2018's post-apocalyptic city-builder Frostpunk is the third free game in 2021's Epic Games Store Mega Sale. The Epic Games Store has given free games away each week since its inception, and last year took things to a new level with a quartet of high-profile games, with the giveaway coinciding with store's annual summer sale. 2020's offerings included Grand Theft Auto V and Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, and this year's mystery games have proven to be just as notable.
Starting off the month's free games was NBA 2K21, the latest entry in the long-running basketball series from 2K Games and Visual Concepts. This year's release is notable for the addition of the Neighborhood social hub, as well as a cinematic story mode in the carerr mode. The most recent Epic Games Store freebie was more modest, but only in terms of dollars saved. One of 2020's biggest social gaming experiences Among Us was available free of charge, letting players join their friends in sussing out Crewmate from Impostor. Among Us was most recently updated with a new map in March.
Frostpunk, the third free Epic Mega Sale game to be revealed this year, is a very different experience than either of the previous titles. Frostpunk will be free on the Epic Games Store for one week, starting June 3 and ending on June 10. At that time, there will be another mystery game reveal for the final week of the current sale. Players of Frostpunk take charge of a city on the brink during a frozen apocalypse. As time goes on, tough choices have to be made with survival hanging in the balance. It's a game all about considering what it takes to succeed in a harsh environment and who comes out on top when it's all over (if anyone).
As for what the next game could be, there has been some speculation online. There were recent rumors that Rise of the Tomb Raider will be made free for the Mega Sale. While the spot that many thought the most recent Tomb Raider would take already went to Among Us, it's possible that Crystal Dynamics' action-adventure blockbuster could be for the giveaway's big finale. Other murmurs suggest the mystery game could be something like Control or another AAA game with an upgraded version for customers to grab once they try the base version for free.
In any case, the solid fact is that Frostpunk is free on the Epic Games Store at publication time. The only other sure thing is that Epic Games will continue to dole out free games week after week in order to keep up the competition against Steam (at least until the Epic Games Store is profitable).
Frostpunk is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it will be available for iOS in 2021 and Android at an unannounced date.
Source: Epic Games Store