Is there a way to tell which games use a DRM?

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Chaosolous Dec 29, 2022 @ 3:19pm

In a nutshell.
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I keep games installed on my PC in case the 'net goes down or whatever. There's about ~110 installed games over various storefronts. GOG, EGS, Steam, etc. Is there a way to check the games to see if they require a DRM? Even if it's just Steam.

I am aware I could disconnect the internet and just try to boot the games. I just don't feel like booting up ~100+ applications unless I absolutely have to. If there's a simpler way, I implore for elaboration.

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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments

craigsters Dec 29, 2022 @ 3:37pm

DRM is usually displayed in gold rectangle boxes on the right hand side under the info for if it K&M or controller use etc for the game

Last edited by craigsters; Dec 29, 2022 @ 3:37pm

Elucidator Dec 29, 2022 @ 4:59pm

Almost all products on Steam require you to be logged in on Steam to use. (which is DRM)
Some products added that in later as time progressed, for example RPG Maker MV/MZ. Both of them cannot be run without Steam, even though for a long time they did.

Some games are incomplete without Steam. (So you can run the game, but then the DLC won't load and you won't be able to go online at all), which is also DRM I guess.

Basically, you'd need to check per program unfortunately. Its possible that DRM was implemented with an update and such.

Weirdly enough, usually games don't even mention things like the Anti-Cheat or DRM systems implemented in them. You could look through sites that offer a DRM free version, I suspect they can track it for you.

You could also install a patch that would also work as a no-cd patch (bypassing DRM); sometimes this patch is needed to get a very old game to run on a modern system.
Sometimes such patches are released by the original development team. (for example, the Open Rollercoaster 2 project does this. You no longer need the disk nor steam if you have the Steam version.)

Last edited by Elucidator; Dec 29, 2022 @ 5:01pm

Chaosolous Dec 30, 2022 @ 2:18pm

Both of you were very helpful. Thank you for your time and effort.

Valden21 Dec 30, 2022 @ 2:34pm

Another good way to tell is to go to pcgamingwiki.com and search for the game in question. If the game has any DRM besides Steam, the site will tell you.

AtheistChris Dec 30, 2022 @ 2:41pm

Originally posted by Valden21:
Another good way to tell is to go to pcgamingwiki.com and search for the game in question. If the game has any DRM besides Steam, the site will tell you.

or he just can close steam
and move the game folder to desktop and look if any game is working

GunsForBucks Dec 30, 2022 @ 2:41pm

Kerbal Space Program has none. You can move the file away from steam totally and launch from the exe in the folder.

Sim3 I believe used to also work that way. Been a while since I tried.

Those were my "go to" games when I lose connection... or tuesdays