By Jerry Games 
If you love PC gaming, you’ve probably heard of GOG and Steam. These are two of the biggest online platforms where you can buy and download video games. But if you bought a game on GOG, you might wonder: Can you play GOG games on Steam?
No, you cannot directly play GOG games on Steam. GOG and Steam are two different game platforms. Games bought on GOG will not show up in your Steam library. However, you can add GOG games as “non-Steam games” in Steam to launch them from there, but you won’t get Steam features like achievements or cloud saves. If you want Steam features, you need to buy the game on Steam. Both platforms work separately.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about playing GOG games on Steam — in simple words and step-by-step instructions.
Table of Contents
GOG (short for Good Old Games) is a website where you can buy games without DRM (Digital Rights Management). This means:
- You fully own the game.
- You can install it on any computer.
- You don’t need the internet to play.
GOG is popular for classic games, indie titles, and even some new releases.
Steam is the most popular digital game store in the world. It has:
- Thousands of games.
- Online features like cloud saves, achievements, and multiplayer.
- A large gaming community.
But Steam uses DRM, so you need to launch games from your Steam account.
GOG and Steam are two different platforms. If you buy a game on GOG, it won’t automatically appear in your Steam library. And Steam won’t recognize it unless the game was bought on Steam.
But don’t worry — there are some workarounds to play your GOG games using the Steam app. Keep reading!
You can add GOG games as “Non-Steam Games” to your Steam library. This won’t give you Steam features like achievements, but it lets you launch the game from Steam. Here’s how:
First, download and install your game from the GOG Galaxy client or directly from the GOG website.
Launch the Steam app on your computer.
- On the bottom left corner of Steam, click the “+ Add a Game” button.
- Choose “Add a Non-Steam Game…”
A list of programs on your PC will appear. Find the game you installed from GOG and check the box next to it. Then click “Add Selected Programs.”
Now, your GOG game is in your Steam library! You can click on it and play it through Steam — but remember, you won’t get Steam-only features like achievements or friend activity.
Here are some things you can’t do with GOG games on Steam:
- No Steam Achievements
- No Steam Cloud Saves
- No Steam Workshop Mods
- No Auto Updates via Steam
If those features are important to you, you may want to buy the game directly on Steam instead.
Some games sold on GOG also give you a free Steam key. This means you can redeem the same game on Steam at no extra cost. Not all games do this, but it’s worth checking!
How to find out:
- Go to your GOG library.
- Check if there’s a Steam key listed for that game.
If available, you can redeem it on Steam and enjoy all Steam features.
No, you generally cannot redeem GOG games on Steam. GOG and Steam are separate platforms with different licensing systems.
A game purchased on GOG will not come with a Steam key unless specifically stated by the developer. If a developer or publisher offers a promotion where a Steam key is included, then redemption might be possible, but this is not the standard practice.
You cannot directly move your GOG games to Steam, as each platform uses a separate system for managing and verifying game ownership.
However, you can manually add GOG games to your Steam library as “non-Steam games,” which allows you to launch them through Steam. This doesn’t make them official Steam games, nor does it grant Steam features like achievements or automatic updates.
Yes, you can play GOG games on Steam Link by adding them as non-Steam games to your Steam library. Once added, they can be streamed from your PC to another device using Steam Link.
This works because Steam Link mirrors your PC screen, regardless of whether the game is from Steam, GOG, or another source. Just ensure the game runs properly on your PC.
Yes, you can play GOG games on Steam OS, but it depends on the game’s compatibility with Linux (since Steam OS is Linux-based). You may need to use tools like Wine, Proton, or Lutris to run Windows-only GOG games.
Native Linux-compatible GOG games can be installed and played more easily. It requires some manual setup, unlike games purchased directly from the Steam store.
Playing GOG games with Steam friends is usually not possible directly, as GOG games don’t connect to Steam’s multiplayer or friends systems.
However, if a game supports cross-platform multiplayer and uses an external account (like GOG Galaxy, Epic, or a developer-hosted server), then it might work. Otherwise, you’ll need all players to use the same version, usually via GOG or a crossplay-supported method.
You can’t play GOG games for free on Steam unless the same game is free on Steam itself or has been added to your Steam library via a key.
GOG and Steam are separate stores, so buying or downloading a free game on GOG doesn’t give you access to it on Steam. However, you can add GOG games to your Steam launcher manually as non-Steam games.
Yes, you can play GOG games on the Steam Deck. While GOG doesn’t have a native client for SteamOS, you can install games via Lutris or manually download them using the GOG website and use Wine or Proton to run them.
You can also add GOG games as non-Steam games to your library. With some setup, many GOG games run well on the Steam Deck.
Yes, GOG games do receive updates. If you use the GOG Galaxy client, it can automatically manage and apply updates, similar to Steam. Without Galaxy, you can manually download updated installers from your GOG library.
Updates depend on the game developer’s support, but GOG does ensure DRM-free updates, often bundled with patches, improvements, and additional content whenever released by the original developers.
You can’t technically “transfer” a game from GOG to Steam. However, you can add the GOG game to your Steam library as a non-Steam game.
This lets you launch the game through Steam, but it won’t grant access to Steam features like achievements or multiplayer. The only way to have it on Steam officially is to buy it there or get a Steam key from the developer.
Yes, you can add non-Steam games to your Steam library for convenience. Simply click “Add a Non-Steam Game” in the Steam client and select the game’s executable file. This adds a shortcut, letting you launch the game through Steam.
You won’t get Steam-exclusive features like cloud saves or achievements, but you can still use Steam overlay and controller support in many cases.
Generally, GOG games do not connect to Steam’s multiplayer or friends features. You cannot use Steam’s friend list or invite system while playing GOG games unless the game supports cross-platform multiplayer through an external service or account.
In such cases, both players may need accounts on the game’s servers rather than relying on Steam or GOG’s platforms to connect and play together.
No, you cannot activate a game bought on GOG on Steam unless the developer explicitly includes a Steam key with the purchase. GOG and Steam operate independently, and game keys are not interchangeable.
Sometimes, developers run promotions offering both versions, but this is rare. Check the purchase details carefully on GOG if a Steam key is included—it’s not the standard for most games.
No, GOG and Steam do not allow account linking. They are separate platforms, and games purchased on GOG will not show up in your Steam library automatically.
No, if you add a GOG game to Steam as a “non-Steam game,” it will not support Steam achievements, cloud saves, or other Steam features.
Yes, it is completely legal. You own the game from GOG, and Steam allows users to add non-Steam games to their library for convenience.
No, GOG games added to Steam will not receive updates from Steam. You must update them through GOG Galaxy or manually download updates from the GOG website.
Sometimes. A few GOG games include a free Steam key, but this depends on the publisher. Always check your GOG game library to see if a Steam key is available.
In summary, while you can’t directly play GOG games on Steam, you can add them as non-Steam games to launch through the Steam app. However, Steam features like achievements and cloud saves won’t be available. For full Steam functionality, purchase the game on Steam. Always check GOG for possible Steam keys included with your purchase.