In the second week of its Mega Sale, the Epic Games Store is still continuing to release "mystery" free games. Normally, these games would be announced in the previous week to build hype. However, the last few installments, starting with NBA 2k21, had the veil of "mystery game" hiding them. As a marketing strategy, it is certainly not unheard of — mystery box services are incredibly popular. In fact, it's not even new for Epic Games, a company which launched previous "mystery" free games including Grand Theft Auto 5. The hype built by this mystery box formula, and the notoriety of that specific title, crashed Epic's entire storefront.
The power of the mystery free game appeared again recently when Among Us' PC player count skyrocketed to over two million after its free mystery game release. So, the Epic Game Store's mystery free game initiative is undeniably popular. With the hidden game strategy continuing further into June, what Epic has in store for the rest of the month remains a mystery. It is, however, likely that the games will follow the pattern of the last few months, likely having either mass player retention appeal or a lot of DLC available. There are some games, however, that would definitely benefit both Epic and its customers more if they became free this month.
Frostpunk Is Free on The Epic Games Store Right Now
Despite false Epic Games Store leaks implying that Rise of the Tomb Raider was the store's next free mystery game, Frostpunk released free on the store on the 3rd of June. A city-building survival game in the vein of previous free Epic Games title Surviving Mars. Rather than the more traditional hard sci-fi of that game, Frostpunk focuses on the stark realities of a frozen world, and the harsh decisions needed for survival. This level of difficulty is no surprise from 11 Bit Studios, creators of This War of Mine.
In Frostpunk's case, it's a war of attrition more than anything else. The game is incredibly hard, but gorgeous visuals and incredibly dynamic moral choices make it very playable, despite its many stressful moments. With a particularly unique setting, the title asks players to navigate the thorny mess of political, material, and psychological problems of a city constantly on the brink of icy demise.
Darkest Dungeon
Both Among Us and Frostpunk are delightfully tense games for very different reasons. If Epic's free games for June go down a similar route to Frostpunk, then Darkest Dungeon could be a fantastic choice. Although massively distinct from Frostpunk in terms of genre and mechanics, a similar, incredibly fraught tone exists between the two games. Darkest Dungeon's developer Red Hook Studios is named after a deep H.P. Lovecraft reference, and the themes (and mechanics) of madness in the game do that reference ample justice.
In fact, a free release of Darkest Dungeon could do a lot to stimulate the player base of a now six-year-old game. For Red Hook, a boost in players would not go amiss, as the game's sequel is set for early access release in 2021. Darkest Dungeon 2 is apparently "coming soon" on the Epic Store. So, perhaps Darkest Dungeon 2 will release this month on the store — it would not be the first time a game has premiered for free on the storefront. After all, Darkest Dungeon 2's early access will be an Epic Store exclusive. If not, the first game releasing for free as a "mystery game" in June would be great for fans of survival horror and Lovecraftian stories alike.
JackBox Party Pack 6
Considering the Epic Store's central aim at building a larger PC game marketplace, releasing the viral hit Among Us for free was not an entirely surprising move. In a similar vein, the Jackbox series has always enjoyed considerable virality, especially among a similar Twitch streamer demographic. Jackbox Party Pack 7 is one of the more recent iterations in that franchise.
While some installments in the series omit Quiplash, arguably the most popular part of the various Party Packs, the seventh party pack boasts Quiplash 3. With every release, Quiplash adds new dialogue and prompts for players to construct punchlines. Party Pack 7 also brings a few new games, including Talking Points and Blather Round.
Gone Home
If Epic honors Pride month with a free game, Gone Home is arguably the perfect option. One of the progenitors of the "walking simulator" subgenre of games, Gone Home uses this eerie pace to evoke the discomfort that comes with probing one's identity. In mode of play, tone, and content, Gone Home oozes style. It is not a flashy style, but a layered, interpersonal grit that comes from investigating an abandoned family home. The game is not purely somber, however, and a really nuanced wit also runs throughout the title.
It also shares some surprising similarities to both Among Us and Frostpunk, albeit in unconventional ways. Like Among Us, the game went somewhat viral on release, although some of the attention was negative. Unfortunately, the game received a lot of contempt from certain elements of the gaming community due a lack of interactive elements, but overall garnered a cult status as an iconic LGBTQ+ game and narrative title. Frostpunk requires players to have an incredible eye for detail, micromanaging and observing the many parts of its central city.
In Gone Home, observational skills are key. Although perception is essential, it doesn't carry quite the same life-or-death stakes as in Frostpunk. Despite the lack of traditional game mechanics, Gone Home packs a gorgeous narrative that would make it a wonderful game to get free for Pride month.
Frostpunk is free on the Epic Games Store until the June 10.