In an attempt to convince gamers to try out its storefront, the Epic Games Store gives away free titles every week. The games have covered a wide range of genres and sizes, from small indie titles like Obduction to larger AAA releases like NBA 2K21 or Star Wars Battlefront 2. The tactic has gotten the Epic Games Store a lot of attention, and undoubtedly a lot of traffic, as many players boot up the store every week to claim their games.
The Epic Games Store has given away a crazy amount of free games, and it does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. There is no way of knowing just how long the store will continue to try and attract new customers this way, but it is a great way for fans to get some free games to check out in the meantime. The Epic Games Store has already announced what games will be free starting on August 19, so players can start getting excited.
Rebel Galaxy - Until August 19
Rebel Galaxy is a space sim that was released in 2015. It sees players venturing to the outer rim of the known galaxy to try and make their way. The game gives players complete control of their own starship that they can use to tackle numerous professions. Players can partake in action-filled combat, explore unknown systems, institute trade deals, and even befriend some aliens. It is an open-world RPG that allows players to fulfill their fantasies of being a rogue outlaw, or an interstellar hero looking to help everyone they can. The game is a particularly good option for any players who enjoy games like Elite Dangerous or maybe want a similar experience without getting trolled by other players.
Rebel Galaxy also received a widely positive reception from critics and was praised for how many options it gave players in its open world. Impressively, the game was also developed and published by Double Damage Games, which was made up of only two people at the time of Rebel Galaxy's release. The amount of content and its quality is impressive, and picking up Rebel Galaxy for free is a great way to try the game out and see if one is interested in picking up the newest entry in the series: Rebel Galaxy Outlaw.
Void Bastards - August 19 to August 26
Void Bastards is a roguelike first-person shooter that tasks players with helping escort prisoners out of a dangerous galaxy. Originally exclusive to PC and the Xbox One, Void Bastards eventually made its way to the Switch and PlayStation 4, but now players will be able to get their hands on it completely for free starting on August 19. Each run that players attempt gives them a random character with their own skills and proficiencies. The player then has to guide their ship throughout the galaxy to try and escape, deciding where to go on each turn with each destination posing its own challenges and rewards. This gives the player a lot of choices on how to approach each run through the game and adds a strategic element to the game so it relies on more than just shooting well to beat.
Rougelikes have become more popular in recent years, with some great releases like the PlayStation 5-exclusive Returnal. However, many fans of the genre may have missed Void Bastards when it was released in 2019, so the opportunity to get it for free now is a chance for new players to discover the game. The game also features some interesting first-person shooting action for players who are looking to simply blast some ghosts in space, as well as some interesting graphics that make it look straight out of a comic book page, so there is a little something for everyone.
Yooka-Laylee - August 19 to August 26
For any gamers out there who yearn to return to the days of 3D platformers like Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, Yooka-Laylee may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Yooka-Laylee is developed by Playtonic, an indie studio founded by some veterans from Rare who kickstarted the game as a spiritual successor to Banjo Kazooie. The game features a new duo, the same open-world exploration and platforming that genre fans expect and love, and a soundtrack composed by industry legends David Wise and Grant Kirkhope. The game also features an RPG-like leveling system that gives players the freedom to unlock new traversal moves when they want, equip tonics that alter their playstyle, and expand levels to provide more areas to explore. The game is also free as part of Xbox Free Games with Gold this month, but PC players can get in on the fun too.
Yooka-Laylee was met with a lukewarm reception by critics when it was released, but it did find a devoted community of players that enjoyed its return to a genre many think has been underserved by the industry in recent years. For any players who pick it up and enjoy it, there is also a sequel available, and Playtonic announced that it was working on a new project this February.
The Epic Games Store's free games program has been a pretty big success for the storefront. It has been very influential along with other programs like Xbox Game Pass, so much so that some have called for similar features to be implemented with PlayStation Plus and its direct competitor, Steam. It will be very interesting to see just how long Epic Games keeps the program running, and just how much of a community it will build for the Epic Games Store. Hopefully, for fans of the medium, it won't end anytime soon.