Are Adult Games on itch.io Safe?

How to check itch.io game safety before downloading

1. Confirm it is the official page. Start from a link on the developer's own site, Patreon or SubscribeStar. The itch.io address should match the creator you expect.
2. Look at the developer. Open the creator's profile. An established developer usually has a devlog history, several versions of the game and other projects. A brand-new account uploading someone else's well-known game is a red flag.
3. Read the page, comments and ratings. Recent comments often mention broken builds or antivirus warnings. Treat them as player reports, not proof either way.
4. Check the files. Compare file names, sizes and platforms with what the developer announces elsewhere. Be wary of a "full" or "premium" version of a paid game offered free by a different uploader.
5. Scan the download. Run your antivirus on the archive and on the extracted game files. For a second opinion, upload the game's main executable to VirusTotal.
6. Consider the itch app's sandbox. If you install through the itch desktop app, you can run games in its sandbox, which limits what files a game can read and write.
7. Report anything suspicious. If you suspect itch.io malware, use the report link on the project page so itch.io staff can review it.

Can itch.io games contain malware?

Yes, in principle. itch.io lets creators publish directly, which is exactly why so many adult and in-development games live there. That openness also means a bad actor can create a page. itch.io bans stolen and malicious content, and its admins say they act quickly on reports, but the first line of defense is still you.

Adult games add two specific risks. Their popularity makes them a common target for fake re-uploads, and their large, frequently updated builds tempt players to grab files from unofficial mirrors. Stick to the developer's official page and both risks mostly disappear.

Does itch.io scan for viruses? What it checks and what it doesn't

itch.io doesn't publish a help page about upload scanning, so the best sources are statements from its admin on the official forum:

• In 2018, itch.io's co-founder leafo wrote that the team had "deployed a system for virus scanning" and was testing it on incoming projects to put them into an additional review queue.
• In March 2020, he wrote: "We actually do have automated virus scanning." He added that VirusTotal "is not accurate enough in a lot of cases for us to automatically suspend content", so flagged content goes into a review queue for a human to check.

What that tells us: uploads are scanned, and flagged ones are reviewed by people. What it doesn't tell us: how every file type is handled, how fast reviews happen, or whether files hosted outside itch.io are checked at all. Some adult game pages link downloads on external hosts (Harem Hotel, for instance, uses external download links). Those files never pass through itch.io's servers, so treat them like any other download and scan them yourself.

Using VirusTotal the right way

VirusTotal checks a file or URL against many security engines at once. You can submit through its website, browser extensions or API. Three things to know:

• Your upload is shared. Results go to you and to VirusTotal's security partners. Upload game files, never private documents or saves with personal data.
• Size limits matter. Adult games are often several gigabytes, and VirusTotal's FAQ treats files over 650 MB as a special case. Extract the archive and upload the main executable instead of the whole download.
• One or two flags isn't proof. False positives are common with small engines and unsigned builds. Look at how many engines flag the file and what they call it, then check the page comments or ask the developer.

On Windows you will also often see a SmartScreen message, "Windows protected your PC", with a "More info" option and a "Run anyway" button. It appears for many small indie builds that aren't signed. It isn't a verdict, but only click through for a file you have already checked.

The itch app and its sandbox

The itch desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux downloads and runs games from itch.io, keeps them in one place and updates installed games automatically. Games pushed with itch.io's own tools get small delta patches, so updates are faster and you are not re-downloading from a new link each time.

The app also has an optional sandbox. According to itch.io's documentation, it limits which files a game can read and write, and on Windows it runs games as a less-privileged user. It aims to stop things like credential theft and reading browser cookies or passwords. The docs are clear about its limits: it doesn't protect against everything, and games running inside the sandbox won't see save files stored in your real home folder, so switching modes can hide existing saves. Turn it on in the app's preferences (labels can change between versions) before you start a long playthrough.

Refunds and payments

itch.io's terms allow a refund if a product doesn't work or doesn't match what was advertised. You request it by contacting support with your purchase details, and for technical problems itch.io first points you to the creator. There is no general change-of-mind window, which is the main safety difference from Steam's refund policy. Our guide to Steam adult game safety covers that side.

Payments run through itch.io's processors, which it named as Stripe and PayPal in July 2025, when it also said Stripe had suspended payments for 18+ content. Paying on the official itch.io page keeps you inside itch.io's refund terms; paying a stranger elsewhere for "the itch version" does not.

Are itch.io adult games safe? A good example

Eternum shows the good pattern: Caribdis publishes free public builds on its own itch.io page, and supporters get early versions through Patreon and SubscribeStar. If you find "Eternum" files anywhere else, you have no reason to use them. The same logic applies to any game in our list of itch.io adult games, where every entry links to the official page.

FAQ

Is itch.io safe as a site?

itch.io is a long-running, legitimate store. The risk is individual uploads, not the site. Check the page and developer, and scan downloads.

Does itch.io scan games for viruses?

Its admin has said on the official forum that it runs automated virus scanning and sends flagged content to human review. No scanner is perfect, and files hosted outside itch.io aren't covered.

My antivirus flags an itch.io adult game as a virus. Is it one?

Not necessarily. Small engines and unsigned builds trigger false positives. Check VirusTotal, read recent comments, and ask the developer before running it.

Is it safe to download NSFW games in general?

From official pages, yes, with normal precautions. The danger comes from re-upload sites and "unlocked" versions, which we never link to.

Should I use the itch app or the browser?

The app is more convenient for updates and offers a sandbox. Browser downloads are fine too if you scan them and keep track of versions yourself.

Still looking for games? Start with our guide to finding adult games on itch.io, or return to the guides hub.

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