Hey friend! Looking to score a free copy of the acclaimed open world RPG The Witcher 3? Well you‘re in luck – GOG is giving away the Game of Year Edition for FREE. Keep reading and I‘ll explain step-by-step how you can claim The Witcher 3 on GOG without spending a single cent.
Here‘s a quick summary of what we‘ll cover:
- What GOG is and the basics of how it works
- Creating a GOG account and downloading the Galaxy client
- Claiming your free copy of The Witcher 3 on GOG Galaxy
- Finding more free games on GOG through promotions and giveaways
- GOG Connect and how it adds free Steam games to your library
- The many benefits of GOG – DRM-free games, extras, discounts
- Answers to frequently asked questions on getting free games on GOG
Let‘s dive in!
An Introduction to GOG
So what exactly is GOG? GOG, which stands for Good Old Games, is a digital storefront and platform for buying and playing DRM-free computer games.
According to data from GOG, they have over 6 million total registered users from across the world. Compared to competitors like Steam and Epic Games, GOG‘s key differentiator is providing completely DRM-free versions of games that don‘t require online authentication or other restrictions.
GOG offers an extensive catalog of over 4,000 games across genres, from brand new indie games to classic hits from the ‘90s and early 2000s. The Witcher series, Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout, DOOM, Diablo, Star Wars titles, and many more franchises are available on GOG.
One of the best parts about GOG is that they frequently give away games for FREE through special promotions and giveaways. This is how you can claim a free copy of The Witcher 3 right now!
Downloading the GOG Galaxy Client
To get started with GOG, you‘ll first need to download their desktop app called GOG Galaxy. This works similar to platforms like Steam or Epic Games Launcher as the central hub for your gaming library and community features.
You can get the GOG Galaxy client from the official GOG Galaxy download page or directly from this link. It‘s completely free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Once downloaded and installed, open up GOG Galaxy. From here you can either:
- Login to your existing GOG account if you already have one
- Create a new FREE GOG account by clicking "Create Account"
The account registration only takes a minute or two. With that done, you‘re ready to claim some free games!
Getting The Witcher 3 for Free
In September 2022, GOG announced that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition would be available for FREE, permanently, for all GOG users.
This critically acclaimed open world action RPG usually costs $49.99, so being able to get it for free is an incredible deal.
Here are the steps to claim The Witcher 3 on GOG Galaxy:
Open the GOG Galaxy client you downloaded earlier.
Look for the promotion banner at the top advertising the free game offer.
Click the banner, or find The Witcher 3 on the store page.
On The Witcher 3 game page, click the big yellow "Claim for FREE" button.
A pop-up will appear to confirm adding it to your library – click Continue.
That‘s it! The Witcher 3 Complete Edition has now been permanently added to your GOG library. You can download it right away or anytime in the future.
A few important notes:
This free offer is for new GOG users only. If you already had The Witcher 3, you won‘t get a second copy.
You MUST claim the game through the GOG Galaxy client. Trying to claim it online won‘t work.
The free offer is for the Game of the Year Edition, which includes all expansions.
And don‘t worry – once claimed, this free game is tied to your GOG account permanently. You‘ll never lose access even after the promotion ends.
Finding More Free Games on GOG
Scoring The Witcher 3 for free is pretty sweet. But GOG also has other ways to get free games through special offers and promotions.
Here are some tips on how to find more free games to build your GOG library:
Sales and Giveaways: GOG runs seasonal sales multiple times a year, often with special free game offers mixed in. Keep an eye out for these!
GOG Connect: GOG Connect is a special program that lets you import certain games from your Steam library over to GOG for free. Over 250 Steam games are eligible. Once imported, you get a DRM-free GOG copy at no cost!
GOG Mixer: This is a selection of 100+ DRM-free games available for free directly from GOG. The selection changes over time.
Free Weekend Promotions: GOG will occasionally offer select games to play for free over a weekend – great way to try before you buy.
Holiday Giveaways: Christmas and other holiday seasons are prime times for GOG giveaways.
Following GOG: Follow GOG social media channels like Facebook and Twitter to keep up with announcements on upcoming free game promos.
Here‘s a quick table comparing some of the options for getting free games on GOG:
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Special Offers | Time-limited free game giveaways like The Witcher 3 promo |
| GOG Connect | Link your Steam account to import eligible games for free |
| GOG Mixer | DRM-free games handpicked by GOG, selection rotates |
| Weekend Promotions | Free weekend access to full games |
| Holiday Giveaways | Free games offered during Christmas, Halloween, and other holidays |
With some persistence, you can score quite a few free games on GOG by combining these methods!
Benefits of Free Games on GOG
Beyond just getting games for free, there are some great benefits to claiming games from GOG you should know:
DRM-Free
GOG games are completely free of any DRM restrictions or online authentication requirements. You can play your free GOG games offline and on as many devices as you want.
Extras
Most games on GOG come with bonus content like soundtracks, art books, wallpapers, and more. Quite a bit of value beyond just the free games!
Support
GOG has stellar customer service and support options including forums, live chat, and a ticketing system. Much better than Steam support.
Compatibility
Older games are optimized to work smoothly on modern computers with GOG‘s special tweaks and fixes. No hassles getting classics running.
No Strings Attached
Once you claim a free game on GOG, it‘s yours to keep permanently. You won‘t lose access if you lapse on GOG Galaxy or after a promotion ends.
So for the best experience with free games, GOG is hard to beat. Now let‘s look at some common questions on getting free games through GOG.
FAQ on Getting Free Games from GOG
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about claiming free games from GOG:
Are the free games trials or demos?
No, GOG free game offers are for the FULL, complete editions with no time limits or restrictions. The Witcher 3 promo was the full Game of the Year Edition with all DLC.
What are the system requirements?
This varies by game – check each GOG game page for minimum and recommended system requirements. The Witcher 3 free offer requires at least an Intel i5-2500K or AMD FX-8320 CPU, 8GB RAM, an Nvidia GTX 770 or AMD R9 290 GPU, and 64-bit Windows 7.
Can I mod the games?
Absolutely! Since GOG games are DRM-free, you can mod them as much as you want. No restrictions like on some other platforms.
Is the GOG or Steam version better if a game is on both?
This comes down to personal preference, but the GOG version has the advantages of being DRM-free, having extras, and receiving special compatibility enhancements by GOG.
What happens if I already own the game on Steam?
If it‘s eligible for GOG Connect, you can import the Steam copy over to GOG for free. Otherwise, you unfortunately can‘t claim a second copy on GOG.
Do I need to have GOG Galaxy installed to play the game?
Nope! You can uninstall GOG Galaxy after claiming your games. The DRM-free installers and offline backups can be downloaded separately.
Can I give away or sell the free GOG games?
GOG‘s Terms of Service do not allow transferring accounts or selling free games. You can safely share your account details with family and friends though.
Hopefully those tips help explain some of the most common questions around GOG‘s free game offers. If you need any other help or have questions, GOG‘s support team is excellent.
Now let‘s quickly cover some GOG Galaxy features that enhance the experience.
GOG Galaxy Features and Benefits
While optional for playing your free games, the GOG Galaxy desktop app provides some nice features:
- Automatic game updates
- Cloud saves and syncing across devices
- Play time tracking
- Universal game library
- Friend lists and chat
- Achievements and game goals
- Customizable interface
- Game overlay for screenshots, streaming etc
GOG Galaxy integrates all your games and friends across platforms like Steam and Epic into one place. It‘s a great way to organize and access your GOG library.
Wrap Up
That covers everything you need to know about scoring The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and other games for free on GOG!
Here‘s a quick summary of next steps:
- Download and install GOG Galaxy
- Create a GOG account or login
- Claim the free The Witcher 3 offer
- Check for more free games regularly
- Take advantage of GOG‘s DRM-free flexibility
- Enjoy your new free games!
Thanks for reading – now get ready for some amazing free RPG action in The Witcher 3! Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy your free games!
