As always, Thursday is an important day forEpic Games Storeusers. Last Thursday,Galactic Civilizations 3began its free week, andEpic Games Store also confirmed the free game for January 20. At 10 am CT on January 20,Galactic Civilizations 3will rotate out and be replaced byRelicta.
Chances are,Relictamay have flown under a lot of radars when it was released back in 2020, but interested fans should know that it received pretty good scores at launch. Critics praised its atmospheres and puzzles, with OpenCritic havingRelictasitting at a 75 Critic Average and a ‘Strong’ Rating. Notably,Relictaisn’t just a puzzle game either as it brings multiple other methods of storytelling in too, really making it a strong follow-up to theEpic Games Store’sGalactic Civilizations 3release.
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Epic Games Store – Relicta’s Story
Relictacan be compared to asci-fi psychological thriller, as while—yes—gameplay is by and large focused on solving physics-based puzzles, players are doing so to unravel the secrets of the mysterious Chandra Base. Players are the top physicist stranded on the Moon, with their scientific mind and research being all that stands between their daughter’s life and/or the fate of humanity. Overall, part of this relates to the “dangers” of scientific research, tackling the age-old sci-fi theme of “just because they could doesn’t mean they should.”
There’s even a bit of adetective game themetoRelicta, as players can rush ahead, solve puzzles, and get to safety, or they can take their time, gather clues, and come to understand the ins and outs of 22nd-century politics. Plus, with the incredibly detailed environments,Relicta’sapproach to environmental storytellingis second to none, and that helps bring out the mysteries.
Epic Games Store – Relicta’s Gameplay
Gameplay-wise, players will have to manipulate gravity and magnetism to solve physics-based puzzles to find their way around terraformed craters. It’s pretty straightforward, but the aboveRelictalaunch trailer above gives fans a clearer idea of what the gameplay looks like. In solving these puzzles, players will also be able to combine their abilities and go about them in inventive ways. BecauseRelictais in first-person, it adds a realistic and immersive approach to the overall gameplay.
Perhaps the best part of free games on services like theEpic Games Storeis finding a hidden gem that someone may not have played before. WhileRelictamay not be for everyone, it can easily fill that “hidden gem” hole for many, and checking it out for free might make that even sweeter.
Epic Games Storeusers typically get a handful of free games every month.
