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The Complete Guide to Free Games on Amazon Prime Gaming

As an avid gamer, you are always looking to expand your library and try new titles across various genres. But building a collection can get expensive purchasing game after game. That‘s where Amazon Prime Gaming comes in – providing Prime subscribers access to free games every month at no extra cost.

I‘ve compiled this comprehensive guide walking through everything you need to know to maximize the value of Prime Gaming‘s free games selection. Read on to learn how it works, what popular titles are available, and tips to fully utilize this excellent benefit of Prime membership.

What Exactly is Amazon Prime Gaming?

Amazon Prime Gaming is a premium gaming experience included with Prime and Prime Video memberships.

It provides subscribers access to free PC games each month that are yours to keep forever. According to Amazon, since the program launched in 2016, over 400 free games have been offered to members.

Prime Gaming also provides exclusive in-game content like skins, weapons, emotes, and currency packs for popular games like Apex Legends, Valorant, Roblox, and more.

Additionally, as a Prime member you get a free Twitch channel subscription each month to use on the streamer of your choice. This unlocks perks like custom emotes and badges when subscribing to a Twitch partner or affiliate.

Other benefits include ad-free viewing on Twitch and a selection of free Kindle books each month.

So for the $14.99 monthly Prime membership fee, you gain access to free games, in-game loot, books, and a Twitch sub – providing excellent extra value for gamers.

The Current Lineup of Free Games

The selection of free games included in Prime Gaming rotates monthly, with new options becoming available around the 1st of each month.

To give you an idea of what‘s currently available, here are the free games available to claim for November 2022:

  • Fallout 76
  • Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
  • Glass Masquerade: Origins
  • Barn Finders
  • Loom
  • Hero‘s Hour
  • Horace
  • 10 free retro games including Metal Slug 2 and Fatal Fury Special

The free games library spans popular AAA titles to indie hits across RPGs, action, strategy, and retro classics.

Over the years, some notable free games have included:

  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
  • Battlefield 1 & Battlefield V
  • Aragami
  • Pumped BMX Pro
  • Secret Files: Sam Peters
  • Tales of Monkey Island Complete Pack
  • Batman: The Enemy Within
  • Yooka-Laylee
  • Serial Cleaner
  • Deponia: The Complete Journey
  • The King‘s Bird

So there is significant value here, with high-profile games available completely free just for being a Prime subscriber.

How Does the Prime Free Games Program Work?

Amazon adds around 5-6 new free games to Prime Gaming each month.

As a member, you can claim the games you want and they are then yours to keep permanently. There is no limit to how many free games you can redeem over time.

The steps to grab each month‘s offerings are simple:

  1. Make sure you‘re an Amazon Prime member, either paying $14.99 per month or taking advantage of a free trial
  2. Visit gaming.amazon.com or go to the Prime Gaming section on Amazon
  3. Browse the selection of free games and click "Claim" on any you want to add to your library
  4. Download the games on PC and play them anytime even if you cancel Prime later

New games are made available at the start of each month. So Prime members can steadily build up a collection of free titles by consistently claiming the monthly offerings.

According to statistics from SuperData, as of May 2022 Prime Gaming has offered members access to over 350 free games since launching. And a combined total of over 50 million free games have been claimed worldwide.

So there is clearly significant interest in this program that provides regular free games at no extra cost.

What Other Gaming Perks Are Included?

Beyond the free games, Prime Gaming provides a few other excellent benefits for gamers:

In-game content – Get exclusive skins, weapons, emotes, characters, currency packs, and bonuses in popular games like Apex Legends, Valorant, Roblox, New World, League of Legends, and more. There are often 25+ offers each month spanning major franchises.

Free Twitch Channel Subscription – Each month get a free sub to use on any Twitch partner or affiliate streamer, unlocking perks like custom emotes and badges. This is a $5.99 value per month.

Ad-free Twitch – Avoid pesky ads when watching streams on Twitch.

Free games to keep forever with Amazon Games app – Play and download games like Lemnis Gate, Rogue Lords, and more through the Amazon Games app.

So along with expanding your library for free each month, you get in-game goodies and extras providing additional entertainment value from the Prime membership.

How Do I Sign Up for Amazon Prime Gaming?

Taking advantage of Prime Gaming requires an active Amazon Prime membership.

If you don‘t already have Prime, you can start a 30-day free trial to access the benefits right away. After the trial, Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year.

Here are the simple steps to sign up and get started with Prime Gaming:

  1. Go to amazon.com and register for a Prime free trial or membership

  2. Visit the Prime Gaming website and click "Get Started"

  3. Login with your Amazon account info

  4. Link your Twitch account to activate benefits like the monthly free channel sub

Once signed up, you can browse each month‘s selection of free games and add the ones you want to your library with just a click. You can also redeem in-game content and manage your free Twitch sub.

How Does This Compare to Other Gaming Services?

For comparison, here is how Prime Gaming stacks up against some of the major competitors in the gaming subscription space:

ServiceMonthly CostFree GamesOther Benefits
Prime Gaming$14.99 (with Prime)5-6 per monthIn-game loot, free Twitch sub
Xbox Game Pass$9.99100+ gamesExclusive discounts
PlayStation Plus$9.992 monthly gamesOnline multiplayer, cloud storage
Apple Arcade$4.99100+ gamesCross-device play

Prime Gaming comes out looking very strong here:

  • It offers the most free games monthly compared to PlayStation Plus and Apple Arcade
  • The free Twitch sub is a valuable perk not matched by competitors
  • No extra fee is required if you already have Amazon Prime

So you get a fantastic bundle of gaming benefits and extras for one low monthly Prime cost.

The Pros of Amazon Prime Gaming

Based on what we‘ve covered, here are some of the key advantages to Prime Gaming for gamers:

  • Expand your library – Steadily add to your collection of owned games each month
  • Discover new genres – Try out games you normally wouldn‘t purchase
  • Saves money – $100s in value each year acquiring games for free
  • Popular titles included – AAA games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have been offered
  • Own games permanently – Even canceling Prime later, all claimed games are yours
  • In-game goodies – Get free skins, weapons, currency packs, emotes, and more
  • Free Twitch Sub – $5.99 value each month supporting streamers of your choice
  • Ad-free Twitch – Avoid annoying ads while watching streams
  • Extra Prime value – Big perk for existing Prime members at no added cost

For gamers looking to expand their library affordably, Prime Gaming is extremely enticing. You can own popular titles across genres forever, build up in-game goods, and get a free Twitch sub each month.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

The biggest catch with Prime Gaming is:

  • Prime membership required – You can‘t subscribe directly to Prime Gaming, an Amazon Prime membership is needed which costs $14.99 per month if you don‘t already have one

This means you have to factor in the regular cost of Prime membership. But if you are already a Prime member to take advantage of free shipping, Prime Video, discounts, and more, then access to free games is an awesome added bonus.

Other minor drawbacks:

  • Selection not as robust as Xbox Game Pass (but it is free)
  • PC focus, with only limited Mac support and no console games
  • Can‘t play claimed games if you pause/cancel Prime membership

But overall, the value provided by Prime Gaming each month well exceeds the negatives for most gamers with a Prime subscription.

Tips to Maximize the Value of Prime Gaming

Here are some suggestions to get the most out of Prime Gaming‘s free games and perks:

  • Claim every free game each month so they stay in your library permanently
  • If you won‘t play a game, claim it anyway in case you want it down the road
  • Take the time to browse the in-game content and loot to find items for your main games
  • Don‘t let the free Twitch sub go to waste – use it to gain perks and support streamers you enjoy
  • Check the Prime Gaming page regularly for new promotions and limited-time offers
  • Install new games you claimed to try genres you normally wouldn‘t
  • Focus on highly-rated Prime free games first if your time is limited

Following these tips will help you maximize the value from your Prime membership.

Answers to Common Prime Gaming Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Prime Gaming‘s free games and offers:

How many free games are included each month?

Typically 5-6 free games are added each month across various genres. The selection rotates with new options becoming available around the 1st of the month.

Can I play the free games if I cancel my Prime membership?

Yes, once claimed the free games from Prime Gaming are yours to keep and play permanently, even if you cancel your Prime membership. Your game access does not expire.

Are the games offered for console or just PC?

Most games are provided for PC. Some work for Mac as well. Prime Gaming does not currently include any free games for consoles like PlayStation or Xbox.

Do I need a Twitch account to utilize Prime Gaming benefits?

A Twitch account is required to redeem in-game loot and the monthly free channel sub offer. But you can claim and play the free games without linking a Twitch account.

Can I save up multiple months of the free sub?

No, the free monthly sub must be used each month on a Twitch channel. You cannot accumulate several months to sub for a longer period.

What PC spec requirements are needed to run the games?

This varies by game – newer AAA titles require a more powerful PC while 2D indie games have lower requirements. But any relatively modern Windows PC should be able to run a majority of the games.

Start Expanding Your Game Library for Free

As you can see, Amazon Prime Gaming provides tremendous value for gamers. The rotating selection of free games lets you steadily build an owned collection across various genres without spending a dime.

Combine that with in-game loot packs, a free Twitch sub each month, and more, and Prime Gaming‘s benefits for gamers are tough to beat.

So if you want to affordably expand your library with new titles to discover, be sure to take full advantage of Prime Gaming‘s free games program.

Sign up today using the steps outlined above to start exploring each month‘s offering. And consistently claim the games so they remain permanently yours even if you cancel Prime later.

Put that hard-earned cash towards buying just the select titles you really want for your collection. And let Prime Gaming provide you the rest for free simply for being a Prime member. Happy gaming!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.