The creator of game store itch.io has been tweeting out about Linux gaming and Linux games seem to be quite popular in terms of downloads on the store. I'm not surprised, considering they're pretty awesome at what they do. They even have an open source client you can use to keep your games up to date.
Here's what they said (quoted/pics taken with permission):
Do you play games on Linux? A lot of people on @itchio do. Daily Linux and macOS downloads are about tied. Maybe something to consider when you export your games! #indiedev pic.twitter.com/3pEu3puuaO
— leaf @ itch.io 🙌 (@moonscript) May 10, 2018
They included this picture to show it in some more detail: 
To give you an idea of what that picture represents, they also put some numbers to the amount of games available for Linux and Mac.
There are 15k games for Linux, and 21k games for macOS. So it looks like Linux users generate more downloads per game on average.https://t.co/c2zpbt8ysrhttps://t.co/rDROY5zulC
— leaf @ itch.io 🙌 (@moonscript) May 10, 2018
For even more detail, here's a look at downloads between just Linux and Mac over the past 6 months:
One of the good things about itch, is that it's easy for developers to get their games on there. Steam requires you to pay a fee for Steam Direct, GOG specifically pick and accept titles themselves and Humble Store likely has their own requirements too. Naturally though, this does mean itch gets a large amount of experimental games, tech demos and weird junk, but they do also have a slowly increasing library of great indie games too. If you're developing a game, itch is a store you should certainly be looking at.
I've been quite surprised by the itch team, as any time I've spoken to a developer after having trouble getting their game running through the itch client, the itch people have been quick to jump in and try to help get it fixed.
Personally, I think it's great to see the folks behind itch.io give a shout out for Linux gamers. I have to admit, it put a bit of a smile on my face after a long day.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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GustyGhost 10 May 2018
Between Itch and GOG, they more than meet my needs... except for multiplayer (over network) games. I have my fingers crossed that Steam's open licensed GameNetworkingSockets can help this a little.
5 Likes
Lonsfor 10 May 2018
Itch.io>gog
7 Likes
PublicNuisance 11 May 2018
I have come to use Itch.io as my primary store when a game is on there. I stick to their DRM free games though not ones that only offer a Steam key. My only complaint about them would be their two factor authentication is broken for me. It would start to reject the keys the app would generate on 2 different itch accounts I tried. The backup codes are single use and were getting chewed up fast. I just ended up turning the feature off. My preference would be:
1. Itch.io
2. GOG
3. Humble
4. Steam
I have started to notice that more games are starting to put the Windows version on itch but not the Linux just like on GOG. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue.
1. Itch.io
2. GOG
3. Humble
4. Steam
I have started to notice that more games are starting to put the Windows version on itch but not the Linux just like on GOG. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue.
4 Likes
GustyGhost 11 May 2018
I have started to notice that more games are starting to put the Windows version on itch but not the Linux just like on GOG. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue.
Yeah that's the most frustrating thing. I messaged the developers of Apocryph about a Linux build. No reply yet.
3 Likes
buenaventura 11 May 2018
I like itch.io alot for buying games when I want to support a developer - as far as I've understood, only 10% gets deducted and the rest goes to the developer, of what I pay. I have to pay some extra taxes so it is slightly more expensive than say Steam, but I consider that tipping I guess. Nice client also! And it is fun to have so many strange games on offer.
1 Likes
buenaventura 11 May 2018
I like itch.io alot for buying games when I want to support a developer - as far as I've understood, only 10% gets deducted and the rest goes to the developer, of what I pay. I have to pay some extra taxes so it is slightly more expensive than say Steam, but I consider that tipping I guess. Nice client also! And it is fun to have so many strange games on offer.
They don't actually take anything. Each Dev has to specify the how much of the sales goes to itch. They can give as little as 0% or as much as 100%
Ah, well, that's awesome. Thanks for the info!
0 Likes
Tchey 11 May 2018
I really prefer itchio client over Steam client, even if i have much more games on Steam, because of how massive and popular is Steam, and many games i like simply don't exist outside of Steam.
But i tend to pick my games on itch whenever i can.
Then i would go to Humble, Steam and lastly, on GoG (i think they consider Linux users without much care, with not up to date games, absence of Galaxy, etc).
Steam still has one big advantage left over the others so far : you can get a refund.
But i tend to pick my games on itch whenever i can.
Then i would go to Humble, Steam and lastly, on GoG (i think they consider Linux users without much care, with not up to date games, absence of Galaxy, etc).
Steam still has one big advantage left over the others so far : you can get a refund.
0 Likes
Tim 11 May 2018
I tried to draw attention to itch.io for many years, but people told me - what the crap is this? Dunno... It works well, it have Linux App, it allow game devs to choose what percentage do they want to give to support itch.io. Game devs even can to choose 0%. Its a good alternative to GOG, not Steam of course.
1 Likes
Mnoleg 11 May 2018
What are your preferred itch.io-only games, people?I enjoyed these. You can try the first episode for free (PWYW).
[https://kidalang.itch.io/sage-fusion](https://kidalang.itch.io/sage-fusion)
[https://kidalang.itch.io/sage-fusion-2](https://kidalang.itch.io/sage-fusion-2)
[REVIEW HERE](https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/sage-fusion-2-a-solid-mix-of-story-rpg-with-turnbased-battles.4867)
1 Likes
Tchey 11 May 2018
From itchio, here are some of the games i launch or launched (some went from Itch to gather early feedbacks, to a Steam only distribution) :
Argentum Age
Depth of Extinction
RPG in a Box
Nowhere Prophet
Sort the Court
Mindustry
Autonauts
Lenna's Inception
Maia
Xenomarine
Rise of Industry
Cultist Simulator
...
And several "small games", 7DRL and stuff like Patient Rogue or Constellations
Argentum Age
Depth of Extinction
RPG in a Box
Nowhere Prophet
Sort the Court
Mindustry
Autonauts
Lenna's Inception
Maia
Xenomarine
Rise of Industry
Cultist Simulator
...
And several "small games", 7DRL and stuff like Patient Rogue or Constellations
1 Likes
tonR 11 May 2018
I absolutely love itch.io *FULL STOP!*
0 Likes
buenaventura 11 May 2018
What are your preferred itch.io-only games, people?
That's a real good idea for an article, like "this weeks gem from itch.io" or somesuch.
6 Likes
Mezron 12 May 2018
itch.io is my number one store. GOG is number two. That's about it for me unless the devs or publisher are selling linux native versions on their own site.
itch's app is excellent but I also download the binaries and install those direct.
itch's app is excellent but I also download the binaries and install those direct.
2 Likes
Wendigo 14 May 2018
Am I the only one who can't see the pictures in the article?
What numbers do they show for Linux downloads?
Last edited by Wendigo on 14 May 2018 at 7:15 am UTC
What numbers do they show for Linux downloads?
Steam still has one big advantage left over the others so far : you can get a refund.GOG had the refund policy right from the beginning.
Last edited by Wendigo on 14 May 2018 at 7:15 am UTC
0 Likes
Mezron 14 May 2018
Tchey
Steam still has one big advantage left over the others so far : you can get a refund.
I left Steam last summer because of their refund policy. 14 days and under 2 hours of game time. If I find a game breaking bug at the 2+ hour mark, within the 14 day period, I am stuck with a broken game.
On GOG and especially on itch, I get my money back.
0 Likes
Modanung 14 May 2018
Over at [LucKey Productions](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/) a project is not considered released if it is not on itch.io. At the moment our released games are limited to [heXon](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/hexon) and [Quatter](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/quatter). All LucKey products are - and always will be - free to download and play, nevertheless [donations](https://www.luckeyproductions.nl/donate.html) are more than welcome in order to speed up development. Have a look on [GitLab](https://gitlab.com/LucKeyProductions) if you're interested in what the future may hold.
[](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/hexon) [](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/quatter)
And indeed itch comes with butler, which is a really fine tool for updating your games with a single command.
Last edited by Modanung on 10 Aug 2018 at 8:48 am UTC
[](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/hexon) [](https://luckeyproductions.itch.io/quatter)
And indeed itch comes with butler, which is a really fine tool for updating your games with a single command.
Last edited by Modanung on 10 Aug 2018 at 8:48 am UTC
0 Likes
Am I the only one who can't see the pictures in the article?
What numbers do they show for Linux downloads?
Steam still has one big advantage left over the others so far : you can get a refund.GOG had the refund policy right from the beginning.
I thought gog refund policy was only if you couldnt get the game to run. Steam allows you to refund a game if its garbage I have refunded about 15 games as i have not enjoyed them less than an hour a time. I wish game devs actually did demos again, would negate a lot of time wasted for me and the devs.
1 Likes
Tchey 14 May 2018
I think Steam is more easy on the refund. I've refunded maybe 30 games, some several times to see if they were improved, some i knew i didn't want to play, but i wanted to see a piece of them to get the feel... Not sure i could do that on GoG, but maybe, i don't know.
0 Likes
buenaventura 14 May 2018
My experience is that GOG wont refund even when the game runs poorly purely technically or when I dont like the game for some other reason, at all. I have never tried itch refunding, but I have experience of people giving me free keys just to try it (trusting me to pay later) and such, but I guess that is up to which developer you choose to buy from.
The steam refunding is nice. Sometimes I'm not sure wether a game will run well - today I am for instance trying All Walls Must Fall, dunno if my computer will handle it so it's nice to be able to try.
The steam refunding is nice. Sometimes I'm not sure wether a game will run well - today I am for instance trying All Walls Must Fall, dunno if my computer will handle it so it's nice to be able to try.
0 Likes
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