The 6 best DSLR cameras for beginners (2015)

Gizmag looks at some of the best DSLRs for beginners. View gallery (24 images)

DSLRs aren't just the preserve of professional photographers and hobbyists who geek out over megapixels and ISO ratings, as they can also offer a great option for users who have outgrown their smartphone or compact camera. Here we look at some of the best DSLRs for beginners looking to up their photographic game.

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There are a number of reasons a DSLR might be the best new camera for you, it could be that you are on a quest for better image quality, or the ability to shoot in lower light conditions. Maybe you crave access to manual controls and a variety of lenses which you hope will help release you inner Annie Liebovitz.

While a mirrorless camera could also tick all of those boxes, and is more likely to boast the latest mod-cons, there are factors which could still push you towards a DSLR. This could be the wider range of lens options, better access to manual controls (some beginner mirrorless cameras can be lacking in this regard), or the fact that you get a dedicated viewfinder, something that's missing on most entry-level mirrorless shooters.

In this guide we're going to look at six of the best DSLR cameras for beginner photographers. This will include models with modes to guide you through learning about manual controls, up to cameras which will be more than enough as your photography skills develop.

Canon EOS 1200D (Rebel T5)

Though very much an entry-level DSLR, the Canon 1200D (dubbed the Canon Rebel T5 in the US) is still more than enough camera for most people. It's small (for a DSLR) but still packs an 18 megapixel APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS sensor which is capable of turning out great quality images in both bright conditions and the lower light situations your smartphone struggles with. It can also shoot Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps.

Measuring 130 x 100 x 78 mm (5.1x 3.9 x 3 in) the camera has an optical viewfinder for composing shots, and a 3-inch LCD monitor on the rear. Unfortunately, unlike many mirrorless equivalents, the 1200D screen is neither a touchscreen nor able to be angled. Also, the camera lacks built-in Wi-Fi, making sharing images an old-school process of taking the memory card out and putting in into a computer.

However, the creative possibilities enabled by access to the wide range of Canon EF/EF-S lenses, and the ability to shoot RAW images, make up for those, and are the real reasons to buy this camera. A companion app for iOS and Android is also there to help you learn how to control your new camera and understand the basics of DSLR photography.

The Canon 1200D (T5) sells for US$400 with a 18-55-mm kit lens.

Buy now on Amazon.

Nikon D3300

The D3300 is Nikon's entry-level DSLR and its alternative to the Canon 1200D. The camera is again much smaller than the majority of DSLRs, while still boasting solid photographic credentials. This time that's centered around a 24.2-megapixel APS-C 23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor, and the camera has an ISO range of 100 to 12800, burst shooting at up to 5 fps, and Full HD 1080p video recording at 60 fps.

Access to a range of manual controls lets users step up their photographic game, while a guide mode, which offers sample images and clear step-by-step instructions, shows you how to shoot the sort of images you might be hoping to capture. For those who are new to DSLR shooting and manual controls, this can make the transition far easier. The wide range of Nikon F lenses mean you are not going to be short of glass options.

The D3300 measures 124 x 98 x 76 mm (4.9 x 3.9 x 3 in) and weighs 460 g (16 oz). On the back you'll find a 3-inch LCD monitor (again fixed and not a touchscreen) and an optical viewfinder. While there's no built-in Wi-Fi, the D3300 is compatible with a $40 WU-1a adapter which makes it easy to get images to your smartphone.

The Nikon D3300 costs $400 with a 18-55-mm lens.

Buy now on Amazon.

Pentax K-S1

The most modern looking DSLR in our line-up, the Pentax K-S1, could almost be mistaken for a mirrorless camera. It comes in more color options than you could shake a monopod at (not just the fetching pink above), and has a futuristic row of lights down the front. However, it's not a case of style over substance, the K-S1 is a very able DSLR. There's a 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, capable of shooting some of the sharpest images in this category, an ISO range up to 51200, and burst shooting at 5.4 fps.

Video recording is possible at Full HD 1080p at up to 30 fps, and a new stylish interface displayed on the rear 3-inch LCD monitor makes it easy to see and adjust your settings. There's also the option of on-screen explanations of settings which will come in handy for beginners. Those five front-facing lights are also used as an indicator and countdown when shooting with Face Detection, Remote Control, or Self-timer.

Measuring 120 x 93 x 70 (4.7 x 3.6 x 2.8 in) and weighing 558 g (19.7 oz), the K-S1 is another small DSLR, this time using the Pentax KAF2 lens mount. While the Pentax K-S1 also lacks built-in wireless skills, it can be used with Flucard memory cards for wireless sharing.

A Pentax K-S1 with a 18-55-mm lens will set you back $350.

Buy now on Amazon.

Sony A58

Sony's A58 (or Alpha 58, or α58) is a little different from the other cameras in this round-up, because it's technically not a DSLR. Instead of using a traditional DSLR mirror it features Translucent Mirror Technology. That said, other than its use of an electronic viewfinder rather than an optical one, it looks and acts much like the DSLRs here.

Inside, the camera uses a 20.1-megapixel APS-C Exmoor CMOS sensor which is paired with Sony's BIONZ image processor to give an ISO range of 100 to 16000, speedy burst shooting at up to 8 fps, and Full HD video recording at 25 fps. Around back, there's a tilting 2.7-inch LCD screen and that OLED electronic viewfinder.

Measuring 129 x 96 x 78 mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.1) the camera is roughly the same size as the others we've looked at so far. It uses Sony A-mount lenses. One thing to consider before pulling the trigger on this camera is that Sony has already announced the upcoming A68which will offer a big step up from this 2013 model when it's released in March 2016.

The Sony A58 sells for $500 with a 18-55-mm lens.

Buy now on Amazon.

Canon EOS 750D (Rebel T6i)

The Canon 750D (or Rebel T6i in the US) offers a step up from the previous cameras we've looked at. It boasts more photographic clout along with some of the mod-cons you may have been surprised not to see on the other cameras in our round-up. That said, it's still a great option for a beginner, and may offer you a bit more room to grow.

At the heart of the 750D is a 24.2-megapixel APS-C 22.3 x 14.9mm CMOS sensor, and the camera has a wide ISO range of 100 to 12800 (expandable to 25600) for shooting in a variety of lighting conditions. The EF/EF-S mount camera also offers continuous shooting at 5 fps and can record Full HD 1080p video at up to 30 fps. Focusing is going to be faster than that on cheaper models thanks to a 19-point system.

Measuring 132 x 101 x 78 mm (5.2 x 4 x 3.1 in) the camera is one of the larger ones in our round-up, but still significantly smaller than enthusiast-focused and Full Frame DSLRs. On the back there's an optical viewfinder and a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen monitor, which is great for shooting in awkward angles or when shooting video. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC make it easy to share images to compatible devices, and could be reason enough to splash the extra cash on this camera over other less equipped offerings.

A Canon EOS 750D (T6i) will set you back $750 with a 18-55-mm.

Buy now on Amazon.

Nikon D5500

While the Nikon D5500 featured in our line-up of the best mid-range and enthusiast DSLRs, its simplicity also makes it a viable option for beginners who think a lesser camera might not keep up with their photographic ambitions. Like the Canon 750D it offers a good blend of photographic power with mod-cons, on a budget.

This time we're looking at a 24.2-megapixel APS-C 23.5 mm x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor, an ISO range of 100 to 25600, burst speed shooting at 5 fps, and Full HD 1080p video recording at up to 60 fps. Autofocus will again be better than that on some beginner models with the D5500 boasting phase detection with 39 focus points, of which 9 are cross-type. With the Nikon F mount, there are also plenty of lens options.

Measuring 124 x 97 x 70 mm (4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in) the D5500 weighs 470 g (16.6 oz) and boasts a large 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD touch screen on the rear which can make reviewing images or changing settings feel as smooth as on a smartphone. There are also plenty of physical controls for settings tinkerers. Built-in Wi-Fi also makes sharing images quick and painless.

The Nikon D5500 sells for $750 with a 18-55-mm lens.

Buy now on Amazon.

Summing up…

Any of these cameras will be able to deliver much better quality images than your typical smartphone or compact. What you have to consider is what features do you need? Are you happy taking the memory card out to access your images, or is a camera with Wi-Fi worth the extra cost? The same goes for features like faster autofocus and a vari-angle touchscreen. There's also the little issue of whether you'd actually be better served by a smaller mirrorless camera rather than a DSLR.

Of this bunch we are particularly fond of the Pentax K-S1 and the Nikon D5500. The Pentax offers very solid photographic capability on a budget, though its looks can be divisive. Meanwhile, the Nikon D5500 is an extremely capable camera which will deliver the goods for photographers from beginners right up to enthusiasts.

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Six ways to make money playing video games

Characters on World of Warcraft have sold for as much as $10,000

Everyone knows there are prizes galore to be won if keen gamers decide to take up the slightly bizarre title of “professional gamer”, with competitions offering large financial rewards for the very best.
But what about if you just want to earn a bit of pocket money from your usual gaming habit without making the leap from “amateur” to “professional”?
Video games forums are awash with what are perhaps somewhat embellished tales of the financial rewards available, but there can be more than a few pennies to be made if you are shrewd.
Do not assume this is easy or some get-rich-quick checklist – if making money from casual gaming was then everyone would be doing it.
But away from the lights of video games competitions, here are six ways to turn your gaming routine into a tidy little earner.
1) Gold and item farming
The buying and selling of virtual goods is nothing new, but with some games operating a sort of in-game auction house, there is money to be made.
This method arguably exploded with Diablo III’s, the action role playing game in which characters choose one of five classes (Witch Doctor, Barbarian, Wizard, Monk or Demon Hunter), and are tasked with defeating Diablo, the Lord of Terror.
Sadly makers Blizzard have announced that from March 2014 both its gold and real-money auction houses will be shut down, meaning you have around four months to get stuck in.
https://youtu.be/ijCgKciMIE4
Blizzard take $1 out of each sale, as well as another 15 per cent when you pay via PayPal, but some players have claimed they have made as much as $10,000 by harvesting and then selling gold on the auction house.
A Reddit user named WishboneTheDog included screenshots of his PayPal account as proof of his apparent $10,000 earnings.

Reddit user WishboneTheDog posted screenshots of his PayPal account to show his earnings

The user writes: “I have never botted, scammed, used any of the number of exploits, or cheated in any way whatsoever.
“Before this game, I never made any money off of what I did because it was against the rules. Investing and trading in the item markets is part of how I have my fun, it wouldn't make sense for me to cheat.”
Blizzard said they were removing Diablo III’s auction house as it “undermines Diablo’s core gameplay”.
2) Game testing
Game testing or “play testing” is where large video game companies employ video game testers, who test games in development and report any problems or glitches they discover.
Although this may sound like a perfect job, approach this money-making scheme with caution.
Websites such as The Tough Life of a Games Tester highlight that this is often not particularly well paid, and that you will not necessarily be able to play games you actually like.
All video games testers sign non-disclosure agreements, so bear this in mind – as well as some of the anonymous comments below – before embarking on a job as a “play tester”.
One tester says: “Imagine your favourite movie. Now take your favourite 30-second clip from that movie. Now watch that 30-second clip over and over again, 12 hours a day, every day for two months. When you've done that, tell me if what you've been doing is watching movies all day.”
Another complains: “They flat-out tell you that what makes a good employee is the number of bugs you find and it is this number that will determine if you are kept on or not.”
Here is one games tester (rather annoyingly) boasting about his job, but also hesitating over what he is able to say.
https://youtu.be/UG0bJD4QywM
3) Unofficial guides or walthroughs
As I have written in a previous post, as far as I am concerned how-to guides and walkthroughs ruin games, but that does not mean there is not a huge market for them.
Consider yourself an expert? Websites like Killer Guides allows you to write an eBook which you can then sell. You can also try this on Amazon or your own site but the market on Killer Guides is much larger.
Many of the Lord of the Rings game guides – which are often more than 100 pages long, so do not be fooled into thinking it is a quick job – sell for $29.99 (around £18 or £19).

4) Let's Play videos
Although this is probably overdone, recording videos of you playing games, putting them on YouTube and then monetising them is a possible source of video game income.
However, one thing to watch out for is that for YouTube to allow you to monetise your video, it has to have a running commentary over the entire video, not just snippets or you silently playing the game.
As YouTube’s help pages explain: “Video game content may be monetized if the associated step-by-step commentary is strictly tied to the live action being shown and provides instructional or educational value.
Videos simply showing a user playing a video game or the use of software for extended periods of time may not be accepted for monetization.”
Potential pitfalls are that there is masses of competition out there, and that individual views are not worth much at all, so you need to garner a high number of views to make it worthwhile.

User “PewDiePie”, from Sweden says he is “just a guy… who likes to laugh and make other people laugh”, who shares “gaming moments on YouTube with my bros!” More than that however, his YouTube channel has more than 16 million subscribers, and his videos are regularly viewed from than one million times. It is not clear exactly how much money he makes from the channel, however.
5) Use games as a method of training for your new career
This, admittedly, is the most far-fetched on the list, but in a tiny number of cases it is possible to make the jump from the virtual world to the real world, and make money that way.
Jann Mardenborough, 22, is one such example. The Cardiff teenager was obsessed with racing game Gran Turismo, so he decided to enter a virtual race.
After beating 90,000 virtual drivers he gained his place in the GT Academy - a competition sponsored by Nissan and Sony - he won the chance to drive with Nissan in the Dubai 24 Hour race.
Amazingly, he scored third place in his class, and has gone on to compete in the British GT Championship, the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, and now in the European Formula Three Championship.
After making the step up from from virtual to real, Jann said: "It felt completely normal. I'd never power-steered a car before, I had only ever done it in a game. I was controlling it just with the throttle and it was completely natural to me."
https://youtu.be/YMRVESfyP4o
One gamer who was not so fortunate, was 25-year-old John Boileau. In 2006 he decided to apply for the job of manager at Middlesbrough, on the basis of his experience with Football Manager 2005, in which he took Nuneaton Borough to the Championship in just eight seasons.
However, club chairman Steve Gibson amusingly replied: "You were of course the oustanding candidate but we decided against your appointment.
"Quite frankly we were of the opinion your tenure with us would have been short-lived, as your undoubted talent would result in one of the big European Clubs seeking your services."
6) Sell advanced characters
This method is perfect for games like World of Warcraft, where characters are built up with new skills, weapons, magic and other abilities as you play.
Although this is forbidden in the game's terms of use, characters are often sold and transferred for anything ranging from a few pounds to $10,000.
eBay has also banned the sale of in-game characters or items, but other websites such as Armory Bids or Player Auctions exist and see regular trading of accounts.

The account which sold for $10,000 on World of Warcraft in 2007 was admittedly an extremely rare occurrence. The Night Elf Rogue named Zeuzo was considered one of the most advanced characters in the entire game, out of millions of players.

11 Sites Where You Get Paid to Play Games Online for Free

Can you really get paid to play games?…
Yes, you can!

Need Extra Cash for Free?

Join Smart Panel, a new survey site where you earn rewards to share your experiences about how you use the internet. They pay you $15 just to install their free app.

In fact, this is so popular that NBC’s morning show had an episode about it a few years back, talking about a few people who were making close to few thousand a month, getting paid to play games at home.
Obviously, we are not talking about playing video games for money, or playing games on devices such as Xbox 360 here.
We are talking about web-based games.
However, I don’t think an average gamer is going to make a living from playing games on the web. But if you enjoy online games, it can be a great way to earn some extra cash.
What’s more is that most of the sites featured here are free to use. So, you do not have to spend a dime to win real money playing games on their site.
With that said, here are 11 gaming sites where you can get paid for playing your favorite online games:

1- CashDazzle

CashDazzle exposes you to all sorts of games (your favorites are bound to be included) and offers prizes and cash on daily basis.
Not content with simply playing games?…

You can always enter daily sweepstakes and win huge money.

2- LalaLoot

LalaLoot encourages you to view ads for you to collect enough free tokens during the first 5 days. Then you use these tokens to participate in various sorts of fun and addictive games that win you cash and prizes.
There is also this daily draw with at least $10,000 prize money at stake. As you play more, you get more chances to be that lucky winner!

3- Swagbucks

Started out as an online rewards program that rewards members with cash and prizes for using Swagbucks search engine, the company has transformed itself into an all out GPT site.
At Swagbucks, members earn money for things that they are already doing online anyway. So obviously games is a necessity on this site. You would be presented with the usual arcade, word games, etc.

Earn Free Cash

Try Swagbucks, the famous rewards program that pays you for watching videos, taking surveys, shopping and more.

Join Swagbucks Now to Get $5 Free

As you get busy engaging in different games here, you (randomly) earn credits that are called Swagbucks. But games just represent one of the options here, other money making alternatives include taking surveys, shopping, searching the web, referring friends, and much more.
Redemption comes in the form of Amazon gift cards and other prizes, or if you so incline, ask they convert the credits into cash and pay to your PayPal account.

4- GSN (WorldWinner)

Not many gaming companies get as popular as it does in the online world.
There are multiple tournaments that reward cash as gamers pit their skills among one another.
Popular games include Free Cell, 8-Ball Pool and Bejeweled 2.

5- Exodus3000

This is one of the more popular multiplayer RPG strategy game a lot like RuneScape.
In Exodus 3000, gamers are transported into a future time frame roughly 1000 years from now. The story dictates that our earth no longer is a sustainable living planet.
This happens after a catastrophic event and earth’s inhabitants are tasked to find minerals and “mars dollars” (the official currency of the game) right from their home base.
There are 3 ways to accumulate mars dollars: mining volcanoes, searching ruins and attacking other gamers.
Upon reaching a prefixed amount, you can do cash out, which comes in the form of real money.
The game itself is both simple and fun, but perhaps the most significant part of the game is that it is easy to reach and receive the predetermined reward.
Once you sign up as a member, you get 5000 free Mars Dollars as a welcome bonus.
Exchange rate is 300,000 MD = $20.00.

6- SecondLife

This is allegedly one of the biggest gaming sites to grace the online world.
We got to know Anshe Chungthe being made the world’s first millionaire here, and the amazing part is that she made all of that from virtual world profit.
So far, there is a cool $250 million Linden being stashed up at her account, and that translate to $1 million dollars in the real world.
The site is a congregation of almost 2 million members, with each interfacing with one another using their individual avatar (a three-dimensional character).
Property trading (buying and selling virtual real estate) is hot here. Else, you can engage in other activities like creating and selling content, clothing, gadgets, hosting and performing at events, Game shows, rock concerts and loads of different ways including sitting on camping chairs!
Sure, you will get paid by store owners for sitting on camping chairs near their store, the idea is to attract the crowd as other people may just decide to flock to you and that means human traffic for the store owners.

7- PlayAndWin

There are tons of entertainments in store here. You will get hooked here earning money playing computer games like Backgammon, Bingo, and Mahjong.
The rewards come in the form of tokens that you used to enter into the various Jackpots.

8- PaidGamePlayer

This is a contest-based site. There are over 25 online games on offer, and you pit your skills with other gamers on games such as Bejeweled 2, Zuma, Family Feud, etc…
The objective is to fight your way to the winners’ circle. You will be compensated with every competition you enter and winnings you make.
Upgraded members get to enjoy more benefits and the winnings become more attractive. But you need to pay up to get your membership upgraded. I did not upgrade, as my objective is to make some money while playing games, not spending it to play games.
According to their website, over $250,000 in cash and prizes is given out on a daily basis. In addition to games participation, other ways to earn money include taking surveys, trying products, and reviewing games.

9- Clip2Play

Here they conduct daily tournaments with most games being flash games. Everybody fights against everybody and at the end of the day, 50 people (the winners) will be unveiled.
Every referral you make will net you 10 points, which can go towards cash redemption.

10- BingoZone

They have free bingo games every few minutes throughout every day of the year.
Payout starts from $1.00 and keeps on snowballing until it found a winner .

11- Pogo

The prizes here are broadly grouped into 2 categories. In the first, you accumulate tokens by playing various free games and you trade these tokens later for a chance to win drawing that could pay up to $1000.
For the second option, you participate in games that dangle a Jackpot with them. So if you win, you straightaway walk off with prizes that can go up to $4,999 instantly.
You will also be rewarded with bonus spins if you play well enough.

Want More Money?

Join Opinion Outpost. It is a fun panel with a lot of interesting surveys. And it rewards you well!

9 Steam Alternatives - Sites Like Steam To Buy PC Games Online

Updated on January 23, 2016

 

 

 

Steam Alternatives - The Best Sites Like Steam For Gamers

Steam alternatives are growing despite Steam being the leader in digital game distribution. Find the very best sites like Steam on this page where you can purchase and play games in digital format.
Steam's initial release was over a decade ago in 2003, while early growth was fairly slow (and even buggy) Steam now commands a huge market share in the digital distribution space. With Valve behind the platform there has been continued innovation from community features to Greenlight and player reviews.
With thousands of game titles and a rapidly growing collection of indie and free games on the platform you would be hard pushed to find a PC gamer without an account. Despite it's popularity Steam isn't the only place to digitally purchase games with a number of other websites offering their own digital stores.
This page lists some of the very best Steam alternatives where you'll find games either not on Steam or potentially at better prices. Don't forget to vote for your favourite website in the poll below or share your favourite other sites like Steam not included here in the comment section.

 

 

Which Of These Steam Alternatives Is The Best?

 

Vote For Your Favourite Site Like Steam

• Nothing Beats Steam
• GOG
• GamersGate
• 2Game
• Green Man Gaming
• Amazon
• OnePlay
• Origin
• Kinguin
• Big Fish Games
• Other

See results without voting

 

 

gog

 

 

1 - GOG.com

 

 

One Of The Most Popular PC Game Download Sites Like Steam

GOG.com is definitely the second most popular website for PC game downloads, originally starting with old game titles the website has expanded to include AAA titles and an ever growing list of independently developed video games.
GOG has very attractive prices on games and with insane sales that take a page out of the Steam playbook its not uncommon to get dozens of games in a bundle for less than $10 or individual games at only a few dollars.
To sweeten the deal even further GOG promises a DRM free experience and your money back if the game doesn't work on your system. More recently GOG has launched a program like Steam called GOG Galaxy which will more directly compete with Steam.
For those that are already active members of GOG you'll find a few sites like GOG further down this page.
If you're asking yourself where to buy PC games online don't miss out on giving GOG.com a try. You'll be very impressed with what the website has to offer and their fair policies, you'll even get access to 10 free games once you create your account.
GOG.com - Official Website

 

 

 

Introducing GOG Galaxy

 

 

https://youtu.be/nyYW9AOWh-8

kinguin

2 - Kinguin

Cheap Games For All Platforms

If you're hunting for sites like Steam because you are looking for cheaper ways to get your games then Kinguin is one of the top options. Facilitating the selling of game keys Kinguin allows gamers to get a great deal on PC and console games thanks to the ability to capitalise on a game sale wherever it is in the world.
The result is an eBay like system where gamers are connected with retailers and other gamers selling CD keys. For a small fee Kinguin will also guarantee your key (replace it if you get a bad key). This is highly recommended and even with this fee (usually around $1) you will come out way ahead of buying the game at full price..
Kinguin - Official Website

kinguin-site

3 - Origin

One Of The Few Full Offering Programs Like Steam

Origin is one of the few options on this list offering a fully featured program to support your digital game downloads. Spawning out of what was originally EA Download Manager Origin is now the home of many EA based games which are played through the Origin platform.
Offering social features such as profiles, chat, networking and in-game overlays in a similar manner to Steam Origin is definitely one of the most notable Steam alternatives. Other attractive features of Origin include achievements, rewards, auto-patching and even cloud saves to keep your game progress safe. With tens of millions of members by joining Origin you're definitely also joining a community full of gamers.
Whether you purchase a digital game straight from Amazon or activate a game from a retail box you'll find Origin to meet all your needs.
Origin - Official Website

origin-store

amazon

4 - Amazon

A Steam Alternative With A Growing Number Of Games

Amazon has been slowly growing its digital game offerings and now lets you purchase games for PC, Xbox and PlayStation. From gift cards to DLC and keys for your favourite stores (Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam).
You might be surprised to also find a decent collection of indie games available for download from Amazon. Gamers will also enjoy plenty of bundles thanks to the purchasing power of Amazon.
As far as stores like Steam go Amazon is often forgotten by gamers but is well worth checking out if you aren't happy with a price you're getting elsewhere.
Amazon - Video Game Downloads

amazon-digital-games

green-man-gaming

5 - Green Man Gaming

One Of The Leading Stores Like Steam

Green Man Gaming (GMG) is a UK based digital retailer (but open to users globally) for games that allows people to pick up a huge range of top titles at very competitive prices. You'll always find something on sale with Green Man Gaming.
With Daily Deals, Early Access games and even cash back opportunities on purchases Green Man Gaming has a few tricks up its sleeves to make it different from the other Steam alternatives on this page.
Using the Playfire Client players will be able to keep all their games in one place, complete achievements for game credits and easily chat with friends or communities about gaming. if you want to feel rewarded for making purchases then Green Man Gaming is the store like Steam you've been searching for.
Green Man Gaming - Official Website

green-man-gaming-website

gamersgate

6 - GamersGate

One Of The Top Gaming Sites Like Steam

GamersGate is one of the other popular websites like Steam that gamers flock to when they are looking for a bargain.
Offering games from hundreds of different publishers for a total number of games well into the thousands you are sure to find all your mainstream gaming needs on GamersGate.
While GamersGate originally required a client to access their library since 2009 the company has allowed gamers to enjoy a client free experience which set it apart from Steam and various Steam alternatives at the time.
With a focus on DRM free offerings and plenty of additional downloadable content along with developer tools for your favourite games GamersGate continues to be one of the top online stores to get your PC games.
GamersGate - Official Website

gamersgate-website

big-fish-games

7 - Big Fish Games

A Popular Place To Buy Casual PC Games Online

Big Fish Games is an option for people wanting casual games. The Big Fish library covers a range of genres including time management, hidden object, strategy, puzzle, match 3 and many others. It won't appeal to everyone but it's the perfect website for you to set up your relatives with if they are into Facebook style games.
With a library that regularly grows and now covering online games, downloadable games and even mobile games you'll find your platform covered by the Big Fish Games team.
Value for money is always easy to obtain thanks to the regular discounts for your first purchase and the punchcard system that gives you a free game for every half a dozen that you buy.
Big Fish Games - Official Website

oneplay

8 - OnePlay

Rent Your Games Netflix Style With OnePlay

OnePlay uses an interesting model that makes it very different from the other Steam alternatives that are out there. It's the Netflix of gaming in that it allows gamers to rent console, PC and even Android games for a limited time at one low monthly subscription price.
While console games will be mailed to you in traditional Netflix style players can rent digital PC games. These games can be installed on multiple devices and even played with no Internet connection.
If the subscription model is too much of a change for you then you'll still be able to purchase games out right in digital format.
OnePlay - Official Website

oneplay-howitworks

9 - 2Game

Another High Quality Game Site Like Steam

2Game extends beyond PC games offering games for Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Nintendo eShop in addition to a vast computer game collection.
2Game acts as an authorised digital retailer dealing directly in activation codes which are sent to users through email instantly. By working directly with game publishers you can pick up games at low prices and then activate them on the corresponding platform (be it Steam, Origin, Uplay, Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop or the PlayStation Network).
With a game library in the thousands and regular promotions for all parts of the globe it's definitely worth checking the price of your desired game on 2Game first to ensure you're getting the best bang for your buck.
2Game - Official Website

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