Epic Games Free Games: Complete Guide to Weekly Freebies (2025)

There’s a reason millions of gamers mark their calendars for Thursday. Since 2018, Epic Games has been giving away free titles on its store every week—no subscription, no credit card required.

Free games per week: 1-2 ·
Year started: 2018 ·
Total claimed (est.): over 200 million ·
Average value per game: ~$20 USD

Of the hundreds of titles given away, a few patterns stand out. Here’s a five‑year glimpse at the program’s scale:

The implication: the program has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in value, all aimed at drawing users into the Epic ecosystem.

Which games are free now in Epic Games?

Current free games on Epic Games Store

The simplest way to see today’s free games is to visit the Epic Games Store free games page (official storefront). As of the latest update, titles rotate every Thursday. Epic prominently displays the current offers at the top of the page with a “Get” button. Popular free-to-play games always available include Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys.

How to check the latest free games

• Open the Epic Games Launcher (version 14.0 or later, according to a third‑party guide on Alibaba LifeTips)
• Browse to the “Free Games” section in the store
• Alternatively, visit store.epicgames.com/free-games in any browser

What this means: you don’t need to dig through menus — the free games are always one click away from the store’s front door.

Can you get free games from Epic Games?

Epic Games free game program explained

Yes, the program is straightforward. Epic Games Store offers free games every week with no subscription or purchase required, as stated on the official free games page. The only prerequisite is a free Epic Games account.

Requirements to claim free games

• A free Epic Games account (sign up at epicgames.com)
• No credit card or payment method needed for free games, per multiple guides (Recharge.com, summarizing policy)
• A compatible device — Windows, Mac, or web browser

The trade‑off: some third‑party sources mention Epic may ask for a payment method once for fraud prevention, but will not charge it (Alibaba LifeTips (third‑party speculation)). Epic’s own Terms of Service (legal site) govern transactions, though the free claim process itself bypasses payment.

How to claim a free game step by step

1. Create or log in to your Epic Games account at store.epicgames.com.
2. Navigate to the free games section (or use the link above).
3. Click “Get” on the current free title.
4. Complete checkout — you will see a $0.00 total.
5. Confirm the order. The game is added to your library instantly.

A YouTube guide (community creator) walks through the same flow, noting that the launcher also works for claiming.

Similar to claiming codes in games like Anime Final Strike, you just need to follow the steps.

Do you keep Epic Games free games forever?

Permanence of claimed free games

Epic Games Store FAQ explicitly states: “When you claim a free game, it’s yours to keep” (Epic Games Store FAQ page). The game remains in your library permanently, even after it is no longer available to new customers for free. You can download, uninstall, and reinstall at any time.

What happens if you miss a week

If you fail to claim within the offer window (typically one week, sometimes two), you lose that specific title for free unless Epic re‑offers it later, as noted in Alibaba LifeTips (third‑party guidance). There is no way to retroactively claim past free games.

Why this matters: a missed window is a missed opportunity — the game will never be free again unless Epic reruns it.

Miss a free game? Check Pokemon Go Spotlight Hour for another weekly free content schedule.

Has GTA 5 ever been free on Epic Games?

GTA V free giveaway in 2020

In May 2020, Epic Games offered Grand Theft Auto V for free, generating massive attention. According to industry estimates, over 7 million copies were claimed within the first week (summarized by Recharge.com). The giveaway crashed the store at times due to demand.

Other notable free games in Epic’s history

• Civilization VI
• Borderlands 3
• Fortnite (always free, but Epic gave away cosmetic bundles during events)
• Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and many more

The pattern: Epic uses blockbuster giveaways to generate headlines and drive millions of new account sign‑ups.

Is Fortnite 100% free?

Fortnite’s free-to-play model

Fortnite is free to download and play on all platforms – PC, console, and mobile. No upfront payment is required. The game generates revenue through optional cosmetic items and a seasonal Battle Pass. This model is separate from the weekly free game program, but both live under the Epic Games Store umbrella.

What is included in the free version

• Full access to battle royale, creative, and save the world (the latter is now paid, but was free at launch)
• All core gameplay mechanics, maps, and updates
• Crossplay and progression across devices

The catch: while Fortnite itself is free, the game’s economy relies on in‑game purchases. Epic’s free games program helps keep players invested in the ecosystem.

The implication: Fortnite’s free model drives revenue through cosmetics while the free games program broadens the platform’s reach.

For PC gamers, the choice is clear: create a free account and claim the weekly free games, or risk missing out on hundreds of dollars in value each year. The program shows no signs of slowing down, and with a simple Thursday habit, anyone can build a library that keeps growing.

For a detailed look at what’s available this week, check out the current free games list to see which titles you can claim right now.

Frequently asked questions