Our verdict: The itch app is the easiest way to keep games bought or claimed on itch.io installed and up to date. It is open source and light, but it only covers the itch.io store. Games themselves range from free to paid and are made by independent creators, so quality varies a lot.
About itch
itch is the official desktop client of itch.io, a marketplace where independent developers sell or give away games and software. The app is released under the MIT license by itch corp.
The app keeps all your itch.io downloads in one place, updates them automatically and lets you browse the store through a built-in browser. Games that use itch.io's command-line tools receive small delta patches instead of full re-downloads.
What it does well
- Library in one place. Access your purchases, claimed games and collections from your itch.io account.
- Automatic updates. Installed games and the app itself update automatically.
- Delta patches. Games published with itch.io's tools download only the changed files.
- Offline browser games. Sync HTML5 browser games into the app and play them without a connection.
- Creator pages. The built-in browser shows each game page with the creator's own design.
Who it is for
Good fit
Players who buy or download indie games on itch.io and want them installed and updated automatically.
Look elsewhere
People looking for big-budget games, or who do not use itch.io at all.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Automatic updates for itch.io games
- Small delta patches
- Browser games playable offline
- Open source under MIT
Cons
- Only works with the itch.io store
- Requires an itch.io account
- Game quality and support vary between creators
How to install itch
The download is a small setup program that fetches and installs the latest version of the app. Sign in with your itch.io account on first launch; you can create one for free. Set the install location under Preferences before downloading large games.
Questions about itch
Is itch free?
Yes. The itch app is free and open source under the MIT license. Games on itch.io can be free, pay-what-you-want or paid.
Do I need the app to play itch.io games?
No. You can download games from the website directly; the app adds automatic updates, a single library and offline browser games.
