Summary
The Epic Game Store has been offering free games since it first launched in 2018.
These are high-quality, well-known games that Epic hopes would attract a broad audience.
Even forbeginner PC gamers, this was a big deal.
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However, the quality of the free gameshas seen a noticeable decline.
A steady drip of niche, free games continued through 2023 and into 2024.
While some of them appeal to me, there can be too much of a good thing.
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I was pretty much only extending the number of games in my catalog that I had yet to finish.
Other outlets like Steam and GOG have free games and massively discounted gems spanning dozens of genres.
Fast-forward to today, and the Epic Games Store’s free games are making a bad problem worse.
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I already have abacklog of titles that I’ve bought and haven’t picked up yet.
The additional pressure of collecting free games I might never play only serves to pad my library.
This backlog can significantly impact user engagement.
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With so many unplayed games, users become less inclined to download new ones, even free ones.
The novelty wears off, and the incentive to log into the store regularly diminishes.
I only remember to sign on to EGS when the notification reminds me to.
The story’s the same in gaming communities around the internet.
People collect the free games that then sit there, unplayed, while everyone keeps playing their favorites.
It makes one wonder, “Who exactly are these free games for, anyway?”
This is entirely optional, but it explains why studios offer their games for free on the storefront.
They get some of your information and a line of communication for marketing purposes.
It’s not a bad tactic at all.
If only Epic spent the same time delivering on promises for their storefront.
While present, the wishlist functionality on EGS lacks the sophistication of competitors.
For example, Steam’s wishlist system is more user-friendly and offers better notification options and organizational tools.
That said,these games are not profitable for Epic.
This isn’t a sustainable business practice and doesn’t bode well for the platform’s future.
Imaginelosing access to good gameswhen the client shuts down.
It’s a nightmare.
The EGS has a long way to go before becoming as usable as storefronts like Steam.
But the approach of offering weekly free games is paying off in some ways.
What’s more, offering free games seems to be working out by keeping their existing audience engaged.
There is also a psychological aspect to this strategy.
EGS encourages users to explore the store by offering free games, potentially leading to future purchases.
In this way, Epic hopes to supplant Steam as the go-to store for PC gamers.
The downside is that no one on Epic’s side seems to check the quality of these games.
While none of them are outright shovelware, a few titles make a gamer raise their eyebrows.
Should You Keep Collecting Epic’s Free Games?
How many games do you have in your backlog?
Who knows, it might even encourage them to increase the quality of free games.
