The Epic Games Store gives users new free games every Thursday, oftentimes revealing the next week's batch of free games in the process. July 15 is no exception to the rule, with the Epic Games Store releasing a pair of new games for users to download and keep forever while also confirming what users can expect from the free game offerings come next week. However, next week's Epic Games Store free games are a bit different as they include a repeat of a game that has already been free on the service.
From July 22 to July 29, Epic Games Store users can claim Defense Grid: The Awakening and Verdun for their collection. Verdun is a squad-based, multiplayer-only FPS game set during World War 1. Verdun first released on PC six years ago and earned mixed reviews from critics. Defense Grid: The Awakening is a tower defense game that's even older than Verdun. It earned mostly positive reviews, but the thing is, it's already been free on the Epic Games Store in the past.
In fact, Defense Grid: The Awakening was a free Epic Games Store game during last December's advent calendar promotion. As a way to countdown to the holidays, the Epic Games Store was giving away one free game every day. Defense Grid: The Awakening was the free Epic Games Store game for December 20, 2020. Considering this, it's possible that it being listed as next week's free game is a mistake.
Right now, the Epic Games Store launcher looks a bit wonky when it comes to the free games lineup. Besides Defense Grid: The Awakening being a repeat free game, Verdun's box art isn't even showing up. Maybe there are technical difficulties and the Epic Games Store is really going to give away Defense Grid 2 next week, but that's just speculation at this time. It's entirely possible that Defense Grid: The Awakening is indeed the free EGS game for July 22 to July 29 and Epic decided to repeat a free game for whatever reason.
While Epic Games Store users who failed to claim Defense Grid: The Awakening the first time around wait for it to be made free July 22, they have two other free games to claim. The current Epic Games Store free games are Obduction, an adventure game from the creators of Myst, and Offworld Trading Company. Both of those Epic Games Store free games will be free to claim from now until July 22 at 10:00am CT.