Everyone loves free games. Steam has a hefty collection of them, but some places offer titles for only a limited amount of time. Epic Games gives away multiple games a week. Amazon's Prime Gaming subscription service 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's out there to claim, we're 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.
Free PlayStation Plus Games for May 2023
PlayStation Plus is Sony's online multiplayer and games subscription service. In early 2022, it rolled out new plans; prices vary depending on which tier you choose, but access starts at $9.99 per month. As part of the service, you can claim new games to keep every month, and they're accessible as long as you have an active PlayStation Plus subscription. Subscribers who own a PS5 can also keep games from a curated selection of titles.
Claim games from your console by choosing the PlayStation Plus button on the PlayStation home screen or going through the PlayStation Network Store. Games can also be added from the PlayStation Store website as long as Automatic Downloads are enabled. Once this is set up, you can add games from the web store and they'll be remotely downloaded to your console.
Meet Your Maker (Until May 1)
Billed as a post-apocalyptic first-person building and raiding game, Meet Your Maker is an online multiplayer game where players build their outpost and then attack other players. The game also has a deep editing feature that allows players to create, edit, and share their outposts.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Until May 1)
Featuring gorgeous graphics and wildly inventive stages, the 3D platformer Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an underrated gem of a game. The game's PC port earned our Editors' Choice distinction.
Tails of Iron (Until May 1)
Tails of Iron is an action RPG game with brutal soulslike combat and beautiful hand-drawn art. You are a rat prince who must take on the evil frog clan and take back your kingdom. Customize your attacks, craft weapons and armor, and recruit companions on your way to victory.
Grid Legends (May 2 - June 6)
Grid Legends includes 130 tracks and more than 100 vehicles, as well as an editor feature that allows players to create their own custom races. The racing game also features a narrative-focused story mode and supports up to 22 players in a race.
Chivalry 2 (May 2 - June 6)
Chivalry 2 is a multiplayer hack and slash game set in the Middle Ages, where two groups of knights do battle with swords, maces, hammers, axes, and bows and arrows. Multiple game modes allow for variation in combat and objectives.
Descenders (May 2 - June 6)
A downhill mountain biking game, Descenders puts you on procedurally generated trails as you perform tricks, complete goals, and finish each course. You will enhance your abilities and build your rep on the way to joining the ranks of the legendary Descenders.
PlayStation Plus Collection - PS5 Only (Until May 9)
Those who own a PlayStation 5 and subscribe to PlayStation Plus have access to a curated collection of PS4 games. These games can be claimed any time between now and May 9, but will remain playable as long as you have an active subscription. The lineup of games, from Sony and partner studios, includes gems like Bloodborne, Fallout 4, God of War, The Last of Us Remastered, Monster Hunter: World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, and more.
Free Xbox Live Gold Games for May 2023
Xbox Live Gold is the premium subscription tier of the Xbox Live online gaming service that costs $9.99 a month or $24.99 for three months. It's also included in the cost of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Among the many perks are free Xbox games every month. Claimed 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 console or visit this page on a computer to queue up the game for download (if you have remote installs enabled). Games are added on the 1st and 16th of every month.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind (Until May 15)
Taking place before the start of the show, this puzzle adventure game follows the Shelby clan as they build their empire. You will fight enemies, hide from the law, and even manipulate time in order to pull off your schemes.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer (May 1 - 31)
Racer is a Star Wars-themed racing game, where you play as one of 21 different podracers—including Anakin Skywalker—and race on one of the many courses seen in the Phantom Menace.
Hoa (May 16 - June 15)
Hoa is a puzzle-platforming game about a fairy returning to her homeland. The game will charm you with its hand-drawn art style, relaxing music, and peaceful depiction of the natural world.
Free Epic Games Store Games for May 2023
Epic Games gives away free titles every week; no need for a subscription. Head over to the Epic Games Store website or open the launcher, scroll down to the Free Games section, and hit the Free Now banner on the title you want. Then, 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.
Breathedge (Until May 4)
Can you survive in space? Breathedge puts you in control of a stranded astronaut who must craft tools, pilot vehicles, and take control of space stations as you explore the wreckage that stranded you.
Poker Club (Until May 4)
Poker Club is a poker simulator, where you create a character, join a community, and compete in Texas Hold’em tournament. You can choose different game modes and even customize your own rules.
Against All Odds (May 4 - 11)
In the multiplayer party game Against All Odds, you join the Slaughter League and must compete in an onslaught of lethal platforming obstacle courses. You can even create your own courses and see if you can stump your friends.
Horizon Chase Turbo (May 4 - 11)
Inspired by the arcade racing games of the '90s, Horizon Chase Turbo emphasizes speed, retro music, and 16-bit aesthetics. The game includes a dozen cups, nearly 50 cities, over 100 tracks, and 30+ unlockable cars and upgrades, plus splitscreen multiplayer.
Kao the Kangaroo (May 4 - 11)
After 16 years, the 3D action platformer series returns with a new adventure. In Kao the Kangaroo, the titular boxing kangaroo must find his missing sister, uncover the truth about his father, and take on the fighting masters of the world.
Free Prime Gaming Games for April 2023
Prime Gaming (formerly known as Twitch Prime) is a subscription service that provides in-game loot, free games, and a selection of playable games on Amazon Luna each month. The service costs $12.99 a month with a free 30-day trial or comes included with your $139 Amazon Prime subscription. Navigate to the Prime Gaming page, select the Games tab, and select the Claim button next to the titles you want.
To play games offered by Prime Gaming, 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, Prime Gaming titles can be claimed via the launcher.
Wolfenstein: The New Order (Until May 2)
Wolfenstein: The New Order reimagines the classic FPS as an action-adventure game where the Nazis won World War II and now control much of the world. You play as B.J. Blazkowicz, and as part of the resistance, you use firearms, melee attacks, and stealth to fight back and take out evil super scientist Deathshead.
The Beast Inside (Until May 16)
In this survival horror game, you play as two characters separated by centuries who are connected by the dark history of the same haunted house.
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition (Until May 16)
A remake of the classic RPG, this game includes the base Icewind Dale game and its expansions. Set in the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons lore, the game follows a group of adventurers who must investigate a mysterious evil plaguing the land.
Beholder 2 (Until May 23)
In this simulation game, you are an intern working for the central ministry of a totalitarian state. You will manipulate your way up the food chain by plotting against your coworkers, spying on your boss and performing your bureaucratic duties. Or you can decide to expose corruption and fight against the state.
Terraformers (Until May 23)
This turn-based colony builder and resource management game puts you in control of humanity's efforts to populate Mars. You will gather resources, found cities, construct buildings, grow new life, manipulate the environment, and more.
Grime
In the fast-paced Metroidvania Grime, you control an organism that can absorb the abilities of the enemies you defeat. The game then allows you to level up only the abilities that match your playstyle.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 3D (Starting May 4)
First released in 1998, this Star Wars flight simulation game puts you in the cockpit as Luke Skywalker in his fight against the Empire. Choose your spacecraft, take on critical missions, and fight the Empire in pitched air battles.
Lake (Starting May 11)
In this adventure game, you assume the role of Meredith Weiss, who moves back to her hometown and assumes the role of the local mail carrier. Over the course of two weeks, you will deliver the mail, reconnect with various people, forge romantic relationships, and ultimately choose Meredith's future.
Planescape: Torment Enhanced Edition (Starting May 11)
Based within the Dungeons & Dragons universe, Planescape is an classic CRPG game that follows an immortal man in his quest to regain his memories and discover the reason behind his power. You are free to customize your character, enhance his abilities, and alter his alignment in order to create unique playthroughs.
The Almost Gone (Starting May 18)
The Almost Gone is a point-and-click puzzles game where you must interact with intricate diorama settings to advance the story. You will rotate the camera, gather usable items, and unlock the mystery hidden in each level.
Kardboard Kings (Starting May 18)
In this shopkeeper simulation and card game, you run a card store in Australia, where you will buy, trade, and sell cards, interact with your customers, meet various shop goals, and even use your cards in combat.
Agatha Knife (Starting May 25)
Torn between her love of animals and the taste of their flesh, Agatha Knife will go on a journey to start her own religion called Carnivorism. In this point-and-click adventure game, you must help her form her religion from the ground up and build a following of animals ready to sacrifice themselves as food.
Classic SNK Titles
SNK has made several classic titles free to claim for the foreseeable future, including:
Alpha Mission II (Starting May 18)
Art of Fighting 3
Crossed Swords
Ghost Pilots
The King of Fighters 2003
King of the Monsters 2 (Starting May 25)
Kizuna Encounter (Starting May 25)
The Last Blade
The Last Blade 2
Last Resort (Starting May 11)
Magician Lord
Metal Slug
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug 4
Ninja Commando
Ninja Masters
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers
Robo Army (Starting May 11)
Samurai Shodown IV (Starting May 4)
Sengoku
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
Super Sidekicks (Starting May 4)
3 Count Bout (Starting May 18)
Twinkle Star Sprites