Humble Bundle is a digital storefront and subscription service that provides consumers with opportunities to acquire video games and other digital content, often with a charitable component. The platform has evolved from its original "Humble Bundles"—collections of games sold at a price determined by the purchaser, with a portion of the proceeds donated to charity—to include a persistent storefront, a publishing initiative, and a monthly subscription service known as Humble Choice. This service offers a curated selection of games for a monthly fee, with subscribers able to select a number of games to keep each month. The company maintains a strong commitment to supporting charitable organisations worldwide, having reportedly raised over $195 million for charity by 2021 and over $200,000,000 since its inception in 2010.
Understanding the Humble Choice Subscription Model
Humble Choice is a subscription service that provides members with a selection of games each month for a recurring fee. According to the available information, the standard cost for a Humble Choice subscription is $11.99 per month or $129 per year. Subscribers to this service gain access to a monthly collection of games, which they can choose to keep. The value proposition often includes a selection of games that would normally cost significantly more if purchased individually. For instance, in one month, the platform offered a collection of eight games with a combined worth of over $180.
In addition to the monthly game selection, Humble Choice subscribers receive several other benefits. These include a 20% discount on purchases made at the Humble Bundle store, applicable to both new releases and existing titles. Subscribers also gain access to the Humble app for Windows. Furthermore, a portion of the subscription fee is directed towards charity; specifically, 5% of the Humble Choice membership fee supports charitable causes. The service is designed to be low-risk, with the option to cancel at any time.
Free Game Offerings and Promotional Events
While the Humble Choice subscription requires a payment, there are instances where free access to games has been available. One notable example involved a technical glitch that occurred in June 2025. During this period, a bug related to preparations for a giveaway for the IGN Live bundle allowed new subscribers to acquire the Humble Choice subscription for free. According to reports, Humble Bundle acknowledged the glitch and allowed the accounts that took advantage of it to keep all the Choice games for that month without charge. This incident highlights that promotional events or errors can occasionally lead to no-cost access.
For those who are not Humble Choice subscribers, the primary way to obtain free games is through the purchase of traditional Humble Bundles. These bundles allow the purchaser to set their own price, and in some cases, it is possible to contribute 100% of the payment to charity. The buyer can also decide how the payment is distributed between game developers, charitable organisations, and Humble Bundle itself. This model enables consumers to acquire games at a low cost while supporting causes they care about.
Specific Games Offered in a Recent Humble Choice Month
The selection of games available through Humble Choice varies each month. The provided data details a specific month's offering, which included eight games. Below is a list of those games, their standard retail prices at the time of the offer, and their player rating on the Steam platform, as reported in the source material.
- Havendock: A colony simulator set in the ocean. Its standard price was listed as $19.99, and it held a "Very Positive" rating on Steam with over 1,200 player reviews.
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun: A first-person shooter. Its standard price was $21.99, and it had a "Very Positive" rating based on over 13,000 player reviews.
- Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered: A remastered collection of classic action-adventure games. Its standard price was $29.99, with a "Very Positive" rating from approximately 2,400 player reviews.
- Nobody Wants to Die: A narrative-driven game. Its standard price was $24.99, and it had a "Very Positive" rating with over 3,000 player reviews.
- Dungeons of Hinterberg: An adventure game. Its standard price was $22.99, with a "Very Positive" rating based on around 1,700 player reviews.
- Tchia: An open-world adventure game. Its standard price was $29.99, with a "Very Positive" rating from around 350 player reviews.
- Sker Ritual: A first-person shooter. Its standard price was $24.99, and it had a "Very Positive" rating with approximately 4,700 player reviews.
- Biped: A cooperative puzzle-platformer. Its standard price was $14.99, with a "Very Positive" rating based on around 7,000 player reviews.
In addition to these games, some subscription promotions have included supplementary items, such as a one-month IGN Plus subscription, which was valued at $4.99.
Purchasing Games and Using Promo Codes
Humble Bundle operates a traditional storefront where games can be purchased individually at set prices, in addition to the bundle and subscription offerings. The platform also occasionally provides promotional codes or discounts. To use a promo code, a user must have a Humble Bundle account (which is free to create). The process involves adding desired items to the shopping cart, proceeding to checkout, and pasting the code into the "Do you have a promo code?" section. Applying the code should then adjust the order total to reflect the discount.
It is important to note that promotional codes are typically sourced by third-party websites or platforms. These codes are tested by the sourcing teams to ensure they are valid and work as described at the point of checkout. The availability of such codes is not guaranteed and depends on the partnerships and affiliate networks of the source providing the code.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The Humble Bundle service, including all its content, is protected by intellectual property laws, including copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws. This means that the games and other digital products offered are legitimate and legally distributed. The platform's business model, which involves sharing revenue with developers and charities, is a core part of its operation and distinguishes it from unauthorised distribution channels.
Conclusion
Humble Bundle and its Humble Choice subscription service offer a legitimate and value-driven method for acquiring video games, with a unique charitable component integrated into its business model. While the standard Humble Choice subscription requires a monthly fee, it provides subscribers with a curated selection of games, store discounts, and other perks. Opportunities for free access, such as the technical glitch described in the source material, are irregular and not a standard feature of the service. For those seeking free or low-cost games, the traditional Humble Bundles, where buyers can set their own price, remain the most consistent option. The platform is a notable example of how digital commerce can be structured to benefit consumers, creators, and charitable causes simultaneously.