AppBreakup
Submit an app

Heroic Games Launcher alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Heroic Games Launcher: relies on unofficial store integrations that can break when stores change, and doesn't cover Steam, Ubisoft or EA libraries. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Heroic Games Launcher, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Lutris currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Lutris logoLutrisOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 466.5
2Steam logoSteamFreeNoWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Faugus Launcher logoFaugus LauncherOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 338.6
  1. Lutris logo

    1. LutrisTop pick

    Best for: Linux gamers with a mixed library of store, retro and hard-to-run Windows games

    Open sourceLinux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Heroic Games Launcher

    Covers more sources, including Steam, Humble and emulators, with community install scripts for tricky games.

    Pros

    • Community install scripts handle many tricky Windows and retro games
    • One library across Steam, GOG, Epic, Humble and emulators
    • Per-game control over Wine, DXVK and other runners
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Linux only
    • Install scripts vary in quality and can go stale
    • Interface feels dated and has more settings than casual players need
    Visit Lutris Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Lutris a good Heroic Games Launcher alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Store libraries
    Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble Bundle
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lutris.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Runners
    Emulators, Wine, engine re-implementations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lutris.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lutris.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Steam logo

    2. Steam

    Best for: PC gamers who want the widest catalogue, frequent sales and their friends in one place

    FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Heroic Games Launcher

    If most of your games are on Steam, its own client with Proton handles them with less setup.

    Pros

    • Largest PC game catalogue, with frequent deep sales
    • Proton lets many Windows games run on Linux and Steam Deck
    • Workshop makes installing mods for supported games easy
    • Cloud saves, achievements and friends built in

    Cons

    • Most games are tied to the Steam client by DRM
    • The client is heavy and keeps background services running
    • You buy licences, not DRM-free copies like on GOG
    Visit Steam Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Steam a good Heroic Games Launcher alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Mobile app
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mods
    Steam Workshop, ~1,000 supported games
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chat
    Text and voice
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment options
    100+ methods, 35+ currencies
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Languages
    28
    Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Faugus Launcher logo

    3. Faugus Launcher

    Best for: Linux gamers who want a minimal way to run non-Steam Windows games with Proton

    Open sourceLinux

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Heroic Games Launcher

    Minimal launcher for Windows games from any source, not tied to store accounts.

    Pros

    • Uses UMU-Launcher so non-Steam games get Proton's game fixes
    • Simple single-list interface with per-game prefixes
    • Free, MIT-licensed and available on Flathub

    Cons

    • No store integration for Epic, GOG or Amazon libraries
    • No community install scripts like Lutris offers
    • Linux only
    Visit Faugus Launcher Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Faugus Launcher a good Heroic Games Launcher alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Runs games with
    UMU-Launcher
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Development
    Active (updated Oct 2026)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Lutris logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for most people

Lutris

Covers more sources, including Steam, Humble and emulators, with community install scripts for tricky games.

Steam logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for a free option

Steam

If most of your games are on Steam, its own client with Proton handles them with less setup.

Playnite logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for open source

Playnite

Free MIT-licensed Windows library manager that pulls Epic, GOG, Steam and more into one controller-friendly view.

GOG Galaxy logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for Mac

GOG Galaxy

GOG's official client on Windows and Mac, with rollbacks and a combined library of other platforms.

Steam logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for Windows

Steam

If most of your games are on Steam, its own client with Proton handles them with less setup.

Faugus Launcher logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for Linux

Faugus Launcher

Minimal launcher for Windows games from any source, not tied to store accounts.

Steam logo

Best Heroic Games Launcher alternative for iPhone and Android

Steam

If most of your games are on Steam, its own client with Proton handles them with less setup.

Heroic Games Launcher alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Heroic Games Launcher?

Lutris ranks first right now. Covers more sources, including Steam, Humble and emulators, with community install scripts for tricky games. Steam and GOG Galaxy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Heroic Games Launcher?

Yes. Lutris (open source), Steam (free), GOG Galaxy (free) and Playnite (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Heroic Games Launcher?

Yes: Lutris, Playnite and Faugus Launcher.

Which Heroic Games Launcher alternatives work on Linux?

Lutris, Steam and Faugus Launcher run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Heroic Games Launcher?

The complaints we hear most: relies on unofficial store integrations that can break when stores change; doesn't cover Steam, Ubisoft or EA libraries; some store services, like Epic achievements or online features, may not work.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Heroic Games Launcher, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.