Epic Games Free Games List: Current Titles & Schedule

Anyone who’s been building a PC gaming library over the last few years probably already knows the ritual: every Thursday, a new title shows up in the Epic Games Store free of charge. Since late 2018, the store has given away hundreds of games, from indie gems to blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto V.

Free games offered since: 2018 · Average free games per week: 1 · Total free games claimed (estimated): over 500 · Most claimed free game: Grand Theft Auto V

Five key data points give the full picture of Epic’s free game program.

What free games will Epic Games give?

Current free games on Epic Games Store

• As of this week, two games are claimable. The exact lineup changes every Thursday at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (technology blog Recharge.com).
• Recent examples from May 2025 include Dead Island 2 and Happy Game (May 15–22), followed by Deliver At All Costs, Gigapocalypse, and Sifu (May 22–29) (PC Gamer).
• In early 2026, Total War: Three Kingdoms (normally $59.99) was free from January 1–8, and Bloons TD 6 ($13.99 value) from January 8–15 (technology blog Recharge.com).

How to claim the weekly free game

• Go to the Epic Games Store Free Games page during the promotional window.
• Click “Get” to add the game to your account. You need an Epic Games account (free to create).
• No payment method is required. The game is yours to keep forever (deals website AllKeyShop).
• After claiming, the game appears in your library under “Free Games.”

The implication: The Thursday deadline is real—miss it and the game rotates out, though it may return in a future giveaway.

The pattern: Epic uses scarcity and regularity to build a claiming habit, turning casual visitors into repeat store users.

Does Epic still have free games?

Epic Games free game program is still active in 2025

• The program launched in December 2018 and has run every week since without interruption (data platform Kaggle).
• As of mid-2025, Epic continues to offer free games each Thursday. No official end date has been announced (Epic Games Store Official).
• Holiday promotions sometimes expand the schedule. Christmas 2025, for example, saw 17 consecutive days of daily free games (deals website AllKeyShop).

Changes to the program over time

• Initially, Epic gave away one game per week. In later years, it occasionally offers two games simultaneously (PC Gamer).
• The store has expanded its free offerings to include more AAA titles—like Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Platinum Edition in July 2025 (PC Gamer).
• Free-to-play staples like Fortnite and Rocket League remain permanently free (Epic Games Store Official).

The pattern: The program has only grown more generous over time, with holiday specials and AAA inclusions signaling Epic’s commitment to customer acquisition through free games.

Has GTA 5 ever been free on Epic Games?

The May 2020 GTA V giveaway details

• Grand Theft Auto V was free on the Epic Games Store from May 14 to May 21, 2020 (PC Gamer).
• The giveaway was so popular that the Epic Games Store servers crashed, and users reported errors when trying to claim the game (PC Gamer).
• Over 7 million copies were claimed in that single week.

Community impact of the GTA V free offer

• The giveaway drew massive attention to the Epic Games Store, driving millions of new account registrations.
• It set a high bar for future free offers—no single game has matched that level of demand since.
• Epic has not repeated the GTA V giveaway, though the game has appeared in other sales at deep discounts.

Why this matters: The GTA V week remains the single most impactful free game event in the store’s history, both in terms of claims and server load.

The implication: Mega giveaways like GTA V are loss leaders that pay off through long-term platform lock-in.

What is the best free game now?

Current top free-to-play games on Epic Games Store

• Fortnite, Rocket League, and Genshin Impact are consistently the most-played free games available (Epic Games Store Official).
• These are permanent free-to-play titles, not weekly giveaways.
• For weekly free games, quality varies. Recent highlights include Limbo, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (May–June 2025), and Monument Valley 2 (September 2025) (gaming site GameSpot).

Community-recommended free games

• Classics like Subnautica, Sonic Mania, and Ghostrunner 2 have been given away and are now claimed favorites.
• Reddit threads often recommend watching for indie gems—Gravity Circuit (free October 2025) and Project Winter (free September 2025) are examples of hidden gems.

The catch: “Best” is subjective. Action fans may prefer Sifu, strategy fans Civilization VI, puzzle fans Limbo. Check the store each Thursday for something that matches your taste.

Is Fortnite 100% free?

What Fortnite offers for free

• Fortnite is free to download and play on PC, console, and mobile (Epic Games Store Official).
• The core Battle Royale mode, creative modes, and seasonal events are all free.
• Players can earn in-game currency (V-Bucks) through Battle Pass tiers, but earning enough to cover every pass requires heavy play.

In-game purchases and optional costs

• Cosmetic items—skins, emotes, pickaxes—are purchased with V-Bucks.
• A Battle Pass costs about $10 per season and unlocks premium rewards.
• Disney holds a minority stake in Epic Games (approximately 9%), but this does not affect Fortnite’s free-to-play model.

The bottom line: Fortnite is genuinely free to play. You can enjoy all gameplay without spending a cent. Cosmetics are optional and never pay-to-win.

How to claim free games on Epic Games Store — step by step

1. Create an Epic Games account (free, requires email) or log into your existing account.
2. Visit the Free Games page at store.epicgames.com/free-games.
3. Click the “Get” button on the current free title.
4. Confirm your selection—the game is added to your library instantly (deals website AllKeyShop).
5. Download and play anytime, even after the promotion ends.

No credit card is required. The game remains yours forever.

Timeline of Epic Games free giveaway program

• December 2018: Epic Games Store launches with its first free game: Subnautica. (data platform Kaggle)
• May 2020: Grand Theft Auto V given free; store crashes, 7+ million copies claimed. (PC Gamer)
• 2021–2024: Regular weekly giveaways continue. Holiday events offer multiple free games. (PC Gamer)
• 2025 (current): Program still active. Notable free games include Dead Island 2, Sifu, Civilization VI: Platinum Edition, and holiday daily giveaways. (PC Gamer)

The pattern: Epic has never missed a week in over six years. The program shows no signs of winding down.

What we know and what remains unclear

“Download a free PC game every week.”

— Epic Games Store Free Games page, Epic Games Store Official

“The Epic Games Store’s free game program has been running consistently since 2018 and shows no signs of stopping. It remains one of the best deals in PC gaming.”

— PC Gamer (editorial review)

For PC gamers who haven’t yet claimed a single free title, the cost of inaction is real: hundreds of dollars in games left on the table. The choice is simple—spend five minutes every Thursday, or skip it and risk regret when that AAA gem you wanted rotates out. For Epic, the program continues to drive platform growth; for players, the payoff is a library that grows weekly at zero cost.

Frequently asked questions