Is Prime Gaming Worth It? Casual Gamers Could Save Over $80 Each Year

I'm an Amazon Prime member who games frequently. I'd be squeezing my Prime Gaming benefit for all it's worth, but honestly? I keep forgetting it's there. The service is like a distant cousin third-removed, fun but forgettable.

The difference is Prime Gaming has a dirty little secret. It's more valuable than it seems. It could shrink the $431 American families spend on video games annually.

Prime offers four perks: free Twitch subscriptions, free games, free in-game content, and a huge Jackbox Games discount. If any of these things appeal, consider taking a quick peek. Amazon Prime subscribers get Prime Gaming at zero extra cost.

Amazon hardly advertises it, so I wouldn't fault you for tossing it in the mental laundry basket. I've dusted it off for a closer look at how much Prime Gaming could save you each year.

$4.99 Twitch subscription monthly

Twitch and gaming go hand in hand -- the streaming service livestreams content creators, especially gamers. Millions of Twitch users log on to watch their favorite influencers play.

Twitch users get one straightforward perk: a free monthly Twitch channel subscription they can use to support their favorite streamer. A basic Twitch subscription costs $4.99; that's $59.88 in annual savings when you use this benefit.

Free games

Like Epic Games (another game provider), Prime Gaming offers a rotating selection of juicy PC games for free. (Don't mind if I do.) The games are typically indie: RPGs, shooters, and simulators included.

If you take advantage, you could recoup the cost of your Prime membership and then some. For example, Kombinera is free on Prime Gaming right now, but it's $14.99 on Steam. That single download equals the value of a monthly $14.99 Prime membership.

Free in-game content

Roblox and Fortnite skins, anyone? The public occasionally turns its sleepy head toward Prime Gaming when it offers an especially delectable partnership. Apex, Hearthstone, League of Legends -- Prime Gaming doesn't pull its punches. There's something for everyone.

In-game content is pricey as heck. Take Hearthstone. According to the fandom wiki, an Epic-rarity card drops about once every five packs. Hearthstone sells packs in bundles of seven (not five). At a minimum, that's $9.99. Or, you could get a single Epic card from Prime for free.

Huge Jackbox Games discount

Christmas. Everyone huddles around the living room TV. Uncle Tom pokes at buttons. Auntie Carol says, "It's not free?" Cousin George says, "Nope." Sad faces all around.

Welcome to Jackbox Games, the TV games of choice for family-friendly gatherings. It's a pain to figure out, but it makes time fly by -- when it works. Prime Gaming makes things easier by offering a massive discount on all Jackbox games.

The breakdown: A single Jackbox Party Pack (10 games) is $34.99. Amazon offers that, plus every single other Jackbox game, for a $4.99 monthly subscription. It's no comparison.

How much you could save

Amazon Prime doesn't need to be your go-to gaming platform to save you a bundle. Casual users can save plenty, boosting their personal finances at the beginning of 2024.

Say you're a casual gamer. In one year, you only use the following benefits:

• Six months of Twitch subscriptions
• One free game download (Kombinera)
• One free in-game download (Hearthstone Epic card)
• One month of Jackbox

That's $89.91 of value, all for the low price of $4.99 (one month of Jackbox with Prime Gaming). The math is simple. By flexing Prime Gaming benefits, you could save $84.92 annually. That assumes you only use the platform here and there -- not religiously.

You could save even more by using other little-known perks of your Prime membership. Think free delivery, free clothing try-ons, and free entertainment. (Prime is stuffed with hidden perks.)

Worth it?

Prime Gaming is worth your time if you're already a Prime member. It could help you quickly recoup half the value of an annual $139 Prime membership cost, even if you use it casually.

A good deal. There are other ways to save, too. I pay for everything Amazon-related with my Prime Visa for the 5% cash back reward -- it's the easiest trick in the book.

Only Prime users get Prime Gaming benefits. If you're a subscriber, a PC gamer, and a saver, take a peek at what the service offers. It's free, it's yours, and it could save you money.