GameVault
GameVault is a self-hostable platform for browsing and playing DRM-free games stored on a file server.
What GameVault is
GameVault is a self-hostable platform for browsing and playing DRM-free games stored on a file server. Its server indexes game files and adds metadata, while clients let users organize, download, install, and launch games. The client tracks playtime and progress, including when offline. Server features include multi-user authentication, role-based access control, parental controls, backups, and OAuth2 authentication. Users can access a browser-based Web UI, a legacy Windows app, or an early-access desktop client for Windows, Linux, and macOS. The browser-only interface cannot install or launch games on the user's computer; the full download manager is in desktop clients. GameVault+ includes Playnite, Steam, and Discord integrations, and the backend provides a documented REST API for clients, integrations, and library automation. The maker says it uses encryption and follows GDPR rules. Plans include €4.99/month and €49.90/year personal subscriptions, plus an €8.99/month option shareable with up to five others. GameVault+ is currently available in the legacy Windows app; cross-platform client support is described as coming soon.
Good
- Self-hosts a DRM-free game library on a file server.
- Tracks playtime and progress while offline.
- Server includes roles, parental controls, backups, and OAuth2.
- Documented REST API supports integrations and library automation.
- Family & Friends plan can be shared with up to five others.
Watch out
- Browser-only access cannot install or launch games locally.
- GameVault+ is currently available in the legacy Windows app.
- Desktop client is described as early access.
- No mod support.
Who it suits
GameVault suits people who want to host a DRM-free game library on their own file server, including families or friends sharing a subscription. Desktop clients are relevant for users who need to download, install, and launch games locally.
Verdict
GameVault brings library management, tracking, and server controls to a self-hosted setup. Check the browser limitation and current GameVault+ availability against how you plan to use it.
Plans and prices
From GameVault's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Plan | €4.99 a month | Personal subscription · GameVault+ features · €4.99/month |
| Family & Friends Plan | €8.99 a month | Up to five additional people · Six members total · GameVault+ features · €8.99/month |
| Smart Saver Plan | €49.90 a year | Personal subscription · GameVault+ features · €49.90/year |
The facts
Each one read from GameVault's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The backend provides a documented REST API for building clients, third-party integrations, and library automation.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Built-in web interface
- A running server serves its Web UI at port 8080 by default and the interface can be disabled with WEB_UI_ENABLED.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Client API
- GameVault+ exposes CLI, URI and named-pipe client interfaces for integrations.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Clients
- GameVault provides a browser-based Web UI, a legacy Windows app, and an early-access desktop client for Windows, Linux, and macOS.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Cloud saves
- Cloud save synchronization is listed as a GameVault+ feature and can be disabled by a server administrator.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Discord integration
- GameVault+ can publish the current game through Discord Rich Presence.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Game distribution
- The system lets users browse and download game files from their private server for local play.checked 15 Oct 2026
- GameVault 1 status
- The maker says the existing Windows client is feature-complete and will receive maintenance, critical bug fixes and security updates rather than new features.checked 15 Oct 2026
- GameVault 2 scope
- The early-access client supports search, filtering, versioned downloads, archive extraction, launch parameters, playtime tracking, offline play and multiple game roots.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- GameVault+ includes Playnite, Steam, and Discord integrations, plus client APIs for integrations.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes the Family & Friends plan as shareable with up to five other people in a family or friend circle.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Library management
- The server indexes game files, adds metadata, and lets users organize, download, install, and launch games.checked 29 Sep 2026
- License
- The main project uses Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0, with different licensing possible for extensions and plugins.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: extra files
- A Reddit user requested support for downloading updates, ZIP files and executables associated with a game; a maintainer said the request was on the roadmap.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no streaming
- A Reddit commenter clarified that GameVault organizes and distributes files rather than providing Plex-style remote game streaming.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: setup complexity
- One Reddit user reported spending four days troubleshooting a Linux/Docker setup before switching to another product that worked in about 20 minutes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: source-available concerns
- An independent Gameyfin developer criticized GameVault's source-available licensing and paid-tier model from a free-software perspective.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: subscription objection
- A Reddit self-hosting discussion says the GameVault+ subscription for cloud saves was a reason to reject GameVault and asks for a one-time purchase option.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Metadata enrichment
- GameVault can automatically retrieve cover art, descriptions and other game metadata.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Metadata providers
- Administrators can connect providers such as IGDB to enrich game records.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Germanychecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker headquarters
- Phalcode lists Steigerwaldstr. 15, 90409 Nürnberg, Germany.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker legal name
- The privacy policy identifies the data controller as Alkan Alper, Schäfer Philip GbR, trading as Phalcode.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Limit: native Linux client history
- Reddit users reported that earlier releases required Wine on Linux and that native Linux support was missing or unreliable.checked 15 Oct 2026
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