Origin is popular in the gaming community, offering access to Electronic Arts’ exclusive titles like FIFA, Battlefield, Need For Speed, and more AAA games. It also provides deals on older titles and the excellent Origin Access subscription, granting access to multiple games for a low fee of $4.99/month or $29.99/year. Digital game distribution is favored for its permanence compared to physical discs. However, Origin only offers EA’s titles digitally, limiting choices. If you seek alternatives for purchasing games digitally, here are the top 7 options:
1. Steam
Valve’s Steam, the largest game marketplace globally, reigns supreme in digital game distribution with over 15,000 titles. It boasts enticing deals, notably the annual Steam Summer Sale, offering further discounts.
Similar to Origin, Steam furnishes its app for seamless downloads of purchases. Often the primary platform for game releases, it excels in supporting game developers, rendering it their primary digital distribution channel. For extensive PC gaming options, Steam stands as the premier choice.
2. GOG
Good Old Games or GOG is a digital distribution website specializing in classic and old games from the 1980s. Amidst evolving technology, we often overlook the greatness of these old games. GOG offers access to childhood favorites, including games that were best sellers before many gamers today were born.
GOG’s interface resembles EA’s Origin. The platform focuses on offering games without digital rights management (DRM) and optimizes its catalog to run in DOSBox format, ensuring compatibility with modern machines.
3. ITCH.IO
While mainstream gaming holds its allure, particularly for multiplayer enthusiasts, there comes a point when the desire for something unique and quirky emerges. Enter the indie genre. Defined by distinctive thought processes, vibrant graphics, immersive gameplay, and unconventional perspectives, indie games offer a refreshing departure from the norm. For those seeking the cream of the indie crop, ITCH.IO stands as the ultimate destination. Specializing exclusively in the indie genre, ITCH.IO boasts an extensive catalog exceeding 60,000 titles.
EA Origin also focuses on indie games, but ITCH.IO takes that focus to a higher level. While ITCH.IO offers games focused on specific genres, it remains one of the top digital game distributors. Indie gaming deserves more promotion, and ITCH.IO seems to excel at it.
4. Green Man Gaming
While GOG concentrates on bringing classics to modern systems and ITCH.IO focuses on indie games, Green Man Gaming lacks such a focused approach. Nevertheless, it is currently the second-largest digital game distributor worldwide. How? The answer is simple: Deals, deals, and more deals. While Steam offers major sales once a year, Green Man Gaming has year-round sales on all its titles.
Perusing games in the library on Origin is effortless, a trait shared by Green Man Gaming. With a longstanding presence, Green Man Gaming appeals to thrifty gamers.
Your Green Man Gaming account also serves as a Playfire account, facilitating the sharing of gameplay achievements. While offering similar titles as its counterparts, Green Man Gaming stands out for its enticing deals.
5. Humble Store
Made famous for its ‘bundles’, the Humble Store is another Origin alternative for purchasing digital games online. While the video library is full of games linked to Steam, the Humble Store focuses primarily on DRM-free games. Furthermore, akin to Green Man Gaming’s marketing tactics, the Humble Store offers superb year-round sales.
The Humble Store donates 5% of all purchases to the Wikimedia Foundation. In addition to sales, like Origin, it also offers bundles that constitute most of their sales. If you’re looking to buy many games together, check out the bundles and offers here.
6. GamersGate
Mentioned before, Steam dominates digital game distribution. To compete effectively, uniqueness is essential. While many focus on discounts, GamersGate distinguishes itself with the Blue Coin, a virtual currency. Customers earn Blue Coins with every purchase and additional bonuses for community participation, such as reviewing games or assisting others. Blue Coins can substitute real currency for any digital purchase on the site.
Origin offers select games as part of Origin Access, requiring a paid membership, whereas GamersGate provides freebies to active members. Although GamersGate’s game catalog is smaller, its Blue Coin system rewards participation in the gaming community, allowing redemption for new games. Certainly worth a try.
Other Alternatives to Origin
While the mentioned websites should provide you with a plethora of games for PC, there are other portals that offer deals across titles not found on mainstream sites. Direct2Drive, once IGN’s game store, now operates independently, offering an alternative to digital game distribution. While it may not have the best deals, it still offers discounts on games not available elsewhere. Another alternative is the Windows Store, hosting most Windows platform games and some Xbox titles ported for PC.
Origin Alternatives
Origin offers AAA titles but is limited to Electronic Arts productions. For those seeking additional titles and preferring digital downloads, our list of the best Origin alternatives can be useful. Try them and share your preferred service in the comments below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
