Question 1

What is Playtester?

Accepted Answer

Playtester is where you discover and join alphas, betas, playtests, and demos for upcoming games. Browse what’s live now or coming soon, then sign up at the source in a couple of clicks.

Question 2

Is Playtester free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Browsing games and joining playtests through Playtester is free.

Question 3

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

No. You can browse and join playtests without one. Signing up lets you wishlist games, submit your own game, set up a profile, and get our newsletter.

Question 4

Is Playtester affiliated with Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox?

Accepted Answer

No. Playtester is independent and not affiliated with Valve, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, or any other platform. All logos and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Question 5

How do I join a playtest?

Accepted Answer

Open a game’s page and use the button on the right. It sends you to the official source, whether that’s a Steam page, a signup form, or the developer’s site, where you finish signing up. Playtester points you to the playtest; the developer runs it.

Question 6

What do “Join playtest”, “Request access”, and “View demo” mean?

Accepted Answer

Join playtest means signup is open to everyone. Request access means spots are limited, so you apply and the developer picks testers. View demo means there’s a playable demo you can download and try right away.

Question 7

How do I get notified about new playtests?

Accepted Answer

Subscribe to our RSS feed for every new alpha, beta, playtest, and demo, and filter it by category or type. Our Discord also sends live, personalized notifications for new playtests and demos. You can wishlist a game to follow a specific one.

Question 8

Are playtest builds safe to download?

Accepted Answer

Anything on a verified storefront like Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox is as safe as any other download there. Some developers share builds from their own site or a file host instead, which Playtester can’t verify, so use your judgment. We label the source on every link.

Question 9

What’s the difference between an alpha, a beta, and a playtest?

Accepted Answer

An alpha is early and rough, with features still changing and bugs to expect. A beta is closer to launch, more stable, and focused on polish and final fixes. A playtest is a focused feedback round a developer runs, sometimes closed, to test specific things.

Question 10

What’s the difference between a beta and early access?

Accepted Answer

A beta is usually free and time-limited, run to gather feedback, and it ends when the test does. Early access is a version you buy and keep, playing an unfinished game while the developer keeps updating it.

Question 11

What’s a demo?

Accepted Answer

A demo is a free, polished slice of a game you can play any time. It’s made to show the game off, while betas and alphas are works in progress where your feedback shapes what ships.

Question 12

Are betas and playtests free?

Accepted Answer

Almost always. Most betas, playtests, and demos are free to join. A few ask you to already own or pre-order the game, and the game’s page will tell you when that’s the case.

Question 13

Can I stream or make videos of a playtest?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the game. Some developers welcome streams and videos, others hold them back under an NDA until launch. Check the store page, the playtest rules, or the developer’s terms before you record.

Question 14

What is an NDA?

Accepted Answer

An NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is a developer asking you to keep a build private, with no streams, screenshots, or public details until they lift it. Not every playtest has one, but when it does, read it before you join.

Question 15

How do I add my game to Playtester?

Accepted Answer

Click “Add a Game” in the menu and paste your game’s Steam page link. We review every submission by hand, and once it’s approved your game appears for players to find.

Question 16

Which games can be listed?

Accepted Answer

Any game with a Steam page, across most genres. Many are also on PlayStation, Xbox, Epic, and other stores, and we show every platform a game is on. We don’t list NSFW games, NFT or crypto games, asset flips, or games locked to closed ecosystems like Roblox or Fortnite.

Question 17

How do I contact you or the community?

Accepted Answer

Join our Discord to reach the team, developers, and other players. For anything else, head to our contact page.

Question 18

How do I report a game or a problem?

Accepted Answer

Use the report option on any game’s page, or message us on Discord. We look into every report.

Frequently asked questions

The basics

Joining a playtest

Alphas, betas, and demos

Adding your game

Community and support