Free games and free-to-play on LootPick
Free comes in two very different forms. A giveaway is a normally paid game offered at no cost for a short time. A free-to-play game is always free to start, and earns money some other way. LootPick tracks both and keeps them separate.
Giveaways
The Free Games page lists games and add-on content being given away right now across PC and console stores, along with the date each offer ends. The list comes from GamerPower and refreshes every fifteen minutes. You do not need an account to see it.
Giveaways usually work like this: you claim the game in your store account before the end date, and it is then yours to keep. If you miss the date you miss the offer, so check the end date before you plan to claim later.
Free-to-play
The Free-to-Play page lists games that cost nothing to download and play. The catalogue comes from FreeToGame. These games never expire, so there is no rush, but the way they earn money varies: cosmetics, passes, extra content or advertising. A free-to-play game opens to its official site, since there is no store price to compare.
How free games are scored
A game that is free scores 100, because the price is as low as it can be. That makes the label read Buy Now, which here simply means worth grabbing. Read it as claim or try rather than spend. For paid games the score weighs discount, ratings and price history, as the scoring guide explains.
Tips for getting the most out of free games
- Claim giveaways when you see them, even for games you might not play soon. Owning a free copy costs nothing.
- Check what is included. A giveaway might be a base game, a DLC pack or an in-game item.
- Read the store page for region limits, since an offer may not be available everywhere.
- Be wary of free-to-play games that lean on spending to progress. Reviews on the game page help you judge.
Tracking what you claim
Once you claim a giveaway, add it to your Loot with a price of zero. That keeps your library complete, and your savings figure reflects what the game would normally cost when you record its full price. See the Loot guide.