Epic Free Game Reviews

Special Episode 1: The Epic-est Games So Far (2025) - The Games, They Touch Me Man

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 issues because it was storming in California, a state unprepared for any weather. Apologies!

Episode 23: Moonlighter - In the Soviet Union, we have auto-stack!

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 play

Episode 22: This War of Mine - "Are the Children Going to Eat me?" (Ernest Hemingway, probably)

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!). 

Episode 21: Limbo - Even Hell is Better With Your Friends!

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 had to cut many wonderful title possibilities, such as "There is a portal to Cricket Land in my bath tub" and "Little Murder Orphan Hobo Tarzani"

Episode 20: Torchlight - Even My Cat Has Hegemonic Masculinity

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from July 11 to July 18, 2019, the 2009 dungeon crawler/Diablo-like Torchlight. In the conversation we cover the role of basic, non-offensive (but fun) games, the influence of Lord of the Rings on the fantasy tropes of games, and what we like about games that are like Diablo

Episode 19: Overcooked! - Clack Your Tongs, Masculine Onion Man

In this episode, we explore the game that Epic gave away for free from July 4 to July 11, 2019, the 2016 cooking sim game Overcooked! We discuss real world cooking, being alone in a failed kitchen versus bothered in a successful one, multiplayer games, the evolution of gaming hardware, and how we feel about onions. 

Episode 18: Last Day of June - No Eyes, So Creepy (Also, Screw You Ted Hughes)

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from June 27 to July 4, 2019, Last Day of June. We focus on the aesthetics and styles of games, life as a form of tragedy, and sound and music. The made up language used in the game also brings us to a tangent on the fact that...musicians like Katy Perry have recorded their songs in Simlish. Join us for this episode on a game that Ray calls the "Italian Final Destination"

Episode 17: Rebel Galxy - Tokyo Drifting in SPAAAAACCCE!!!!

In this episode we discuss Rebel Galaxy, which Epic gave away from June 20 to 27, 2019. We cover topics that range from the scope of games to the use of music and voiced dialogue. We also, because of the development history of the game, talk about toxicity in gaming and the hatred of the Epic Games Store. 

Episode 16: Enter the Gungeon - A Very American Game

In this episode we discuss the 2016 game Ebter the Gungeon, which Epic gave for me free from June 13 to June 20, 2019. Through this game, we discuss repetition and progress in games, guns as symbolism, and what it means to be an "okay" game, among other topics. Also, circles and coughing skeletons, again! 

Episode 15: Kingdom New Lands - Secretly there is a tyrant in me

In this episode, we cover the game Epic gave away from June 6 to 13, 2019, the (what we describe as) anti-Civ game, Kingdom: New Lands. In the discussions we cover the American Dream, the city and civilization builder genre, and the economics of games (including a slight detour about Xbox's current problems)