The Epic Games Store had a generous streak of free games in July 2021. Coming off its "mystery free game" strategy during the June Mega-Sale, the store has offered a large selection of compelling puzzle and strategy titles. It also tended to releasing two games a week, in total releasing seven games in July. Among these were small, solo developer titles, quirky genre-blends, and creations from prestigious creators that collectively cost over $135.
The Epic Games Store free games for July 2021 all followed a trend of puzzling problems and fraught strategy, often invoking science fiction or military themes. With Defense Grid: The Awakening and Verdun closing out the July free games, it will be interesting to see what the store brings out in August after such a thematic month.
The Spectrum Retreat
Epic's first free game in July was The Spectrum Retreat. It is the work of BAFTA-winning developer Dan Smith, who originally released the project back in 2018. Three years later, it made its debut for free on the Epic Games Store, setting a tone for the month. The Spectrum Retreat takes its protagonist on a sprawling, tense journey through multi-colored and complicated 3D puzzles, striking a tone somewhere between a Black Mirror episode and Portal 2. It also stretches the boundaries of a puzzle game, evoking some horror and suspense elements at the same time. All told, it is an incredibly ambitious title that shows the bright potential of younger voices in the indie development scene.
Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead
Following The Spectrum Retreat was Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Ironcast. This double release led to a pattern, with the store putting out two free games a week consecutively after. Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead marries the convoluted construction conundrums of the Bridge Constructor franchise with the deadly threat of The Walking Dead's zombies.
The TV series is full of dramatic logistical puzzles that require some intense time-sensitive thinking. Likewise, that is exactly what Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead asks of its players. This game makes for a solid marriage of two existing franchises, and was an interesting addition to Epic's free game initiative.
Not only does it manage to bring Bridge Constructor a potentially huge audience, but it also re-contextualizes a massive TV property in a new medium, all while differentiating itself from other popular The Walking Dead games.
Ironcast
Ironcast accompanied Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead as one of Epic's free games in the second week of July. It takes the match-three mechanics of many puzzle games and marries them to some steampunk aesthetics and a roguelike gameplay format. It also set expectations for the rest of the month in terms of strategy games. However, the other strategy games free in July never quite matched Ironcast's unique blend of genres.
Obduction
Myst and Riven are two series that radically reshaped what was possible in a 3D puzzling space. These classic titles were notoriously difficult and incredibly engaging, and Obduction is no exception to this rule. Developer Cyan Worlds channel Outer Wilds in this game, with players transported across various alien planets to solve tricky puzzles. As such, it also includes substantial consequences for its choices, as players pick through anachronistic Earth artifacts scattered across these worlds.
The game also boasts VR compatibility, which adds further immersion. Although some players reacted negatively to the game's pacing, it perfectly emulates the speed of Cyan's previous games. So, fans of Myst and Riven should definitely grab Obduction while it's still free on the Epic Games Store.
Offworld Trading Company
Offworld Trading Company has Civilization IV's lead designer Soren Johnson tackling a gorgeously drawn science-fiction setting. The title has players take part in the rush for Mars' colonization. Unsurprisingly, this involves a focus on market competition, and strategizing toward mutual success for humanity.
Players are expected to turn a tidy profit in the process. Of course, single-player capital hunting among the stars can get lonely, so Offworld Trading Company is fully furnished with a multiplayer mode supporting up to eight different players, ensuring a huge diversity in experiences.
Guns are generally not fired in this RTS game. Instead, economic arsenals are pointed between factions in a bid for spatial dominance. It plays in a similar way to Surviving Mars, a previously free Epic Games Store title, but focuses on the economic competition between different conglomerates and corporations.
Defense Grid: The Awakening
Defense Grid: The Awakening is one of the two titles closing out July 2021's free games. Marketing itself as "the ultimate tower defense game," the title does largely fulfil that promise. This game was previously given away for free in the December 2020 Epic Games Store sale.
It revolves around the activation and repair of various parts of a planet's failing defense grid with sparse resources. As with most tower defense games, an encroaching army is the central threat. A swarm of aliens attack the player's planet, and with 15 enemy types in the game, each encounter is dynamic.
Verdun
Verdun is interesting in the context of the other Epic Games Store free titles in July 2021, as it shirks all similarities to the others. The difficult, abstracted problems and complex strategic decisions are replaced with a WWII squad FPS. It has a strong focus on historical accuracy with weapons, battlefields, and uniforms from the era. The game has several modes of play, including co-op elements, HQ-capturing games, and "Rifle Deathmatch."
Obduction and Offworld Trading Company are currently free on the Epic Games Store. Defense Grid: The Awakening and Verdun will be free beginning on July 22.