Nintendo is giving Switch Online members free access to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown from September 24th through September 30th, 2026. That’s the whole pitch: play the game for nothing, no subscription needed, just a console and an online membership. IGN is also making its full set of completionist checklists free for the same week, which means you can track every treasure, amulet and sand jar without paying a cent.
The offer runs parallel to a separate discount: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is 70% off on the Nintendo eShop and the Steam store until October 1st. So you can buy the game cheap, try it free, and then use IGN’s tools to hunt every last collectible.
The Trial Window
The free trial starts September 24th and ends September 30th. That’s a full week to jump in, see what the game looks like, and decide whether the $70 price tag on the eShop is worth it. The Steam discount runs a day longer, expiring October 1st, so PC players have a slightly wider window to act.
IGN’s checklists are free during that same period. The company is letting everyone use unlimited checkmarks and map markers on its interactive map, with no paywall in sight. It’s a limited-time move, which means you have to act within the window to get the tools.
Why Tracking Matters
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a big game. Its map is extensive, and finding everything requires patience. Missing a collectible can mean backtracking across hours of terrain, which is the kind of frustration that ruins a session. IGN’s walkthrough and interactive map are designed to keep that from happening.
The walkthrough includes detailed screenshots guiding tricky platforming sections, map screenshots pointing out missable content, and checkmarks for every collectible you pick up. The interactive map is complete with hundreds of marked locations for upgrades, quests and more. Both tools are fully integrated, so checking off an item on the map automatically updates the checklist.
“Any collectible you check off on map will automatically sync with IGN’s checklists.”
What You Get Free
IGN’s package includes several guides aimed at completionists. Here’s what’s included:
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Walkthrough
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown All Amulet Locations
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Sand Jar Locations
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown All Treasure Locations
All of these are free to use from September 24th to September 30th, 2026. After that, the checklists return to their usual paywall. IGN is hoping the free preview convinces players to subscribe to IGN Plus, the premium service that unlocks the full experience.
Who Runs This
Shailyn Cotten is the Guides Checklists Editor for the IGN Guides team. She manages the checklist database for some of your favorite IGN game guides. In her bio, she lists three loves: checking off her to-do list, frogs, and Breath of the Wild. That’s a strange trio, but it’s the official record.
Cotten’s role is managing the data behind these tools. Her bio doesn’t explain why she loves those three things, but it’s a memorable detail for anyone who reads it.
The Free Checklist Offer
IGN is making its entire suite of completionist tools free for a week, which is a notable move for a company that usually charges for this content. The timing lines up with Nintendo’s trial, so the two offers reinforce each other.
IGN is positioning this as a taste of what its premium service offers. The free week lets players see the value before committing, which is a fair approach. Anyone who wants to 100% the game without buying anything can grab the trial, use the free checklists, and walk away with a better idea of whether IGN Plus is worth the cost.
What This Means for Players
The deal is simple: try the game, try the tools, and decide later. If you already have Switch Online, you get the game for free. If you want to buy it, you get a 70% discount. If you want to track your progress, you get the checklists for free.
Few publishers run a free trial and a free companion tool at the same time, especially with a discount attached. IGN is betting that showing the value of its service will convert some of those free users into paying subscribers.
The Bottom Line
This is a smart marketing move. Nintendo gets a trial that encourages people to sign up for Switch Online, and IGN gets a chance to showcase its premium service. The player gets a week of free access to a big game and its completionist tools.
The only risk is that the free week might make the paid subscription feel less necessary. But IGN has structured the offer so that the free trial period is the hook, not the endgame.
The deal runs from September 24th to September 30th, 2026. That’s your window. If you’ve been holding off on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, this is the moment to jump in.
Source material: “Try IGN's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Checklists for Free During Nintendo's September Game Trial,” IGN.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.