Summary
- Epic Games Store offers weekly free games, with Ghostrunner - a cyberpunk game with fast-paced combat - being the latest addition.
- Ghostrunner requires precision and quick reflexes, and features a setting that is similar to Cyberpunk 2077, making it a must-play for fans of the cyberpunk genre.
- With unique abilities, challenging gameplay, and positive reviews, getting Ghostrunner for free on April 11 is a steal for gamers.
As far as special deals for gamers go the Epic Games Store's weekly free games promotion is a great way to extend players' libraries at very little cost, with titles ranging from small, lesser known indie darlings to highly acclaimed mainstream releases. After the previous week gave away The Outer Worlds, April 11 is yet another important day for the Epic Games Store, because yet another big-name release is being given away for no charge at all.
The Epic Games Store may only be offering one game once April 11 rolls around, but gamers should be sure that they do not miss it. In particular, the players who might be the most interested in the latest Epic Games Store freebie - Ghostrunner - are those who likely enjoyed Cyberpunk 2077. Both games feature a theme of making the best out of bad situations (by shooting up anyone who gets in the player's way) and lean into a classic cyberpunk aesthetic that gives them a distinct feel.
Epic Games Store Free Game Ghostrunner Explained
In a world where humanity lives in one singular tower, a being known as the Ghostrunner wakes up with no memory, only having the specific job of "freeing the Architect." This leads the player, as the Ghostrunner, to climb the safe haven of Dharma Tower to defeat the Keymaster Mara, who may not be as protective of the people within the tower as her lofty role seems to portray at first glance. After all, the cyberpunk genre isn't the same without the dystopian futuristic landscapes its known for.
Ghostrunner could easily be described as a case of bringing a katana to a gun fight, as fans will need to use fast reflexes and special abilities to take down all of Dharma Tower's defenses. Mobility is key in this life-or-death race to the top of the tower thanks to one-hit-KO powers, high-speed dashes and jumps where players can't just swing the blade blindly, forcing them to master the game's precision combat.
Ghostrunner
- Released
- October 27, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
"Ghostrunner is a hardcore FPP game packed with lightning-fast action, set in a grim, cyberpunk megastructure. Climb Dharma Tower, humanity’s last shelter, after a world-ending cataclysm. Make your way up from the bottom to the top, confront the tyrannical Keymaster, and take your revenge.
The streets of this tower city are full of violence. Mara the Keymaster rules with an iron fist and little regard for human life.
As resources diminish, the strong prey on the weak and chaos threatens to consume what little order remains. The decisive last stand is coming. A final attempt to set things right before mankind goes over the edge of extinction.
As the most advanced blade fighter ever created, you’re always outnumbered but never outclassed. Slice your enemies with a monomolecular katana, dodge bullets with your superhuman reflexes, and employ a variety of specialized techniques to
prevail.
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- One More Level, Slipgate Ironworks
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games, All In! Games
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Action
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
- Metascore
- 81
Why Cyberpunk 2077 Players Would Enjoy Ghostrunner
Before players rush to the Epic Games Store to take advantage of the promotion, it should be understood that Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghostrunner are entirely different experiences. CP2077 is an open-ended RPG, and Ghostrunner is very much an FPP (first-person perspective) slasher game. This means that a lot of the core mechanics that are critical to these genre definitions will be different, but it also leaves the two titles open to large and prominent similarities.
Through its melee combat, Cyberpunk 2077 can feature some fast-paced battle sequences many players love. The Mantis Blades in particular are a go-to weapon of choice for those who enjoy the more close-quarters fighting options CP2077 has. Those who are used to these sections will likely enjoy the combat that Ghostrunner has to offer, no matter how many features it lacks compared to CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG. Even those who spend their time shooting enemies in CP2077 may find something they enjoy in Ghostrunner if they take advantage of the EGS promotion.
Why Ghostrunner Being an Epic Games Store Free Game is a Steal
CDPR bringing the Cyberpunk genre further into the limelight with CP2077 - which was then followed up by the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and the release of Phantom Liberty - means there is no better time to get into another Cyberpunk game like Ghostrunner. There are also plenty of features that help Ghostrunner stand out on its own, including its roguelike Wave Mode that was added through free DLC for all players.
It's hard to turn away the Ghostrunner freebie in general since the game currently has a 4.6 star rating on the Epic Games Store, with the title praised for having great boss battles, diverse characters, and quickly understood controls (a necessity with how fast-paced the game is). Alongside the unique special abilities that allow players to slow down time, cut through tough enemy shields, and many more, the variety in Ghostrunner's combat is almost the gift that keeps on giving throughout its seven-hour runtime. If this still doesn't interest fans, then they'll need to wait for April 18 to find out what game will be offered for free next.
