Everyone loves free games. Steam has a hefty collection of them, but some places only offer titles for a limited amount of time. Epic Games gives away multiple games a week. The Twitch Prime subscription service always has new titles each month. But if you’re not paying attention, you’ll lose out on a PC game you could have kept forever.
In an effort to help gamers know what is available for them to claim, we’ll be tracking the best free games available in a given month. While some titles are free outright, others are included as part of a subscription service. Here’s everything you can grab this month.
Best Free Bethesda Games
Bethesda doesn’t give away free games regularly, but the company has been known to offer them for special events and promotions. To claim your game from Bethesda, you’ll have to sign up for a bethesda.net account and download the official Bethesda launcher. It’s not a particularly well-liked application, but if you want the free game, you’ll have to deal with it. Just open the launcher and make sure you’re signed in, then claim your game.
Quake (Aug. 7-9)
In celebration of QuakeCon 2020, Bethesda is giving away the 24-year-old FPS Quake for free during the event. This deal will only be in place during QuakeCon weekend, so grab a free copy of Quake between Aug. 7 and 9. Bethesda has mentioned the possibility of making Quake II available for free at some point as well, so stay tuned.
Best Free Epic Games
Epic Games gives away free titles every week, and you don’t even need a subscription. Head over to the Epic Games Store website or open the launcher, scroll down to the Free Games section, and hit the blue Free Now banner on the title you want. Then, just go through the process as if you were purchasing the game. You won’t be charged, and the game will appear in your games library on the Epic Games launcher.
Wilmot’s Warehouse (Aug. 6-13)
Wilmot’s Warehouse is basically a 2D warehouse puzzle game, where you are tasked with storing boxes and later retrieving them for customers. Players can organize boxes however they choose, and they earn bonuses for how quickly they help the customers.
Total War Saga: Troy (Aug. 13 only)
For 20 years, the Total War series has expertly combined turn-based combat with real-time tactics. The newest iteration, Total War Saga: Troy, will launch on Aug. 13, and Epic Games and Creative Assembly are giving the game away for free in the first 24 hours. If you’re around on release day, head over to the game’s store page and claim the title.
The Alto Collection (Aug. 8-20)
The Alto Collection combines the endless runner snowboarding game Alto’s Adventure and its sandboarding sequel Alto’s Odyssey. The games focus on the ethereal experience of boarding along procedurally generated landscapes while performing tricks and completing goals. We consider both games to be among the best you can play on your iPhone or iPad.
Sludge Life (Until Aug. 28, 2021)
This third-person 3D platformer with retro CRT graphics is really just a vandalism simulator in disguise. Sludge Life is short and sweet, allowing you to explore the game’s surreal world, meet a cast of crass characters, and tag areas with graffiti. Devolver Digital has made the game free to keep for the next year.
Best Free PlayStation Plus Games
PlayStation Plus is Sony’s online multiplayer and games subscription service that costs $9.99 for one month, $24.99 for three months, or $59.99 for a full year. As part of the service, you can claim two new games to keep every month. They’ll be accessible as you have an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
There are two ways to claim these games from your console. Choose the PlayStation Plus icon from the PlayStation home screen to see the currently available games, plus previously claimed titles. Claimed games can be redownloaded from this page. You can also go through the PlayStation Network Store and select PS Plus in the left-hand menu.
The other way allows you to add games to your console directly from the PlayStation Store as long as you have Automatic Downloads enabled. Once this is set up, you can choose the games you want from the web page and they will be remotely downloaded to your console.
CoD: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (July 28-Aug. 31)
Call of Duty’s naming convention is confusing. The 2019 Modern Warfare has been well received, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is not a sequel, it’s a remastered version of the 2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This version of the game only contains the campaign mode and does not include any multiplayer or spec ops features. Reviews of the remaster have been mixed, but if you’re going to check it out, this is probably the way to do it.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Aug. 4-31)
If you’re looking for a different spin on the popular battle royale formula, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout changes things up in favor of a format similar to obstacle racing TV shows. The game sticks 60 players into a series of obstacle courses and offbeat challenges, whittling the competition down until one player claims the crown.
Best Free Twitch Prime Games
Twitch Prime is a subscription service that provides in-game loot, free games, and many other perks each month. The service costs $12.99 a month with a free 30-day trial, or comes included with your $119 Amazon Prime subscription. Find free games on the Twitch Prime page. Scroll down to the Games with Prime section and select the Claim button next to the titles you want.
Now what? In order to play games offered by Twitch Prime, you must download the Amazon Games launcher. Click the Download and Play link that appears next to the Claim button. In the pop-up window, click the link that says “Download the Amazon Games Apps (Windows)” to install the launcher. Once installed, Twitch Prime games can be claimed from the launcher itself.
Blazing Chrome (Until Sept. 1)
Released in 2019, Blazing Chrome is a throwback to classic 16-bit run-and-gun games like Contra and Metal Slug. The game features weapons and power-ups, unlockable characters, co-op gameplay, and an intense difficulty level. We named it an Editors’ Choice title and one of the best PC games of the year.
Chroma Squad (Until Sept. 1)
This tactical RPG game puts you in charge of your own Tokusatsu television show similar to Super Sentai or Power Rangers. You control a group of actors with unique abilities, assign them a suit, and put them into the action. Each level is an episode on the show, and the better you perform, the higher the show’s ratings, and the more you can upgrade your team.
Treachery in Beatdown City (Until Sept. 1)
Treachery in Beatdown City is a retro-inspired indie game that offers a unique blend of beat ’em up action and strategy mechanics. The game combines humorous social commentary, strategic combat, and 8-bit style and music to create a truly memorable gaming experience. However, the strategy elements could make the game feel too slow for fans of traditional beat ’em ups. Overall, we placed it among the best beat ’em ups and strategy games of the year.
Warsaw (Until Sept. 1)
Set during the Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II, this turn-based tactical RPG asks you to recruit unique soldiers, equip your units, navigate historic sites, and survive until the end of the war.
Best Free Xbox Live Gold Games
Xbox Live Gold is the premium subscription tier of the Xbox Live online gaming service that costs $9.99 a month or $24.99 a quarter. Among the many perks you get with the service is free Xbox games every month. While Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep forever, Xbox One games can only be played as long as you have an active Xbox Live Gold subscription.
To claim your free games with an Xbox Live Gold subscription, go to the Gold section on your Xbox One console or visit this page on a computer to queue up the game for download on your console. Games are added on the 1st and 16th of every month.
Dunk Lords (July 16-Aug. 15)
Dunk Lords is a basketball beat ’em up that features two-on-two matches along with special moves, attacks, and armor. Its 2018 release came at a time where the arcade sports game was making a much-needed comeback. We likened it to NBA Jam because of its over-the-top dunking play style.
MX Unleashed (Aug. 1-15)
Released on the original Xbox in 2002, MX Unleashed is a motocross bike racing game. It was well-received at the time and serves as the predecessor to Rainbow Studios’ MX vs. ATV series.
Portal Knights (Aug. 1-31)
If you turned Minecraft into an action RPG game, you would get Portal Knights. It’s a sandbox-style game that allows for multiplayer exploration, fighting, and building. You adventure through the world, fight monsters, craft items, and build structures.
