Far be it from us to judge how you spend your money, but if you have enough disposable income to spend hundreds of dollars on video games every month, chances are you could afford to kick just a little bit of that dough to some charities, too. Fortunately, those ideas don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Humble is a robust digital store for games and more that not only offers frequent deals on its wares, but also donates to charity with every user purchase via its incredible Humble Bundle packages. It’s not a feature-rich social hub like Steam, our Editors’ Choice PC gaming marketplace. Still, it’s absolutely worth considering Humble as part of your game-buying process.
(Editors' Note: Humble Bundle is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.)
(Credit: Humble)What's in the Humble Library
PC games make up the bulk of Humble's library. By partnering with a variety of different game stores, its catalog consists of everything from major AAA titles, such as Death Stranding and Monster Hunter Rise, to indie gems, such Dead Cells and Fall Guys. Humble even has a pretty great track record as an indie game publisher, putting out A Hat in Time, Void Bastards, Wandersong, and other acclaimed games, which of course are all available there.
That’s not to say there aren’t gaps. Epic Games’ Fortnite, Microsoft's Gears of War, and Valve’s Half-Life games remain exclusive to their respective stores. But acting as an intermediary between buyers and a variety of direct sellers lets Humble offer a comprehensive library. Humble added Switch games, from Nintendo and third parties, to its catalog, so you can buy digital codes for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and other titles. When it comes to other stores that sell console games, only first-party offerings, such as the PlayStation mobile app and Xbox PC app, come to mind. Other supported platforms on Humble include Windows 10/11, macOS, and Linux.
Video games may be its focus, but Humble also features a library of non-gaming content. You can buy comic books, tabletop RPG guides, and even video editing software and programming tutorials through the store. However, unlike games, which can be purchased individually, Humble's book deals are only available as limited-time bundles. Those bundles are a better deal more often than not, as I’ll explain later, but you don’t have as much freedom to choose.
Purchasing Humble Games
Humble isn’t a program or a launcher. It’s just a website. So, don’t expect any of the premium features you’ll find on Steam, such as user reviews, community boards, or live streaming features. It’s just a store for buying games, but unlike the Epic Games Store, the narrow focus feels intentional, rather than the service being incomplete.
That focus also allows for a straightforward interface. You can easily navigate different sections for bundles, sales, and new releases, or browse by different genres, such as Puzzle, Racing, and Virtual Reality. Game pages list more granular traits like Epic Lore and Ragdoll Physics in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR. You can even filter games by the type of digital rights management (DRM) they use, if they use any at all.
Humble's partnerships with competing stores don't just beef up the library, they also give players more choice in how they play. When you buy a PC game on Humble Bundle, you receive a code for every PC store Humble has partnered with for that game. So, depending on the game, you could get a version for the Epic Games Store, GOG, and Steam. With the exception of DRM-free games, Humble basically requires you to install games through one of these separate launchers, but it’s nice that Humble gives you a choice with which one to go with. In addition, you can manage your game keys, or give them to a friend, via your Humble account. Note that this only applies to PC games. Buying the Nintendo Switch version of, say, Ape Out won’t also give you the PC version.
Humble lacks Epic Games Store or Steam's self-service refunds. You must request them individually through customer support. Fortunately, you have a 60-day window to do this.
(Credit: Humble)Giving Back: Charities and Deals
So, why should you buy games through Humble instead of just going directly to the source? For starters, the store constantly has game sales. Casually browse, and you’ll see countless games discounted by 40, 60, or even 80 percent. Many of these sales are exclusive to Humble, so you’ll save money shopping here. A rewards program means you earn back a portion of money you spend.
Humble also differentiates itself with its famous "Bundle" system the store made its name on. Every few weeks, the store cycles in a handful of bundles available for a limited time. Unlike regular purchases, you can pay what you want for Humble Bundles, including paying nothing at all. As an extra incentive, paying above certain minimums unlocks more items in the bundle. At the time of this writing, Humble offered Bundles featuring hundreds of dollars worth of Double Fine or Raw Fury games, as well as books on drawing manga or hacking a Raspberry Pi.
If you want to benefit from deals without any time pressure, you can also sign up for Humble Choice. For $11.99 per month, this subscription service gives you access to the Humble Trove, a growing library of over 200 DRM-free games. New games are added each month. The subscription also gives you discounts on purchases. Higher tiers let you permanently keep up to nine games per month. Humble determines which games are up for grabs, and you choose from there.
(Credit: Humble)What ultimately should ease your conscience, though, is the fact that every purchase supports a charity. Humble has given money to many organizations, including The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Save the Children, and the World Wildlife Federation. In the years since we've updated this review, Humble Bundle supported everything from racial justice and equality to earthquake relief to humanitarian efforts in the war in Ukraine.
Some bundles are associated with a specific charity, and five percent of Humble Choice revenue goes to a different charity every month. However, other bundles let you pick a charity or multiple charities to support, and let you determine what percentage of your money goes where. You can also give your reward money to the charity of your choice.
Why You Should Game on a PCGaming You Can Feel Good About
Whereas other game marketplaces, including the Editors’ Choice-winning Steam, seek to be massive platforms, Humble is content being a simple store. Fortunately, it’s a great one, with frequent deals, a wide selection, flexible and generous purchasing options, and a powerful incentive thanks to charity partnerships. When so much of buying into video game culture feels so bad, this segment makes you feel good.
