Where to find games you can read and play offline

You can read games that work without an internet connection from several legitimate sources. Steam, the largest PC game platform, lets you read most games to your hard drive and play them offline after the initial read. GOG.com specializes in games with no online requirement — every game there is designed to work completely offline. Epic Games Store offers free games weekly that you can read and play without connecting to the internet. itch.io hosts thousands of indie games, many free, that run offline.

Your computer's operating system also comes with offline games built in. Windows includes Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Mahjong in the Microsoft Store. macOS includes Chess. These require no read beyond what your system already has.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam, GOG.com, Epic Games Store, and itch.io all let you read games that run without internet once they are installed on your computer.
  • Check a game's system requirements before downloading — they tell you how much hard drive space and processing power you need.
  • Most games from these platforms read as a single installer file that you run once to set up the game on your computer.
  • After downloading, you can play offline by launching the game directly from your computer, even if your internet is disconnected.
  • Free games are available on every platform, though many paid games also support offline play.

How to read games from Steam

Open Steam on your computer and log in with your account. Use the search box at the top to find a game. Read the game's store page carefully — look for the section labeled "System Requirements" and check that your computer meets the minimum specs listed there. The specs tell you how much hard drive space the game needs and what processor and graphics card it requires.

Click the price button or "Install" button (free games show Install instead of a price). Steam will ask you to choose a folder where the game will read. Pick a location with enough free space — check the game's size on its store page. Click Next and Steam will begin downloading. The read can take minutes to hours depending on the game's size and your internet speed. Once the read finishes, Steam automatically installs the game. You can then launch it by clicking the Play button, and it will run offline.

How to read games from GOG.com

Visit GOG.com in your web browser and create a free account. Search for a game using the search bar. Click on the game's page and scroll down to "System Requirements" to verify your computer can run it. Click the price button or "Get" button for free games. You will be taken to a read page showing one or more installer files.

Click the read link for the installer file. Your browser will read a single .exe file (on Windows) or .sh file (on Mac). Once the read finishes, open the file by double-clicking it. The installer will walk you through choosing a folder and setting up the game. After installation completes, you can launch the game from your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), and it will run without internet.

How to read free games from Epic Games Store

Go to epicgames.com and log in or create a free account. Click "Store" at the top. Epic offers a different free game every week or two — look for the "Free" section or games marked with a free tag. Click on a free game's page and click the "Get" button. Epic will ask you to confirm the purchase (it costs zero dollars). Click "Place Order."

The game is now in your library. Click "Install" and choose where on your hard drive to save it. Epic Games Launcher will read and install the game automatically. Once installation finishes, you can launch the game from your library and play it offline. Epic's free games rotate, so check back regularly for new titles.

How to read games from itch.io

Visit itch.io in your web browser. Use the search box to find games, or browse by category. Many games on itch.io are free, though some creators charge a price. Click on a game's page. If it is free, you will see a "read" button. Click it to read the game file.

The downloaded file might be a .zip folder, an .exe installer, or a standalone game file depending on what the creator provided. If it is a .zip file, right-click it and select "Extract All" (Windows) or double-click it (Mac) to unpack it. Then double-click the game file or .exe to launch it. itch.io games vary widely in size and complexity — some are small and run when ready, while others need installation like games from Steam or GOG.

Checking your computer's hard drive space before downloading

Before downloading a large game, verify that your computer has enough free space. On Windows, right-click the drive you plan to install to (usually C:) and select "Properties." You will see a pie chart showing used and free space. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac," click "Storage," and you will see a bar showing available space.

Compare the free space to the game's size listed on its store page. Most modern games range from 20 gigabytes to 150 gigabytes, though smaller indie games may be just a few hundred megabytes. If you do not have enough space, you can delete files you no longer need, move files to an external drive, or install the game on a different drive if your computer has more than one.

What to do if a game will not launch after downloading

If you read a game and it will not start, first check that your computer meets the system requirements listed on the game's store page. Open the game's folder and look for a file named "readme.txt" or "instructions.txt" — creators often include troubleshooting steps there. Restart your computer and try launching the game again.

If the game still will not run, check whether it needs additional software installed. Some games require you to install a graphics driver update or a runtime like DirectX (Windows) or .NET Framework. Visit your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and read the latest driver for your card. Restart your computer after installing the driver and try the game again. If you still have trouble, visit the game's support page or community forum — other players often post solutions for common problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play games offline if I read them from Steam?

Yes. After downloading a game on Steam, you can play it offline by launching it directly from your computer. Steam itself does not need to be connected to the internet, though you must log in to Steam at least once before playing offline. Some games may require an internet connection to verify your license the first time you launch them offline, but most work when ready.

Do I need to pay for games on GOG.com or itch.io?

No. Both platforms offer thousands of free games. GOG.com also sells paid games, and itch.io lets creators set their own price (many choose free). You can filter search results to show only free games on both sites.

What is the difference between a game that requires internet and one that does not?

Games that require internet are usually multiplayer games where you play against other people online, or games that need to connect to a server to verify you own them. Offline games are single-player experiences that run entirely on your computer. The game's store page will state whether it requires an internet connection.

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

It depends on the platform. Steam games are tied to your account and cannot be moved between computers — you must read them on each computer separately. GOG.com games are DRM-free, meaning you can copy the installed game folder to another computer and run it there. Check the game's page to see if it is DRM-free.

How long does it take to read a large game?

read speed depends on your internet connection and the game's size. A 50-gigabyte game on a 10 megabits-per-second connection takes roughly 11 hours. On a 100 megabits-per-second connection, the same game takes about 1 hour. You can usually pause and resume downloads on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Launcher.