Amazon Luna was first unveiled in 2020 and made accessible to a small group of users before its official launch on March 1, 2022, in the US, followed by launches in the UK, Canada, and Germany. Amazon Luna is a cloud-based service that allows users to stream a hand-picked selection of games. Its library is split up into a few channels, each of which has a different monthly fee.
In addition to the channels, Amazon Luna also gives Prime members access to a few free games each month; at the moment, it appears that four games will be the norm, though there may be some brief surprises. Prior to exploring the platform's channels, Prime members can test out Amazon Luna using these titles since it requires a steady internet connection to function, with 10 Mbps being the recommended speed. The fact that Amazon Luna's selection of free games for Prime members is generally quite strong also helps.
Batora: Lost Haven
One of those games that seems ideal for Amazon Luna Free Games with Prime is Batora: Lost Haven. Stormind's isometric action-adventure game may struggle to entice a customer to invest direct cash, but it is also compelling enough to warrant a stream-focused play session despite receiving good but not stellar reviews and operating somewhat under the radar. And that might be sufficient to capture a player's interest.
Avril, a girl, discovers an amulet that teleports her to various planets and grants her the ability to take two combat stances in the story, which is set after a catastrophic event that left Earth in ruins. A good balance of action and narrative beats can be found in Batora: Lost Haven, with the latter even providing branching paths to encourage repeated playthroughs.
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf
Awful licensed games have a history, especially works based on kid's programming. Therefore, it would be understandable if someone chose to skip The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf, especially if their most recent exposure to the license was those awful live-action films. At least, compared to those movies, Mission Vileaf does a much better job of capturing the essence of the original Smurfs cartoon.
This 3D platformer's gameplay is nothing particularly noteworthy because it mostly adheres to the standard beats of the genre. The execution is, nevertheless, adequate. Mission Vileaf is also surprisingly beautiful.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand Of Gilgamech
One cannot fault Image & Form for taking the safe route. Each SteamWorld game seems to focus on a different genre, but they all maintain their charm and high caliber. The side-scrolling genre of turn-based RPGs, which Hand of Gilgamech attempts to explore, is not particularly novel. The game also makes use of a deck-building system in its combat to help set it apart from its competitors. The battle system in SteamWorld Quest is generally enjoyable, despite not being quite as sophisticated as something like Slay the Spire.
Hand of Gilgamech, like the majority of SteamWorld games, has a great sense of humor, an engaging plot, and excellent animation.
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana
If a person enjoys action role-playing games, they are probably already familiar with the cult series Ys from Nihon, which has been around since the 1980s. One of the few brands in the genre with a strong PC presence, Ys spent decades simmering below the surface, receiving widespread acclaim but failing to break through to the general public like some other JRPG franchises. Ys has started to broaden its audience, though it is still far from as well-known as Final Fantasy or even Tales. This success is largely attributable to 2016's Lacrimosa of Dana.
This JRPG, which is set on an enigmatic island, offers players a respectably sized map to explore and a strong selection of usable characters who can be switched out at any time. Ys 8 is an absolute joy to play because it manages to be approachable without completely sacrificing depth, with fast-paced and satisfying combat. Lacrimosa of Dana is a fantastic way for newcomers to start the series.