Best PC Games That Are NOT On Steam

Steam has become the most popular platform for PC gamers, offering a huge and diverse library of games. From classic titles to the latest releases, it has something for everyone, and many players find everything they need right there, so they don’t have to look elsewhere.

While Steam is a popular platform, it doesn’t offer every game. Many well-loved titles, ranging from fast-paced shooters to thoughtful strategy games, are available elsewhere – meaning players can enjoy them without needing to use Steam.

Fortnite

Redefining The Gaming World

  • Platform: Epic Games

Fortnite is still incredibly popular and a leading game today. Remarkably, it’s only available on computers through Epic Games. The game constantly changes with new seasons, events, and ways to play, pushing the boundaries of what video games can offer.

Fortnite’s popularity comes from being easy to learn and constantly offering new experiences. It’s become much more than just a Battle Royale game, providing players with powerful creative tools and spaces to connect with others, effectively turning it into a worldwide platform. Despite not being available on Steam, it continues to thrive, proving that a fun game will find its audience no matter where it’s played.

League of Legends

The Premier MOBA Over 15 Years Later

  • Platform: Riot Games

League of Legends has been a leading game in esports for over ten years. Since its release, the game has grown to include more than 100 playable characters, undergone major updates, and welcomed countless new players. Even though it’s only playable on the Riot Games platform, millions of people play daily, and it consistently ranks among the most-watched games on Twitch, even when there aren’t official competitions happening.

One of the reasons people enjoy the game is its lasting appeal and complex gameplay. Unlike some games that focus on perfect aiming or careful resource management, League of Legends lets players use a variety of skills, allowing them to demonstrate both their reflexes and understanding of the game with every match.

Minecraft

Entire Worlds Outside The Steam Ecosystem

  • Platform: XBOX/Minecraft Launcher

Despite being one of the most popular and impactful games ever created, Minecraft isn’t available on Steam. Players can get the game directly through its own launcher or the Xbox app, without needing a Steam account or connection to Valve’s platform.

Despite not being available on Steam, Minecraft remains incredibly popular and influential. Its limitless building possibilities, challenging survival gameplay, and huge modding community have established it as a key part of PC gaming today. From creating massive builds to testing your skills in Hardcore mode, Minecraft continues to thrive on its own, demonstrating that a game doesn’t need to be on Steam to become a worldwide success.

Genshin Impact

Magic, Mystery, And Mayhem

  • Platform: Hoyoplay

Genshin Impact is a remarkably successful open-world RPG, and it’s earned its popularity through its own merits. The game offers incredible variety, allowing players to truly lose themselves in its world, with enough content to keep them engaged for thousands of hours.

The game has gained a large and loyal following worldwide thanks to its vast world, unique combat based on different elements, and regular story updates. Players are particularly drawn to its beautiful anime-style graphics and the continuous stream of new content, making it a remarkably refined experience for PC gamers – especially considering it hasn’t relied on support from a major company like Valve.

Valorant

Building An Entirely New Esport

  • Platform: Riot Client

Valorant is Riot Games’ take on the first-person shooter genre, and it quickly became popular worldwide. It combines precise shooting with unique character abilities, creating a gameplay experience that many players wanted – a perfect mix of elements from different games.

Like most games from Riot, this one is constantly being updated. They release patches frequently to keep things balanced and add new content, preventing the gameplay from becoming repetitive. After five years, the game is more popular than ever, boasting a thriving esports community and a large, dedicated player base that returns daily.

Alan Wake 2/Remastered

The Horror Classic Returns

  • Platform: Epic Games

As a big Alan Wake fan, I was so excited to see the series back! But it’s a bit frustrating that both the remastered version and the new Alan Wake 2 are only available on the Epic Games Store. It means if you usually buy your PC games on Steam, like I do, you have to switch platforms to play them. It’s good to see Remedy getting support from Epic, but it definitely makes things less convenient for long-time fans.

Alan Wake 2 takes the series to a scarier, more intense level of survival horror, combining a movie-like story with challenging gameplay where you have to carefully manage your resources. Alongside a remastered version of the original game, these titles demonstrate Remedy Entertainment’s skill at creating immersive worlds and compelling stories – all without being available on Steam.

Diablo 1-3

An Untapped Dungeon-Crawling Epic

  • Platform: Battle.net

The original Diablo games were incredibly influential in creating the action RPG genre, but surprisingly, you can’t buy them on Steam. Blizzard only offers these first three Diablo titles through its own Battle.net platform, which is where they host all their biggest games.

From the dark atmosphere of the original Diablo to the fast-paced, loot-filled action of Diablo III, each game in the series offers challenging fights, deep character customization, and a compelling dark fantasy story. The fact that these games aren’t available on Steam highlights Blizzard’s preference for keeping its community and online services within its own Battle.net platform. For dedicated action RPG players, accessing these games has always meant going directly through Blizzard.

Hearthstone

The Top Of The Card Game World

  • Platform: Battle.net

Hearthstone continues to be a leading digital card game, maintaining a dedicated player base. While the genre hasn’t seen much new competition lately, even Valve’s attempt with Artifact failed to gain traction, highlighting the advantage of a well-established franchise like World of Warcraft.

This game is deeply strategic and features many beloved characters from Blizzard’s popular franchises, including Warcraft and StarCraft. It’s a major player in the card game world and continues to be incredibly popular.

Read More

2025-10-21 14:00