Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, launched their own digital gaming store —the Epic Games Store— in December 2018. The company quickly purchased exclusivity for numerous games, which may have rubbed a lot of PC gamers the wrong way.
However, the frustration with PC exclusivity aside, the Epic Games Store has a lot of great games to play. It's clear that the company isn't messing around and has successfully provided robust competition in the market. If you're wondering whether it's worth checking out, we've curated some of the best games you can get right now on the Epic Store.
Updated May 28, 2023 by William Quick:Summer is on the horizon, and there have been many recent announcements and new games waiting to launch. With so much to look forward to, there are plenty of titles to praise and expectations raised for later this year. However, this means that everyone's backlog will stand to get a lot longer with only so much time to play them. Luckily, the Epic Games platform has a growing catalog to browse, with many titles certainly worth your time and investment.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
With Spider-Man 2 to expect down the line, it's a good reason to revisit all the current Spider-Man games still available. The 2018 game is quite the experience, and it was followed by the newest NY hero, Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
As young Miles, you'll be in charge of looking after New York while Peter Parker is away. You'll have all the freedom of swinging and falling through the city mixed with combat encounters and stealth gameplay. To add some sugar on top, you get access to all of Miles's trademark invisibility and Venom skills.
Dead Island 2
The first Dead Island is one of the most notable examples of having an amazing game trailer but lacking gameplay. The devs seemed to have learned their lesson with the recent release of Dead Island 2.
That's right, you're back in a holiday paradise where the zombie outbreak returns in full force. Sure, you're welcome to follow the story and take on missions for the various survivors around the island. The thing is, this is a zombie game with an entertaining setting, refined gameplay, crafting, and plenty of squishy undead to take out your frustrations.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Star Wars franchise fluctuates when it comes to success in gaming, especially when it involves using lightsabers and the force. Though, it seems the team has taken some notes from other action-adventure games to create the Jedi series, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor being the latest entry.
You return as Cal, the Jedi in hiding as he continues his campaign against the Empire. He's a bit more seasoned, but he's still got plenty of allies and planets to visit. Using soulslike mechanics, it's a challenging experience with all the features of the Star Wars universe. You'll need skillful lightsaber tactics and creative use of the Force in order to get far and see more.
Horizon Zero Dawn
There are many theories and ideas as to how the world will transform as technology gets more advanced. An interesting and impressive take can be seen in humankind's return to the old ways and robots becoming part of the wildlife in Horizon Zero Dawn.
As the young and special woman Aloy, you quickly integrate with a piece of tech that allows you to see the behaviors of all the robotic beings roaming the world. This helps with understanding, avoiding, hunting, and riding them as you're taken on an epic journey. Use a combination of survival crafting and technological tinkering to make and use the best gear available.
Returnal
Space is terrifying and being trapped in any sort of sci-fi setting is a recipe for fear and tension. For a chance to fight your way through such a scenario to prove your strength and courage, you've got Returnal.
You'll take on the role of Selene, a space explorer who ends up stranded on an ever-changing planet. This is the perfect setup for a roguelike experience where you need to get as far as you can to learn more about the civilization that once thrived here. Collect and use a variety of futuristic weapons as you run, dash, and fight a gallery of haunting extraterrestrial entities.
Among Us
Quarantine was a time of isolation and separation for many, which is why the online world became even more valuable. And with that came the discovery of a simple but massively engaging and entertaining game of Among Us.
Available on all major platforms, the game has you and others playing as one of several crew mates on one of several spaceships. The innocents have to keep things running and catch the imposter before it kills them all. Just make sure you have a convincing argument to defend yourself.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
If you were to take Dungeons & Dragons and turn it into a card, you'd get something like Magic: The Gathering. As one of the most popular trading card games being played today, it appears in multiple forms, including digital.
With Magic: The Gathering Arena, it's all about who is the best. Sign in to the game and do your best to gather cards in order to build the strongest and most versatile deck possible. This can be done through synergy with themes or card types, so take time to experiment and see what works best for your strategy.
Nioh: Definitive Edition
Japanese mythology will never go out of style and there are ways to work it into every genre of gaming on the planet. When the Soulslike was being established, Nioh arrived but at the same time made the genre its own.
Now that Nioh: Definitive Edition is here, you can experience the game which preceded what would become a massively multiplayer game about hunting demons together with friends. Follow the story of a gifted warrior who must use his own skills and the power of various spirits in order to survive and kick all the demons back into the spirit world.
Hitman World Of Assassination
When Hitman first appeared, it immediately turned heads for having what was very open-ended gameplay at the time. There were countless ways to accomplish each mission and the HD trilogy became the definitive part of the series.
In addition to remaking the Hitman structure, it added an online component to allow for custom maps and challenges. To make things more convenient, the whole trilogy with all its bells and whistles was condensed into Hitman World Of Assassination. Here's your chance to prove just how crafty you can be.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
In 2007, the RPG genre got a shot in the arm with The Witcher. It was a new take on classic fantasy elements with a cool and serious protagonist the lead the way. However, things didn't really get good until The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In the third installment of the series, Geralt is back with full 3D adventure movement, action, a massive open world, and more quests than you can shake a silver sword at. You're not just running around slaying monsters, you're solving cases like some sort of fantasy Batman... which may actually require you to fight a bat-man at the end.
Goat Simulator 3
No one knew what to expect when Goat Simulator appeared on the scene and possibly even fewer expected that it would be a massive success. It's been many years since the very first game, but it spawned a series that has yielded a brand-new entry called Goat Simulator 3. Yes, the goat is back... for a third but maybe not the final time.
You'll return to the low-poly universe as a goat who is able to break the laws of physics without even trying. Sure you're free to complete tasks and go on missions if you really need some sort of goal to strive for, but this game is a destructive sandbox in its purest sense. Run around, ram into things, give unwilling people rides, use your sticky grapple tongue, and wield whatever tools and toys you're able to get your hooves on.
MultiVersus
The Smash Bros. series has had a monopoly on fast-paced freeform 2.5D iconic character fighting games for a while, but now has a surprisingly solid rival to challenge it. Amusingly enough, it's Warner Bros. that is taking on Smash Bros. with their own fighting game and cast of popular IPs in MultiVersus which gained millions of players while it was barely in beta.
The game has Smash rules in that players fight on platforming stages with the goal of launching opponents offscreen. They also have a choice of numerous cartoon characters ranging from serious to ridiculous. Can you imagine a situation in which Batman would have to fight Tom and Jerry? Well, now you don't have to!
Frostpunk
Some people prefer cold weather to hot weather, but taking it to the extreme could make them change their minds. The idea of trying to survive in a world covered in ice has appeared in games multiple times with a lot of challenges associated with it. You can see just how difficult it can be when you're looking after the people in Frostpunk.
This game is set in a version of Earth that is going through a severe ice age. With no place to turn, a group of survivors heads north and luckily finds a large and operational coal generator. By using whatever resources you can find, it's up to use to keep the generator burning as you try to build a new society among what remains, and those hearty enough to survive.
Airborne Kingdom
Howl's Moving Castle is a magical book that inspired a magical film that lead to countless dreams of living in a home that could travel across the world. However, what if this was taken to the next step, and it was a whole city that was moving? Well, you can see how this plays out in the fantastical city-building sim that Airborne Kingdom.
As the name implies, you are given command over a fledgling kingdom that has decided to take to the skies. You're tasked with maintaining the city as well as its ability to fly in order to keep the citizens happy. You'll be able to fly to other parts of the world in search of new lands and resources so that you can continue to expand across the sky.
My Time At Sandrock
It's safe to say that not many people fantasize about living in a desert since it's one of the harshest environments on the planet. This doesn't mean it's impossible and there are those who manage to thrive and find joy in such a place. You can experience some of this joy by playing the sequel to My Time At Portia, called My Time At Sandrock.
As the new proprietor of a workshop, you arrive in a desert region with a colorful little town spread across the sand. The world is recovering from a catastrophe, and you have to help by lending your engineering and crafting prowess to address citizen concerns and keep the town afloat. Grow your shop, build, farm, explore, fight, and make lasting relationships with your time at Sandrock.
Valorant
Team-based games help forge friendships, and rivalries, and can push your skills beyond their limits. Among all the different titles in which you can do this, the option comes down to what kind of game sounds like the most fun while still being competitive. For those looking for colorful and intense action, Valorant is a good place to find it.
This online FPS combines both your own skill with the game's mechanics, mainly in terms of the characters. Each one of them has its own look and style with skills to complement whatever strategy appeals to you. Run and gun your way to victory either on your own or with teammates in hopes of earning a sense of valor.
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch
Rabbits are among the most adorable animals ever to exist, which is why they're probably not the first choice in terms of making a tough and intimidating action hero. Thankfully, games are able to prove us wrong with their creativity and expression, such as sharing a new perspective. For the one about rabbits, you can check out FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch.
In a world dominated by anthropomorphic animals, machines are still a very real threat. As the former soldier and current rabbit Rayton, take up one of three weapons to go on a mission to save your friend. Navigate the city, break all the machines that get your way, and show all the impressive boss enemies what happens when a rabbit hops to it.
Spider-Man Remastered
There are so many superheroes out there, but the one that most embodies freedom of movement is Spider-Man. While he can't fly, his web swinging lets him get some serious air and build up speed as he travels through the concrete jungle of New York City. In terms of games, the hero hit it big with Spider-Man (2018).
Since then, the game has been remastered for PC, and now you'll be able to experience a whole new Spider-Man story with Peter Parker and a slew of memorable characters from his universe. If you're not too pressed to finish the story, New York has many other tasks to keep you busy.
Detroit: Become Human
People are constantly asking what it means to be alive and what it is that separates humans from all other organisms on the planet. When you introduce the idea of artificial intelligence, the answer only gets even more complex as can be seen when playing through Detroit: Become Human.
It's the future once again and machines have gotten to the point where they're more advanced and intelligent than humans. As one of the machines, you'll make choices to define who and what you are and how you'll spend your life.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Bethesda's The Elder Scroll series has been focused on online entry for quite some time and there hasn't been a main entry in the series for quite some time. Although there are talks of a sixth game in the works, there is still plenty for players to do and experience in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
In the region of Skyrim, customize your character and become the legendary Dragonborn. Capable of wielding the breath of dragons, you'll have to stop a cataclysmic event being brought about by the return of the dragons.