What games are currently available for free on the Epic Games Store? It’s a new year for the Epic Games Store as we enter 2026. On top of platform-exclusive games and deals that oftentimes beat those found elsewhere, one of its key traits is the choice to do giveaways of premium games for free each week. Here, you’ll find a complete rundown of every game the platform has gifted to players in 2026.
2025’s selection of freebies on the Epic Games Store featured a diverse array of games, including major AAA titles, unique indie games, and item packs for several free-to-play games. Highlights we were surprised by included Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Jurassic World Evolution 2, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Deathloop, Hogwarts Legacy, and Chivalry 2, among many others.
Continuing with this tradition, the lineup of free games available on the Epic Games Store in 2026 started with a strong showing in Total War: Three Kingdoms and Wildgate. This article contains all the titles which have been given away in 2026. Some may come from the past, giving players a new chance to grab them at no cost, but for the most part, expect all-new offerings.
What's free on the Epic Games Store this week?
- Return to Ash and STALCRAFT: X - Starter Edition are up for grabs until February 26.
Since its debut at the end of 2018, the Epic Games Store’s free games list has generally expanded weekly. Notably, in the latter part of December, there are daily giveaways, a trend that returned in 2025 and we expect to see again at the end of 2026.
To access these free titles, set up an EGS account, navigate to the storefront’s section dedicated to free games, and proceed as if making a regular purchase.
You must add the games to your cart, but they are free. However, to claim them, you must add them to your library during their free period, usually a week.
The Epic Games Store’s free games roster is updated every Thursday at 8 AM PT/ 4 PM GMT, though this schedule has been interrupted or altered at times.
Over the years, some games have appeared multiple times on the list. If you happen to miss any, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the Epic Games Store’s various sales, where they might be available at a discounted price.
Epic Games Store Free Games List for 2026
- Total War: Three Kingdoms
- Wildgate
- Bloons TD 6
- Styx: Master of Shadows
- Styx: Shards of Darkness
- Rustler
- Definitely Not Fried Chicken
- Botany Manor
- Poison Retro Set (Pixel Gun 3D DLC)
- The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
- Nobody Wants to Die
- Return to Ash
- STALCRAFT: X - Starter Edition
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 1st - 8th
Total War: Three Kingdoms recreates epic conflict across ancient China in an age of heroes and legends, combining gripping empire-building, statecraft, and ambitious conquest with stunning real-time battles.
Choose from a cast of 12 legendary Warlords (with more waiting in the DLC packs) and conquer the realm. Recruit heroic characters to aide your cause and dominate your enemies on the military, technological, political, and economic fronts. If you’re familiar with the Total War series, you know the drill. Otherwise, this one’s a perfect entry point we highly recommend.
Wildgate
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 1st - 8th
Wildgate is a PvPvE multiplayer shooter that blends tactical ship-to-ship combat with fast-paced first-person action. Evade deadly environmental hazards, search for powerful weapons and ship upgrades, and be the first crew to escape with the Artifact.
It’s got 3 different modes. In Artifact Brawl, be the first to snatch the Artifact and blast through the Wildgate, or destroy the ships of every rival crew to be crowned the winner. Fleet Battle pits two massive teams of up to 12 players each against one another in relentless, action-packed combat. For a more relaxed looting expedition, salvage treasure and escape with the spoils before getting blown up in Treasure Hunt.
Across all modes your ship is your home and lifeline for you and your prospector crew. Keep it topped up with ice, fuel and ammo so you’re ready for anyone or anything the Reach throws at you. After a softer-than-desirable launch last year, this surprisingly inventive multiplayer game is well worth a look and could use more players!
Bloons TD 6
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 8th - 15th
Bloons TD 6 is a tower defence game that’s all about crafting your perfect defence from a combination of powerful Monkey Towers and awesome Heroes. The mission? To pop every last invading Bloon!
With substantial single-player and online co-op offerings, this one can be deceiving. It might look childish and simple on the surface, but trust us when we tell you it’s one of the greatest takes on the tower defence strategy subgenre you can play nowadays.
Styx: Master of Shadows
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 15th - 22nd
Styx: Master of Shadows is an infiltration game with RPG elements which takes place in a dark fantasy universe “where you sneak, steal, and assassinate” your way through as Styx, a resourceful Goblin who’s rather old.
With a focus on stealth and hardcore infiltration gameplay, think of Thief but starring a Goblin in a world where Human and Elves protect the World-Tree. Styx’s mission? To try to understand his true origin… and make money in the process.
Styx: Shards of Darkness
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 15th - 22nd
Styx: Shards of Darkness is the direct sequel to Master of Shadows, and you can pick it up at no extra cost right now too! In this one, co-op is an option and environments get (even more) vertical, making them the perfect playground for Styx’s tools and weapons.
Explore and master huge open environments, sneak past or assassinate new enemies and bosses, and experiment with the new array of lethal abilities and weapons in the Goblin assassin’s arsenal. “Failure to succeed could have huge consequences for your kin.”
Rustler
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 22nd - 29th
Rustler (aka Grand Theft Horse) emulates the top-down chaos of the original GTA games but in a medieval setting with contemporary elements. “Complete insane quests, kill heroes, steal horses, fight guards, rob peasants, listen to some bard music, and much more.”
Anachronisms and pop culture references also abound, but in the long run, it becomes its own thing. Some might find it a bit overbearing, but as a carefree sandbox that puts old-school fun above all else, we think Rustler is worth checking out for yourself as a breather between larger games.
Definitely Not Fried Chicken
Free on the Epic Games Store: January 29th - February 5th
Definitely Not Fried Chicken is another dastardly management game about narcotics, causing carnage in the city, and making as much money as possible. “Grow your drugs trade through legitimate fronts by managing both sides of the business. Acquire new businesses, meet new clientele, develop more potent narcotics, make lots of money, and leave a city in ruin!”
It’s Breaking Bad! Build your drugs compound from the ground up, buy adjoining plots of land, and expand. Design and lay out your complete production line, and establish distribution routes. Fortify your large compound’s defences and make sure any “overly-enthusiastic” customers can’t break in. Research and develop better strains of narcotics like marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine. There’s a lot hiding beneath this one’s surface.
Botany Manor
Free on the Epic Games Store: February 5th - February 12th
In Botany Manor, an entire “stately home” in 19th century England is yours. As a retired botanist, it provides the perfect space for exploration, research, and experimentation. Though that might sound like yet another cozy life sim (and the pacing is definitely relaxed), this game is more of a first-person puzzle game.
Growing rare plants isn’t simple, and discovering secret rooms and gardens helps with your personal mission. “Mysterious clues” abound, and there are even hints of Arabella’s (the protagonist) past life and scientific career. While demanding in its own way, Botany Manor is meant to be peaceful, so take it easy!
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
Free on the Epic Games Store: February 12th - February 19th
“Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes - America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.”
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is the second game in the comedic but intriguing detective series. 2D pixel art continues to give it an extra something, but the writing and structure alone are convincing enough… as long as you can stomach some puzzles that might be a bit too much.
Nobody Wants to Die
Free on the Epic Games Store: February 12th - February 19th
“Lose yourself in the dystopian world of New York, 2329; immortality comes at a price that someone has to pay. In this interactive noir story, lead the investigation using advanced technology, as Detective James Karra who risks it all in pursuit of a serial killer targeting the city’s elite.”
Nobody Wants to Die is making its debut on the Epic Games Store as a freebie following a successful launch on Steam (as well as current-gen consoles) in 2024. Sadly, we believe it was a bit overlooked, but as far as “short but sweet” mysteries go, it packs a punch and is an absolute looker.
Return to Ash
Free on the Epic Games Store: February 19th - February 26th
“What would you do if you woke up in the afterlife? The hospital room she knew is gone. Beyond the window lies a blank, white void that stretches endlessly. Instead of the usual aches and pains, she awakens feeling better than she has in years. Is this a dream, or…?”
Return to Ash is making its debut on the Epic Games Store following a 2025 launch on Steam. It’s a narrative-centric visual novel that follows Asleigh as she confronts a limbo which might be the afterlife and even Death as a masked being. Designed to be completed in less than 4 hours, it focuses on a tight cast of characters with whom you can develop relationships and “choices that matter.”
STALCRAFT: X - Starter Edition
Free on the Epic Games Store: February 19th - February 26th
“STALCRAFT: X is an exciting online MMOFPS game with Survival Horror elements. It combines open world, RPG and dynamic shooter. Dive into the world through an atypical for MMO cinematic non-linear storyline, which creates the feeling of passing single-player game in the stalker setting for dozens of hours.”
STALCRAFT: X isn’t actually new, but this marks its debut on the Epic Games Store after finding a dedicated community via Steam. With both PvP and PvE activities in a moody, dense setting that fans of the STALKER series will really appreciate, it’s a cartoony-ish take on that subgenre of survival shooter with an MMO twist which is unpredictable. This Starter Edition freebie gifts players extra items that will come in handy and a 7-day Premium trial.
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