Package managers allow you to easily install software and games on your system.

It should be noted that software you install with these package managers are installed to their default locations (typically in C:\Program Files (x86) and C:\Program Files).
Also all managers allow community submissions to the repository. So it's wise to check where the manager gets the installer from.

• WinGet
  (Windows 10 & 11)
  https://www.microsoft.com/p/app-installer/9nblggh4nns1
  Microsoft's own package manager
  
  Example: "winget install valve.steam" downloads and installs Steam.
  
  
  
  
  
• Chocolatey
  https://chocolatey.org/install
  An open-source package manager.
  Info for where installers are downloaded from is a little more obscured (from the command line) compared to WinGet
  
  Example: "choco install steam" downloads and installs Steam.
  
  
  
  
  
• UniGetUI
  "winget install MartiCliment.UniGetUI"
  "choco install wingetui"
  https://github.com/marticliment/WingetUI
  A gui to manage multiple CLI package managers (Winget, Scoop, Chocolatey, Pip, Npm, .NET Tool and PowerShell Gallery).
  It can be configured to sit in your system tray and give notifications when an application has an update available.
  
  You can create a list of packages (for all package mangers you use) to quickly install applications and games on another system (or when you're doing a reinstall).
  

This section mainly focuses on game save backups.

• Ludusavi
  "winget install mtkennerly.ludusavi"
  https://github.com/mtkennerly/ludusavi
  A cross-platform (works on Steam Deck too) backup utility for game-saves.
  
  Save locations are scrapped from PC Gaming Wiki[www.pcgamingwiki.com] into a manifest file, but you can also download community manifest or create your own.
  
  You can find extra manifests I made for both game and a selection of software here
  https://github.com/BloodShed-Oni/ludusavi-extra-manifests
  
  Combine with task schedule and Rclone[rclone.org] you can have regular backups on your system but also uploaded to the cloud (ex. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Mega).
  
  You can open the gui with 'ludusavi' (Windows Run or Command Prompt).
  
  

To manage all your games.

• Playnite
  "winget install Playnite.Playnite"
  "choco install playnite"
  https://playnite.link
  Have all your games in one place (ex. Steam, EA, Ubisoft, retail and emulated games) and track your playtime (and other statistics).
  Can be configured to start a games respective client before starting the game, and close the client when your done playing.
  
  Plenty of extensions to customize playnite to your liking (such integration with Ludusavi game save backup).
  
  

Here you'll find software to monitor and/or control your system.

• Fan Control
  https://getfancontrol.com
  Fan Control allows you to control your system's cooling.
  
  You can for example have your case fans follow the fan curve of either CPU or GPU depending on which is hotter (see screen shot).
  
  
  
• MSI Afterburner
  "winget install Guru3D.Afterburner"
  "choco install msiafterburner"
  https://www.msi.com/Landing/afterburner/graphics-cards
  GPU monitoring and overclocking software, with OSD, screen shot and video recording features.
  

• OpenRGB
  "winget install CalcProgrammer1.OpenRGB"
  "choco install openrgb"
  https://openrgb.org/
  ARGB and RGB control for your PC and other ARGB and RGB light controllers (ex Wled).
  With plugins you can have lights change to match the temperature of your GPU.
  

Many of these programs can either take screen shots, record video or stream, or all in one package.

• OBS Studio
  "winget intstall OBSProject.OBSStudio"
  "choco install obs-studio"
  https://obsproject.com
  https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1905180/OBS_Studio/
  Streaming, Video recorder and screen shot software.
  
  
  
  
• MSI Afterburner
  "winget install Guru3D.Afterburner"
  "choco install msiafterburner"
  https://www.msi.com/Landing/afterburner/graphics-cards
  Screen shot and video recording with OSD, GPU monitoring and overclocking features.
  

Software related to audio control and/or recording

• Voicemeeter (Standard, Banana and Potato)
  https://vb-audio.com
  Software based audio mixer with virtual I/O. Useful in Streaming or advanced setups.
  
  Comes in 3 flavors to fit your needs.
  Standart: 3 Inputs (2 physicals / 1 Virtual) and 3 Outputs (2 physicals / 1 Virtual).
  Banana: 5 Inputs (3 physicals / 2 Virtual) and 5 Outputs (3 physicals / 2 Virtual).
  Potato: 8 Inputs (5 physicals / 3 Virtual) and 8 Outputs (5 physicals / 3 Virtual).
  
  Examples of what you can do:
  - Transmit microphone and receive audio from Discord on another PC (where Voicemeeter is also installed) over LAN.
  
  - Split / mix audio to OBS (or other streaming software). Like moving Windows sound notifications to a different channel (so only you hear it or it only plays on a different headset or speakers).
  
  - Use the included 'macro buttons' software (or smartphone app) to control Voicemeeter (like only adjust volume for the game, microphone or record audio).
  
  

Software with a bunch of tools in one package.

• Microsoft PowerToys
  https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/latest (Recommended)
  https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/XP89DCGQ3K6VLD
  "winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget"
  Microsoft's infamous powertoys.
  
  A collection of tools for various situations, such as batch file renaming, right-click image resizing, Always on top short-cut, keep PC awake, window layout and much more.
  Tools you don't need you can disable.
  
  

Various software that I don't have a proper category for.

• Xbox Accessories
  https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NBLGGH30XJ3
  "winget install 9nblggh30xj3"
  Configuration, test and update utility for Xbox Wireless, Elite and Adaptive Controller.
  
  With a USB cable you can update your controllers firmware through Xbox Accessories.
  You can also do basic tests of your controllers, and create profiles with settings for ex. swapped analog sticks, remapped buttons and disable vibration.
  
  You can also use the copilot feature that combines two or more controllers into one.
  
  

• Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11
  https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/
  This website allows you to generate autounattend.xml to not only automate the installation of Windows 10/11, but also remove stuff you don't need and configure settings (ex disable hibernate, set language, prevent restarts from Wndows update ect...).
  
  This can save you a lot of time when installing or reinstalling Windows.

• TrayToolbar
  https://github.com/brondavies/TrayToolbar
  Windows 11 removed the custom toolbars, but TrayToolbar adds that back in the system tray.
  You can have multiple folders as toolbars in the tray.
  
  Example: (pictured below) A toolbar with all your game launchers.