Short version: since July 2025, paid adult games are hard to find on itch.io and some were removed from Steam. You can still buy most of them, but from different places: the developer's own Patreon or SubscribeStar, DLsite, Steam for titles it still accepts, or dedicated adult stores. The table below shows where to look and what each option costs you as a player.
What happened to adult games on itch.io and Steam?
In July 2025, after a campaign aimed at the payment companies behind both stores, Steam added a rule against content that could break its payment processors' policies and removed several hundred adult titles. A few days later, on July 24, 2025, itch.io deindexed all adult content from its browse and search pages while it reviewed its catalogue.
At the end of July 2025 itch.io started re-indexing free adult games. Paid adult games have been coming back slowly, one review at a time, because the main card processor itch.io relied on said it would no longer support content "designed for sexual gratification". Many paid games still exist on itch.io but don't show up in search: you can only reach them with a direct link.
For players, the practical result is simple: the games mostly still exist, but discovery broke. If you used to browse the adult tags on itch.io, you now need to know where each developer sells.
Where to buy adult games now
| Option | How you pay | Keep the game? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer's Patreon | Monthly subscription | Only what you downloaded | Following a game in development |
| SubscribeStar | Monthly subscription | Only what you downloaded | Creators who left Patreon |
| itch.io (direct link) | One-time, if the page is live | Yes, in your library | Games you already know by name |
| Steam | One-time | Yes, with Steam DRM in most cases | Bigger adult titles Steam still accepts |
| DLsite | One-time | Yes | Japanese and translated titles |
| Nutaku | Mostly free-to-play with in-game purchases | Depends on the game | Browser and mobile adult games |
| DuskPlay (early access) | One-time | Yes, DRM-free, permanent library | Indie adult games without a subscription |
1. Go straight to the developer
Most indie adult developers announce where they sell on X, Bluesky, Discord or their Patreon page. Searching the game's name plus "patreon" or "subscribestar" usually finds the official page quickly. The downside: it's often a subscription, and you only keep what you download while subscribed.
2. Use stores that still accept adult games
DLsite has the largest catalogue of adult games and sells them as one-time purchases, with a strong focus on Japanese titles. Steam still sells many adult-only games, but its rules have tightened since 2025 and it can remove titles with little notice.
3. Keep backups of everything you buy
The 2025 delisting showed that a purchase on a platform isn't always permanent. Download the latest build of every game you own and store it somewhere safe. A DRM-free copy is the only copy that is truly yours.
Why we're building DuskPlay
DuskPlay is a store dedicated to adult indie games: one-time purchases, DRM-free downloads, a permanent library and discreet billing. No subscription required to own a game, and no general-purpose store deciding overnight that a whole category no longer exists. We're in early access and onboarding creators now.
FAQ
Are adult games still on itch.io?
Yes, but with limits. Free adult games were re-indexed at the end of July 2025. Paid adult games are being brought back gradually and many still don't appear in search or browse, so they are only reachable through a direct link to the developer's page.
Did I lose the adult games I bought on itch.io?
In most cases your purchases are still in your itch.io library. Some pages were removed entirely during the review, and those can no longer be downloaded. If a game matters to you, download every build you own and keep a local backup.
Is there a store that sells adult games as one-time purchases?
Yes: DLsite, Steam (for adult games it still accepts), and SubscribeStar or Patreon shops for some creators. DuskPlay is a new DRM-free store built specifically for one-time purchases of adult indie games; it is currently in early access.