# GOG 250 Hacker News commenters recommended GOG and 49 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Recommended for DRM-free games with offline installers you can download, back up and keep without a client, though critics cite strict curation, a smaller catalog and occasionally broken ownership promises. ## Why people recommend it - Offline installers, no client required (10 comments): "My favourite thing about GOG is that it uniquely does not demand that you install their software, instead letting you download installers straight from the website." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47508404)) "Buy from GoG instead. It's better. At least you can download the install files and don't need to install any 3rd party software to login to play them." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46314532)) "it uniquely does not demand that you install their software, instead letting you download installers straight from the website" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47517130)) - DRM-free games (7 comments): "GOG.com treats you well wrt cloud/privacy/etc. All games they sell are drm-free and can be downloaded, installed and played offline." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47228927)) "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly, as it is the most future-proof option" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816)) "every game you purchase through their platform is DRM free and they go to a lot of effort to preserve retro titles" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48758360)) - Back up and truly own games (7 comments): "With GOG you can download the games's installer, vy backing up those you can still install your games even if you get banned" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46314949)) "I love GOG, and prefer a DRM-free digital copy for PC that I can backup redundantly, as it is the most future-proof option" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48752816)) "all of my downloaded games and installers should be copyable to another PC relatively easily (so far this has worked 100%)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49139142)) - Retro games and preservation focus (4 comments): "every game you purchase through their platform is DRM free and they go to a lot of effort to preserve retro titles" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48758360)) "I am also happy to buy more old games from GOG than I ever have the time to play, so they already get my money." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46500457)) "GOG is saying a lot of the right things in terms of Game Preservation being a long term goal for them" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46826662)) ## What people warn about - Strict curation turns developers away (2 comments): "they are very selective: Unlike Steam or Itch, you have to convince them that it's worth their while to sell your game" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48767183)) "I've seen multiple developers of games that I like, saying that they've given up on GOG because of the curation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48767738)) - Ownership promises sometimes broken (4 comments): "GOG still has the right to revoke your license, effectively making your "offline installer" no different" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46431068)) "DRM-free ala GOG doesn't even allow used sales, as your game ownership is still tied to an account" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49193327)) "there have been two games where the "it's your game, offline installer" promise was broken on Gog" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46423257)) - Smaller, niche catalog than Steam (2 comments): "GoG is the alternative that proves the rule - it is smaller, but they have their niche offering." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47509094)) "there's also DRM free ones like GOG so PC gamers have choice, but those feel niche mostly" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48936509)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Steam](https://hackerapproved.com/p/steam.md): 716 recommend - [itch.io](https://hackerapproved.com/p/itch-io.md): 39 recommend - [Epic Games Store](https://hackerapproved.com/p/epic-games-store.md): 37 recommend - [Humble Bundle](https://hackerapproved.com/p/humble-bundle.md): 20 recommend - [PlayStation Store](https://hackerapproved.com/p/playstation-store.md): 6 recommend ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.gog.com/en/) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "GOG", https://hackerapproved.com/p/gog/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).