Where to List Your Indie Game for Free: 23 Platforms (2027)

You can list an indie game for free on itch.io, Game Jolt, GAMES.GG, IndieDB, IGDB and a dozen other sites, and doing it takes an afternoon. Below are 23 options, grouped by type, with costs, benefits and submission links.

We checked each site in October 2026. Some block automated checks, so confirm current terms before submitting. Four stores charge entry fees: Steam, Epic Games Store, Google Play and the Apple App Store. They are clearly flagged because most developers will still want them.

Key takeaways

• Start with permanent pages on itch.io, IGDB, IndieDB and GAMES.GG. They cost nothing and take under an hour each.
• Steam costs $100 per game, recoupable after $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue. It is the non-free listing nearly every PC indie needs.
• Communities can send real players, but their rules matter. Read them before posting.
• Listing is not marketing. You still need a strong store page, a trailer and a reason to click. See our no-budget marketing guide for the wider strategy.

Quick comparison: where to list your indie game

Free stores and publishing programs

itch.io

The easiest place to start for publishing and selling. Uploading is free, and you choose the platform's share of each sale: the default is 10%, adjustable from 0% to 100%. Sell, offer pay-what-you-want or give the game away. Devlogs and jams support prototypes, demos and early builds as well as finished games.

Game Jolt

A long-running indie platform with a built-in community and an often younger audience than Steam. Add games through your Game Jolt dashboard with a thumbnail, rating and build files. Uploading is free; confirm current upload and monetization rules in the dashboard before publishing.

GOG

GOG is curated: submission is free, but acceptance is not guaranteed. Its submission form has around 15 questions. The support FAQ says GOG cannot give feedback on very early projects, so submit near completion or after releasing elsewhere.

Newgrounds

A free portal for browser and downloadable games, with community reviews and scoring. Low-scoring entries can be removed, so polish matters. You must own the game you upload. Check current Newgrounds guidelines because rules and accepted file formats change.

CrazyGames

The CrazyGames developer portal accepts HTML5 and Unity WebGL submissions from anyone. Earnings come from ads and optional in-game purchases, with monthly payouts after passing a €100 minimum.

Games undergo QA, then a small-player-group soft launch, followed by a full launch if performance supports it. You must integrate the SDK and avoid other portals' branding or external ads.

ID@Xbox and Nintendo Developer Portal

Microsoft says ID@Xbox has no application, certification or publishing fees. Acceptance is not automatic, and Partner Center access may carry a small one-time cost.

Nintendo's portal is free to register on, but Switch access requires a separate application approved at Nintendo's discretion. Both programs target games close to completion.

Paid exceptions: Steam, Epic, Google Play and Apple

• Steam:$100 per game, non-refundable but recouped in the payment after the game reaches at least $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue from Steam store sales and in-app purchases.
• Epic Games Store: $100 per game, recoupable. Check its distribution page for current revenue-share terms.
• Google Play: $25 one-time registration fee.
• Apple App Store: $99 annually for the Developer Program. The mobile-store figures come from third-party fee roundups; confirm them on the official pages.

Build your Steam page early: a coming-soon page can collect wishlists for months. Our free SteamBuddy audit scores its capsule, copy and tags against 20,000+ Steam games.

Free game directories and databases

GAMES.GG free listing

Our directory is free, with no commitment or exclusivity. Each game gets an overview covering developer, release date, platforms and genre tags, plus sections for editorial reviews, player reviews, guides, news and achievements. Unreleased games and studios of any size are welcome.

Submissions are reviewed in order, with a standard wait of about 3 weeks. An optional $199 fast-track puts the page live within 48 hours. Bring your name, email, studio name, genre, store or game-page link and a one-sentence description. Submit your game here.

IndieDB

Create a profile with news, media and downloads, and followers can track updates. The how-to page explains how you or a teammate can add a game, or use a development group for shared management. IndieDB suits early builds and devlog-style updates.

IGDB

Owned by Twitch, IGDB supplies data to other tools and sites. Sign in with a Twitch account, open the Games tab and select Add Game. Entries are reviewed before publication.

You need at least a title and store page; release dates and screenshots improve the entry. Verified developers receive higher review priority for their edits.

PCGamingWiki and MobyGames

PCGamingWiki covers PC settings and fixes; MobyGames is a long-running catalog of released games. Both are free and contributor-built. Follow editing guidelines and avoid promotional wording. Their value is discoverability and credibility more than direct traffic.

Free communities to post your indie game

Communities send players and feedback, but punish spam. Read current sidebars and rules, space posts out and avoid pasting the same post across several communities. We could not confirm each sidebar's current wording, so use these notes as guidance:

• r/playmygame: Share playable games and request feedback using the moderators' posting flow.
• r/IndieDev: Devlogs, GIFs and showcases are welcome. Honest postmortems and behind-the-scenes posts tend to work best.
• r/indiegames: Player-focused. Moderators have allowed promotion but tightened rules around feedback-seeking self-promotion; check current rules.
• itch.io game jams: A free account lets you join, and anyone can host. Jams put playable pages in front of developers and players.

For Reddit, Discord and other community tactics, see our guide to marketing an indie game with no budget.

Sites and curators that take submissions

• Steam Curators via Curator Connect: From your Steamworks app, send copies to up to 100 chosen curators, with up to 5 copies each. Acceptance or review is not required. You need a public store page; coming soon is enough. See the Steamworks documentation.
• Indie Games Developer: Says website and magazine coverage is free for indie games. Queues may be long, coverage is not guaranteed and paid extras are optional. Submit a game or trailer; they suggest waiting on very early projects.
• Indie Games Plus: The site is live with a contact page, but we could not confirm a formal submission form. Treat it as an email pitch, not a guaranteed listing.

For bigger outlets and a structured pitching approach, see our gaming PR page.

Get more from every listing

Some listings bring only a trickle of traffic. Their main value is a permanent, searchable page supporting your other marketing. Communities, curators and coverage tend to send more direct traffic, but your store page still needs to convert.

1. Prepare one reusable asset pack: short and long descriptions, 8 to 10 screenshots, a trailer link, logo and key art.
2. Keep names, descriptions, art and links consistent so players and search engines can connect your pages.
3. Point listings to one main page, usually Steam or itch.io.
4. Use tracking links where allowed to identify listings that send visitors.
5. Update after milestones: post about demos, release dates and launches wherever news posts are supported.

Next step:submit your game to the GAMES.GG free listing. Standard review takes about 3 weeks; the optional $199 fast-track publishes within 48 hours.