The Best Free PC, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold Games to Claim in October 2022

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 October 2022

PlayStation Plus(Opens in a new window) is Sony’s online multiplayer and games subscription service. In early 2022, it rolled out new plans(Opens in a new window); 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(Opens in a new window) website as long as Automatic Downloads(Opens in a new window) are enabled. Once this is set up, you can add games from the web store and they’ll be remotely downloaded to your console.

Need For Speed: Heat (Until Oct. 4)

Need For Speed: Heat(Opens in a new window) is an open-world racing game where the player can participate in sanctioned races during the day or illegal street races at night. Legal races earn you money while night races earn you REP, but you’ll also have to contend with the police.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus (Until Oct. 4)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus(Opens in a new window) is a 2.5D fighting game that features many characters from the Granblue Fantasy franchise. The game also has a beat ’em up-style story mode and a co-op mode.

Toem (Until Oct. 4)

Toem(Opens in a new window) is a black-and-white adventure game with hand-drawn art that focuses on on taking pictures, meeting new characters, and solving their problems.

Hot Wheels Unleashed (Oct. 4 – 31)

A racing game based on Mattel’s toyline, Hot Wheels Unleashed(Opens in a new window) puts you in control of popular Hot Wheels cars so you can race them on miniature tracks set up in everyday household locations. The game includes a career mode, track editor, several multiplayer modes, and plans to add more cars and tracks via paid DLC.

Injustice 2 (Oct. 4 – 31)

Made by the same people who develop Mortal Kombat, Injustice 2(Opens in a new window) is a fighting game that pits DC Comics heroes and villains against one another. In the game’s story, Superman and his planet-ruling regime has been defeated, but Batman is forced to free him in order to prevent an alien invasion.

Superhot (Oct. 4 – 31)

Superhot(Opens in a new window) is a first-person shooter with strategy elements that puts you inside a virtual reality game that pits you against enemies in slow motion. Time only progresses when you move, giving you the opportunity to fully analyze your situation and respond to threats as necessary.

PlayStation Plus Collection – PS5 Only

Those who own a PlayStation 5 and subscribe to PlayStation Plus now have access to a curated collection of PS4 games. These games can be claimed at any time and remain playable as long as there is an active subscription. The current lineup, from Sony and partner studios, includes:

• Bloodborne

• Days Gone

• Detroit: Become Human

• God of War

• Infamous Second Son

• Ratchet and Clank

• The Last Guardian

• The Last of Us Remastered

• Until Dawn

• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

• Batman: Arkham Knight

• Battlefield 1

• Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition

• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

• Fallout 4

• Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition

• Monster Hunter: World

• Mortal Kombat X

• Resident Evil 7 biohazard

Free Xbox Live Gold Games For October 2022

Xbox Live Gold(Opens in a new window) 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 is also included in the cost of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Among the many perks you get 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(Opens in a new window) on a computer to queue up the game for download (if you have remote installs(Opens in a new window) enabled). Games are added on the 1st and 16th of every month.

Double Kick Heroes (Until Oct. 15)

Double Kick Heroes(Opens in a new window) is a rhythm zombie shooter where you must shoot hordes of the undead to the beat of 30 metal tracks. The game even allows you to upload your open music to add even more variety.

Windbound (Oct. 1 – 30)

After surviving a shipwreck, Windbound(Opens in a new window) puts you in control of a stranded warrior who must survive on a tropical island. You will need to gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and upgrade your makeshift seacraft in order to survive.

Bomber Crew: Deluxe Edition (Oct. 16 – Nov. 15)

In the strategic simulation game Bomber Crew(Opens in a new window), you must keep your bomber plane in shape to complete various missions. Victory comes down to your ability to train a crew of bombers, manage fuel and ammo, fight off enemies, and survive dangerous weather conditions.

Free Epic Games Store Games For October 2022

Epic Games gives away free titles every week; no need for a subscription. Head over to the Epic Games Store website(Opens in a new window) 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.

Runbow (Until Oct. 6)

Runbow(Opens in a new window) is a platform racing game where where up to nine players battle for survival and race to the finish line. The game offers both online and local multiplayer across several different game modes.

The Drone Racing League Simulator (Until Oct. 6)

The official game of Drone Racing League, DRL Simulator(Opens in a new window) puts you in control of real DRL drones on courses the pros race on. You can also customize your drone and create your own course before going up against your friends online. New content is added with each new season.

Rising Hell (Oct. 6 – 13)

In this fast-paced vertical platformer, you must fight your way out of hell. Unlock characters and abilities as you battle through the game’s randomly generated landscape. Each hero has their own playstyle, allowing you to fight, die, upgrade, and repeat how you like.

Slain: Back From Hell (Oct. 6 – 13)

In the heavy metal-inspired Metroidvania Slain: Back From Hell, you are the hero Bathoryn who must fight his way through hordes of monsters in order to liberate six cursed realms. Master your weapons, time your attacks, and use your mana wisely.

Free GOG Games For October 2022

GOG doesn’t have regular giveaways as some other websites do, but when there is a free game to claim, you can grab it right from the front page. Look for a banner with a free game and countdown, and click the green button to claim the game.

In between giveaways, GOG always has a small collection of free games(Opens in a new window), which mainly includes classic computer games that have been made available at no cost.

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

GOG allows you to score a free copy of the first Witcher game if you download the GOG Galaxy desktop client(Opens in a new window). Go to the Recent view and click the giveaway button at the top of the screen. As long as you agree to let GOG send you news and offers, the game is free to claim.

Free Games Collection

You can grab any of GOG’s free games by adding them to your cart and proceeding as if it were a normal purchase. The games will then be added to your account for $0. Standouts include Beneath a Steel Sky, Shadow Warrior, Postal, and several Ultima games. Here’s the list of full games available for free:

Free Prime Gaming Games for October 2022

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(Opens in a new window), 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.

Assassin’s Creed Origins (Until Oct. 3)

Set in the open world of Ptolemaic Egypt, this action RPG explores the origins of the feud between the Assassins and the Templars. You play as the Medjay Bayek of Siwa and his wife Aya as they seek revenge for the death of their child.

Castle on the Coast (Until Oct. 3)

This retro 3D platformer puts you in control of George the Giraffe as you jump, climb, swim, and drive your way through various level in your effort to bring a family of wizards back together.

Defend the Rook (Until Oct. 3)

Defend the Rook is a roguelike tactics and tower defense game. You must fend off hoards of enemies on a board by building, upgrading your defenses, and casting powerful spells.

The Dig (Until Oct. 3)

This LucasArts classic point-and-click adventure game focuses on a team of astronauts who discover a world of alien technology hidden within an asteroid. You will need to explore the remnants of the ancient civilization and solve puzzles in order to discover what happened to the aliens.

Football Manager 2022 (Until Oct. 3)

Continuing the long-running series of soccer simulation games, Football Manager 2022 delivers visual and mechanical improvements in multiple areas, making it the best series entry yet. There is a new statistical analysis feature and staff meeting system that allows you to do more to lead your franchise.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition (Until Oct. 3)

Set within J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of Middle-Earth, Shadow of Mordor is an action adventure game that follows a ranger of Gondor who has been killed and revived in order to exact revenge against Sauron.

We. The Revolution (Until Oct. 3)

In this political simulation game set during the French Revolution, you must determine who is an enemy of the people while also avoiding being labeled one yourself. As a judge of the Revolutionary Tribunal, you will investigate and condemn people, navigate various revolutionary factions, and then go home to your family.

Fallout 76 (Starting Oct. 4)

Fallout 76 is an open world multiplayer game set 25 years after nuclear war destroyed the United States. After emerging from your bomb shelter, explore the ruins of the world, complete quests, meet characters struggling to survive, and do all you can to survive. The game is updated regularly with new content.

Hero’s Hour (Starting Oct. 4)

Hero’s Hour mixes turn-based strategy RPG with real-time battle. Take your hero out into the world to explore, build up your cities, recruit soldiers to your army, gain new abilities, and conquer your enemies.

Horace (Starting Oct. 4)

In Horace, you control the titular robot as he attempts to find his purpose in a post-apocalyptic world. While the game typically feature action-adventure platforming gameplay, there are sequences more in line with fighting, racing, and rhythm games.

Loom (Starting Oct. 4)

Unlike other classic LucasArts graphic adventure games, Loom focuses on the use of spells to interact with the game world instead of an inventory-based interface. After the Weaver guild disappears, Bobbin Threadbare must use his magical distaff to find his missing brethren.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Starting Oct. 4)

Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films, Shadow of War is an action RPG game that follows the adventures of Talion, a ranger of Gondor, and the spirit of Celebrimbor, an elf lord. The two share a body and must use their combined abilities to stop Sauron from taking control of Middle-earth.

Total War: Warhammer II (Starting Oct. 4)

Taking the Total War series to the dark future, Total War: Warhammer II has players take up various factions from the Warhammer universe. The turn-based strategy of planning and building your units gives way to real-time combat when armies clash for supremacy.

Free Steam Games For October 2022

Steam has many free games you can download at any time, but there are occasionally some limited-time free titles. When you find a free game, you can “buy” it on Steam like you normally would, and it will be automatically added to your library without you having to check out.

If you have a Steam Key code, you can claim the game by launching the Steam client and clicking Games Menu > Activate a Product on Steam. Follow the instructions to complete the process and get your game. You may also need to connect your Steam account with another online retailer (e.g. Humble Bundle) before you can enter the code.

Nights Into Dreams (While Supplies Last)

It turns out that Sega has a few more Steam codes to give out from its 60th-anniversary celebration. Register your email(Opens in a new window) with Sega, then claim a key for the classic console game Nights Into Dreams(Opens in a new window) in your email.

Endless Space Collection

You can get the 4X strategy game Endless Space and its Disharmony DLC directly from the developer thanks to its Games2gether(Opens in a new window) platform. Sign up for an account and open the reward page (the present icon in the top-right corner) to see your free game. Just link your Steam account to receive the free Steam key and save $10.