Updated the list. Would be interested in anyones thoughts.

Testing method:

1. Delete the steamapi files, create a steam_appid.txt file, try launching the game and see if steam runs.
2. Try Steamless. Most games this works on do not need Steam but some still do so you may need to still use a Steam wrapper.
3. Use SmartSteamEmu. This will run most steam games as of today.
4. For older games try LumaEmu.
4. Search the internets for files for your specific game version. This can be time intensive.
5. For the newest games try Goldberg Lan Steam Emu

Sorry but this thread isn't going away. See the first post.

DosFreak wrote:

Sorry but this thread isn't going away. See the first post.

I find your threads useful and informative. Why would this one go away? Did someone complain?

Yup.

Thanks for the comment it's appreciated.

Now that I have my test desktop up and running plan to do alot more testing.

SIS installer (google for it) is able to install your old steam retail copies, you can then use steamless or the aforementioned emulators. Very handy to play for ex, the 1st release of Half Life 2.

I have a Windows XP install that I've disabled ethernet/LAN drivers to keep it offline. I want to start moving my XP games from my Steam library over there -- what's the best way to do this? I've downloaded Tomb Raider Anniversary off my steam library as a test and tried launching without Steam which it does not.

I've downloaded Steamless from github but it's not in a launchable/usable format and the readme says I need to compile it..?

At this point I'm thinking of just buying a physical copy. Eventually, you had online-required DRM on physical releases even in the XP era, I believe -- so that isn't the best solution for each game. I received confirmation from another member on here that Bioshock 1 physical required 2K activation online -- fortunately there is a GOG DRM free release for that.

Steamless only works for a few games. If you don't want to use the Steam Client or variants or crack your games then SmartSteamEmu is your best bet.

I don't have Tomb Raider Anniversary but if SSE doesn't work then you'll likely need to use a crack.

Bioshock retail activation is easy to bypass, just install the game, copy the game directory before canceling the install, copy cracked exe to game directory.

Some quick stats out of my games:
44 work with Steamless (Rough numbers, some games will still need a steam emu)
133 work with SSE (Rough numbers since SSE may need to be used with other cracks)

Haven't put up a spreadsheet yet on what people need to do to make their games DRM free since I'm currently reorganzing my games and seperating out the cracks and fixes into a seperate folder structure so they can be easily sorted through then need to see how easily can be imported to a csv via powershell and how useful that will be.