Google Play Games on PC vs itch app
Google Play Games on PC
play.google.com
itch app
itch.ioSide by side
| Figure | Google Play Games on PC | itch app |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Store | 7.5 (#5) | 8.3 (#2) |
| Spec score · PC Game Launchers | 7.7 (#10) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 7.6 (#37) | 8.7 (#13) |
| Purpose | Google Play Games lets users play mobile games on Windows PCs, with improved graphics and keyboard and mouse controls. | The app downloads and runs games and software from itch.io, keeps downloads in one place, and automatically updates them. |
| Security | Google says Google Play runs over 10,000 safety checks on every game it offers. | The app FAQ identifies Windows tool elevate as powering the itch.io sandbox on Windows. |
| Support | Google provides installation troubleshooting, a feedback option, a Help Center contact route, and a help community. | Users can report app bugs through the Send feedback menu item, which pre-fills an issue with their platform and app version on GitHub. |
Plans
In their own words
Google Play Games on PC
Google Play Games on PC lets users play mobile games on Windows computers with keyboard and mouse controls and improved graphics. Google describes the catalog as containing over 200,000 games across mobile and PC. For selected games on compatible devices, players can sync their library and progress between mobile and PC; some paid titles use one purchase to unlock both versions. A shared gamer profile can track stats, streaks, progress, and achievements, while Google Play Points and rewards can be used for discounts and in-game items. Play Games Sidekick with Gemini Live can show stats, achievements, and tips, and offer conversational guidance while a downloaded Play game is running. The software is free, though games and in-game items may cost extra. A PC needs Windows 10 version 2004, an SSD with 10 GB available, 8 GB RAM, four physical CPU cores, compatible graphics, an administrator account, and hardware virtualization. Availability is limited to supported regions and a personal Google Account set to one of them. Only the first installer on a PC can play games there.
itch app
The itch app is a desktop client for downloading and running games and software from itch.io. Its built-in browser lets users browse creator pages and install titles, while the library keeps downloads together and updates installed games automatically. Users can access collections, bundles, purchases and installed games in the app. Browser-based games can be synced for offline play, and games using itch.io command-line tools can receive delta patches that download only changed data. The client is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with Windows 7 or newer required, and it is open source and offered in over 20 languages. Creators can provide an app manifest to define launch targets and integrate with the app API. The app registers itch:// and itchio:// links and can create Steam library shortcuts for installed games. Its sandbox limits file access, isolates home directories for Linux games and runs Windows games as less-privileged users. Compatibility problems can still occur, especially on Linux when games do not follow best practices. The listed plan is free.