We live in such trying times, and as weird as it sounds now is a good time to be playing video games.
For folks that are under Restricted Movement Order, or a lockdown to quell the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, here is a round-up free games (available at a limited time), demos, and discounts now that you have some free time.
UPDATE 21/3/20: We added Itch.io’s Games To Help You Stay Inside to the list. Thanks @elverus!)
Free Games Offer (Limited-Time)
Goat Of Duty (PC)– A silly FPS about goats with guns. Available on Steam.
Tomb Raider (2013), Lara Croft And The Temple Of Osiris (PC) – one is a reboot to video game icon Lara Croft, now following more modern gameplay styles (huge hubs, linear, Uncharted-ish gameplay). The other is a top-down with couch co-op.
Mini Metro (iOS, Android) – a puzzler about connecting metro stations. Simple, addictive and looks really, really clean.
Watch Dogs, The Stanley Parable (PC) – As part of the weekly Epic Games Store free games giveaway. The former is Ubisoft’s open world action game- GTA but more hacking. The latter is a narrative experience where you can follow (or not follow) the narrator and see where your decisions lead to.
Shadow Of The Colossus, Sonic Forces, Monster Hunter: World (PS4) – PS Plus offer for this month, for those subscribed to the service. So long as you have an active subscription, you get to play these. One month of PS Plus costs RM29.
Shadow Of The Colossus is a fantastic epic that needs to be experienced to understand how impressive it is. Sonic Forces is another Sonic The Hedgehog game. Monster Hunter: World is a surprise addition for those in Asia- a time-sink of an action-RPG so good it’s our Game Of The Year for 2018.
GOG’s Stay At Home Promo (PC) – Purveyors of classic PC games GOG are offering a bunch of free games. The list includes Ultima 4, Beneath A Steel Sky and Shadow Warrior.
Itch.io’s Games To Help You Stay Inside (PC) – Itch.io is the place to find interesting, unique indie gems. The Games To Help You Stay Inside promo lists a bunch of games either under discount or entirely free for a limited time. All prices are in USD, and downloading free games require an Itch.io account.
Demos
Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4) – Square Enix is remaking the 1997 JRPG classic, the first of multiple games, with this one covering the Midgar area. Try out the first chapter- the bombing run of Mako Reactor 1- reimagined as a modern action RPG.
Trials Of Mana (PS4, PC, Switch) – Another remake by Square Enix, but this one for a game that never got an English release. Another action JRPG, with a pretty meaty demo (2 hours at least).
Resident Evil 3 (PS4, PC, Xbox One) – Capcom’s follow-up to the remake of Resident Evil 2 last year. Play a special version of the survival horror game that’s designed for this demo.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (PS4, PC, Xbox One) (limited-time) – Play the full game of Ubisoft’s latest open-world RPG. However, it’s a free weekend deal that ends on March 22nd.
Moving Out (PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch) – Co-op furniture mover game. Think Overcooked but for home moving. Of, course, it has couch-co-op.
The Steam Games Festival (PC) (limited-time) – 65 game demos are available at a limited time. Includes some upcoming releases (like Haven and Eldest Souls), and some already released titles, like Toge Productions’ Coffee Talk.
Discounts
Mega March Sales (PS4) – PS Store Asia is having a massive sale. Some discounts include Marvel’s Spider-Man (RM84.50), God Of War (RM43.45 for PS Plus subscribers) and The Witcher III GOTY Edition (RM60). Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is 30% off.
Ubisoft Publisher Sale (PC) – Over on Steam and Uplay, massive discounts for all Ubisoft games. Includes Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (RM68.97), The Crew 2 (RM52.25) and more. Uplay and Steam prices are the same.
Origin Spring Sale (PC) – A bunch of EA games (and more) are on sale via Origin. Includes Need For Speed Heat for $39.95 SGD, Dead Space for $19.99 SGD and more. Also, The Sims 4 plus all expansion and game packs (but not all stuff packs) are also discounted.
GOG Spring Sale (PC) – The GOG Store, which isn’t just limited to classic PC games, have plenty on sale. Includes Divinity Original Sin II Definitive Edition for $22.49 USD, Disco Elysium for $29.99 and Stardew Valley for $11.99 USD.
In addition, we also recommend checking out Xbox Game Pass For PC. For $5USD per month, you get access to a vault of games with no restrictions. Literally Netflix for games. For countries that don’t support it, there are (legal- you still pay money) workarounds to get it working here.
It’s not a complete list, for sure, but these recommendations, no matter your gaming taste, should help you fill the current time.
Stay at home, folks, and stay safe.