itch.io

itch.io is an open marketplace and hosting platform for independent game developers to publish, distribute, and sell games directly to players, built with a deliberately open philosophy that lets creators set their own prices, including pay-what-you-want models, rather than being locked into a fixed pricing structure imposed by the platform. Developers can upload a game in almost any format, from a small experimental prototype made in a weekend game jam to a fully polished commercial release, and itch.io handles hosting, distribution, and payment processing without the strict curation and approval processes that larger game storefronts typically require before a game can be listed at all. The platform is deeply tied to the game jam community, regularly hosting and featuring jams where developers build games in a short, fixed timeframe, which has made itch.io a central hub for experimental and indie game culture beyond just being a sales channel. Its revenue share model lets creators choose how much of a sale to give to itch.io, including the option to give the platform nothing at all, which stands in sharp contrast to the fixed, non-negotiable cuts larger game marketplaces charge. Browsable, richly-tagged discovery pages help players find niche and experimental games that would rarely surface on a larger, more curated storefront. itch.io is aimed at independent and hobbyist game developers who want an open, low-friction way to reach players directly.