gamesstandalone

Gamesstandalone is a term used to describe video games that are self-contained and can run without requiring external software beyond what is distributed with the game itself. A standalone game typically bundles the game engine, assets, and runtime into a single package, such as an installer, a compressed archive, or a portable executable. This allows the title to be installed and launched without needing a separate installation of a game engine, middleware, or a digital distribution launcher.

In contrast, some games rely on external platforms, libraries, or services at runtime. Examples include games that require a specific engine installed system-wide, rely on an online launcher, or depend on ongoing authentication with a remote server. Standalone games may still offer optional online features, updates, or multiplayer via servers, but these features are not required for basic play offline.

Distribution formats for standalone games include installer-based packages and portable ZIPs. Portability is a common appeal, enabling play from removable drives or on systems without administrative rights. Standalone packaging is common in indie development and in older PC catalogs, where authors prioritized ease of deployment and offline compatibility.

Developers consider factors such as file size, update strategy, and cross-platform packaging when delivering standalone builds. Users value offline accessibility, stability, and simplicity, though larger install sizes and less seamless incremental updating can be drawbacks.

See also: portable software, standalone executable, launcher-based games, open-source games.