Ubisoft Montpellier’s critically acclaimed 2D Metroidvania, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, is available to play in full for free right now on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, but the offer comes with a notable catch: players must hold an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to claim it. The complete, playable demo is downloadable starting at 10 AM PT on September 24 and remains available through Wednesday, September 30 at 11:59 PM PT, giving fans roughly a week to experience the entire title at no cost.
While the free full-game demo is the headline of the promotion, the offer extends beyond the game itself. Nintendo Switch Online members can also earn 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points by completing an in-game mission during the trial window. For those who decide to purchase the full game after sampling it, save data carried over from the trial is preserved, meaning players won’t lose their progress when transitioning from the demo to the complete edition.
What Makes the Demo Worth the Download
For newcomers to the franchise, this is a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of the game without a financial commitment. Ubisoft Montpellier’s entry reinvents the iconic series by shifting the perspective from the 3D platformers of the past into a tight, hand-drawn 2D format. The result is a Metroidvania-style adventure built around a dual-character system, where players can swap between the agile Prince and the powerful Princess of Persia to tackle puzzles and combat from different angles.
The critical reception has been strong, with IGN awarding the title a glowing eight out of 10. The review praised the game for capturing “not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good,” while also ironing out “the little issues that plagued the 3D games in this series by opting for a 2D perspective.” For a series that has struggled to find its footing in recent years, that assessment is a meaningful endorsement.
A Franchise in Transition
Despite the acclaim, the story behind The Lost Crown is complicated. Ubisoft disbanded the development team behind the game after it reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and plans for a sequel were scrapped in favor of redirecting the developers onto other projects. Among those is Beyond Good and Evil 2, which remains in development and has recently added a writer from Assassin’s Creed Shadows to its ranks.
Since its launch, The Lost Crown has nonetheless received a fair amount of post-release support, including new game modes, updates, a story DLC expansion, and even a mobile port. Yet the possibility of a direct sequel remains grim, though renewed interest driven by free demos and multiple major sales over the years could theoretically sway Ubisoft’s decision. For now, that hope appears unlikely to materialize.
Fans hoping for new content in the broader franchise can look to The Rogue Prince of Persia, which has received several updates this year, including new elements, tools, weapon affixes, and other quality-of-life improvements. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Sands of Time remake has unfortunately been canned, leaving the future of the classic 3D series in limbo.
Looking Ahead
For anyone on the fence about the Switch, this free trial is a low-risk way to judge whether the 2D reinvention lives up to the hype. The one-week window closes at 11:59 PM PT on September 30, so players interested in earning the Platinum Points reward or simply testing the game should move quickly. Those who want to dig into the details of how to claim the points can consult the Missions & Rewards section on the Nintendo Switch Online portal or directly from the console’s home screen.
Whether or not a sequel is ever in the cards, The Lost Crown stands as a refreshing take on a beloved franchise — one that is well worth a shot for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
“not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good,” but also ironing out “the little issues that plagued the 3D games in this series by opting for a 2D perspective.”
IGN
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
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