Summary
TheEpic Games Storehas more or less reliably offered players at least one free game every week since 2019, spanning across all sorts of different genres and experiences to surprise those who check the storefront out every Thursday.Epic Games Storeusers can easily obtain a number of games to add to their backlog this way, or find a diamond in the rough to kill time with between releases. There’s plenty to gain just by being vigilant of what to expect with each rotation of freebies, and that is no different this week.
Each selection of free games is swapped out at 10 AM CT every Thursday, with thegame announced on the Epic Games Store free game pagemade available at no cost, and a new upcoming title revealed for the following week so fans are aware of what’s ahead in advance. This gives players plenty of time to examine the game in question and understand if its something they want in their libraries or not, for one reason or another. The next Epic Games Store free game,Islets, is most certainly worth fans' time as a wholesome adventure.
Epic Games Store Free Game Islets Explained
Islets is a Metroidvania About Togetherness
Long after Nintendo’sMetroidshaped and helped name the genre,Metroidvanias are regularly found among many new releases.Isletsis unique in that the sprawling, slowly unlockable map found in other titles is segmented and separated, and it’s up to the player to get them back together. Each section makes up a small island filled with not only enemies to fight, but people to meet and befriend. This makes Islets a “surprisingly wholesome Metroidvania” according to its solo developer Kyle Thompson, and its bright and vivid art style certainly makes it stand out against more prominent members of the genre likeHollow KnightandMetroiditself.
Metroidvanias aren’t for everyone, as they encourage exploration and for the player to understand the game as they go along, usually resulting in quite a high difficulty curve. However, if a player has been spurned by other similar games in the past, they may find a new understanding of the genre inIslets. Just as its core theme of unity demands,Isletsis very welcoming to beginners, starting off fairly simple before bumping up the difficulty just as players grow to understand what’s going on. While the curve might still surprise a few players who take in the cute and cuddly atmosphere and let down their guard, it sits as a perfect entry point to the genre itself.
Everything One Expects From a Metroidvania is in Islets With a Few Twists
Like many other video game genres, there are a few staples that are required for a game to fit into one genre in particular. This is especially true for Metroidvanias, as it sits as one of the best known genres for die-hard players, which means that these rules need to be kept intact with no room for massive changes.Isletsskirts on this line, as with the inclusion of upgradable power-ups, secrets, hidden paths, and role-playing elements also comes some surprise twists to what’s expected that make the game stand out, just likeother upcoming MetroidvaniaBioGun.
Islets
WHERE TO PLAY
Iko is an aspiring yet hopeful warrior exploring the land and sky to reunite a series of floating islands. With his rickety airship, he must travel from island to island in order to reignite each one’s magnetic core while fighting off the many adversaries standing in his way.Islets is a surprisingly wholesome metroidvania about making connections with the people around you. By reuniting the islands and befriending a cast of charming characters, the world expands and reveals new parts of each area for Iko to explore. Scour every nook and cranny in order to collect the many upgrades hidden around this world and face its numerous hidden challenges!There’s also a tour guide to show you around, but you should be careful. The guy’s got some really weird vibes…
Handing out such a welcoming game for free most certainly makes for a greatoffering for the Epic Games Store’s free games promotion, as it gives players a chance to explore something they might not have understood fully before. Of course, whether gamers take the opportunity is completely up to them in the end. Metroidvanias, just like every genre, aren’t for everyone, but this game is a great way for players to test the waters and see if it’s a type of game they will enjoy Plus, a new Epic Games Store freebie is just around the corner, going live on April 4 at 10 AM CT.
Epic Games Store
A digital video game storefront for Windows PC and macOS created and operated by Epic Games. Originally launched in December 2018, Epic Games Store is both a website as well as a standalone launcher.
