An indie game calledAmpersatis currently free to claim on Steam, courtesy of a 100% discount that coincided with the start of July. However,Steamusers have only a few days to take advantage of this early summer 2025 deal.
Ampersatis a genre hybrid that combines retro and modern design elements into a top-down action RPG with stylized visuals and decent replay value. Released for PC in May 2022, the game was developed by Gaterooze, Ink—ahusband-and-wifestudio involved in everything from writing and photography to game design.
Just a few months following its third anniversary,Ampersatreceived a 100% discount on July 1 and is thus currentlyfree to claim on Steam. The newly launched offer is only valid until Saturday, July 5, ending at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 7pm CET. Regularly priced at $9.99,Ampersathas been the subject of nearly 40 discounts since its mid-2022 debut, going on sale approximately once per month. While some of these offers saw it drop as low as $0.99, this early summer promotion marks the first time ever that the game is being given away toSteam usersoutright.
Ampersat Is a Mix of Zelda Influences, Local Multiplayer, and More
Ampersatdraws from a variety of classic influences, includingAngband,Smash TV,Gauntlet, andThe Legend of Zelda. Players assume control of the titular warrior-mage and battle through over 50 handcrafted levels filled with monsters, light puzzles, and treasure. An optional, indefinitely long procedural mode is also part of the package, offering additional replay value. The game’s central hub village, Gentlheim, can be upgraded over time and revisited during any sequence.Ampersatalso supports asynchronous co-op multiplayer—available locally or online—allowing a second player to assist as an invulnerable fairy companion.
One distinctive characteristic ofAmpersatis its visual identity, which blends ASCII characters with colorful 3D environments. The aesthetic is a deliberate homage to Rogue, the 1980 dungeon crawler that gavethe roguelike genreits name—even though it wasn’t the first game of its kind. Apart from 50 enemy types with unique AI behavior,Ampersatalso includes 10 bosses, non-linear progression, and a large skill tree.
Ampersatbecame free to claim on Valve’s storefront just asNext Jump: Shmup Tactics' Steam giveawaycame to an end on July 1. As it so happens, the two titles share the same publisher, aptly called GrabTheGames. In related news, PC gamers interested in freebies can currently also claimSablefrom the Epic Games Store. That particular giveaway is set to end on July 3, when it will be replaced by two EGS freebies:FigmentandBackpack Hero.
