Epic Games Store is giving away two well-reviewed PC games right now, and both are free to keep forever. Astral Ascent (regularly $24.99) and LUFTRAUSERS (regularly $9.99) can be claimed until Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET, according to the official Epic storefront and the store's own promotion data.
That is $34.98 in combined value for two clicks. Astral Ascent is a 2D action roguelite from Hibernian Workshop with an "Overwhelmingly Positive" Steam rating, and LUFTRAUSERS is Vlambeer's frantic 2014 arcade shooter. Neither requires a paid subscription — a free Epic account is the only gate.
There is a third reason to act this week: Epic has already lined up the next pair. Mindcop and Shogun Showdown rotate in as free games on September 17, per the store's own promotion schedule. Here is how to claim both current games, what the fine print says, and what is coming next.
Quick Summary: Epic Free Games This Week
Item | Details |
|---|---|
What | Astral Ascent ($24.99) and LUFTRAUSERS ($9.99), free to keep |
Who | Anyone with a free Epic Games account |
Where | Epic Games Store, PC (Windows, Mac for LUFTRAUSERS) |
When | Now through September 17, 2026, 11 a.m. ET |
How | Add each game to your cart and complete the free checkout |
Limit | One copy per account, must claim before deadline |
Worth | $34.98 combined retail value, yours permanently |
What Is the Epic Games Store Free Games Deal?
Epic gives away a rotating selection of PC games every week, permanently. Once you claim a game during its free window, it stays in your library forever, exactly like a purchase. This week's pairing replaced last week's offer, Alone With You, which left the store on September 10.
The current window opened on September 10 at 11 a.m. ET and closes on September 17 at 11 a.m. ET. Epic lists both titles on its official free games page, which is the fastest place to see the countdown timer yourself. You claim the games through the web store or the Epic Games Launcher on PC.
A detail worth knowing: as gaming outlets including GameRant and DLCompare pointed out, this week marks the Epic Games Store debut for both titles. They have been sold on Steam for years, but this is their first appearance in Epic's catalog — and their first time free anywhere.
The rotation math rewards repeat visitors. Epic has kept the weekly cadence going since 2018, and in our experience tracking it since spring, most weeks hand out one or two indie titles in the $10 to $25 range. Two games at once is common, and the combined retail value of a single week often beats what those titles cost on a Steam sale, which is why claiming every Thursday costs nothing and compounds quickly.
What's Free: Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS
Astral Ascent is the headliner at $24.99. You pick one of four heroes and fight your way out of the Garden, an astral prison guarded by 12 Zodiac bosses. Runs blend side-scrolling action combat with dozens of unlockable spells, and you can play the whole campaign in two-player local co-op.
Its Steam rating sat at roughly 95% positive from more than 1,800 reviews in early September 2026, per coverage from Notebookcheck and PCGamesN.
LUFTRAUSERS is the compact arcade pick at $9.99. Vlambeer, the Dutch studio also behind Ridiculous Fishing, built a score-chasing dogfighter where you mix and match weapon, body, and engine parts into more than 125 aircraft combinations across over 100 missions.
A clever touch: swapping parts dynamically changes the soundtrack. Steam users rate it around 91% positive from about 4,500 reviews, according to DLCompare's write-up of the giveaway.
Neither game includes its paid DLC in the giveaway. Astral Ascent sells several character expansions separately, and they remain paid. The base games, which is what Epic is giving away, are complete experiences on their own.
How to Claim the Free Epic Games Step by Step
Claiming takes about two minutes per game. You can use a browser or the Epic Games Launcher, and the steps are identical:
Create a free account or log in at the Epic Games Store.
Open the free games page and select Astral Ascent.
Click Get, then complete the free checkout — no payment method is required for $0 orders, though Epic may ask for a password re-entry.
Repeat for LUFTRAUSERS from the game's store page.
Install the Epic Games Launcher on PC to download and play either title.
That's it — claimed games stay in your library permanently, even after the free window closes.
The most common mistake is waiting until September 17 afternoon. The deadline is 11 a.m. ET, not midnight, and Epic's timer shows 15:00 UTC. If you claim at 2 p.m. ET that Thursday, both games will already be back to full price.
Who Is Eligible for the Free Games?
Anyone with a free Epic Games account in a supported country can claim both titles. There is no age gate beyond Epic's standard account rules, no subscription, and no purchase history requirement. Epic's giveaway is open worldwide wherever the store operates.
One platform note: these are PC giveaways. Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS land in your Epic library for Windows (and Mac, in LUFTRAUSERS' case). They do not carry over to PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch versions of the same games.
Epic also runs a separate mobile freebie rotation in some regions, which is where Alone With You headed after its PC window closed.
If you already own either game on Steam, claiming the Epic copy still makes sense. Your Epic library copy is independent, and roguelite players often keep both for different mod sets or cloud saves.
Important Fine Print to Know
The deadline is precise and non-negotiable. Epic's promotion data shows both games free from September 10 at 15:00 UTC to September 17 at 15:00 UTC. In US time that is 11 a.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Central, 9 a.m. Mountain, and 8 a.m. Pacific on the 17th. After that, Astral Ascent returns to $24.99 and LUFTRAUSERS to $9.99.
Free does not mean DLC, currency, or sequels are included. Only the base games convert to $0. Astral Ascent's character expansions and any LUFTRAUSERS extras stay at full price, so skip them at checkout unless you actually want to pay.
Epic's store page also notes the usual terms: one claim per account, and you must claim during the window — an unclaimed "wishlisted" game does not convert to free later. If the checkout asks for two-factor authentication, setting it up takes a minute and protects the library you are building.
We have tracked this rotation all year, and it is easy to lose track of the Thursday handoffs. Set a phone reminder for Wednesday night: claiming two free games takes less time than remembering their names on Thursday morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I claim Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS for free?
Log in to a free Epic account, open the free games page, and click Get on each title, then complete the $0 checkout. The games go straight into your library. You need the Epic Games Launcher on PC to install and play them.
Both Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS follow the same flow, and neither requires a payment card for free checkout.
When does the Epic free games offer end?
Both games leave the free rotation on September 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET (15:00 UTC). That is 10 a.m. in Chicago, 9 a.m. in Denver, and 8 a.m. in Los Angeles. Epic switches the rotation at that exact minute, so claims submitted after it fail. The promotion started September 10 at the same time of day, giving players a full week.
Who makes Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS?
Astral Ascent comes from Hibernian Workshop, an independent French studio, and launched in 2023. LUFTRAUSERS is by Vlambeer, the Dutch team behind Ridiculous Fishing, originally released in 2014.
Both studios built strong reputations on tight, mechanics-first design, which is why this week's pairing earned the review scores we cited above from coverage by DLCompare and other outlets.
What are the next free Epic games after September 17?
Epic's promotion schedule already lists the next pair: Mindcop, a "whodunnit" detective adventure mixed with real-time match-3 puzzles, and Shogun Showdown, a turn-based tactical roguelike. Both are scheduled for the September 17 to 24 window, and both are listed at $14.99 regularly, so the next rotation carries about $29.98 in value.
You can preview both on the store's Mindcop page and Shogun Showdown page today.
Is this really free forever or just a free trial?
It is free forever. Once a game is claimed during the promotion window, it is a permanent library entitlement with no expiry, no subscription tie-in, and no later charge. Epic's weekly giveaway has worked this way since 2018, and the company confirmed in its own about page materials that free games are yours to keep. If you ever see a "free trial" label in the store, that is a different program.
Can I claim these games on Steam instead for free?
No. This giveaway runs only on the Epic Games Store. Steam sells Astral Ascent and LUFTRAUSERS at full price, with occasional discounts. If you miss the Epic window, your cheapest fallback is wishlisting both on Steam and waiting for a sale — Astral Ascent has dipped deeply during past seasonal sales, and LUFTRAUSERS regularly appears in indie bundles. Epic's own store history shows repeat freebies eventually, though rarely for the same title twice in one year.
Similar Free PC Game Deals Worth Checking Out
Epic's rotation has been generous lately. Two weeks ago the store gave away Breathedge, a survival game set in space, and last week it was Alone With You, a sci-fi adventure.
Over on Steam, Legends of Starkadia was free to keep until September 14, and Civilization VII ran a full free-play week through September 10.
If you want free gaming beyond PC, Dave & Buster's ran a free play promotion for National Video Games Day that we covered in detail.
Epic also runs concurrent sales worth a look: Ghostrunner 2 is 80% off at $7.99 through September 24, and Castlevania Anniversary Collection is $7.99 through September 17, per the store's current listings.
About Epic Games Store
Epic Games is the North Carolina-based company behind Fortnite and Unreal Engine. It launched the Epic Games Store in December 2018 as a direct competitor to Steam, and the weekly free games program has been its signature user-acquisition tool ever since. Epic has given away thousands of dollars worth of games over the years, funding the giveaways through its 88/12 revenue split with developers.
The free games program typically rotates every Thursday at 11 a.m. ET, with one or two titles per week and bigger mystery giveaways during the December holiday sale.
You can browse the current and upcoming rotation on the official free games page, read Wikipedia's entry on Epic Games for company history, or follow GameLoop's weekly coverage of the giveaway beat.
