Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
We might’ve taken a slight breather the past few weeks, but we’re back in action—and so is Epic Games Store. This week, the platform hasn’t just tossed us one or two snacks, but an entire buffet line of free games both live now and incoming. Whether you’re after peaceful puzzling or bugs-no-guns delivery mayhem, there’s something to line your library with (and yes, your backlog will survive one more hit). Four full titles are up for grabs through August 28, and the mix this time around is delightfully weird in the best ways.
Here’s a look at everything that’s free right now on EGS and what to expect as the calendar flips.
Available Now Until August 21: Hidden Folks and Totally Reliable Delivery Service
Let’s start with what you can download as of this very moment.
Hidden Folks is basically a stripped-down, hand-drawn version of Where’s Waldo?, but that description sells short what makes it so good. You’re dropped into intricate, black-and-white environments, each one bursting with tiny creatures, animated scenery, and little secrets. Your job is to comb through these lush dioramas and pinpoint specific characters or objects. It’s soothing. It’s smart. It’s the kind of game that accidentally eats your whole afternoon because you swore just one more level wouldn’t take long. Plus, the playful sound effects—all human-made vocalizations—give it a uniquely quirky charm you won’t find in your usual minimalist puzzlers.
Hidden Folks is the kind of title people miss simply because it’s quiet. Don’t do that this time. It belongs in your permanent library.
Also up for grabs is Totally Reliable Delivery Service (Standard Edition), which is what happens when someone mixes the physics chaos of Human Fall Flat with an underpaid gig economy fever dream. You’re supposed to deliver packages around ragdoll world either solo or with friends, but good luck doing that without falling off a ramp, launching a box into orbit, or watching your delivery truck fold itself into a new dimension. The controls are intentionally ridiculous—it’s part of the experience—and that might drive some people mad. But get a squad online and you’ll be laughing way more than swearing. (Okay, maybe a balance of both.)
It’s not about precision. It’s about the comedy of chaos. And for that, the Standard Edition delivers—with an unintentional crash landing, of course.
Coming August 21 to August 28: Kamaeru and Strange Horticulture
Next up, two wildly different but equally interesting titles unlock for grabs starting August 21.
First up is Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge. This isn’t just indie cozy game fodder—it’s a genuinely serene creature-care sim focused on raising frogs and restoring a wetland ecosystem. Yes, frogs. Lots of them. You’ll plant native flora, manage a tiny, tranquil preserve, and slowly build a home for dozens of adorable amphibians. It’s the kind of thing that sits in the same psychological space as Stardew Valley or Spiritfarer: gentle tasks, wholesome goals, and no pressure to min-max. Don’t expect high-stakes mechanics. Kamaeru is explicitly about mindfulness and attention, and if you lean toward the low-and-slow side of gaming, this could be your new pixelated tea ritual.
On the opposite end of the tone spectrum is Strange Horticulture, a brooding gothic puzzle game wrapped in a botanical theme. You run an occult plant shop in a moody little town, identifying rare herbs, interacting with dark townsfolk, and slowly solving an overarching mystery. The mechanics thrive on observation and intuition—you use clues from customers, a slowly expanding reference book, and context given through hints to determine what plants you’re working with and how they affect the people who use them. It can be surprisingly intense for something that technically never leaves your cozy little shop.
Strange Horticulture doesn’t kick in doors; it beckons you through them slowly, with eerie music and leaf-bound secrets at every turn. It’s one of the more unusual puzzle-adventure hybrids in years, and missing it would be a mistake.
Epic Games Store Free Lineup Feels Fresh Again
What makes this spread stand out isn’t just that it’s free—it’s that each game nails what it sets out to do. Totally Reliable Delivery Service is dumb fun with inherently hilarious physics. Hidden Folks distills environmental puzzles to their barest, most charming form. Kamaeru builds relaxation into its DNA. And Strange Horticulture serves slow-burn storytelling layered with creeping dread.
None of these are throwaways. Each one deserved a spin when it launched, and now they’re free. No excuse left to not see what makes them tick.
It’s also worth highlighting that Epic is slowly returning to a rhythm with its giveaways after a quieter stretch. With us back publishing on site and socials and Epic dropping games like this, it’s the perfect time to reengage if you stepped away from weekly EGS drops.
Double-check the dates so you don’t miss anything: Hidden Folks and Totally Reliable Delivery Service are available to claim until August 21 at 5:00 PM local, while Kamaeru and Strange Horticulture unlock right after and run free until August 28, 5:00 PM.
