Technically, you could take gog off the list for GWENT.

And all the other stores which offer also Steam keys, like Humble Bundle...

Anyway, anyone who is ready to recognize that Steam does indeed have some DRM-free games (even if they are not officially supported as such), has no reason to complain about online multiplayer component in some GOG games needing a client. Not talking about you, but generally; I have seen some people who do keep pointing out Steam has DRM-free games, and elsewhere keep nitpicking that you could say some GOG games have DRM in their online multiplayer component, or even all games because you have to log into your GOG account in order to download the installers. I guess they are just arguing for argument's sake.

After all, it isn't like those DRM-free games on Steam have working multiplayer either, without using the Steam client. So if one feels that a GOG game can't be called DRM-free because its multiplayer, achievements, cloud saving etc. need an online client, then that same person can't claim Steam has DRM-free games either. Same for e.g. Humble Bundle, if a game on their store has multiplayer component, it most probably needs to be used with a Steam client.

While I do recognize that a multiplayer game or component needing an online client can be considered as DRM, I would still restrict the DRM-discussion to single-player part of games only, the very same way the people who say Steam and Humble Bundle has DRM-free.games do too.

There are different reasons for DRM in single-player and online games, e.g. whether or not GWENT has DRM, it apparently isn't to stop piracy, as GWENT is free-to-play. (I personally am even pro-DRM for online multiplayer games because otherwise it is pretty much impossible to ban cheaters for good; so DRM in a multiplayer game actually benefits me, the end-user, something that it never does in single-player games).

Somewhat related:
When people type "no one" as "noone", I imagine it being a name, pronounced as "noon".
(There is no "Noone" present in your post, don't worry about that.)

The API part of galaxy that provides multiplayer can easily be divorced from the multiplayer, for starters, but I won't make that case for now. A bigger issue is that, if multiplayer can exist without the API, but simply doesn't because statically linked (and also single player ceases to function, for that matter), I think we can complain.

As it stands, Galaxy right now isn't DRM, but merely earmark software. However, it's been creeping and creeping and creeping. I'm not pleased with the creeping. It's creeping more than christmas, anymore.

I'm also willing to admit steam has DRM-free games. I'm also kinda curious how one could go about dropping a DLL or something in the folder that could DRM-free the the others. I've seen some cracked dlls online, but that's a bit risky. Anyway, going into detail's probably not exactly a good discussion for here. Not necessarily true, that you can't ban without it. There are many alternative ways, especially when you decentralize.

Thing is, some players find cheating to be kind of fun, and I feel there should be some way for people to cheat without interfering with the experience of those who want to play fair. (For example, perhaps having some cheat-allowed servers, or having LAN play where the players can agree on whether and which cheats should be used.)

Exactly. I see games like Gwent actually more like a "service". And the "game" (meaning the application on your machine) is the client to use that service. Just like I use a browser to use a web page (and indeed, browser version of Gwent is thinkable).
It would become "real DRM" as soon as can buy stuff like cards, because then someone (CDPR/GOG) can restrict access to the stuff I bought. They could "disown" me.

If you want totally "DRM-free" Gwent, look here: https://www.etsy.com/market/gwent_cards ;-)

For once we agree on something. The term you're looking for is "decentralization" or "distributed." That said, i don't think GWENT's really worth fighting for. It's not like we can't make our own ripoffs that are decentralized with relative ease.

So I'm guessing this would be the updated version of this? (And I recall one other such topic in between, but didn't save that one.)

Back in 2012-13, when I started buying games online, many small indies used to host their own shop that used generic e-commerce solutions like FastSpring or BMT Micro. But most of them have either disappeared or moved their games into bigger stores.

Out of the top of my head I can only remember Caravel Games (of DROD fame), but surely there are many more remaining.

EDIT: to add Winter Wolves. Never bought anything from them but I do believe their games are DRM-free.

Humble widgets are still being used, though it links to Humble library (as always), but it is on developers sites rather then the store.

Both ADDED, thank you!

Also, Arcen Games.

And Soldak Entertainment.

Are you referring to the Humble Widget (as mentioned earlier by amok)?

If so, I don't know about kbnrylaec, but I would consider those as part of the Humble Store, or Humble as a whole. To put it another way: if Humble closes shop, you can no longer buy those games nor download your already purchased games anymore.