Epic Games Store vs GOG Galaxy

Epic Games Store is a digital game store available through Android, iOS, macOS, web browsers, and Windows. It uses a freemium model with a free plan, so visitors can access the store without a listed purchase requirement. Cloud saves keep supported game data available across sessions, while offline mode allows supported use without an internet connection. A subscription catalog provides another way to access games. The store does not import games from third-party libraries and does not integrate mods. Epic Games, the company behind the store, was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Its combination of mobile, desktop, and browser platforms gives users several ways to reach the catalog. People choosing it should weigh the free access, cloud saves, offline mode, and subscription catalog against the stated limits on importing third-party games and adding mods.

GOG Galaxy brings game libraries and friends from different gaming platforms into one app for Windows and macOS. It can collect PC and console games, including titles that are not installed, and track achievements, play time, and owned games across connected services. For PC games, it can install and launch titles owned on different platforms. Library tools include filtering, sorting, tagging, changing game visuals, saving views, and editing metadata. Galaxy combines friends lists, online status, activity, and cross-platform chat. Games can enter the library through official or community-made integrations, or be added manually; community integrations are open source, and GOG provides documentation for creating them. Library changes sync between devices, and offline mode is available. GOG says it does not share imported personal data with third parties and removes it from its servers when a platform is disconnected. GOG-specific features include auto-updates, cloud saves, multiplayer, matchmaking, and rollbacks. Other platforms’ client software is needed for their platform-specific features. The app is free with a GOG account.