January 15th Epic Games Store free games are the official appetizer to new games in February 2026

December has always been a busy month. Epic Games Store. While the first half of the month typically follows the same formula that the Epic Games Store first created seven years ago, offering one or two free games every Thursday, EGS uses the second half of December to offer a mystery free game every day.

With December now in the rearview mirror, the general consensus is that the daily free December games on the Epic Games Store have been a bit lackluster. viewfinder, Callisto Protocoland Disco Elysium This is probably the only game that stands out among the 14 games on offer. But it's a new year, and the Epic Games Store has plenty of time to return the favor. For some, the store has already achieved that goal and is off to a strong start to the year. Total War: Three Kingdoms and wild gateand Balloon TD 6 It's currently free on the Epic Games Store. The January 15th free game on the Epic Games Store is another strong achievement, not necessarily in terms of the game itself, but in that it shares the role of one appetizer for its expected February 2026 release.

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Epic Games Store: Comprehensive list of all free games released so far

Here's a list of all the games available for free on the Epic Games Store: Currently you have to wait until January 15th to get the free game.

January 15th Epic Games Store Free Games Explained

Styx: Master of Shadows

Released in October 2014
Developed by Cyanide Studio
Retails for $19.99 on Steam
OpenCritic top critic average 68th
Stealth game with RPG elements
Developed with Unreal Engine 3
Takes 17 hours to complete the main story (According to HowLongToBeat)

It was originally released for PC, Xbox One, and PS4 in October 2014. Styx: Master of Shadows is a stealth game that puts stealth and deception at the forefront of the gameplay. As the titular Goblin, players must sneak through a variety of dark fantasy locations, sticking close to the shadows and using a handful of magical abilities to evade and deceive enemies. One such mystical power is the ability to clone oneself to scout out areas in advance and lure out guards.

In terms of story, Styx: Master of Shadows It serves as a prequel to developer Cyanide's 2012 action RPG. orcs and humansIt centers around a fantasy world where goblins and orcs are oppressed by the human empire. Styx appeared as one of the two main characters in . orcs and humansAnd this sequel tells the story of how he became the world's first goblin.

Critically, Styx: Master of Shadows It didn't perform extremely well. The game currently holds a top critic average of 68 on OpenCritic, although scores vary widely from 4/10 to 9/10. Reviews with low scores are often mentioned. Styx: Master of ShadowsSubpar enemy AI, half-baked combat, and an overall lack of polish, the 9s and 8s were praised for. Styx Because it was an unabashedly hardcore stealth game at a time when it wasn't that common.

Styx: Master of Shadows tag page cover art

released: October 7, 2014
ESRB: Ages 17+ // Violence, blood and gore, strong language
engine: Unreal Engine 3

Styx: Shard of Darkness

Released in March 2017
Developed by Cyanide Studio
Retails for $19.99 on Steam
OpenCritic top critic average 72nd place
Stealth game with RPG elements
There is a two-player co-op mode.
Developed with Unreal Engine 4
It takes 12 hours to clear the main story. (According to HowLongToBeat)

Released two years after its predecessor Styx: Shard of Darkness We use the stealth-centric formula presented in . master of shadows And we try to improve it in almost every way possible. With the upgrade from Unreal Engine 3 to UE4, Styx: Shard of Darkness It certainly looks a bit better than its predecessor, and the general gameplay improvements, including the inclusion of new craftable weapons and grappling hooks, make it feel like a step up from the 2014 game.

Critics seemed to agree: Styx: Shard of Darkness The top critic average on OpenCritic is slightly higher, scoring a respectable 72. Those less interested in the game once again noted the poor enemy AI and the sequel's overall lack of polish, while those who gave it higher scores again praised it. StyxThe intention to be a stealth game that doesn't hold the player's hand or pull any punches. Another thing that helped Shard of Darkness What stood out was the two-player co-op mode, which allowed friends to sneak through the environment side by side.

Styx: Shards Of Darkness tag page cover art

released: March 14, 2017
ESRB: M Mature 17+ // Blood, intense violence, strong language, drug use
publisher: Focus Entertainment, Nakhon

These free games from the Epic Games Store on January 15 are must-play games ahead of their February 2026 launch

Styx: Master of Shadows and Shard of Darkness It's far from the best video game, and far from the hottest title the Epic Games Store has for free, but it's more than worth a play for fans of the stealth genre. This is especially true in 2026. After a gap of almost 10 years, Styx The series returns with its third entry.

Scheduled to be released on February 19, 2026 Styx: Blade of Greed The fantasy stealth series appears to have taken a huge step forward, at least in terms of gameplay variety. Rather than a small stadium Styx: Blade of Greed We're transitioning into a large open environment that must be traversed using grappling hooks and gliders. the third item of Styx The series also introduces new magical 'Quartz' abilities, such as a slow time mechanism, Force Push-like explosions, and some sort of mind control ability. According to the game's official description on Steam, in addition to being used for stealth and combat, these powers and movement abilities are also used to unlock new areas and new parts of previous levels, similar to a Metroidvania.

According to developer Cyanide Studio, Styx: Blade of Greed Again, more emphasis is placed on the story. Blade of Greed It will happen immediately after the event Shard of Darkness Reportedly, it will follow almost directly. orcs and humans. Like its two predecessors, Styx: Blade of Greed According to the developers, it will take an average of about 20 hours to beat, but your play style will affect the runtime.