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Heroic Games Launcher vs mpv

Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
mpv logo

mpv

Entertainment

Free open source command line video player with no graphical interface, built for scripting and precision

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.; mpv there is no graphical interface at all by default, so a typical non-technical user will find it unusable without significant setup.
  • They diverge on capability: Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, mpv covers Command line control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroic Games Launcher and mpv actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroic Games Launcher and mpv differ
AttributeHeroic Games Launchermpv
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSMac, Windows, Linux
CategoryGamingEntertainment

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Cloud saves
  • Add to Steam

Only in mpv

  • Command line control
  • Lua and JavaScript scripting
  • Plain text configuration
  • Minimal on-screen overlay
  • Embeddable engine

Both cover

  • Cross-platform

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot mpv
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot mpv
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot mpv
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot mpv

mpv

  • A developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical appnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • A Linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shellnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Someone embedding video playback into another tool or workflow rather than using it as a standalone appnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • A power user who prefers editing a text config file over navigating a settings panelnot Heroic Games Launcher

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

mpv

  • There is no graphical interface at all by default, so a typical non-technical user will find it unusable without significant setup.
  • It has no library browser, artwork fetching or organised media collection view, unlike IINA or Infuse.
  • There is no Apple TV, iOS or Android version, so it cannot be used for a living room or mobile streaming setup.
  • Configuration is entirely file and flag based, so getting a specific behaviour set up correctly has a real learning curve compared with a settings panel.
  • Because it is a general-purpose engine rather than a consumer product, there is no dedicated support channel beyond community forums and documentation.

Pricing, plan by plan

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

mpv

Free
  • mpvFree
    • Free and open source under GPL or LGPL depending on build
    • No account, subscription or paid tier
    • Cross-platform, same engine on every OS

Which should you pick?

Choose Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want wine and proton management.
Heroic Games Launcher review

Choose mpv if

  • You need command line control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want lua and javascript scripting.
mpv review

Questions people ask

Is Heroic Games Launcher or mpv better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroic Games Launcher starts at Free and mpv at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Heroic Games Launcher or mpv?
Heroic Games Launcher starts at Free and mpv at Free.
Does Heroic Games Launcher or mpv run on more platforms?
Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. mpv runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Heroic Games Launcher for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Heroic Games Launcher best used for?
Heroic Games Launcher is most often used for a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own, a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand, a macos user wanting access to a gog library without a windows machine, someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on windows. Of those, a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own and a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand are not what mpv is typically brought in for.
What can Heroic Games Launcher do that mpv cannot?
Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging, Cloud saves. mpv covers Command line control, Lua and JavaScript scripting, Plain text configuration, Minimal on-screen overlay. Both handle Cross-platform.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

mpv: Is mpv free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier of any kind.

Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

mpv: Does mpv have a GUI?

Not by default. It shows the video and a minimal overlay, but there are no menus, library or settings panel; IINA is the graphical Mac interface built on the same engine.

Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

mpv: Can mpv play from network shares or cloud storage?

It can play many stream types via command line arguments, but it has no built in browsable network or cloud library the way Infuse does.

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