费者排他性交易可以说很多。另一方面,没有人可以否认Epic提供的广泛选择和大量免费游戏。
它是业内最新的Steam替代品,但Epic在创建了(Epic)Unreal Engine以及Fortnite等游戏之后具有很大的影响力。由于(Due)相对年轻,Epic Games Store并没有像竞争对手那样完善其界面。浏览商店可能有点迟钝,一些用户声称它存在引起关注的大量隐私问题。
Epic已经获得了足够多的独家游戏,并定期提供高质量的免费游戏,值得一试,只要看看你能买到什么样的免费游戏。它不太可能很快与Steam竞争(如果有的话),但对于(Steam)预算有限的游戏玩家来说,它是一个不错的选择。(gamers on a budget.)
Windows 应用商店(Windows Store)内置于Windows 10(Windows 10)中,但也可以通过网站直接访问。标题的选择由Microsoft策划,并且比此列表中的许多其他条目更有限。但是你可以找到像战争机器(Gears of War)和极限竞速(Forza)这样的独家产品。
一些(但不是全部)游戏可以与(Some—but)Xbox交叉游戏并分享存档和成就。Windows Store中的大多数最佳选项也可以通过Xbox Game Pass获得,但如果您更喜欢使用鼠标和键盘而不是手机玩游戏,您也可以找到流行手机游戏的 PC 版本。
似乎每个大公司都想要自己的数字店面,育碧(Ubisoft)也不例外。Uplay充当一种社交中心和店面,奖励购买或使用俱乐部单位完成“经典(Club Units)挑战(Challenges)”的玩家。然后可以将这些单位换成游戏内物品,例如角色服装,以折扣代码供未来购买。
如果你玩 Ubisoft 游戏,你可能已经有一个Uplay帐户。大多数游戏都需要您创建一个才能玩,即使是通过Steam购买的游戏。尽管Uplay与Steam配合得很好,但玩 Ubisoft 的任何游戏都需要它,因为许多反作弊客户端都通过Uplay运行。
Uplay 值得一试,因为它经常提供其他店面无法提供的折扣,有时还有热门游戏的免费游戏期,让玩家有机会在决定购买之前尝试游戏。
Fanatical的开端类似于 Humble Bundle:它以令人难以置信的价格提供大量游戏。它最初的名称是Bundle Stars,但后来改名为Fanatical ——但它仍然具有同样优惠的价格。
Fanatical提供游戏捆绑包,折扣高达原价 99%。个别标题也可以以极低的折扣找到。除了游戏,Fanatical还销售电子书和教育材料。
Fanatical也有Star Deal,通常是特价游戏的特色游戏。当您购买游戏时,您将在您购买它的任何商店收到它的钥匙。您还可以在此处找到无 DRM 的游戏。
8 Alternatives to Steam For Buying PC Games Online
Steam may be the biggest name in PC gaming—with some 95 million users—but it isn’t the only option. There are numerous alternatives to Steam for buying PC games, some of which are objectively better.
In this article, we’ll go through eight of the best online stores to satisfy your gaming fix. Always be on the lookout for deals too, as a lot of these alternatives also have great sales just like Steam.
GOG, formerly known as Good Old Games, is a subsidiary of CD Projekt. Yes, the company behind The Witcher and the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077. Just as CD Projekt has numerous consumer-forward policies, so does GOG.com.
The site is a gold mine for old-school gamers. It provides updated and modernized versions of classic games, many of which once required DOSBox to operate properly. The games themselves are also all DRM-free. This means that you can download them to a CD and pop the CD into a drive 50 years from now and they’ll still work.
GOG Galaxy 2.0, the platform’s management system, allows gamers to link their accounts from different platforms all to a single source. You can see any compatible Steam, Epic Games Store, and even Xbox and PlayStation games all in one place.
GOG also has frequent sales, many of which reach discounts up to 90% off. If you’re looking for classic games (and you care about DRM free titles), GOG.com is worth checking out.
The Humble Store is best known for the Humble Bundles, periodic collections of games that follow a set theme and are usually available at a steep discount. Humble Bundles got their start as a pay-what-you-want system where the purchases went to charity and huge numbers of games could be had for pennies.
However, there is a traditional storefront in the form of the Humble Store. You can purchase any currently-available bundles (many of which include eBooks, royalty-free music for creators, and a variety of software), but you can also purchase individual games. The Humble Store has frequent sales, so keep an eye out for potential savings.
When you purchase a game, you typically receive a key for Steam, although there are some direct downloads. If you’re looking for the traditional monthly Humble Bundle, that’s still available too: a pick-what-you-want system that costs anywhere from $15 to $20 per month.
You can also access the Humble Trove, a collection of more than 90 DRM-free titles that are available to subscribers. Just download them and keep them forever, even if you cancel your subscription. It’s a great, fast way to bolster your library. Or your backlog.
Tired of the current state of the games industry? Are you seeking more innovative titles that break the rules, possibly because they don’t know the rules? Itch.io is all about indie titles. There are thousands of games available on this alternative to Steam, many of which are totally free.
Sure, you may end up wading through a waist-deep sea of shovelware, but there are plenty of hidden gems to be found that defy expectations and provide never-before-seen experiences. Itch.io is what happens when developers are given the freedom to create games they want to make without any oversight.
Many of the games that first launched on Itch.io have made their way to more mainstream platforms, including Night in the Woods, A Short Hike, and even Celeste. If you’re tight on cash or want to try something that strays from traditional gameplay formulas, give the site a try.
You can sort by categories like Popular, Top sellers, Top rated, and more — and then you can break games down farther based on tags like “Cute,” “Romance,” and “Anime.” Many games are free, but there are some that cost $20 or so.
Green Man Gaming is one of the better known sites for Steam keys, but what you might not know is that you can also get keys for services like Origin and Uplay. While there are frequent sales, many titles on Green Man Gaming (or GMG) comply with standard retail pricing.
On the other hand, you can sign up for their loyalty program called the XP Program. You’ll earn rewards, or XP, when you purchase games. Earn enough XP and you can level up into different tiers including Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level awards different discounts, free games, and more.
One thing to keep in mind is that GMG is not DRM-free unless the game is DRM-free. The company abides by the anti-piracy rules set forth by publishers. There’s no dedicated client, so you will download any purchases you make through Steam or another platform.
Epic has a lot of problems as a company, and there is a lot that can be said for anti-consumer exclusivity deals on the platform. On the other hand, no one can deny the breadth of options and the large number of free titles that Epic gives out.
It’s the newest alternative to Steam in the industry, but Epic has a lot of clout after creating the Unreal Engine as well as games like Fortnite. Due to its relative youth, the Epic Games Store hasn’t refined its interface to the same extent as its competition. Browsing the store can be a bit obtuse, and some users claim it has massive privacy problems that raise concerns.
Epic has secured enough exclusive titles and gives out high-quality free games regularly enough that it’s worth checking out, if only to see what sort of free games you can snag. It isn’t likely to compete with Steam anytime soon, if ever, but it’s a good alternative for gamers on a budget.
The Windows Store is built-in to Windows 10, but it can also be accessed directly through the website. The selection of titles is curated by Microsoft and is more limited than many of the other entries on this list. But you can find exclusives like Gears of War and Forza.
Some—but not all—titles are cross-play with Xbox and share saves and achievements. Most of the best options in the Windows Store can also be had through Xbox Game Pass, but you can also find PC versions of popular mobile games if you prefer to play with a mouse and keyboard rather than your phone.
It seems like every major company wants its own digital storefront and Ubisoft is no exception. Uplay acts as a sort of social hub and storefront in one, rewarding players for purchases or for completing “Classic Challenges” with Club Units. These Units can then be exchanged for in-game items like character outfits to discount codes for future purchases.
If you play Ubisoft games, you likely already have a Uplay account. Most games require you to create one to play, even those purchased through Steam. Although Uplay works nicely with Steam, it is required to play any Ubisoft game as many of the anticheat clients run through Uplay.
Uplay is worth checking out as it often offers discounts not available on other storefronts and sometimes has free-to-play periods for popular titles, giving players a chance to try the game before deciding to purchase.
Fanatical had a start similar to Humble Bundle: It offered large collections of games at incredible prices. It originally went by the name Bundle Stars, but later shifted to Fanatical—but it still has the same great prices.
Fanatical offers bundles of games for huge discounts up to 99% off their original price. Individual titles can also be found at steep discounts. In addition to games, Fanatical sells eBooks and educational materials, too.
Fanatical also has a Star Deal that is usually a specially featured game at a discounted price. When you purchase a game, you’ll receive a key for it on whatever store you buy it for. You can also find DRM-free games here.