If we play regularly with our computer we will surely be part of the evolution when it comes to acquiring a game and playing. For years, digital format platforms such as Steam, Epic or Origen have been responsible for storing all our games. Since these are spread across various launchers and stores, they are not always easy to access. To try to solve it, we can opt for an application like Playnite that is in charge of grouping them all and, about which, we are going to talk to you.
Playnite is considered a free and open source video game library manager , specially developed so that we have a unified interface for all our games purchased on various platforms, even showing those that we do not have installed. It supports games from Steam, Epic, Origin, GOG, Battle.net, Uplay, Twitch, Bethesda, itch.io, and even games from the Microsoft Store. In addition, it also has support for a wide variety of console emulators.
Main features
This application stands out for its simple and fast resource interface , even with large libraries, and from which it allows us to view all the games that we have in our collection. Its appearance can be completely customized to our liking, from simple color changes to complete redesigns.
Other features to highlight:
- It can be extended with plugins written in .NET languages or PowerShell scripts.
- It is capable of calculating our playing time, for any game, including emulators.
- It can be run from an external storage device without installation on the system.
- Automatically download metadata for all games, including those that are custom, such as cover art, descriptions, and other information.
- It has full screen mode.
Without a doubt, this is an application that can be very useful for all those who love video games in digital format.
Download playnite for free
Playnite is a free and open source application, which favors constant progress in its development and we can regularly enjoy improvements. We can download it from this link to its official website. None of the functions of this application are locked behind a paid option and the entire source code is available under the MIT license.
For the most suspicious or lovers of privacy, it should be noted that Playnite does not store any information about its users on remote servers, since all the information about our library is stored locally on our PC, so no one else can have access to it. Linking an account only saves the same amount of information as when we log into the related library or store through our web browser.
Link all platforms at startup
The installation of Playnite has no mystery, since it will only be necessary to double-click the PlayniteInstaller.exe file that we have previously downloaded so that it is installed automatically. Subsequently, an initial configuration poster will appear (in English), where through an assistant we can carry out an automatic import and configuration of our game library , so we click on the Next button.
On the next screen we must choose the platforms that we want to add in this initial configuration. It should be remembered that, later, the games can be included manually, so it is not necessary that we put them all at first if we do not want to.
Now, on the new screen, the option to import the installed games appears, although we can also mark the addition of others that we have purchased on the platform, even if they are not installed, something useful for organizing our library, especially if it is large. We must also click on the Authenticate button to enter our credentials (users/email and password) so that you can access its content and, finally, click on Next.
Once we have finished the process with all the platforms selected, we only have to click on the Finish button to close the window and access the application interface.
Its interface, that great attraction
Once our gaming platforms are linked, we can start using Playnite and that’s when the magic really happens. When executing it, its attractive graphical interface appears and at the same time all the games that we have on the different platforms that we have added are loaded, without clutter. Also, along with the metadata, it includes the genre, developer, publisher, release date, cover art, and more. It even tracks how long we’ve been playing our games.
The program is set to launch every time we boot up our PC, and even has a full screen mode that is used to replace Steam’s Big Picture mode. Just click on the game and then on the Start button to launch it, without further ado. This will make
It is possible to keep it updated by pressing F5, in this way it will be in charge of synchronizing the platforms that we have configured again so that the new games that we have added appear. We can change the appearance of how the games are displayed from the tools located at the top of the interface. We can organize them in grid mode, in view mode, in alphabetical order, year of release, platform… the options are innumerable.
We can also make a filter , something that can be very useful if our library is really large, since it allows us to configure it so that only installed games are shown, or games that are not installed, that only games are shown. a specific platform (Steam, Epic…), as well as by genre, developer… The configuration options are very wide.
add games
From the program’s own interface we can add a game both manually and automatically. Games can be manually added to the library by simply dragging and dropping them onto the interface. Another option is to click on the command-shaped icon in the upper left. This opens a drop-down menu where the first option we find is Add game , being able to choose between the manual way.
Whether we want to add the game from here or by dragging and dropping it on its interface, a new window will appear from where we can edit all the details of the game . The sections that we can configure are innumerable, so if we are lovers of customization we can leave them perfect to our liking. On the contrary, so many options can overwhelm other users. From the Installation tab we will have to find the .exe file with which the game is executed so that we can start it directly from the Playnite interface.
We also have the option to scan automatically . In this case, the program does not show a window where clicking on the Detect installed button will carry out a scan and will show us all the applications and games installed on the system. We can also browse File Explorer or scan a folder. Once the game we want to add is marked, all that remains is to click on the Add games button.
Also emulators and retro games
Playnite is also compatible with retro games that run through emulators, so we can add them from the program’s interface. To do this, click on the command-shaped button and in the menu we select the Library option and here we choose the Configure emulators option.
This will open a new window from importing our emulators to the launcher. To do this we must click on the Import button to load it directly. We can also add and configure it by entering its name, the folder where it is downloaded, specify the type of emulator it is, among other options.
Likewise, we find the Download emulators button, in the lower right part from where it will show us a window where it will show us all the emulators that are compatible with Playnite, with their respective web pages from where they can be downloaded.
Change its appearance with themes
Lovers of customization are in luck with Playnite, as its appearance can be completely configured. It is possible to introduce small color changes up to complete modifications of your design. To do this, you must access its configuration menu, clicking on the command-shaped icon and then on its Configuration section. Here in the General section we have the possibility to change the theme that comes by default. Right next to it we have the sections to Get more themes and Create a new theme .
And it is that from the Playnite forum itself we can have access to a wide variety of topics created by the community itself. From the posts themselves we can download the theme or directly install it so that it is applied directly without having to download it.
Add functionalities with your plugins
Another of the great features that we can find for Playnite is its compatibility with extensions with which to add new features. From the Playnite forum itself we will have access to different add-ons developed by the community, many of them hosted in their GitHub repositories.
To access this section we must press the command-shaped icon and select the Complements section from the menu. Here we can also find its own gallery of plugins, within the Browse and Generic section we will have access to its library of plugins. To add each one we need, just double-click or select it and click Save.
Alternatives to Playnite
In addition to this program, there are other alternatives, although not many, that allow us to centralize all our games in the same place to be able to access them easily.
LaunchBox
Especially dedicated to the organization of retro games. This program was created as a DosBox game launcher, but nowadays it has become one of the best retro game frontends, thanks to its complete database with information about games and consoles. In addition to allowing us to load our retro games, it will also allow us to import games from many other platforms, such as Steam. We can download it for free from the developer’s website .
pegasus
It is an application that performs the functions of a launcher from where you can explore our entire library of games from its graphic interface and run them from a single place. Especially focused on customization, cross-platform support, and high performance. With it we can have our games organized and start them more comfortably. It is free open source software that we can download from its official website .