I'm considering on buying an Early Access Game, I've never purchased that type of game before.

I was wondering what are the pros and cons of buying an Early Access Game?

Pros:
- You get to see as the game evolves, and depending on the dev, you may even help shaping the game
- Price of in-dev/early access games often increases when the game reaches 1.0, so you're potentially getting the game cheaper
- On GOG, from what I observed, chances of an in-dev getting abandoned are pretty low
- If you like playing older builds of games and you get the game on GOG, the easiest/most guaranteed way of getting a specific build is by having the game already and downloading the given build when it was available

Neutral:
- As GOG's User Agreement says, "betas will be provided 'as is' without any additional promises from us or any liability on us if it is not complete or does not work fully or causes issues", which, from what I observed in some previous cases and from my understanding, means you agree to get a game for what is already available, and that any improvements that come later are simply bonuses.

Cons:
- In-dev games may take a different route than what was originally planned, which may not be of your liking.
- If you're getting it for the potential price increase, it's worth noting that occasionally, in-dev games that reach 1.0 may become even cheaper given the tendency of price deflation of digital titles.
- And lastly, reiterating: it is no guarantee an in-dev game will ever be completed, since things like the dev doing a rug pull or force majeure can happen.

Can't remember anything else atm.

The game may be less fun as a finished product than it was when it was full of quirks and bugs.

(Prisoner Architect for me as example).

Edit:
Yeah, i saw what you said about a different path of development, this is slightly different. Juuust slightly!

Ah, true. Starbound suffered a bit from this too, as some interesting features were axed on 1.0.

============================================

I just remembered something else: if the OP doesn't like spam of game updates, it's worth noting in-dev games in active development will very likely be a common guest in his/her "updated" filter in the library.

Aye assuming they update (as mentioned).

To the OP its always a gamble with games in such a state. I've truly enjoyed a lot, and seen a lot crash and burn - even by well regarded / known devs and studios.

On the whole, I consider it less of a gamble (personally) thank the likes of crowdfunding.

Pros:
You get to play something sooner.

Cons:
Game may never leave Early Access and is left in a dog's breakfast state
Game may change during development and features removed you originally liked, ruining the fun
If development is rapid, updates could trigger so frequently you spend too much time updating files than playing the game
You may expend so much time playing it unfinished you can't be bothered playing future versions

If you pay for Early Access, expect only to get what the game is at the time of purchase. NEVER buy a game based on future development. In other words if the game is in a very basic state, don't expect it to get better. If that is too expensive a price to pay then wait for it to release properly.

I don't have a lot to add that hasn't already been said, except... (unless I missed it)...

... you should be aware that as many EA games release major updates...

... your progress may be wiped.

Starting from zero over-and-over again can be frustrating.

The pros and cons have already been addressed.

My personal stance on Early Access games (or "In Dev" titles, as they are called here on GOG) is:
I don't buy them.

And that would also be my advice to everyone else.

You'll never know when or whether at all you'll get your full game.

We have from time to time people here (who should know better!) complaining about games that they bought as "in Dev" titles, and that somewhen in the development process simply stopped being updated, etc...so, essentally, they are now sitting on a (half done) game, that will (probably) never come to be as promised.

Why would you want to risk that?

Especially, when you can buy the game after release (IF it ever gets a "gold" release):
- in a better (more bug free) state,
- for less money,
- with more content (bar possible "early bird" boni), and
- after reading reviews that tell you all about the game, that you possibly want to know, BEFORE you invest your money.

Not to mention that, right now, there are so many games around already in a done state...that you'll never run out of games to play.

Edit:
Just to give you an (extreme?) example of an "Early Access" game, that I once fell for: Project Zomboid
In dvelopment since 2011 (that's when I "bought myself in")...as you can see, that one is still "in Dev":
https://www.gog.com/en/game/project_zomboid