Software to play local-only games in online mode using Windows 7 or Linux

Why not Parsec

The main reason I was brought to Windows 10 was because of Parsec. I could not host games to my friends without W10. There are also games that cannot be run without DX10 or DX11, but the main reason was screen and input sharing, so I could throw an “online lan party”.

That is all because you can play with your friends in Windows 7 but only as someone who is connecting — not as the host. Since I'm always the host among my friends because I own hardware capable of doing it, I thought I'd give it a try. But boy, do I regret it. Windows 10 hogs every computer resource to itself.

If you haven't tried Parsec yet, click here!

---

Parsec alternatives you can use in Windows 7 / Linux

Since then, I've actually found multiple alternatives to Parsec, but most of them work just like it. They do not function outside Windows 10. So I'm going to list the ones that do work in different operational systems.

Kainy (click)

Kainy is kind of clunky the first time you try it, because both you and your friend need to figure out what are the best options you'll have to use while playing together. It only works with one other person.

It's completely functional even though it has gone freeware a few years go. Works best in Windows XP/Vista/7/8.

GamingAnywhere (click)

The most lightweight option of them all, GamingAnywhere is a highly customizable open-source project. That means it can get somewhat convoluted to set up, but once you get it working for a specific game, you'll certainly have the smoothest experience possible.

Use it to host games in Windows 7+, Linux or Mac OS X. If you are only connecting, the list extends to Windows XP and Android.

Steam Remote Play (click)

The easiest alternative you can try if you already have Steam installed. Just fire up a game, right click a friend on your contact list then select Remote Play Together.

If it works well for you, you can just stick with it. It's still in development, so the only problem is when you can't get it to run at all since no good support is offered. Considering it works both on any Steam-compatible OS, it's worth a shot.