The main places to get PC games

Most PC games come from one of five platforms: Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Origin (now part of EA App), or directly from the publisher's website. Steam holds the largest library and the most players. Epic Games Store offers free games every week and exclusive titles. GOG specializes in older games and DRM-free versions. Origin and EA App handle games from Electronic Arts. Each platform requires you to create an account, read its launcher software, and then read individual games through that launcher.

You can also buy physical copies on disc, though most modern games require you to register a code with one of these platforms anyway. Physical copies are rare now and often cost more than digital versions.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and EA App are the four largest PC game platforms, each with its own launcher software you must install first.
  • Creating an account on your chosen platform is free, and you can browse and read games at your own pace without time pressure.
  • Game file sizes range from under 1 GB for indie titles to 150+ GB for recent AAA games, so check your available storage before downloading.
  • Most games read and install automatically once you click the read button, though some older titles may require manual setup steps.
  • Your internet speed determines read time: a 50 GB game takes roughly 3 hours on a 100 Mbps connection and 12 hours on a 25 Mbps connection.

How to read from Steam

Go to steampowered.com, click "Install Steam" at the top right, and run the installer. Once Steam is open, create an account with an email address and password. Search for a game by name in the search bar at the top left. Click the game's title, then click the blue "Add to Cart" or "Play" button (free games say "Play" instead of showing a price). For paid games, you'll see the price and a "Add to Cart" button. Complete the purchase if needed, then click "Install" on the game's page. Steam creates a folder on your hard drive and downloads the game files automatically. You can pause and resume downloads anytime.

Steam stores games in a default folder (usually C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps on Windows) but you can create additional folders on other drives if your main drive is full. Right-click any game in your library and select "Properties" to see how much space it uses and where it's stored.

How to read from Epic Games Store

Visit epicgames.com, click the read button for the Epic Games Launcher, and run the installer. Create an account with an email and password. Open the launcher and click "Games" on the left sidebar. Browse or search for a game. Click the game's title, then click "Get" (for free games) or the price button (for paid games). Free games are yours to keep permanently once you claim them. For paid games, complete the purchase. Click "Install" and choose which drive to install to. The launcher downloads and installs the game automatically.

Epic Games offers free games every Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific time. You can claim them without downloading when ready—they stay in your library. The launcher also shows your read progress and lets you pause or cancel at any time.

How to read from GOG

Go to gog.com, click "Sign In" at the top right, and create an account. Search for a game by name. Click the game's title, then click "Buy Now" (for paid games) or "Get for Free" (for free games). Complete any purchase if needed. You'll see a "read" button on the game's page. Click it and choose whether to read the installer file or use GOG Galaxy, GOG's optional launcher software. If you read the installer directly, you'll get a .exe or .zip file that you run to install the game. If you use GOG Galaxy, the process works like Steam or Epic—the launcher handles downloads and installation.

GOG specializes in older games that work on modern Windows without extra setup. Many GOG games are DRM-free, meaning you own the files outright and can copy them to another computer without logging in.

How to read from EA App

Go to ea.com, click "read" at the top, and run the EA App installer. Create an account with an email and password. Open the app and click "Games" on the left sidebar. Search for a game or browse the library. Click the game's title, then click "Install" (for free games) or the price button (for paid games). Complete any purchase if needed. The app downloads and installs the game automatically to a folder you choose during setup.

EA App replaced Origin in 2023. If you had an Origin account, your games and account information transferred automatically. EA App handles all Electronic Arts games, including the Sims, Battlefield, and Dragon Age series.

read speeds and storage space

read time depends on your internet speed and the game's file size. A 50 GB game takes about 3 hours on a 100 Mbps connection, 6 hours on a 50 Mbps connection, and 12 hours on a 25 Mbps connection. Pause your read if you need to use your internet for something else—all five platforms let you resume where you stopped.

Check how much free space your hard drive has before downloading. Right-click your C: drive (or whichever drive you're installing to), select "Properties," and look at the "Free space" number. Indie games often use 1–10 GB. Mid-range games use 30–60 GB. Recent AAA games (like Call of Duty or Starfield) use 100–150 GB. If you're short on space, you can uninstall games you're not playing—your account remembers your purchase, and you can read again later.

What happens after read

Once a game finishes downloading, it's ready to play. Click the "Play" button in your launcher and the game starts. Most games launch directly without extra steps. Some older games may ask you to choose graphics settings or create a profile the first time you run them.

Your launcher keeps track of updates. When a game gets a patch or new version, your launcher downloads the update automatically the next time you open it (or you can manually check for updates in the game's settings). You don't have to do anything—the launcher handles it in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a game on one computer and move it to another?

On Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA App, you can't straightforward copy game folders to another computer—the launchers check your account and verify ownership. However, you can log into your account on the other computer and read the game again. GOG games are different: if you read the installer file (not through GOG Galaxy), you can copy that .exe file to another computer and install it without logging in, since GOG games are DRM-free.

What if my read keeps stopping or failing?

Check your internet connection first—pause the read, wait 30 seconds, and resume. If it keeps failing, restart your launcher. If the problem continues, restart your computer and try again. Some networks (like school or work WiFi) block game downloads; if you're on one of those, try a different network. You can also move your read folder to a different drive if your current drive is nearly full, as that can cause failures.

Do I need to pay for a launcher account?

No. Creating accounts on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and EA App is free. You only pay for individual games you want to buy. Free games are genuinely free to claim and keep.

Can I play a game while it's still downloading?

Some games let you play while the rest downloads in the background—Steam calls this "Play While Downloading." Not all games support it. Your launcher will tell you if a game is ready to play before the full read finishes.

What's the difference between these platforms?

Steam has the largest game library and most players. Epic Games Store offers free games weekly and exclusive titles. GOG focuses on older games and DRM-free versions you fully own. EA App handles only Electronic Arts games. Choose based on which games you want to play—many games appear on multiple platforms, so you can often pick whichever launcher you prefer.