25 votes

Epic Games Holiday Sale 2019 has started - sales, one free game per day, and $10 off on everything $14.99+

30 comments

  1. [7]
    Deimos
    Link
    The first free game is Into the Breach, and can only be claimed today.

    The first free game is Into the Breach, and can only be claimed today.

    15 votes
    1. [6]
      Sahasrahla
      Link Parent
      This is a turn-based mechs-vs-monsters tactics game from the makers of FTL: Faster Than Light and it's an absolute joy to play. Lots of fun, rewarding gameplay, and a surprisingly engaging story...

      This is a turn-based mechs-vs-monsters tactics game from the makers of FTL: Faster Than Light and it's an absolute joy to play. Lots of fun, rewarding gameplay, and a surprisingly engaging story and lore. Definitely worth downloading the Epic launcher for, or if you don't like Epic, just buy it on Steam or elsewhere; it's worth it.

      13 votes
      1. Akir
        Link Parent
        I'm not sure it's so much of a tactics game so much as a tactics-themed puzzle game since the game makes such a point to make sure that you do not make any mistakes. In any case, I second the...

        I'm not sure it's so much of a tactics game so much as a tactics-themed puzzle game since the game makes such a point to make sure that you do not make any mistakes.

        In any case, I second the recommendation. It's just that good.

        6 votes
      2. [4]
        stu2b50
        Link Parent
        Once nice (?) thing about EGS is that among the features they lack is a Steamworks replacement for developers. Which also means that there's no inherent DRM in any game on there. Of course, some...

        Definitely worth downloading the Epic launcher for

        Once nice (?) thing about EGS is that among the features they lack is a Steamworks replacement for developers.

        Which also means that there's no inherent DRM in any game on there. Of course, some developers implement it themselves, but most of the indies, without something easy to hook into like Steamworks, just won't have it.

        So you can download the Into the Breach with the Epic Launcher and then never open the Epic Launcher again, you can just open the executable directly (or spotlight it on MacOS).

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          TheJorro
          Link Parent
          Conversely, there are quite a few games on Steam that don't need Steam running to launch. It really is up to each publisher or developer.

          Conversely, there are quite a few games on Steam that don't need Steam running to launch. It really is up to each publisher or developer.

          2 votes
          1. [2]
            stu2b50
            Link Parent
            Yes, Steamworks is optional, however without a similar feature, developers on the Epic store can either 1) roll out their own DRM, which is infeasible for most of them 2) purchase expensive DRM...

            Yes, Steamworks is optional, however without a similar feature, developers on the Epic store can either 1) roll out their own DRM, which is infeasible for most of them 2) purchase expensive DRM like Denuvo.

            On the other hand, Steamworks is free and easy to setup. So there are comparatively more DRM-free games.

            Not sure if that's a feature for consumers or a bug for developers, but in any case Epic's laziness is a win in this case.

            1 vote
            1. TheJorro
              Link Parent
              I don't think the "they'll use it because it's so easy" thing holds true. There are a lot of games that use Steamworks without the DRM aspect to various degrees. I just tried out Grim Fandango...

              I don't think the "they'll use it because it's so easy" thing holds true. There are a lot of games that use Steamworks without the DRM aspect to various degrees. I just tried out Grim Fandango Remastered, which has plenty of Steamworks features, and it runs just fine without Steam. Steam didn't even track that I opened the game because it was closed.

              It really is up to developers and publishers to implement the DRM because it seems like it's as simple not to as it is to.

              1 vote
  2. Rocket_Man
    Link
    Thank you for the Heads up Deimos I would have missed this and Into the Breach is great!.

    Thank you for the Heads up Deimos I would have missed this and Into the Breach is great!.

    10 votes
  3. [8]
    moocow1452
    Link
    Next game is Towerfall Ascension, (https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/towerfall-ascension/home) Game after that appears to be Superhot.

    Next game is Towerfall Ascension, (https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/towerfall-ascension/home)

    Game after that appears to be Superhot.

    3 votes
    1. [7]
      Deimos
      Link Parent
      Superhot is available now: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/superhot/home For tomorrow's, someone set up this site that picks up on new data on the store: https://epicdata.info/new If...

      Superhot is available now: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/superhot/home

      For tomorrow's, someone set up this site that picks up on new data on the store: https://epicdata.info/new

      If you go into the newest item, you can see it has the "collections" tag and seller is Tomorrow Corporation, so it should be a bundle of a few of their games. The ones available on Epic currently are Little Inferno, Human Resource Machine, and 7 Billion Humans, so probably all of those.

      5 votes
      1. [4]
        Apos
        Link Parent
        I really wanted to play 7 Billion Humans. Hopefully you're right! Tomorrow Corporation is great, bought their other games.

        I really wanted to play 7 Billion Humans. Hopefully you're right! Tomorrow Corporation is great, bought their other games.

        2 votes
        1. [3]
          Deimos
          Link Parent
          Looks like I was wrong, and it was just Little Inferno as the free one today. Maybe that "collections" tag isn't meaningful. Tomorrow's free game seems likely to be Ape Out.

          Looks like I was wrong, and it was just Little Inferno as the free one today. Maybe that "collections" tag isn't meaningful.

          Tomorrow's free game seems likely to be Ape Out.

          3 votes
          1. moocow1452
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            JuniperSniper on Reddit said there was a list that was leaked. EDIT: List is trash, next game appears to be Celeste.

            JuniperSniper on Reddit said there was a list that was leaked. EDIT: List is trash, next game appears to be Celeste.

            4 votes
          2. Apos
            Link Parent
            Close enough, that game was so great! Little Inferno really makes you think when you take the time to look deeper.

            Close enough, that game was so great! Little Inferno really makes you think when you take the time to look deeper.

            2 votes
      2. [2]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        Wonder if they have a wish list function, or would IsThereAnyDeal work better?

        Wonder if they have a wish list function, or would IsThereAnyDeal work better?

        1 vote
        1. Deimos
          Link Parent
          It doesn't yet. Their end of year development update included it: I think IsThereAnyDeal is probably best to use in general anyway, there are so many stores now.

          It doesn't yet. Their end of year development update included it:

          We’re working to bring Wishlist to the store. You’ll be able to wishlist any offer on the store and you’ll be notified of sales or promotions for that offer. This has been previously listed as work-in-progress development, but is requiring more work than originally planned. We’ll keep you up to date as we move the Wishlist feature along.

          I think IsThereAnyDeal is probably best to use in general anyway, there are so many stores now.

          3 votes
  4. [5]
    moocow1452
    (edited )
    Link
    Today's game is Ape Out: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/ape-out/home Next Game appears to be Celeste, interestingly the first repeat game offered. Good one to repeat, IMO.

    Today's game is Ape Out: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/ape-out/home

    Next Game appears to be Celeste, interestingly the first repeat game offered. Good one to repeat, IMO.

    2 votes
    1. [4]
      moocow1452
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Next game is Celeste, again, get it this time if you haven't. Game after that appears to be Totally Accurate Battle Simulator Re: Leaks, TABS was on the leak list, along with Ape Out and Little...

      Next game is Celeste, again, get it this time if you haven't.

      Game after that appears to be Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

      Re: Leaks, TABS was on the leak list, along with Ape Out and Little Inferno, it's possible that Celeste was a last minute replacement for one of the other scheduled games, but that's further speculation into speculative speculation.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        moocow1452
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Merry Christmas, TABS is the new game. And unless I'm mistaken, the next game is FTL: Faster Than Light, so the leak is definitely not correct.

        Merry Christmas, TABS is the new game.

        And unless I'm mistaken, the next game is FTL: Faster Than Light, so the leak is definitely not correct.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          Deimos
          Link Parent
          Yes, FTL is free for Dec 26. Tomorrow's should be Hyper Light Drifter.

          Yes, FTL is free for Dec 26. Tomorrow's should be Hyper Light Drifter.

          2 votes
          1. moocow1452
            Link Parent
            Which it is. Apparently Shadow Tactics is the next one.

            Which it is.

            Apparently Shadow Tactics is the next one.

            2 votes
  5. [5]
    moocow1452
    Link
    Shadow Tactics is free on Epic. Talos Principle appears to be the next game available. I'm posting this as a main branch comment to show it as proper "activity"

    Shadow Tactics is free on Epic. Talos Principle appears to be the next game available.

    I'm posting this as a main branch comment to show it as proper "activity"

    2 votes
    1. [4]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      Today: Talos Principle Tomorrow: Hello Neighbor?

      Today: Talos Principle
      Tomorrow: Hello Neighbor?

      4 votes
      1. [3]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        Today: Hello Neighbor Tomorrow: Yooka-Laylee (and the Impossible Lair?) Bonus: Tower of Time is free on GOG for about 48 hours.

        Today: Hello Neighbor
        Tomorrow: Yooka-Laylee (and the Impossible Lair?)

        Bonus: Tower of Time is free on GOG for about 48 hours.

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          moocow1452
          Link Parent
          Today: Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair Next Week?: Steep and Darksiders 2. And that's the ball game I suppose. They didn't promise games all through 2020, but while it lasts, they are games...

          Today: Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
          Next Week?: Steep and Darksiders 2.

          And that's the ball game I suppose. They didn't promise games all through 2020, but while it lasts, they are games and they are free, and people are talking about them.

          1 vote
          1. Deimos
            Link Parent
            Definitely impressed with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. That only came out in October and has had really positive reviews as far as I've seen. I don't know if it sold very well (and maybe...

            Definitely impressed with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. That only came out in October and has had really positive reviews as far as I've seen. I don't know if it sold very well (and maybe this is a signal that it didn't), but that's a great one to get for free.

            1 vote
  6. [3]
    bleem
    Link
    I really am baffled by people who don't like the epic game store. They give out so many actually good games for free trying to build a base. The whole smear thing about tencent or reddit or...

    I really am baffled by people who don't like the epic game store. They give out so many actually good games for free trying to build a base. The whole smear thing about tencent or reddit or whatever was debunked.

    7 votes
    1. [2]
      undu
      Link Parent
      Why? It's not difficult to understand how exclusives are not good for anybody in the long term, or how poor is the Epic Game Store compared to any other shop. Even the xbox application added...

      I really am baffled by people who don't like the epic game store.

      Why? It's not difficult to understand how exclusives are not good for anybody in the long term, or how poor is the Epic Game Store compared to any other shop. Even the xbox application added achievements. Epic's PR post about what they have accomplished in the last year is piss poor, even more when taking into account about all the promises they made on the trello board: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/news/egs-end-of-year-dev-update

      Personally, epic does not support Linux at all, so any exclusive game there is another inaccessible game for me.

      16 votes
      1. Sahasrahla
        Link Parent
        I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but I don't mind the exclusives as much as a lot of people seem to. Steam has a de facto near-monopoly on PC games (except for some big name titles where...

        I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but I don't mind the exclusives as much as a lot of people seem to. Steam has a de facto near-monopoly on PC games (except for some big name titles where publishers make you get their own launcher) and even with exclusives and giveaways it's hard to compete against that. Sure, Steam/Valve is well-loved and so far "not evil", but they have more than a healthy amount of control over the market. I also like that Epic is offering higher royalties to studios which is especially important for independent devs: a royalty rate of 88% (Epic) compared to 70% (Steam) means more than 25% higher revenues for the same number of games sold. That could mean the difference between a career or insolvency for a lot of indies trying to make it in a difficult and uncertain field.

        8 votes
  7. JesusShuttlesworth
    Link
    Not sure how I feel about the epic store, but I'll take the free games.

    Not sure how I feel about the epic store, but I'll take the free games.

    1 vote