Epic Free Game Reviews

Episode 9: The Witness - Die, Candleman!

In this episode, we discuss the puzzle game The Witness, which Epic gave away from April 4 to April 18, 2019. The conversation focuses on how we feel about puzzle games, the tensions between satire and seriousness in indie games, and the way puzzle games are designed (as full or mobile experiences).

Episode 8: Oxenfree - Triangles Triangulating FDR

In this episode, we explore our impressions of the graphic adventure game Oxenfree, which Epic gave away from March 21 to April 4, 2019. This leads to conversations about the use of history as allegory in games, horror as a genre, and the way characters make or break games. 

Episode 7: Slime Rancher - Chicken Abuse

This episode explores the seventh game given away by Epic, Slime Rancher, a farm sim games about collecting and selling slime poop. The game was given by Epic from March 7 to March 21, 2019. The hosts discuss the mechanics of cozy and farming games, the use of nostalgia and references as a game design philosophy, and the way the "value" of indie games suggests the past, present, and future of the gaming industry

Episode 6: Thimbleweed Park - Don't Send in the Clowns a-reno

In this episode we discuss the sixth free Epic game, given away from Feb 21 to March 7, 2019, Thimbleweed Park. Through this game, we discuss point and click as a genre, the use of nostalgia and meta-narratives in games, and our feelings about games wasting a player's time.

Episode 5: Axiom Verge - ET phone...YouTube Walkthroughs

The fifth Epic game, Axiom Verge (given free from Feb 7 to Feb 21, 2019), is our first jump into Metroidvanias for this podcast, a genre which neither of our hosts have much history with. We discuss retro-graphics and nostalgia in gaming, game difficulty, and the role of science fiction narratives in pop culture. 

Episode 4: Jackbox Party Pack - Adults with No Friends

The fourth game Epic gave away for free (from Jan 24 to Feb 7, 2019) was Jackbox Party Pack, a party game that brings obscure pop culture references. We discuss the role of these types of games and how, as adults, this genre becomes increasingly difficult to access. One of our hosts (Daniel) also has a cameo from his eleven year old daughter in the episode, who played the game along with him.

Episode 3: What Remains of Edith Finch - Drowning (in Books)

The third game Epic gave for free, What Remains of Edith Finch, is an emotional roller coaster of a walking simulator. One of our hosts (Daniel) has been streaming this game for his classes for some time, so we discuss the game through many lens, including as a tool for teaching digital narratives and games as literature. 

Episode 2: Super Meat Boy - Chewing on Food Genders

In our second episode, we explore the second game Epic gave for free (and the last one they gave in 2018), the difficult platformer game Super Meat Boy. We discuss satire in games, our history with platformers, and the role of gender dynamics and roles with video game history. 

Episode 1: Subnautica - Swimming through the Savescum

Our first episode delves into the first game Epic ever gave away, the underwater survival game Subnautica. The game was given away for free by Epic near the end of 2018. In the episode we discuss our reactions to the game, the survival genre, and what this game says about the types of games Epic has given away. We also introduce ourselves and our philosophy on and history with games. Published July 13, 2025