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Mat

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Founder and chief editor of WePlayGames.net

Investigation Freak! Today’s Epic Freebie Is The Surreal Paradise Killer

Paradise Killer - Citizen Apartments picture
Paradise Killer - Citizen Apartments

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The fake AAA leak is officially in the rearview mirror. Today, December 22, Epic is giving away Paradise Killer, an open-world murder mystery that prioritizes absolute style and player freedom over mindless shooting. If you’re bored of the same old gameplay loops, this is the definitive “hidden gem” of the holiday sale.

Paradise Killer -Colorful environment picture
Paradise Killer -Colorful environment

It’s a bizarre, neon-soaked trip that basically invents its own genre: Vaporwave Detective.

The Mystery: A Crime to End All Crimes

You play as Lady Love Dies, an “investigation freak” summoned from a thousand-year exile. Your mission is to solve the mass murder of the Council on Paradise Island—a pocket dimension where immortal beings try to resurrect dead alien gods. The island is about to be destroyed and reborn, and you are the only one who can find the killer before reality resets.

Paradise Killer - Carmelina Silence picture
Paradise Killer – Carmelina Silence

Why This Game is Resourceful

The game doesn’t hold your hand. You are dropped onto the island and told to find the truth. You can explore anywhere, talk to anyone, and collect evidence in any order. The most unique part? You decide when you have enough evidence to start the trial. If you accuse the wrong person because you didn’t dig deep enough, the game lets you—the “truth” is whatever you can prove in court.

Paradise Killer - The crime to end all crimes picture
Paradise Killer – The crime to end all crimes

The Aesthetic and Vibe

The art direction is a wild mix of 2D character standees in a 3D open world, drenched in 80s neon and city-pop music. It feels like playing through a high-end anime fever dream. This updated version also includes ray tracing and extra music tracks, making the island look incredible if you have the hardware to push it.

The Bottom Line

Paradise Killer usually costs $20 and has a stellar reputation for its deep lore and “build-your-own-truth” mechanics. It’s free to claim until December 23 at 11:00 AM ET. If you want a game that actually makes you feel like a detective instead of just following a quest marker, claim this immediately on Epic Games Store.

Resident Evil Meets Neon-Punk: Today’s Epic Mystery Game is ‘Sorry We’re Closed’

Sorry We Are Closed picture
Sorry We Are Closed

If you were hoping for another gritty shooter or a mainstream AAA title, today’s reveal might surprise you. Epic is continuing its streak of “hidden gem” picks with Sorry We’re Closed, a 2024 survival horror title that feels more like an underground art project than a standard video game.

Sorry We Are Closed Survival Horror picture
Sorry We Are Closed Survival Horror

Forget the tired tropes of the genre; this is survival horror with a high-fashion, punk-rock soul.

The Premise: A Literal Race Against Hell

You play as Michelle, a woman living a fairly mundane life until she is cursed by a powerful archdemon. You have exactly three days to find a way to break the curse or face eternal damnation. It’s a tight, stressful narrative where your dialogue choices and actions directly influence which of the multiple endings you’ll hit.

Why It’s a Great Grab

  • The “Third Eye” Mechanic: Michelle can open her “Third Eye” at any time to peer into a twisted, demonic version of her world. This isn’t just for show—it’s how you find secrets, solve puzzles, and reveal the literal hearts of your enemies to hit their weak points.
  • Old School Meets New School: The game uses the classic fixed-camera angles of Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but shifts into a slick, first-person arcade shooter perspective when you aim your gun. It solves the “clunky combat” problem of retro horror while keeping the cinematic tension.
  • Arthouse Aesthetic: The visuals are a wild mix of low-poly PS1 models and vibrant, neon-soaked colors. It looks like a “Club Kid” fever dream, making it one of the most visually distinct games Epic has given away this year.
Sorry We Are Closed - Gameplay kills picture
Sorry We Are Closed – Gameplay kills

Last Thoughts

Sorry We’re Closed usually goes for $20. It’s short, punchy, and perfect for a weekend playthrough. If you want something that prioritizes atmosphere and unique storytelling over budget-bloat, this is a must-add to your library.

You have until December 22 at 11:00 AM ET to claim it for free

Survival of the Deadest: Why Today’s Freebie ‘Blood West’ is a Must-Grab on Epic

Blood West - Headshot kill picture
Blood West - Headshot kill

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The Epic Games holiday marathon continues, and if you were expecting another flashy, neon-soaked adventure like yesterday, think again. Today, December 20, Epic is taking us into the dirt, the dark, and the downright cursed with stealth FPS Blood West.

This is the fourth game in the lineup, and it further cements the fact that the “mainstream blockbuster” leaks were way off the mark. Instead, we’re getting a gritty, low-poly masterpiece that feels like a lost artifact from the late 90s.

Blood West - Retro graphics picture
Blood West – Retro graphics

What is Blood West?

Imagine if the original Thief games had a baby with S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and then that baby was raised in a haunted version of the Wild West.

You play as an undead gunslinger—literally brought back from the dead by mysterious spirits—to “clean up” the frontier. But this isn’t a power fantasy. In the Barren Lands, everything wants you back in the grave, and usually, it only takes a couple of hits to put you there.

Blood West - Killing spree picture
Blood West – Killing spree

Why It Stands Out:

  • Methodical Stealth: This isn’t a “run and gun” game. If you try to play it like Call of Duty, you’ll die in seconds. You have to scout environments, crouch through the brush, and pick your shots carefully.
  • The Voice of a Legend: Fun fact for stealth fans—the protagonist is voiced by Stephen Russell, the same legendary voice behind Garrett from the original Thief series. It adds a massive layer of “immersive sim” credibility to the atmosphere.
  • Eldritch Horror: You aren’t just fighting outlaws. You’re up against wendigos, bird-men, and Lovecraftian abominations. The “Weird West” vibe is thick, dark, and genuinely unsettling.
  • RPG Depth: It features a deep perk system and inventory management. You’ll spend just as much time weighing the benefits of a cursed artifact vs. a silver-plated revolver as you will actually pulling the trigger.

The “Ugly-Beautiful” Aesthetic

Don’t let the “retro” graphics fool you. The low-poly, pixelated look is a deliberate choice that makes the lighting and shadows feel much more oppressive. It’s “boomer shooter” tech used to create a survival horror experience that feels massive, with three huge open-ended maps to explore.

Blood West - Naked Zombiewoman picture
Blood West – Naked Zombiewoman

How To Get It

Blood West (usually $24.99) is free on the Epic Games Store right now. You have until December 21 at 11:00 AM ET to add it to your library.

If you’re tired of modern games holding your hand with quest markers and regenerating health, this is the challenge you’ve been looking for. Just remember: in these lands, ammo is more precious than gold.

Epic’s Latest Freebie for 24 Hours Is Dating JRPG

Eternights Free Epic picture
Eternights Free Epic

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

We can officially stop checking the rumor mill. After yesterday’s Viking survival surprise, Epic Games has officially revealed the third mystery game of the holiday season: Eternights.

If you were expecting another gritty medieval fighter or a standard shooter, this one is a bit of a curveball. It’s an indie title that blends high-octane action with, of all things, a dating simulator. It’s weird, it’s stylish, and it’s definitely a “hidden gem” pick for this year’s giveaway.

Eternights Gameplay picture
Eternights Gameplay

What exactly is Eternights?

Think Persona meets Devil May Cry. The world is ending, people are turning into monsters, and you’re stuck in a bunker (a train, actually) with a handful of survivors. Your goal? Save the world and maybe find a date before the clock runs out.

The gameplay is split into two distinct modes:

  • Fast-Paced Combat: When you’re in the dungeons (called “The Wall”), the game is a pure hack-and-slash. You have a magical arm that transforms into weapons, and the combat relies heavily on perfect dodges. If you time a dodge right, everything slows down, letting you unleash huge combos.
  • The Social Sim: This is the “weird” part. Between fights, you have a limited number of days to scavenge for supplies and hang out with your companions. Choosing who to spend time with isn’t just for fluff—leveling up your relationships actually unlocks new skills and elemental attacks for combat. You are literally fighting for the people you love.

Why You Should Grab It

It’s a polished game with full 2D animated cutscenes that look like they’re straight out of an anime. It normally retails for $29.99 and holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. Even if you aren’t typically into “dating sims,” the combat is snappy enough to carry the experience, and the time-management pressure adds a layer of strategy that keeps it from feeling repetitive.

Eternights Free Epic Game for 24 hours picture
Eternights Free Epic Game for 24 hours

The Next 24 Hours

Eternights is free to claim until December 20 at 11:00 AM ET. Once you claim it, it’s yours to keep forever.

As for what’s coming tomorrow? Epic’s digital wrapping paper for the next gift is live, and the community is already dissecting the icons. With the “big leaks” out of the picture, it’s actually fun to guess again.

The “Leaked” Epic Games List is Officially Dead: Today’s Real Freebie

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hell - Gameplay picture
Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hell - Gameplay

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

If you’ve been following the rumors about Epic’s holiday giveaways, you’ve probably seen that one specific list everywhere. It promised Jurassic World Evolution 2 for today and ended with a massive Red Dead Redemption 2 finale.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Those lists usually pop up right after the first big game is announced to gain easy traction, and today proved it. Instead of dinosaurs, we got Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel.

The “leak” is officially debunked. It’s back to the guessing game, which, honestly, is more interesting than a fake spreadsheet.

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hell Free on Epic Store picture
Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hell Free on Epic Store

What is Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel?

If you haven’t claimed it yet, you should. It’s a roguelike horde survival game (think Vampire Survivors or Halls of Torment) but with a much higher fidelity 3D look and a heavy Norse mythology theme.

The Core Loop:

  • Pick a Hero: You choose from a roster of cursed warriors, each with unique base stats and weapons.
  • Survive the Swarm: You’re dropped into realms like Helheim or Niflheim. Enemies come at you in waves, and you have to kite them while your abilities auto-fire.
  • Divine Blessings: As you level up during a run, you pick “Blessings” from Norse gods. Thor gives you chain lightning, Loki adds poison/tricks, and Skadi handles the frost.
  • Meta-Progression: Even when you die (and you will), you earn resources to permanently upgrade your stats and unlock new perks for the next run.

Why It’s Worth the Download

Unlike some of the simpler games in this genre, Jotunnslayer actually has objective-based missions during the runs—like closing portals or collecting items—rather than just running out a timer. The boss fights are also more tactical than your average “bullet heaven” game.

It normally goes for around $15, so getting it for free right now is a solid deal for anyone who likes “just one more run” gameplay.

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel- Choose your skill tzpe picture
Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel- Choose your skill type

The New Reality

With the fake list out of the way, we’re back to watching the wrapping paper teasers. Whoever made that list was clearly just chasing clicks. From here on out, don’t trust any “confirmed” leaks you see on Reddit or Twitter—Epic is clearly keeping their actual lineup under wraps.

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is free to claim until tomorrow December 19 at 11:00 AM ET.