Officially launching on March 1, 2022 in the United States, Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming platform. Subscription services have steadily become more commonplace in the industry; however, most opt to allow users to download games rather than stream them. Consequently, Amazon Luna is taking a risk since its performance depends on someone's internet connection.
Ultimately, none of this would be relevant if the service did not have a solid roster of games at its disposal. Unlike most other services, Amazon Luna divides its library into channels: Luna+, Retro, Family, Jackbox Games, and Ubisoft+. Out of the available channels, Luna+ can be seen as the default option since it has the most games and covers a wide spectrum of genres.
Let's take a look at the best games on Amazon Luna's Luna+ channel.
Since April 1, Amazon Luna's Luna+ channel costs $9.99/month.
Every Game In The Luna+ Channel
Overall, Amazon Luna's Luna+ channel has more than 100 games, most of which are respected titles. Whether someone is a sports, racing, RPG, or platformer fan, Luna+ has them covered.
The following table includes every game in Luna+, along with their genres, developers, and Metacritic scores.
Best Games In Amazon Luna's Luna+ Channel
The Legend Of Heroes: Trails From Zero
Luna+ has a number of Nihon Falcom's JRPGs, and they are all fantastic. Trails from Zero is a unique case as it debuted directly on Amazon's streaming service, which is something Luna will need to do more frequently if it wants to compete in the market. Originally a 2010 Japan-exclusive PSP game, Trails from Zero finally made its Western debut in September 2022. Despite a decade passing since its debut, the JRPG has lost none of its shine.
Set in a city-state stuck between two warring powers, Trails from Zero follows a deductive who stumbles upon a wider conspiracy. Using a turn-based combat system that emphasizes movement and positioning, Nihon Falcom's title is fun to play. More importantly, the game's story is brilliant, and the same can be said for its world-building.
Devil May Cry 5
Included as part of Amazon Luna's March 2022 free with Prime lineup, Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 could be seen as a litmus test for the platform. Demanding precision and quick reflexes, the 2019 hack & slash title does not provide much room for error, so input lag would significantly hamper the experience. On the other hand, if DMC 5 performs well for someone, it is a safe bet that most other games will be at least playable.
DMC 5 is also just a ridiculously fun action game. All three playable characters – Nero, V, and Dante – are completely unique, each delivering fully-realized combat systems that could easily be used as a foundation for entire games. The game is also infinitely replayable since its focus is squarely on the gameplay, and as a player grows more comfortable with the combat's mechanics, the more enjoyable DMC 5 becomes.
Tetris Effect Connected
Yes, a Tetris game. Practically everyone is familiar with the block-dropping franchise since it has been around for decades, and the property seems destined to remain a fixture of gaming for eternity. As timeless as this concept is, Tetris is difficult to get excited about as there is the belief that the gameplay has nowhere left to go. At least, that seemed like the case prior to the release of 2018's Tetris Effect; although not a significant departure from the license's status quo, this game felt and still feels fresh.
Tetris Effect: Connected adds a multiplayer component to the single-player modes, enhancing an already stellar package. Unsurprisingly, this modern update of an arcade classic is one of the best Luna+ games.
Metro Exodus
4AGames' Metro has produced three great first-person shooters, but Exodus is very different from its two predecessors. While the 2019 entry retains the tactical, methodical gunplay that helped put the franchise on the map, Metro Exodus significantly opens things up, dropping players into a string of explorable areas rather than the linear levels that define the previous games.
Tense and atmospheric, this fps immerses players in a hostile post-apocalyptic world that has no intention of making things convenient for humans. Consequently, Metro Exodus is not always traditionally enjoyable, but the game sticks to its conventions.
Paper Beast: Folded Edition
Originally released as a virtual reality title, Paper Beast: Folded Edition made this game accessible to all, and this is a trip well worth taking. Pixel Reef crafted a stunning and bizarre world filled with paper mache-style creatures that ooze personality. Visuals are not everything, but they are undoubtedly the highlight of this delightful game.
In terms of gameplay, Paper Beast: Folded Edition consists of puzzles that primarily involve manipulating the creatures. For people who simply want to immerse themselves in this surreal realm, the game also has a sandbox mode.
Dirt Rally 2.0
Luna+ has far more racing games than any other Amazon Luna channel. More importantly, the chosen projects cover a broad spectrum of subgenres: kart racers, arcade racers, futuristic racers, and bike sims. The subscription delivers quality and quantity, but if forced to pick a single game, the nod has to go to Dirt Rally 2.0. A challenging racer that strives for authenticity and realism, Codemasters' 2019 release is a traditional sim that comes with a steep learning curve.
Dirt Rally 2.0 specializes in one area, arguably perfecting it in the process. The game requires and rewards patience and dedication from its players, and once someone comes to grips with the mechanics, they will soon find themselves struggling to step away from the wheel.
Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
Luna+ has Konami's Castlevania Anniversary Collection that contains some all-time classics (and a few less-than-stellar entries). This compilation is a treat, however, it is worth noting that the included titles are quite different from Symphony of the Night, arguably the most beloved Castlevania game. People looking for something closer to that PS1 masterpiece might be better off checking out Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Koji Igarashi's spiritual successor to Konami's franchise.
A Metroidvania, Bloodstained drops players in a Gothic labyrinth packed to the brim with gorgeous backdrops, hard-as-nails bosses, and secret locations. The protagonist, Miriam, has access to a decent selection of weapons and abilities, injecting the combat system with quite a bit of variety. Considering Konami seems intent on doing nothing with Castlevania, fans might have no choice but to turn to Bloodstained.
Yakuza 0
Sega's Yakuza franchise had been around for a while when this prequel dropped in 2015, but Yakuza 0 put the license on the map in the West in a way it had never quite managed to achieve. Focusing on Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, this open-world action epic chronicles their early journeys in their respective Yakuza factions.
The central story is gripping, awesome, and emotionally compelling. The stellar writing even extends into the side content, which ranges from heartbreaking to laugh-out-loud ridiculous. The beat 'em up combat does take a while to blossom, but it becomes a lot more enjoyable once each character starts to unlock different styles.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Thousands of black plague-infected rats as far as the eye can see. If that idea sends a shiver down your spine, then this game is a must-play. Set during the Hundred Years' War, A Plague Tale: Innocence tells a harrowing tale that follows two siblings as they try to survive the French Inquisition. As Amicia, players must stealthily make their way through intense sections littered with rats and soldiers, all the while guiding the protagonist's sick brother, Hugo.
Familiar but solid, the gameplay gets the job done and succeeds in making Amicia feel constantly vulnerable without relying on cheap deaths. A Plague Tale's story is also well written and picks up quite a bit of steam as it moves along and begins to explore the siblings' relationship.
Mega Man 11
After nearly a decade of almost nothing but ports, Capcom finally dropped a new Mega Man project, and the 2018 entry more than lived up to the license's legacy. Putting aside the modern visuals, Mega Man 11 mostly sticks to the franchise's classic blueprint, delivering tough-as-nails side-scrolling platforming, epic boss fights, and satisfying weapons. As such, this title serves as a solid introduction to the series while also supplying a confident campaign that should keep veterans entertained.
Mega Man 11 demands quick reflexes and precise jumps, so a fast internet connection is recommended for those planning to play this game on Amazon Luna.
No More Heroes 1 & 2
Travis Touchdown wants money to buy everything an otaku could possibly want; therefore, he decides to become an assassin, a job that involves taking on the world's most powerful people in battles that could make some battle shonen anime blush. Armed with a beam katana and a willingness to execute the occasional suplex, Travis bravely heads down a path of destruction, mayhem, and silliness.
For better or worse, Grasshopper Manufacture's No More Heroes games are exercises in excess, mainly when it comes to their over-the-top boss battles. These titles are fun, loud, and far smarter than they might initially appear to be, particularly the first entry in the series. While far from flawless, these games are a must-try for anyone who loves hack and slash action.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
One of the best Amazon Luna games regardless of channels, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons follows the eponymous siblings as they go on a journey in search of a cure for their father's illness. Despite seeming tailor-made for co-op, Starbreeze Studios' game is a solo title as each thumbstick is used to control one of the brothers. This mechanic reflects and enhances the protagonists' relationship, strengthening the perception of their bond.
Mostly consisting of puzzles and some light platforming, Brothers' gameplay is simple but enjoyable. However, like the controls, the gameplay primarily exists to enrich the story, which is powerful enough to make this game worth recommending on its own.
Resident Evil 2
Capcom's Resident Evil hit a rough patch in the late-2000s and early-2010s. The franchise lost touch with its horror roots, and it took switching to a first-person angle to revitalize the series (although Revelations helped too). Resident Evil 7 is on Luna+ and a must-play for horror fans; however, people yearning for a more traditional entry in the series should prioritize Capcom's remakes. While 2020's Resident Evil 3 is decent, 2019's Resident Evil 2 is not only a better game but also a contender for the best entry in the franchise.
RE2 is a third-person shooter that beautifully balances action and horror, satisfying both genres in a way that Capcom has historically struggled to do. Containing two playable characters who follow relatively different routes, RE2 is gorgeous, thrilling, and intense. This remake is for both fans of the 1998 original and players who have never stepped foot in Raccoon City.
Control: Ultimate Edition
Remedy's Control is an action-packed sci-fi game set within the Federal Bureau of Control, a place that is home to many unexplained phenomena. Armed with empowering abilities that are a blast to utilize within battles, Control's Jesse Faden explores this unnatural building in search of her brother.
Outside of combat, which is comfortably the best in any Remedy game to date, Control arguably shines the brightest when focusing on side content that plays into the FBC's strangeness. While the vanilla version is also part of Amazon Luna's Luna+ channel, players should go with the Ultimate Edition since it comes with all the game's expansions.
Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun
In contrast with Amazon Luna's more specialized channels, variety is one of Luna+'s selling points. A stealth-based tactics game, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is certainly not for everyone, but its inclusion makes Luna+ a far more compelling prospect as a whole.
For those who are fans of this genre or enjoyed Mimimi Games' Desperados 3, Shadow Tactics is an outstanding entry that offers a unique aesthetic and smaller-scale scenarios that work in its favor. Put together a tight-knit unit and prepare to execute a string of assassinations.
Alien: Isolation
It took a while for it to happen, but the gaming industry finally succeeded in producing a terrifying Alien game. Except for the 1979 movie, an argument can be made that Alien: Isolation is the scariest release in the beloved sci-fi franchise, a feat accomplished by emphasizing the fact that a Xenomorph is a powerful predator who can tear humans without breaking a sweat.
As Amanda Ripley, players are stuck in a space station with the iconic monster, and hiding is the best (and often only) course of action. While there are a handful of weapons, Ripley is generally too weak to put up much of a fight against the Xenomorph, forcing her to use stealth in order to survive. Alien: Isolation is long, intense, and faithful to the source material.
The Wonderful 101 Remastered
PlatinumGames hardly needs an introduction as the developer has cemented itself as a prominent creator of stylish action games; that said, The Wonderful 101 does not have quite the same reputation as Bayonetta or Nier: Automata. Originally a Nintendo Wii U exclusive, the game was eventually ported to other systems via a remaster, and while the transition was not 100% smooth, the result was nevertheless an endearing and over-the-top title packed with humor.
The Wonderful 101 has a unique combat system that sees players controlling a horde of superheroes from an isometric point of view. Although coming with a relatively steep learning curve, the gameplay begins to sing once someone becomes comfortable with its systems and controls.
Sonic Mania Plus
Sega's Blue Blur has had a polarizing two decades, but if there is something nearly everyone can agree upon, it is that Sonic Mania is fantastic. A throwback to the franchise's classic 2D era, the 2017 release not only pays tribute to these titles by incorporating iconic levels but also modernizes the gameplay in a way that enhances the overall package. Sonic Mania is a love letter to Sega's property, and Plus enhances the package by adding new playable characters.
Regardless of whether someone grew up with the hedgehog or not, Sonic Mania is a game they need to play, especially if they are fond of platformers. It is comfortably one of the best games on Amazon Luna's Luna+ channel.
