Black Friday is the season of incredible deals, but nothing beats the price of "free." This year, as part of its massive Black Friday sale event, the popular online retailer Fanatical is giving away Steam keys for the critically acclaimed rhythm-shooter Aaero, and you have a limited time to claim your copy.
This is a genuine giveaway, allowing gamers to permanently add this unique title to their Steam library at absolutely no cost. However, like all the best freebies, there's a catch: you have to be quick.
The Giveaway Details: Act Fast!
The offer is live for a very short window. You can claim your free Steam key for Aaero starting November 24, 2025, and the promotion will run until November 26, 2025. But claiming the key is only half the battle; you must also redeem it on your Steam account before the deadline of December 10, 2025, at 23:00 UTC.
Fanatical has stated that the giveaway is capped at 100,000 keys, and they are operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsurprisingly, these keys are expected to be claimed rapidly. The offer is limited to one key per Fanatical account.
How to Claim Your Free Aaero Key
The process to secure your key is straightforward, especially if you've participated in one of Fanatical's previous promotions. For those who haven't, here's a step-by-step guide:
- Newsletter Subscription: You must be subscribed to the Fanatical newsletter. This is a standard step for most of their free game promotions.
- Link Your Steam Account: Your Fanatical account needs to be linked to a valid Steam account. Crucially, your linked Steam account must have at least one prior purchase on it—free-to-play games do not count.
- Check Out: Navigate to the Aaero page on Fanatical, add the game to your cart, and proceed to checkout. The price will show as $0.00.
It's important to note that this promotion is specifically for new Fanatical customers. There are also significant geographical restrictions. The offer is not available to users in India, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vietnam, and several other countries.
A word of warning to those thinking of bypassing restrictions: multiple community reports indicate that using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) will likely cause errors, such as a "No items in basket" message, as Fanatical has seemingly tightened its security around this process.
What is Aaero? A Closer Look at the Game
For those unfamiliar, Aaero is a hidden gem that originally launched on April 11, 2017, developed by the indie studio Mad Fellows. It masterfully blends two beloved genres: high-speed rail shooters and rhythm games.
The core gameplay involves piloting a swift ship through stunning, stylized alien landscapes. You'll trace glowing paths of light with your left stick while using the right stick to aim and fire at targets, all in perfect sync with a pulsing electronic soundtrack. The enemy patterns, obstacles, and epic boss fights are all directly driven by the music, creating an immersive and challenging experience.
The game features a killer soundtrack, including a mix of licensed electronic tracks from artists like Noisia, Flux Pavilion, and Katy B, alongside original compositions. It’s a game where feeling the beat is key to victory.
On top of its compelling core gameplay, Aaero supports full controller play, Steam Cloud saves, and offers Steam Trading Cards and Achievements to collect. The game has been warmly received by players, holding a "Very Positive" overall rating on Steam based on nearly 1,000 user reviews, which translates to an 88% approval score. Aggregate review site OpenCritic scores it at a solid 77.
For a deeper dive into what players are saying, you can always check out the community reviews on its Steam page.
Is Aaero Worth Your Time?
In short, absolutely. Players often describe Aaero as a fast, focused, and intensely satisfying experience. The synergy between the soundtrack and the on-screen action is seamless, making every level feel like an interactive music video. The "on-rails" structure ensures a consistently tight pace, perfect for short, exhilarating gaming sessions.
For Steam Deck owners, the game is officially listed as "Playable," so you can enjoy its rhythmic action on the go. If you're looking to pick up a Deck, you can find the latest model, the OLED Steam Deck, on Amazon.
Normally priced at $14.99 on Steam, this giveaway represents a fantastic opportunity to add a high-quality, well-reviewed game to your collection without spending a dime. With its engaging gameplay and stellar reputation, Aaero is a no-brainer for anyone who enjoys rhythm games, shooters, or simply wants to try something different. Don't miss out—head over to Fanatical before the keys are all gone! For the data-minded, you can track the giveaway's progress on sites like SteamDB.
