Best Free-To-Play Games To Grab From The Epic Games Store

Who doesn't want free games, right? After all, spending $60 for a full game today can be quite the gamble considering how incredibly diverse most titles have become. Thankfully, game stores like Steam offer hefty discounts every so often that make much-desired titles much more accessible to the more frugal gaming audience. And with the Epic Games Store rising as a potential Steam rival, this up-and-coming platform has begun giving out free games to subscribers.

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However, players might want to remember that the Epic Games Store already has a slate of free titles for gamers to try. In fact, some of the free titles in Epic Games may amaze players well enough to stay tuned for the rest of the platform's future offerings. Just what are these free games?

Updated on August 9, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With game releases such as Zenless Zone Zero from Genshin creators MiHoYo and the post-apocalyptic co-op setup of Once Human surprising gamers with engaging action, fans of free-to-play titles have a lot of titles to try without having to spend money except for their desired in-game content. And when combined with the frequent free game offerings from the Epic Game Store, both enthusiasts and casual players will develop an increasing wealth of games to try across different genres and themes. On top of the urban adventure of Zenless Zone Zero and the twisted world of Once Human, other worthwhile titles to try include Ubisoft’s crossover co-op FPS and a character collection RPG with light creature taming mechanics.

34 Battle Breakers

Card Game And Hero Collector Rolled Into One

Players who want to play an RPG without the hassle of making intricate characters might want to try Battle Breakers. This game, called a Hero Collector RPG, combines card games with RPG elements. In this title, players explore dungeons of various terrains with a unique cast of hundreds of anime champions.

In battle, players can summon their champions to unleash various special abilities and attacks to eliminate minions, mini-bosses, and major bosses in flashy brawls. Moreover, fans of Battle Breakers may be delighted to know that this game is totally cross-platform. As such, players can transition gameplay from the PC to mobile, enabling a much more portable experience.

33 Delores: A Thimbleweed Park Mini-Adventure

Solve Puzzles To Solve A Murder-Mystery

Fans of classic graphic adventure games of early gaming might want to check out Thimbleweed Park. In the main adventure game, which costs $19.99, FBI agents Reyes and Ray investigate a murder in Thimbleweed Park. They need to interview persons of interest, investigate scenes, and uncover the real nature of Thimbleweed Park.

Delores: A Thimbleweed Park Mini-Adventure is a small standalone chapter that has the same charm as its predecessor, even if it is not considered a proper sequel. In the title, players have to navigate through scenes by using special verb commands to accomplish objectives.

32 Sludge Life

Put Vandalism At The Center Of Gameplay

Of all free Epic Games Store titles, Sludge Life is perhaps the most eccentric. The website describes it as a vandalism-centric game played in the first-person view. Set in an open-world tiny island, the player will embark on a journey to dominate the graffiti elite.

What's perhaps unique about Sludge Life, aside from its mature tone, is its remarkable art style and gameplay. Thanks to the game's central mechanic, players can vandalize the open world and roam it as they please. They may also find apps and play games within Sludge Life, and three different endings.

31 Dragon Nest: Auto Chess

Apply Unique Class-Based Gameplay To A Chess Mode

Chess modes have become extremely popular in some MOBA titles, especially since this mini-game can take some steam off the intensity of in-game mechanics. Interestingly, not all chess modes come to MOBA titles. For instance, MMO Dragon Nest has Auto Chess that's free to play from the Epic Games Store.

Akin to other chess games, Dragon Nest: Auto Chess serves as a spin-off of Dragon Nest. In this game, players build sets of memorable monsters from the MMO and battle other players for supremacy. Classes from the game return as player classes, giving them special abilities and perks that apply to their monsters and playstyles.

30 Might & Magic: Chess Royale

Synergize Units In An Engaging Chess Game

Players who want a wilder variation of chess modes might want to look at Might & Magic: Chess Royale. In this Might & Magic spin-off, players get to build armies from popular monsters in the acclaimed high fantasy franchise as they battle each other. Akin to other chess spinoffs, players can choose units to position around the battle map. These units have unique abilities and synergies that work together to dominate the battlefield.

However, what makes Chess Royale interesting is its 100-player setup, where players have to embark on turns battling each other in a huge chess battle royale.

29 Zenless Zone Zero

An Urban Action Adventure Away From Standard HoYoVerse Titles

It’s quite a surprising move on MiHoYo’s part to release Zenless Zone Zero amid the success of Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact, and even Honkai Star Rail. However, the game’s retro-urban setting with a dash of brawler-esque action is a much-needed deviation from other HoYoVerse works. Zenless Zone Zero takes place in New Eridu, one of humanity’s remaining bastions in a post-apocalyptic future where creatures called the Ethereal wreak havoc across the world through dimensions called Hollows. Players take on the role of Proxies, who then help Agents go to Hollows to fight various enemies.

The game’s retro and analog style meshes well with the streetwear vibe of its characters, all of which flow together in the game’s emphasis on fast-paced combat. Players are encouraged to switch units regularly through Chain Attacks, with a simplified combo system borrowing elements from more technical HoYoVerse titles such as Honkai Impact. While the game’s vibrant aesthetic is a welcome change of pace, others criticize the title for being rather “too” simplified and or stale in some areas, especially with the lack of an open world to explore.

28 XDefiant

An FPS Crossover Of Ubisoft’s Franchises

It’s unsurprising for XDefiant to become a crossover of Ubisoft’s expansive list of titles, this time resulting in an FPS title where teams of Defiants are comprised of “classes” from the publisher’s in-universe factions. Players can become healers via the Libertad (Far Cry 6), tank-like Phantoms (Ghost Recon), stealthyEchelons (Splinter Cell), AOE heavy-hitting Cleaners (The Division), utility specialists from DedSec (Watch Dogs), and the upcoming sub-tank/support GS-Kommandos (Rainbow Six). On top of having two abilities, a passive, and an ultimate ability, players can customize their Defiant with various weapons.

The fast-paced FPS nature of XDefiant makes for surprising matches featuring these franchises usually known for careful gunfights. Escort is a payload-dependent team game mode, while Hot Shot is a spin on Call of Duty’s Kill Confirmed where acquiring Bounties from fallen foes will also give the “Hot Shot” buffs. XDefiant also has three various capture modes, such as Occupy with a constantly-changing capture zone, Domination with three zones that give points, and Zone Control that increases the number of capture points over time. There’s an upcoming 4v4 Ranked Mode with a more competitive spin on the game modes.

27 Wuthering Waves

Standard-Fare Amnesiac Story With Surprisingly Interesting Combat

While Wuthering Waves also uses an amnesiac protagonist story that’s been done to death in gacha titles, the game makes up for it with promising combat that elevates the traditional team-based switching systems in titles like Genshin Impact. Characters remain arranged according to elements, but switch-ins and switch-outs can trigger skills to enhance incoming units. Instead of gear, Wuthering Waves gameplay uses Echoes or spirits of creatures that not only enhance stats but may even appear in combat. Echoes may be acquired after defeating monsters in the overworld, encouraging exploration.

Despite having a standard-fare gacha system, Wuthering Waves is more generous compared to its counterparts in terms of early 5-Star acquisition. On top of a guaranteed 5-Star during a newcomer’s first few pulls, they get another one of their choice after 80 Convenes (pulls). Unsatisfactory reception towards the game’s beginner pull system will also grant a free 5-Star via mail until May 22, 2025 - meaning new players can get around three top-tier units in their few hours of playing the title.

26 Once Human

A Mixed Genre Spectacle In A Post-Apocalyptic World

Players of Once Human wake up in a post-apocalyptic future where the tech giant Rosetta’s experiments on human evolution caused Starfall, showering the world with Stardust that mutates anything - living or otherwise - into Deviations. A mysterious bird called V said the players are Meta-Humans, biologically-enhanced individuals who can control Stardust. As players and V tour the world to unravel the mystery behind Starfall, they gather and craft gear, fight Deviants, and meet other Meta-Humans along the way.

Despite its initial mixed reception, mechanics of Once Human offers various spins to the survival shooter genre that made its gameplay loop surprisingly thrilling. Players have to maintain traditional stats like in survival titles, with added Sanity that reduces HP when too low, as well as Weight that can affect overall performance. Gear can be acquired everywhere, with player-owned items acquired via PVP unrepairable and having a time limit before they’re only good for blueprints. The game features large-scale crafting systems such as structures, as well as various transportation options like motorcycles and gliding.

25 GrandChase

A Side-Scrolling Combo-Heavy RPG

Fans of fighting games may appreciate GrandChase for its side-scrolling combo-heavy gameplay, with players taking the role of members of Grand Chase that boast different skillsets based on their class. Set in the region of Bermesiah, the Grand Chase team is tasked to stop the evil queen Kaze'aze, who recently wreaked havoc by causing a massive civil war between the kingdoms of Serdin and Kanavan. While players initially begin the game as archer Lire, magician Arme, or Knight Elesis, GrandChase introduced more characters with various stories and toolkits that fans of any playstyle may enjoy.

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By  Eduardo Ariedo

Despite its action-heavy nature, GrandChase's gameplay have specially-tailored combos to accomplish different tasks to avoid button-mashing. The game's special class progression mechanic allows players to modify their character's moveset as they get "promoted." Despite the game's closure in 2015, its 2022 relaunch retained fan-favorite components such as different PVP modes and team-based dungeon-crawling segments.