Wondering if online game store sites like G2A are a legitimate source for grabbing the latest game titles for a great price? Here’s everything you need to know about G2A and a quick look at some other great Steam alternatives online that are nothing short of a gamer’s safe haven.
Ever since the scientifically developed technology of artificial intelligence was domesticated into the personal computer, gaming has been in focus. We’ve certainly come a long way from the pixelated age of gaming that was brought upon by Asteroids and Tennis for Two in the 80’s, and as we progressed into the late 90’s the trend of offline multiplayer was in full swing. However, it wasn’t until the inception of Valve Corporation, and its now-popular Steam client that the course of PC gaming was changed forever.
In the year 2003, the Steam client started off as this bothersome application that users needed to have installed in order to play the revered Half-Life 2. The Steam client allowed players to connect with other online players for a multi-player gaming experience in real-time. Soon enough as the internet made its way to homes all across the United States, and then around the world, so did the reach of Steam increase by ten folds. Today, Steam stands as the most expansive digital game distribution marketplace.
Steam isn’t the only one – Sites like G2A exist too
More than a decade ago when the gaming industry was heavily invested in big-box retailers and gaming stores such as GameStop to get their products across to the customers, Steam reshaped the business model by taking the concept of buying games online and being able to play them instantaneously. Valve Corporation may have been the pioneer in the industry of online gaming, but it certainly isn’t perfect, which is apparent from the thousands of dissatisfied customers ranting about it on the community website.
Whether it is the fact that you don’t have much control over the games you buy from Steam that puts you off, or it’s the mediocre customer support you receive, there’s are plenty of reasons you’d want to check out sites like G2A and dozens of others that have gained recognition over the years. However, there’s a reason Steam is used by millions of gamers every day and has the support of the top developers in the business, so is it advisable to go forward with any other online game marketplace?
Why Steam alternative sites like G2A are worth a try
Depending on how many hours of your week you dedicate to gaming, you’ll seldom find the need to look for games elsewhere. However, the growing popularity of online game marketplaces apart from Steam stems from the following benefits they have to offer:
Games for cheap
The first and foremost reason why you would want to deviate from the mainstream channel of purchasing games online is to save some of that cold hard cash. Albeit Steam puts away a fair amount of games at a decent price during those yearly sales, they’re still priced at a premium most of the year. In comparison, alternative marketplaces offer game titles for a lower cost, since they are able to trim off some of the 30% revenue cut that Steam keeps for itself.
Indie game titles
Some of the most action-packed and invigorating game titles known to man have come from independent game studios. Although Steam has bolstered its support for independent developers in recent years, you can find some of the up and coming game studios on Steam. In fact, there are alternatives sites like Steam that focus specifically on independent games, making them stand apart from the rest.
Best game marketplace sites like Steam
Whether you’re an old-timer who has stuck with Steam right from the start or a rebel who is done with how Valve Corporation treats its customers – there’s more out there for you to discover. Here’s our personally curated list of the top game marketplace websites that are waiting to be uncovered, offering tons of benefits and steep discounts on the most popular titles available.
1. GOG Galaxy
You’d be a pariah in the gaming community if you don’t already know about CD Projekt, the talented game studio that is behind the Witcher series of adventure-packed open-world games. To start things off on the right foot, you should rest assured knowing that GOG (Good Old Games) comes as an initiative by CD Projekt that was rolled out as a game platform to showcase some of the old and forgotten gems that are hard to find online.
The online gaming marketplace has come a long way from its origins and stands today as a leading distributor of some of the most well-known mainstream titles and indie games. What makes GOG prominently different from Steam is that each and every game title offered here is 100% DRM-free. While this does limit the catalog of game titles offered by GOG, it keeps gaming simple and direct – the way it was always intended to be.
2. Green Man Gaming
Consider this online game marketplace as a free-trade zone for customers to look for games and actively compare the prices for which they are sold across different platforms. Green Man Gaming offers every major title that you can think of, and then the ones that you cannot find on Steam either. Similar to Steam, you can purchase titles from the same game studios or games that belong in the same genre as a bundle for greater discounts, along with a dedicated Indie games section for exclusive offerings.
What sets Green Man Gaming apart from the rest of the competitors out there is that it holds its very own special sales under the Hot Deals section where you can get popular titles for a fraction of the price. The platform comes with a direct refund policy where your money is safeguarded in case the key that you’re provided is faulty. Additionally, there are features such as the VIP section for early access to new titles and a student discount that you can avail online.
3. G2A
Consider this online marketplace as a free-for-all platform where sellers can openly offer games, subscription services, online gift cards, and so much more. G2A can be compared to an online buyer’s service such as eBay, where you can grab the best deals at astonishing prices, but it isn’t perfect by any means. Over the years, G2A has been home to some genuine sellers who get you the latest and greatest in gaming for a discounted price, but it has also been infested by some shady dealers who have given out fake or stolen game codes.
To curb these disingenuous activities on the platform, G2A has set up a protection plan where your money is always secure when you make a verified purchase. In our experience, you’ll usually end up getting a great deal on a popular game title with little to no problem as long as you stick to a trusted seller who has a track record on the platform.
4. Origin (EA Games)
When you’re a multi-million-dollar game studio with more than a dozen legacy game titles like The Need for Speed and FIFA to your name, you don’t need Steam to keep you afloat in the business. Managing its very own multiplayer client across PC, consoles, and even mobile platforms, Electronic Arts offers the Origin marketplace as a safe haven for those who want nothing more than what the game-studio has to offer.
You can expect the library of content to be fairly concise, with hundreds of game titles available for you to purchase and start playing right away. The main reason you would want to browse through Origin is for the large variety of demo games that you can try out before purchasing them, and the access to all of the EA Games exclusive content that is available only to Origin members.
5. Humble Bundle
For most of us gamers, Steam sales twice each year seem nothing less than Christmas coming early, with hundreds of games offered at a reasonably lower cost. But what if you ended up missing the Steam sale but don’t want to shell out the full amount for a game title? Humble Bundle brings you a service where you can either choose to get a single game at a steep discount or get a bunch of them together for a fraction of the price.
The DRM-free games sold over at the online distribution platform puts a special spotlight on the independent game developers, while still features big names in the game business such as Square-Enix and 2K every now and then. You can even subscribe to the monthly service that starts you off with 3 games and get a mystery game sent you each month just to keep things exciting.
6. Epic Games Store
Rising to popularity among the gaming community after the release of Fortnite Battle Royale, Epic Games has turned its game client into a full-blown marketplace. While the Epic Games Store is a premature baby in comparison to the Steam client with its thousands of game titles, but the fact that the platform is picking up exclusive titles right from the game studios is helping its popularity surge.
Albeit the game distribution platform is still pretty much a work in progress, but there is plenty of potential for growth now that its flagship game has helped popularize the brand. You certainly don’t get the vast library of content that you’ve come to expect from the top marketplace sites like G2A and others. However, the hand-picked list of games that are available on the Epic Games Store is easy to browse, and the platform is built for social interaction with built-in features and a dedicated chatbox.
Final Words
From being a growing pastime for the youth and adults of the developed nations to becoming a billion-dollar industry that has made its way even into the developing world – gaming has changed the way we entertain ourselves. For the pro-gamers out there, getting your hands on the latest game titles is similar to binge-watching the latest TV series online on Netflix, and they can’t seem to get enough of it. At the forefront of this growing business, has been the distribution platform of Steam, but the crowned champion is being contended for its top spot.
Whether it is the corporate greed that is forcing game studios such as Epic Games, EA Games, Bethesda, and Ubisoft to develop their very own game store services or the growth of sites like G2A that are giving out game titles for cheap, us gamers have plenty of ways to tickle our fancies. Which of these alternatives to Steam is you hooked on? Be sure to share your favorite down below in the comments section right now.
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