Training guide
AWS Cloud Quest: Free Role and Paid Roles Guide
A guide to AWS Cloud Quest: what the game teaches, which role is free and what needs a subscription.
EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on AWS Skill Builder and AWS announcements
Introduction
AWS Cloud Quest is a role-playing game that teaches cloud skills. You explore a virtual city and solve problems by building real solutions with AWS services. It runs on AWS Skill Builder.
The old title called it a free tier guide. That is only partly true. One role is free, and the others need a subscription. This guide explains the difference.
Quick Information
| Provider | Amazon Web Services, on Skill Builder |
| Free role | Cloud Practitioner |
| Paid roles | Roles such as Solutions Architect and Serverless Developer need a subscription |
| Language | English only, according to AWS |
| Reward | A digital badge for completing the assignments in a role |
| Device | Personal computer |
Key Points at a Glance
- The Cloud Practitioner role is free with a Skill Builder login.
- Other roles need a Skill Builder subscription.
- You can earn a digital badge for each role you finish.
- The game is in English only, according to AWS.
- It supports exam study, but it does not replace practice questions.
How the Game Works
You pick a role and enter a virtual city. Each assignment gives you a problem to solve.
The problems come with videos, quizzes and hands-on exercises. They are based on business scenarios.
As you progress, you earn rewards and unlock new areas.
The Free Role
AWS describes Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner as free. You only need a Skill Builder account.
It suits adult learners who are new to the cloud. It helps you gain practical experience before the Cloud Practitioner exam.
The Paid Roles
Other roles are for subscribers. AWS has listed more roles over time, including security, data and networking roles.
One AWS page listed an individual plan at 29 USD a month or 299 USD a year. Check the current price on Skill Builder.
Digital Badges
AWS says you can earn a badge by completing the assignments for a role. Another page adds that you must score at least 80 per cent.
Add the badge link to your professional profile and your CV.
Who Should Play
The game suits people who learn by doing. It also helps career changers who find long videos dull.
If you prefer a clear course first, start with Cloud Practitioner Essentials.
Study Tips
Treat each assignment as a small lab. Read the goal, try it, then review what the game showed you.
Write a note after each one in your own words.
Mistakes to Avoid
Do not assume that playing is the same as passing an exam.
Do not pay for a subscription before you finish the free role.
Do not skip the quizzes. They show gaps early.
Setting Up Your Account
Create a free Skill Builder account with your email address. Then open Cloud Quest and choose the Cloud Practitioner role.
Use the same account for other Skill Builder courses. Your progress and badges stay in one place.
How Much Time to Plan
Short sessions work well for a game. Try 30 to 45 minutes, three or four times a week.
Stop when you are tired. Hands-on tasks are easier to remember when you are fresh.
Game or Course
A game suits people who like to explore. A course suits people who like a clear order of topics.
Many learners use both. They play a role and read a course on the topics that confused them.
Key Terms Explained
Role: A learning path in the game that matches a cloud job.
Assignment: One task or scenario inside a role.
Badge: A digital record that you finished a role.
Skill Builder: The AWS learning platform that hosts the game.
Subscription: A paid plan that unlocks extra roles and labs.
Sandbox: A safe space where you can try things without risk.
Questions to Ask Before You Pay
Check the current price on the official page. Check that the exam code or course name matches the guide you study from.
Ask whether your employer or school will pay. Ask how long the result stays valid.
Write down your goal first. Choose a course or exam only if it moves you towards that goal.
Using It in Europe
Entry roles include cloud support assistant and junior IT technician. Add the badge and the year to your Europass CV.
Describe the game as hands-on training and not as a certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AWS Cloud Quest free?
The Cloud Practitioner role is free. Other roles need a subscription.
Do I get a badge?
Yes, after you complete the assignments in a role.
What language is it in?
AWS lists English only.
Does it replace the exam?
No. The exam is separate and paid.
Find Jobs
Job titles to search for include cloud support assistant and junior IT technician. Search current vacancies on the EURES portal.
Official Course Page
Read the current details on the AWS Cloud Quest page.
Disclaimer
This guide is independent and is not affiliated with Amazon Web Services. Prices, course lists and exam rules change, so check the official AWS page before you pay or enrol. A certificate does not give you the right to work in any country.