December has always been a busy month for the Epic Games Store. While the first half of the month usually follows the same formula that the Epic Games Store first forged seven years ago, where 1-2 free games are given away every Thursday, EGS uses the second half of December to deliver daily mystery freebies.
With December now in the rearview mirror, the general consensus is that the Epic Games Store’s daily December free games were a little lackluster, with Viewfinder, The Callisto Protocol, and Disco Elysium arguably being the only real standouts of the 14 games offered. But it’s a brand-new year, and the Epic Games Store has plenty of time to get back in users’ good graces. To some, the storefront has already achieved just that, with it starting the year off strong with Total War: Three Kingdoms and Wildgate, and Bloons TD 6 being the current Epic Games Store freebie. The Epic Games Store’s January 15 free games are another strong showing, not necessarily in terms of the games themselves, but as their shared role as appetizers for one anticipated February 2026 release.
Epic Games Store: A Comprehensive List Of Every Free Game It’s Had To Date
Here’s a list of all the games that have been made free on the Epic Games Store. You have until January 15 to get the current free game.
The Epic Games Store Free Games for January 15 Explained
Styx: Master of Shadows
- Released in October 2014
- Developed by Cyanide Studio
- Retails for $19.99 on Steam
- 68 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic
- Stealth game with RPG elements
- Developed with Unreal Engine 3
- Takes 17 hours to finish main story (according to HowLongToBeat)
Originally released for PC, Xbox One, and PS4 in October 2014, Styx: Master of Shadows is a stealth game that puts sneaking and deceit at the very forefront of its gameplay. As the titular goblin, players must sneak their way through a variety of dark fantasy locations, sticking closely to the shadows and using a handful of magical abilities to evade and trick enemies. One such arcane power is the ability to clone themselves, allowing them to scout areas in advance and lure guards out of the way.
Story-wise, Styx: Master of Shadows acts as a prequel to developer Cyanide’s 2012 action-RPG Of Orcs and Men, which revolves around a fantasy world where goblins and orcs are oppressed by the Empire of Men. Styx appeared as one of the two main protagonists in Of Orcs and Men, and this prequel tells the story of how he became the world’s first goblin.
Critically, Styx: Master of Shadows didn’t perform incredibly well. The game’s currently sitting at a 68 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic, though scores range wildly from 4/10 all the way up to 9/10. Reviews with a lower score attached often mention Styx: Master of Shadows‘ subpar enemy AI, its half-baked combat, and a general lack of polish, while those with 9s and 8s attached praise Styx for being an unashamed hardcore stealth game in an era where that wasn’t common.
- Released
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October 7, 2014
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 3
Styx: Shards of Darkness
- Released in March 2017
- Developed by Cyanide Studio
- Retails for $19.99 on Steam
- 72 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic
- Stealth game with RPG elements
- Has a 2-player co-op mode
- Developed with Unreal Engine 4
- Takes 12 hours to finish main story (according to HowLongToBeat)
Released just over two years after its predecessor, Styx: Shards of Darkness takes the stealth-focused formula presented in Master of Shadows and attempts to improve on it in just about every way. With an upgrade from Unreal Engine 3 to UE4, Styx: Shards of Darkness certainly looks a little nicer than its predecessor, and general gameplay improvements like the inclusion of new craftable weapons and a grappling hook help to make it feel like a step-up over the 2014 game.
Critics seemed to agree, as Styx: Shards of Darkness has a slightly higher Top Critic Average on OpenCritic, with it sitting at a respectable 72. Those less hot on the game once again cited poor enemy AI and a lack of overall polish in the sequel, while those who gave it a higher score again praised Styx‘s willingness to be a stealth game that doesn’t hold the player’s hand or hold its punches. Another element that helped Shards of Darkness to stand out was its two-player co-op mode, where friends could sneak their way through environments side-by-side.
- Released
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March 14, 2017
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Publisher(s)
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Focus Entertainment, Nacon
The Epic Games Store Free Games for January 15 Are Must-Plays Ahead of One February 2026 Release
Styx: Master of Shadows and Shards of Darkness are far from the best video games out there, and they’re far from the most high-profile titles the Epic Games Store has offered for free, but for fans of the stealth genre they’re more than worth a playthrough. That’s especially true in 2026, as after nearly a decade-long hiatus, the Styx series is returning for a third entry.
Set to release on February 19, 2026, Styx: Blades of Greed looks like a big step forward for the fantasy stealth series, at least in terms of gameplay variety. Instead of small arenas, Styx: Blades of Greed is making a shift towards large open environments that require the use of a grappling hook and a glider to traverse. The third entry in the Styx series will also introduce new magical ‘Quartz’ powers, such as a slow-down-time mechanic, a Force Push-like blast, and some kind of mind control ability. According to the game’s official description on Steam, along with being used for stealth and combat, these powers and traversal abilities will also be used to unlock new areas and new parts of prior levels, similar to a Metroidvania.
According to developer Cyanide Studio, Styx: Blades of Greed is also putting a greater emphasis on story this time around. Blades of Greed will take place immediately after the events of Shards of Darkness and will reportedly lead almost directly into Of Orcs and Men. Much like its two predecessors, Styx: Blades of Greed will take around 20 hours to beat on average, according to its developers, though different playstyles will affect that runtime.
- Released
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February 19, 2026
- PC Release Date
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February 19, 2026
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
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February 19, 2026
