Alternatives to Heroic Games Launcher

An open-source launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime games, on Linux, Windows, macOS and the Steam Deck. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Heroic Games Launcher.

  • Lutris

    A Linux gaming platform that installs the right emulator, Wine build or engine for each game and launches them from one place.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Lutris is Linux only but adds Steam and Humble libraries alongside Epic and GOG, with community installer scripts providing emulators and Wine builds per game.

  • GOG Galaxy

    DRM-free games store and unified library that also pulls in other platforms.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    GOG Galaxy is GOG's official closed-source client for Windows and macOS, selling DRM-free games and unifying other libraries through unofficial connectors, with no Linux build.

  • Epic Games Store

    Epic's game storefront known for weekly free games and exclusive titles.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Epic Games Store is Epic's official closed-source client on Windows and macOS only, with the store and weekly free games but no GOG or Linux support.

  • Playnite

    A Windows game library manager that pulls Steam, Epic, GOG, Battle.net, Ubisoft and emulated games into one interface.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    Playnite is an MIT-licensed Windows-only library manager that links Steam, Epic, GOG, Battle.net and emulated games, but offers no Linux or Wine management.

  • Rare

    An open-source graphical front end for Legendary for managing and playing Epic Games Store titles.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Rare is an open-source graphical front end for Legendary on Windows, macOS and Linux, covering Epic games only without GOG or Amazon Prime support.

  • Legendary

    An open-source command-line replacement for the Epic Games Launcher on Linux, macOS and Windows.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Legendary is an open-source command-line Epic Games launcher that is scriptable, but it has no graphical interface and no GOG or Amazon support.

  • Minigalaxy

    A simple open-source GOG client for downloading, installing and playing GOG games on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Minigalaxy is a simple open-source GOG client for Linux only, with no Epic or Amazon libraries and no Wine version manager.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Heroic Games Launcher as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Faugus Launcher

    A lightweight Linux launcher for running Windows games and applications through UMU-Launcher.

    FreeProprietaryLinux

    Heroic Games Launcher is open source and focuses on Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, with a Wine Manager for Proton-GE and builds for Windows and macOS too.

  • itch

    The desktop app for itch.io, which installs, updates and launches the indie games you bought or downloaded free.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Heroic Games Launcher is also open source and cross-platform, but covers Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime libraries instead of itch.io, and manages Wine and Proton builds.

  • Porting Kit

    A macOS app that installs Windows games and applications on a Mac using Wineskin wrappers.

    FreeProprietarymacOS

    Heroic Games Launcher runs Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime games on macOS with managed Wine builds under GPL-3.0, but does not offer a general catalog of prepared installers.

  • Steam

    Valve's PC gaming platform and client for buying, installing and playing games, with community features.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Heroic Games Launcher is open source under GPL-3.0 and plays Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS, but it has no store of its own.

  • umu-launcher

    A unified launcher that runs Windows games on Linux with Proton outside of Steam.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    Heroic Games Launcher gives a graphical launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime games, with a Wine Manager for Proton-GE, and also runs on Windows and macOS.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.

  • Bottles

    A friendly manager for Wine prefixes on Linux, so running a Windows program means picking an environment rather than editing config files.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

  • DXVK

    Vulkan-based translation layer that runs Direct3D 8, 9, 10 and 11 games on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

  • SteamOS

    Valve's Linux-based gaming operating system for the Steam Deck and other supported devices.

    FreeProprietaryLinux

  • GE-Proton

    A community build of Valve's Proton compatibility tool for running Windows games through Steam Play on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux