From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Well, at least we know now that the Luna shutdown isn't going to
immediately cut off the flow of 'free' games on Prime Gaming. How do
we know that? Because there are more 'free' games to claim on Prime
Gaming. Damn; that's one less argument for canceling the subscription.
But on the plus side, I get to keep writing up these announcements.
;-)

[Once again, the URLs of the games are just there so you
can read up about the titles. To actually claim the titles
you need to have a subscription to https://gaming.amazon.com.
You know, just in case you haven't figured it out from the
other thousand times I've posted this ;-)]


#


* Pinball Spire (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/pinball_spire
Essentially, this is a puzzle-platformer... except you're
a pinball. So instead of running and jumping, it's more
like you're rolling and bouncing. It's generally well-
reviewed and it seems a neat twist on the platformer genre.
It's just not a genre I'm all that fond of, is the problem.



* Fantasy General (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/fantasy_general
A classic hex-grid wargame with a fantasy theme. This
venerable (it's from 1996) title is based on the classic
"Panzer General" game, which did a pretty good job of
modernizing the genre. That said, it's still a pretty dry
experience, and the fantasy setting didn't work quite as
well as pitting tanks against panzers. If you want to see
what an wargaming is like (and can forgive the somewhat
dated technology) "Fantasy General" isn't a bad place to
start. But it is still wargaming in the end so don't
expect too much from it.



* Neo Cab (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/neo_cab
A visual novel where you take on the role of the last
taxi cab driver in a world overrun by automation. If
only I liked visual novels...



* The Pale Beyond (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_pale_beyond
Guide your ship and crew on an expedition to the
Antarctic. Mechanically, its up to you to manage your
various resource (fuel, moral, food, etc.) and make
various hard decisions that will decide if your crew
survives or not. It reminds me a bit of games like
"Sunless Skies", except with less procedural
generation and no Lovecraftian overtones.



* Snake Core (via GOG)
https://www.gog.com/en/game/snake_core
Remember Snake, that oldie-but-goodie where you
guide an ever-lengthening serpent as it winds around
a level eating dots? Imagine that except it's turn-based
strategy. It's an idea just crazy enough to work. As an
idea, the reviews seem favorable. Too bad the presentation
is so buggy and unpolished.



* KinnikuNeko Super Muscle Cat (via Epic) https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/kinnikuneko-super-muscle-cat-f2005a
A side-scrolling 2D platformer where you play a cat with
a muscle-builder's body fighting aliens. Ummm... just a
bit too offbeat for me, thanks though.



* Monster Harvest (via Epic) https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/monster-harvest-75f018
This one seems to be a cross between a "Harvest Moon" farming
RPG and Pokemon-styled monster-collection/battler. I don't
really enjoy either genre. Reviews indicate it feels very
early-access even though it supposedly is a final product.



* Detective Agency Gray Tie (via Legacy) https://store.steampowered.com/app/2179350/Detective_Agency_Gray_Tie__Collectors_Edition/
Oh thank gog, a hidden-object adventure game. I was afraid
we wouldn't get one this time. Whew, dodged a bullet there.


#

Well, Amazon is still funding the monthly game-giveaways... but if the
above list is anything to go by, they aren't pouring much money into
that fund. Oh well; it still makes The Number go up either way.

See you again for more games in a couple weeks.

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


Yup, I'm back again... this time to give you that requisite
freebie/extra I like to toss your way.

This is a GOG game, so claim it by going to https://www.gog.com/redeem
and enter in the serial. Remember, the key is ROT13 encoded, so do the
magic on it first. Also, first-come, first-get; if you're slow and
somebody uses it first, you're outta luck. Also also, you're not gonna
get a duplicate game outta this, so make sure it's not in your library
before claiming it; thanks.


* FANTASY GENERAL
https://www.gog.com/en/game/fantasy_general

<ROT13>
YYTK74NN05QR64757N
</ROT13>


Have fun!


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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Sun, 03 May 2026 12:17:35 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

Yup, I'm back again... this time to give you that requisite
freebie/extra I like to toss your way.

This is a GOG game, so claim it by going to https://www.gog.com/redeem
and enter in the serial. Remember, the key is ROT13 encoded, so do the
magic on it first. Also, first-come, first-get; if you're slow and
somebody uses it first, you're outta luck. Also also, you're not gonna
get a duplicate game outta this, so make sure it's not in your library
before claiming it; thanks.

* FANTASY GENERAL
https://www.gog.com/en/game/fantasy_general

<ROT13>
YYTK74NN05QR64757N
</ROT13>

I own this already so I did not claim it.

But your post had me wondering something. I own and played Panzer
General back in the day but I did not like it. I am not sure if it was
the gameplay that turned me off or just the WW II theme. I prefer
fantasy settings. Maybe I will try Fantasy General one day now that
your post reminded me that I own it.
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Mon, 04 May 2026 09:25:41 -0400, Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com> said
this thing:

On Sun, 03 May 2026 12:17:35 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

* FANTASY GENERAL
https://www.gog.com/en/game/fantasy_general

I own this already so I did not claim it.

But your post had me wondering something. I own and played Panzer
General back in the day but I did not like it. I am not sure if it was
the gameplay that turned me off or just the WW II theme. I prefer
fantasy settings. Maybe I will try Fantasy General one day now that
your post reminded me that I own it.

I mean, give it a try. It's tiny so it's quick to download and
install, and the worst that can happen is that you say, "Man, this
sucks" and uninstall it after five minutes.

"Fantasy General" had a pretty impressive soundtrack with a full choir
singing in the background, at least that I remember. I can't remember
if I LIKED the soundtrack, but it made an impression that lasts to
this day with how out-of-the-ordinary it was.

I enjoyed "Panzer General", but mostly because it was comparatively so
much more fun than traditional war games that I remembered playing in
the past. But I'll be the first to admit, at heart it still was
nothing more than a hex-based wargame... just gussied up and with a
lot of the grognardy parts hidden out of sight. I'm wasn't really a
big fan of that genre, but I played them because they were --in the
early years of computer gaming-- such a big part of the hobby. I had a
grudging familiarity with them, and seeing that ancient genre
modernized was welcome.

But my playing of "Panzer General" didn't really translate into any
deep and abiding love for the genre afterwards. I gravitated more
towards 4X strategy, with a sampling of Real-Time strategy on the
side. Hex-based wargames were the weird cousin who you remember
playing with as a kid, and even though you have nothing in common with
him anymore, he's still family so you don't abandon him entirely.( I
played them more out of duty and nostalgia than any real desire

TL;DR: give Fantasy General a try... but I wouldn't place bets on your
loving it any more than Panzer General.







* was that stretching the metaphor?





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