Download 50+ Free Games From GOG and Itch.io This Month
This is a great time to expand your horizons and play other video games. The GOG – platform, formerly known as the Good Ol ‘Games, – and indie game store Itch.io conduct action “stay at home”, free playing dozens of games within the larger sales on their platforms. GOG Free Games are a special promotion as part of the current Spring Sale, and Itch.io Free and Discounted Games are the answer to the current need to stay at home.
The two collections combine to offer over 50 free games, creating a huge library of new games to try while you’re at home and adding to the already solid roster of free games available this week. GOG games will be available until March 30th. Itch did not set an end date for the sale, but given its purpose, I believe it may be on sale for a while.
As with Steam, you need to create an account in order to “buy”, download and play these games. If you are new to any of these platforms, it is not difficult to create an account. In GOG, simply click the Sign Up button, click Create Account and follow the instructions. On Itch.io, click the button labeled “Register” and do the same. Both platforms allow you to download games directly without downloading a launcher app, although I think GOG’s utility, GOG Galaxy , is pretty handy.
So … 50 games, huh? This is a pretty daunting number. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some guidelines based on the few I’ve played or heard of.
GWENT (GOG)
A collectible card game in the same vein as Magic: The Gathering or Hearthstone, Gwent was originally created as a spin-off to The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt and was so popular that it became a game in its own right. This challenging, deeply strategic game takes a lot of training, but is fun to play online against strangers, or better yet, a locked up friend.
It’s also worth noting that The Witcher III , a great RPG, is now 70% cheaper on GOG. Flip a coin, you understand?
Under the sky of steel (GOG)
Under the Sky of Steel , a 1994 point-and-click adventure game, is exactly what I expected to find in Good Old Games. It may not be as well known as King’s Quest or Monkey Island, but it is definitely part of a larger canon of point-and-click adventure games. If you’re an aspiring video game historian or love head-spinning puzzle games, this is worth checking out.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (GOG)
Another classic retro game featured prominently on GOG’s list of free games, it is one of the founding PC RPG franchises. Ultima IV . A S I understand this name is well known because it is not about fighting the bad guys, although you are a lot of that, but about being a good guy. The goal is to become “the embodiment of virtue,” so you need to be humble, merciful, and in every way the best version of a medieval hero. It was an incredible twist at the time, and to be honest, it still sounds new to this day.
Where water tastes like wine (Itch.io)
Where Water Tastes Like Wine is an interactive storytelling story. The action takes place during the Great Depression, you control a hitchhiker who travels around the country, collecting memories, talking with people and sharing their experiences. Well-written and executed dialogue is a huge component, so it’s not the most exciting time, but it’s still exciting.
Witchway (Itch.io)
Find your wand. Solve puzzles. Save the rabbits. Sounds like a good time to me. While I can’t say it’s the most innovative or original, I think Witchway looks really nice and offers easy and quick puzzle solving that can work wonders for a jaded mind. Plus … did I mention there are rabbits?
Soko Loko (Itch.io)
I don’t know why, but playing with trains seems like the best pastime for people who are locked inside, perhaps alone, perhaps in a basement or attic. While enthusiasts may prefer many detailed train simulators, Soko Loko is a simple railroad construction game that looks and feels like a train game. Which resonates more with me personally.
(One note for Mac players: unfortunately the macOS version of Soko Loko hasn’t been updated for macOS Catalina, so it won’t work on modern machines.)
If you try any of these games and find something you enjoy, let everyone know! We have a lot of time, so let’s get down to it and find the good together.