Most of them yes, I've no illusions about that. Still, aliexpress/alibaba is now, what, third/second largest buyer-site company in the world, so I don't think it's that bad.

Besides, she didn't exactly specify what platform and type so I just flung it out.

I know, bad humour... (didn't get much sleep last night :D )

EDIT: I actually forgot about https://itch.io/. They do have some nice games there.

Well over half of my games bought I got from GOG, but there's some lesser places as well, in descending order of number of games bought: Humble Bundle, Steam, Gamersgate, Origin, UPlay, Greenmangaming, Itch.io, Groupees.com, Wingamestore

There's a strange thing going on with Steam (and it's resellers), Origin and UPlay games: the games are either big titles that are not DRM-free, but that I wanted anyway and a lot of games that were free or dirt cheap. My GOG library is much more balanced, with everything ranging from the supergood to the meh but free, but also everything in between. Almost forget to mention those, though since the existence of GOG the number of boxed PC games I buy is minimal, as I much rather have a game DRM-free than with disk-check DRM. But almost all of my console games I bought, are second hand boxed games, bought mostly from GameMania and CeX.

GOG, Humble, itch.io.

Doesnt matter where you get games, do your research first. Drm free is a myth, a sales gimmick done by all stores to get people in. All stores do it a freebie here a few drm free ones there . Just get what you want from wherever. Forget this store loyalty bollocks or myth about drm free.

I currently only buy games from GOG. I used to buy some bundles from Humble Bundle, but I stopped around the time they started putting DRM-encumbered games in them, so I consider that store to no longer be ethically acceptable.

I have been thinking about buying games from itch.io. I have played a few small free games from that site, but I haven't bought any games from there yet. Two games that interest me are Secret Little Haven (which is probably too niche for GOG, plus the release topic would probably end up getting locked) and Celeste.

(One thing to note: GOG is strongly curated (which has its pros and cons), itch.io is not (which has its pros and cons); it looks like these two stores might complement each other nicely.)

Be wary of buying boxed games used as a lot of those are tied to Steam/Origin/whatever and either you cannot use the disc(s) or installing makes some client presume the original owner has moved to your location.

That goes only for boxed copies made in the past 8-9 years.

Correct, still a lot of games.

Last time I looked through the game boxes on offer in a 2nd hand shop over half were tied to a service though.

GOG.com, of course ^_^

You might want to check this thread list_of_drmfree_video_games_digital_distributors.

I'd avoid dark alleys and guys in trench coats...

Let's see, how about a little literary writing.

-------------

The 60hz buzzing streetlights overhead, the empty streets. A newpaper flips by, the date barely discernible but says October 25th 1985. The smell of concrete and wet dirt after the recent rain having fallen a few hours prior leaving the place a few degrees cooler, but just warm enough.

As you pass by you hear what you think is a leaky tire at first, only it starts and stops several times.

'PST!' a trench coated individual calls out to you getting your attention making you lean in just a little out of curiosity. Due to the shadows you can't even see his face. 'Wanna buy a game?' He opens his trenchcoat to show his wares, still seal wrapped and brand new boxes.

A few games stand out. One from Origins, Quest for the avatar, and one hot item, Super Mario Brothers. Some atari cartridge games are also present, an ill fated one that makes you want to make a cross with your hand and rebuke it like it was a vampire: E.T.! You heard that one was horrible, and out of some factoid more cartridges were made than systems that existed (for.. some reason?)

But not all is bad. Elite stands out, Boulder Dash and the Donkey Kong series in a 3 pack. Maybe they are worth the trouble.

'These are the genuine article. $50 a pop...'

You might consider buying one if you thought maybe the game boxes weren't that close to the human body, and the one hairy leg that's exposed suggests the lack of underclothing, perhaps he's the type to put a brown paper bag on his head and flash the local girls while walking home from the movie.

Deciding to try your luck at more reputable sources he drops his price. 'How about $30? You can't get better than thirty... $25? If you want something a little more hardcore...' the coat closes to open on the other side. Another exposed hairy leg. Was he wearing anything else?

There a pristine copy of Softporn Adventure for the Apple2. ADULTS ONLY!, it said so on the box!. These weren't sold in the local stores; Too risque, and needed a whopping 48k of RAM with BASIC installed. 'You want it? $50...' the trenchcoated man looks left and right, quite shifty, looking out for police for this possibly illicit sale. There's been rumored game-busts where guys like this were taken off the streets, the dangerous type and they would confiscate several games at a time.

What to do....

I thought you said you were broke? o.O

Not anymore....

There was a time when you actually went to places to buy games there....