Epic Games Store gives away Astrea and Mechabellum for a limited time
Epic Games Store has made Astrea: Six-Side Oracles and Mechabellum free to claim until October 1. Astrea is a dice-based deck-building roguelike, while Mechabellum is a mech auto-battler. Players who claim the games keep them permanently in their library.
Epic's weekly giveaway rotates every Thursday, with the current pair available until October 1. Astrea: Six-Side Oracles replaces traditional cards with dice, introducing a dual damage system where purification harms foes or heals the player, while corruption works in reverse. Mechabellum focuses on strategic troop drafting and formation mastery across 1v1, 2v2, free-for-all, and survival modes, emphasizing planning over rapid clicking. Both titles remain permanently accessible once claimed, and the following week will bring Buried Stars and System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster.
This recurring giveaway model could meaningfully shape consumer habits within the gaming community, encouraging players to regularly check the storefront and expand their digital libraries at no cost. It may also influence purchasing decisions, as gamers might postpone buying titles knowing they could appear free later. For smaller developers like those behind Astrea and Mechabellum, such promotions could boost visibility and player bases, though the long-term revenue impact remains uncertain.