Epic Free Game Reviews

In this episode, we discuss the 2018 puzzle game Q.U.B.E. 2, which Epic gave away for free from October 24 to October 31, 2019. This opens conversations about science fiction world-building, the role of science in our world, and how the cultural zeitgeist affects how we play games. Overall we felt pretty positively about this game, especially in how it didn't feel like it was trying to be heavy-ha...

In this episode, we discuss the 2016 horror game Layers of Fear, which Epic gave away from October 24 to October 31, 2019. We focus on thinking about intertextuality in games (with the many Dorian Gray references in this game), the use of art and aesthetics in games, the effects of streaming culture on game development, and themes of gender and alcoholism, especially as they are rooted in Victoria...

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from October 17 to October 24, 2019, the 2017 psychological horror game Observer. This allows us to chat about worldbuilding, the aesthetics of dystopia, the genre of Eurojank, and technology addiction and surveillance in the modern world

In this episode, we discuss 2012's Alan Wake: American Nightmare, which Epic gave away for free from October 17 to October 24, 2019. We begin by considering why specific games get adapted and why Alan Wake might not have an adaptation yet. This leads to conversations about the meta elements of the game, the way certain games intend for players to analyze specific elements, the corporate influence...

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from October 10 to October 17, 2019, the city building simulation game, Surviving Mars (2018). This allows us to consider the function of realism and authenticity in media, the way tutorials can derail a game experience, and the escapist fantasy of a game about technology and utopia. We also return to the important fact that Ray secretly has a (M...

In this episode, we discuss the 2018 quirky action adventure Zelda-like, Minit, which Epic gave away for free from October 3 to October 10, 2019 (bonus - I didn't notice until right now that October 3, 2019 is also when my second daughter was born!). This allows us to talk about gimmicks in games, in many different ways about representations of animals, about game pacing, the continued significanc...

In this episode, we discuss the 2017 universe simulation game Everything, which Epic gave away from September 26 to October 3, 2019. We explore the idea of a game with a message or a serious game, say more about indie games as alternative forms of therapy, and consider the ecocritical possibilities of games (and simulations). This also allows us to consider what philosophical voices would be good...

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from September 26 to October 3, 2019, the survival horror first-person shooter Metro 2033 Redux (initially released in 2010, with the Redux version from 2014). We discuss the ethos of the game (modernist, Soviet-core, etc.), chat about the history of mine carts in video games (with thanks to this post: https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-brie...

After a hiatus due to business and health, we are back on track with an episode on the Batman Arkham Trilogy (Asylum, 2009; City, 2012; and Knight, 2015), which Epic gave away from September 19 to September 26, 2019. We discuss why superheroes are so appealing, what types of games would work for superhero narratives, the sexualization of characters in these games, and the mental health narratives...

In this episode, we discuss the game(s) Epic gave away from September 19 to September 26, 2019, the Lego Batman Trilogy. We discuss the legacy of both superheroes and lego, the gender politics of superheroes, camp and humor in games, and aspects of games like voiceacting, open worlds, and character abilities. 

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from September 12 to September 19, 2019, the Lovecraft-inspired horror walking simulator from 2017, Conarium. This game allows us to consider Lovecraft's legacy, to think about race and xenophobia in games, what horror means as a concept, and the Unreal Engine

In this episode, we discuss the game epic gave away from September 5 to September 12, 2019, the platformer from 2017 The End is Nigh. We discuss whether dark humor can be pulled off in games, the loneliness epidemic, the continued use of nostalgia (cartridges and floppy discs) in indie games, classic music, and games as dadaist experiences, among other things. Ray also asks an important question -...

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away September 5 - September 12, 2019, the 2016 underwater adventure game Abzu. We discuss the use of mythology within video games as source material, why water levels are so hated, the idea of an "entry point game, and conservation themes within games, among other things. We especially focus on why a Hammerhead Man is a bad idea.

In this episode we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 29 to September 5, 2019, the platformer and indie darling Celeste. We focus a lot on mental health in games and also the way that U.S. oriented games differ in their philosophies and epistemology from games made in other countries. We also talk about games that are made for speedrunning, accessibility features, psychoanalysis (Lacanian...

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from August 29 to September 5, 2019, the 2016 puzzle platformer Inside. During the conversation, we consider whether indie studios should focus on what they do well or branch out, whether controller or keyboard is better for indie games, visual accessibility, whether resistance to systems is possible, and much more! Ray also admits that his...

In this episode we discuss the game that was given away from August 22 to August 29, 2019, the puzzle platformer from 2012, Fez. We discuss the impacts of the historical game transition from 2D to 3D, indie game development cycles, the innovative nature of indie games, our nostalgia for hidden objects and objectives in games, and more - including Virginia Woolf hats!

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 15 to August 22, 2019, Hyper Light Drifter. This allows us to have conversations about the ideal gaming console (with a shout out to the Dreamcast!), the role of emotions and narrative in games, Platonic philosophy and the Great Chain of Being as a theme, and achievements. Kanye is also in the cast of characters that unfortunately mak...

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 15 to August 22, 2019, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. We had conversations about how media deals with imagining the future, the genre of tactical strategy games (and their number crunchiness), Cold War politics, and what furry we would want to be if we were one. Also, if you hate Kpop, blame the Cold War

In this episode, we discuss the 2017 puzzle game GNOG, which Epic gave away from August 8 to August 15, 2019. In this conversation we get into some practical conversations (around music, achievements, etc) and also philosophical conversations around ontology, how we value and rank things, postmodernism, and what defines a game (for the latter, I recommend Thi Ngyuen's wonderful book Games: Agency...

In this episode, we discuss the second game Epic gave away from August 2 to August 9, 2019, the multiplayer online battle arena game, For Honor. This allows us to discuss the phenomenon of online games (battle passes, their popularity, etc.), Ubisoft's business practices, and cultural and historical stereotyping in games. 

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from August 2 to August 9, 2019, the 2010 game Alan Wake. This allows us to cover topics like asking what makes something scary, to considering the use of Americana and tropes in games, elements like over the shoulder cameras, and the role of anger and masculinity in media

In this special episode, we discuss what games - of the 23 games Epic gave away that we played in 2025 - were the top five games for each of us. We also discuss which we thought were the two worst games, and also mention non-Epic games we played this year that we thought were great (Felvidek, Venba, Octopath Traveller 2, and Terraria, among others).  Audio Note: Daniel's wi-fi was having some issu...

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away July 25 to August 2, 2019, the 2018 game Moonlighter, which we may describe as an Ebenezer Scrooge McDuck Simulator. The conversation allows us to consider music, nostalgia, capitalism, and the different ways that games are played now as opposed to the past. We also discuss some academic contexts, such as procedural rhetoric and persuasive p...

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from July 25 to August 2, 2019, This War of Mine. We cover what makes a good war film and game, the role of war as a theme, the ethics of using games to raise money, and food culture - what is acceptable and not acceptable to eat? (Spoiler alert - everything is fine, but not humans!). 

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away July 18 to July 25, 2019, the 2010 puzzle game Limbo. This allows us to revisit conversations like games as art and difficulty in games, as well as discuss games as tool for teaching writing, vulnerability in games, dystopia, and achievements (not to mention RFK's brain worm and the fact that Ray identifies with mole people). I also sadly ha...