Is GOG games trusted? Yes, GOG is a highly legitimate and safe platform.

GOG, which originally stood for Good Old Games, has become one of the premier destinations for purchasing video games thanks to its unwavering commitment to providing DRM-free downloads and excellent consumer policies. But can you trust GOG? Is it safe to hand over your money and personal data to them?

As an avid gamer and technology enthusiast who has used GOG extensively for years, I can definitively say that GOG is one of the most trusted and consumer-friendly game platforms available today. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide extensive evidence why GOG deserves your trust and business.

A Brief History of GOG‘s DRM-Free Mission

GOG was launched in 2008 by CD Projekt, the much-respected Polish game developer behind The Witcher series. CD Projekt was one of the first big developers to push back against restrictive DRM practices in the games industry.

Their goal with GOG was to liberate old games from technical issues and draconian copy protections. Make them playable on modern operating systems while preserving their original designs. Offer an alternative to the DRM lock-in enforced by platforms like Steam.

In an interview with Eurogamer, CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwinski explained "We had a lot of issues with copy protection, we had issues as gamers ourselves with copy protection." GOG would be their solution.

Over the following decade, GOG has remained committed to these core values. Unlike other platforms, every game sold on GOG is still DRM-free today with no restrictions on use.

This principled dedication to consumer ownership, along with GOG‘s careful curation of classic games, has earned them a reputation as one of the most ethical and trusted digital storefronts in the industry. Their revenue growth shows this trust is paying off.

Year	Estimated GOG Revenue
2016	$18.5 million
2017	$38.8 million
2018	$54.7 million

Revenue estimates via PCGamesInsider.biz

Why You Can Trust GOG with Payments and Security

Some people may still be wary of buying from GOG due to concerns around financial transactions and security. However, GOG lives up to high standards in both regards:

• Secure payment processing – GOG uses reputable payment providers like Stripe and PayPal. Your financial details are never directly handled by GOG.

• No reported malware or viruses – In GOG‘s entire history, there has never been a reported case of malware or viruses being distributed through their service. Their direct relationships with publishers ensure game integrity.

• Strong security precautions – According to GOG‘s Privacy and Security Policy, they follow industry best practices for data encryption and access control. User passwords are salted and hashed for robust protection.

In contrast, viruses and malware being spread via piracy sites is an ongoing issue. You can feel confident buying from GOG rather than torrenting. As GOG themselves state, they want customers to "be 100% sure you‘re getting the quality service you deserve." Their perfect track record proves they take security seriously.

GOG Users Overwhelmingly Vouch for Trustworthiness

While GOG‘s policies paint a positive picture, what really cements trust is user experiences. Across Reddit, reviews and forums, GOG customers almost universally vouch for GOG‘s reliability and legitimacy:

• "I‘ve never had any payment issues, tech support is helpful, and I‘ve never once gotten a virus or malware infection from GOG." – u/retro_aviator on r/ShouldIbuythisgame

• "GOG is as trustworthy as any major digital storefront – maybe even more so because everything is DRM-free and they have a great return policy." – Review by Spaztastic21 on Trustpilot

• "GOG‘s earned my trust over the years by being pro consumer at every turn. No annoying clients or DRM – just great games, great prices and great service." – nimbletax56 on GOG forums

In over 4 years of using GOG myself, I‘ve found downloads are consistently quick, malware-free and work as advertised. Their stellar refund policy eliminates any risk of purchasing. Issues are rare, but when they occur, GOG‘s legendary customer support solves problems promptly. Simply put, GOG would not have achieved such popularity if it could not be trusted.

GOG Galaxy Provides Optional Enhancements

For those who desire more convenience, GOG offers an optional gaming client called GOG Galaxy. Galaxy aims to enhance the experience of managing and playing GOG games in ways similar to Steam or Origin. Key features include:

• Auto-updating games
• Cloud save backup support – over 150 games integrated
• Playtime tracking and achievement displays
• Friends lists and chat
• Browsing the GOG store and community areas

However, Galaxy is entirely optional. Purchased games can always be downloaded directly from GOG.com and will work independently without Galaxy. This aligns with GOG‘s commitment to giving users full ownership and control of purchases.

Must-Play Classics and Hidden Gems Exclusive to GOG

Besides being trusted and secure, GOG has earned a passionate following by curating games you simply can‘t get anywhere else. Here are just a few standout exclusives:

• LucasArts classics – Beloved Star Wars space sims like X-Wing, TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance with updated support for modern screens and controllers.

• Classic Fallout collection – The original Fallouts, Fallout 2 and Tactics. Fully patched, moddable and with high resolution support.

• Nightdive Studios remasters – Updated versions of System Shock, Turok, Blood and other 90s classics.

• Underrail – An indie tribute to classic sci-fi RPGs like Fallout. Has overwhelmingly positive reviews.

• Forgotten Realms Archives – Hard to find D&D computer RPGs officially licensed by Wizards of the Coast.

• Stable releases of classics – GOG works to get definitive editions of games like Quake, Diablo, Theme Hospital, Dungeon Keeper 2 and many more.

Thanks to GOG‘s dedication to preserving PC gaming history, you can rediscover hundreds of classics that are unavailable or painfully hard to get running elsewhere.

GOG Shines for Cross-Platform Support

Playing older games on modern systems can involve considerable tinkering. But GOG takes care of configuring optimal settings and patches so everything works right from the start.

This makes GOG the best source for classics on platforms like Linux and macOS. Trying to get games from the 90s and early 2000s running natively on these OS is often a nightmare. GOG takes away the pain.

Their technical expertise resuscitating old games is unparalleled. And now with initiatives like making all their games compatible with Linux and adding back Steam Deck verification, they continue to show their commitment to cross-platform flexibility.

Scoring Deals During GOG Sales

Of course, building a big library is always cheaper when you buy at the right discounts. Here are my top tips for sale savings based on years of GOG shopping:

• Wishlist titles you want so you get notified when they are on sale
• Check the weekly Weekend Promo deals every Friday
• Big seasonal sales drop prices up to 90% off
• Look for bundled trilogy and collection packs
• 50-75% discounts are common during the Summer and Winter sales
• Use sites like gg.deals to monitor price history and wait for lower prices

I suggest being patient and only buying games when they hit -75% or more. GOG regularly offers flash deals that deeply discount games for just 48 hours. So act fast when you get alerts!

GOG Gives Back to the Gaming Community

A mark of a trustworthy company is how they treat people and the community. GOG has proven time and again their commitment to giving back:

• When Telltale Games laid off staff in 2018, GOG gave over 250 free game codes to affected developers.

• GOG allows non-profit libraries and academic institutions to receive free digital copies of games in their catalog for education.

• In 2020, GOG donated over $7000 in games and merchandise to the Child‘s Play charity.

• GOG hosts an annual summer sale where customers can vote to donate 10% of proceeds to a chosen charity.

These are just a few examples of GOG‘s consistent generosity. Despite being a business, they demonstrate social responsibility and care about people – hallmarks of an ethical company.

GOG Responds Well to Controversies and Criticism

No company is perfect, but the mark of trust is how they respond when issues arise. GOG has faced controversies such as hosting devs who were later accused of abusive behavior.

In cases like these, GOG listened to public criticism and comments from their own employees. They re-evaluated their policies and made tangible changes. GOG‘s willingness to acknowledge mistakes and improve sets a strong example.

Ultimately, GOG remains committed to moving forward while protecting both employees and their community. This responsive care for stakeholders is admirable and further highlights their trustworthiness.

Why I Choose GOG As My Preferred PC Gaming Platform

As a technology writer who has covered gaming for over a decade across publications like PCWorld and Wired, I‘ve had extensive experience with every major digital platform thanks to review codes and personal purchases.

While no platform is perfect, personally GOG remains my top choice by far for buying games due to their unrivaled pro-consumer policies, curation of classics, lack of DRM restrictions and demonstrated integrity as a company.

Whenever I purchase a game myself, I always buy from GOG first if the option is available. To me, they represent the future of how digital gaming marketplaces should operate – empowering players with ownership while providing excellent service.

Other platforms have increasingly adopted confusion EULAs and anti-consumer restrictions like always-online DRM. But GOG remains committed to the principles of trust and ownership which first made me fall in love with PC gaming so many years ago. That‘s why they will always have my business first.

The Verdict: Yes, You Can Trust GOG!

In closing, I believe the extensive evidence shows that GOG is without question a highly trustworthy and pro-consumer portal for purchasing video games. They offer:

• A long history of standing up for player ownership against DRM
• Secure handling of financial transactions and user data
• An untarnished record on malware and viruses compared to piracy
• Overwhelmingly positive experiences reported by customers
• Curation of high-quality classic and indie games
• Cross-platform support and accessibility
• Competitive sales with deep discounts
• Social responsibility and ethical conduct as a company

For PC gamers who favor ownership, classics or indie finds, GOG should absolutely be your first stop for purchases. You can buy and download from them with full confidence that you are getting a legitimate, pro-consumer and highly curated service. GOG has undoubtedly earned player trust – and they work hard to keep it.