Epic Games Store Free Games 10-17 August

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  • DoctorEldritch's Avatar
    Community Manager
    Hello Legion Gamers!

    Epic Games Store continues to offer games for free every week, and the free games this time are...

    Europa Universalis IV

    Lead any nation from Renaissance to Revolution in a complex simulation of the early modern world. Master the art of war, diplomacy and trade to shape and change your nation’s history!

    This is an oldie but goodie, the game celebrates 10 years anniversary this year. To be honest, global strategies are not really my thing, I am more into the tactical level, RTS is the highest I'd go. With global strategies, you just need to remember so many little details it gets overwhelming for me. But those who enjoy such mental challenges and on an off chance did not get this game yet, now you can do so for free this week!

    And that's not all, the second free game this week is...

    Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You


    Big Brother has arrived - and it’s you. Investigate the lives of citizens to find those responsible for a series of terror attacks. But, be warned, the information you supply will have consequences…



    This seems to be a game with more social commentary than usual, exploring the aspects of the global surveillance system and how it affects our lives. No surprise it is called Orwell, if you like his novels or those written in a similar setting, then this game may have extra easter eggs for you. If not, it may be just a fun way to spend an evening and ponder a little about the role of global surveillance and social media.

    See anything that you like this week?
  • 6 Replies

  • Saka's Avatar
    Level 52
    @DoctorEldritch The second game seems interesting and has favourable reviews. I could give it a try one of those days. I grabbed it, so that it can wait for me. 😁
    Unamused Snarktooth. Advocate for hearing loss & accessibility. Person, friend and a terrible/terrific* artist.
    *delete as appropriate
  • DoctorEldritch's Avatar
    Community Manager
    @Saka Games with this kind of setting are somewhat hit-or-miss for me. I really liked Beholder 1&2 which plays sort of on the same field plot-wise, but it really depends on the story with settings like this, I think. Hopefully Orwell has a decent one.
  • Saka's Avatar
    Level 52
    @DoctorEldritch Reviewers of Steam seem to be the opinion that it's a pleasant small game. Even the recent most helpful negative review is not very negative, just saying that the options in the game can be restrictive and the plot is not very original.
    Unamused Snarktooth. Advocate for hearing loss & accessibility. Person, friend and a terrible/terrific* artist.
    *delete as appropriate
  • DoctorEldritch's Avatar
    Community Manager
    @Saka Fair, but with games like this it is hard to be truly objective and not biased, so restrictions like this are bound to happen. But the lack of originality is worrisome.
  • Saka's Avatar
    Level 52
    @DoctorEldritch It was just one opinion, and many others liked the plot of the gamer, so again it is a matter of perspective and it's hard to give a completely neutral review when so many things depend on personal preferences.
    Unamused Snarktooth. Advocate for hearing loss & accessibility. Person, friend and a terrible/terrific* artist.
    *delete as appropriate
  • DoctorEldritch's Avatar
    Community Manager
    @Saka There is also the fact that games that have a setting like this one does depend on personal preferences even more. Though many games play with this concept with varying degrees of seriousness. For example, Tropico 6 is a strategy game more on the satirical side, but it too has the player searching for a balance between personal liberty and safety: the more surveivalence you build, the safer your people are but the more they feel their privacy and liberties compromised.

    Same with Orwell, it may depend on your personal attitude towards surveillance and social media monitoring and it would impact how much you enjoy the story. From that perspective, the game could well be an interesting personality test. And who knows, maybe developers monitor every playthrough to profile all of us gamers. Recursion galore, eh? 😅