October is shaping up to be a big one in gaming, and while the Xbox Games with Gold and PlayStation Plus games may have disappointed some fans this month, Prime Gaming certainly hasn’t.
Until November 1st, you can snag 10 games for free if you’re an Amazon Prime member that will be yours to keep forever. If you’re not subscribed to Amazon Prime you can sign up for the 30-day free trial, which will give you access to the games.
Even if you cancel before the 30-day trial is up, you will still be able to keep and play the games you’ve downloaded. Nice one, Prime Gaming!
So let’s look at what’s on offer this month.
Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation is an intense and anxiety-inducing game that brought horror survival to a whole new level. The game was very well received by critics and by the public, and for good reason. The game doesn’t just rely on jump scares for the horror experience, but rather perpetual, never-ending stress and fear, induced by the music and the vast emptiness of an abandoned space station. You are not constantly in danger however, but the way the game is designed you constantly feel like you are -a hallmark of true horror. PersonallyI could only play it in 10 minutes segments, and only if there was someone else in the room with me. The dread and the fear in this game are real, and if you’re up for some good horror, Alien: Isolation is recommended.
How will you survive?
Song of Horror
Since we’re on a horror roll, (and also it’s OctoooOOooOber) another horror entry makes the free games list on Prime Gaming, and it’s Song of Horror. We go from terrifying Xenomorph in an abandoned space station, to haunted music box that houses a presence with frightening reality-bending power and very many minions.
Song of Horror is a third person survival horror game, that has been described as ‘Lovecraftian’ - that description alone almost guarantees a twisted and mind-bending horror experience. The gameplay and trailer are giving us somewhat Resident Evil and Silent Hill vibes, which the game seems to be paying homage to. We’ve not yet played it here at CCL, but as a fan of horror and H.P Lovecraft, I’m going to check this one out.
Ghostrunner
Anything Cyberpunk themed is right up my street, and Ghostrunner is all about that Cyberpunk sound, look and feel. If I’m being honesti t’s giving me a bit of an "Excalibur Umbra" vibes in its design, and that’s a good thing.
Ghostrunner is a platform FPP (first person perspective) action game, with fast and agile movement and brutal combat that is amazing and satisfying. The game is very punishing at the beginning, especially while you’re trying to get used to the controls, so if you decide to give it a go then don’t give up on it! But be prepared to die a lot at the beginning and try not to get too bothered by the game actually keeping a track of your death count.
If like me you’re a fan of cyberpunk genre, you’ll not only love the look of the game, but the music. You’re followed by dark, industrial synthwave music as you climb, jump and hack and slash. It is incredibly satisfying and extremely fun, albeit very punishing should you miss or make a mistake, but definitely worth it.
Star Wars Squadrons
Star Wars Squadrons is a first-person space combat game that’s set in Star Wars Universe. For fans of Star Wars, or even those who love fighter sims, this game is an excellent addition to the library.
While I’ve not played the fully released version, I have had a chance to try the game in a pre-release playtest. If you’re into strategizing, flight sim games and love Star Wars, this one is really a no brainer. It’s a relatively new game as well (almost a year old), so now is your chance to get it at the low, low price of free.
Blue Fire
Another platformer with fast pace and free movement that is very Nintendo-esque, and one we can play on the PC. And that’s one of the many things we love about it. Originally released for Switch, this amazing little indie gem is now available on PC and after seeing the gameplay videos, I can’t wait to give it a try.As Nintendo themselves put it:
"Embark on an extraordinary journey through the desolated kingdom of Penumbra and discover the hidden secrets of this long-forgotten land. Explore mystical temples, encounter survivors and take on strange quests to collect valuable items."
Sounds like an adventure!
Whiskey and Zombies The Great Southern Zombie Escape
If you’ve ever played SAS: Zombie Assault, Alien Shooter or Zombie Shooter and like the bird’s eye view of your zombie/alien killing, then you should check out this absolutely hilarious, tongue-in-cheek brawler/stealth game.
In this apocalypse, the only thing that can kill the virus is moonshine whiskey and you must embark on an adventure as one of four available characters, all with their (very) unique skill set. Fun, funny and addictive, Whiskey and Zombies is definitely worth downloading, if only for the laughs.
Red Wings: Aces of the Sky
Coming in with "Crimson Sky" vibes, Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is an arcade game where you play as a pilot in WWI, engaging in aerial battles whilst accompanying the legendary Red Baron.
The graphics are adorable and the combat is fun, but be warned;this isn’t a flight sim, and the controls aren’t going to be as realistic as they are in other flight sims. Nevertheless it’s a lot of fun, especially if you’re into arcades, and worth checking out.
Tiny Robots Recharged
Tiny Robots Recharged is a short, fun and sweet puzzle galore! It’s family friendly, very cute and whilst the puzzles aren’t very difficult, they do offer entertainment and are great for relaxation. The puzzles are timed, which makes it even more fun.
It’s family friendly fun, and it will definitely keep you entertained for at least a few hours.
Secret Files 3
If you’re a fan of the Secret Files series, and you’ve not played the Secret Files 3, this is your opportunity to grab the game.
Secret Files 3 is a graphical point and click adventure/puzzle video game that’s the last instalment of the Secret Files trilogy.
Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures
For fans of Wallace & Gromit, you can pick up the Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures, with all four of its episodes. On Prime Gaming, they’re listed as separate games (episodes), so you can choose which ones you want to download and play, vs having to download all of them in a bundle.
For the kids (or for the nostalgia), Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures is a nice little edition to the games library, especially when it’s free.
Depending on your tastes this month’s free games from Prime Gaming have something for everyone, especially after disappointing monthly games by PlayStation and Xbox. For PC players, the Amazon Prime offerings are of far more interest (and value), especially considering that most of these games are still full price on Steam.
