Epic Games Store is giving away two complete PC games for free this week, and both are worth claiming before the window shuts. Mindcop, a detective adventure, and Shogun Showdown, a turn-based strategy roguelike, flip from "Coming Soon" to "Free Now" on September 17, 2026.
We checked the official Epic free-games page directly. Both titles are listed as free to claim from September 17 through September 24, 2026. Once you claim them they are yours to keep forever, even after the promo ends.
This is not a trial or a loot-box tease. These are full games with no strings attached, as long as you have a free Epic account and use the desktop app or the web claim flow. Below is exactly how to grab them and what to watch for at checkout.
Quick Summary
What | Two free PC games: Mindcop + Shogun Showdown |
|---|---|
Who | Anyone with a free Epic Games account |
Where | Epic Games Store on PC (desktop app or web) |
When | Sep 17 to Sep 24, 2026 |
Cost | $0.00, keep forever |
What Is the Deal, Exactly?
Epic Games Store runs a "free game every week" program, but this week is a double drop. Mindcop and Shogun Showdown both become free at the same time instead of the usual single title. We confirmed both on the live free-games page.
The claim window opens September 17, 2026 and closes September 24, 2026. After that, both return to their normal paid prices. The games do not expire from your library once claimed.
Epic has done two-game weeks before, but pairing a narrative adventure with a strategy roguelike is unusual. Most weeks feature one headline title plus a smaller bonus game. This pairing targets two different player types at once, which is why the combined value is higher than a typical Thursday drop.
Stacked against the other free-game sources, Epic's weekly drop is the most predictable. Prime Gaming gives a rotating PC title with an Amazon Prime login, GOG runs occasional giveaways, and Microsoft flips a free Store game monthly, but none match Epic's every-Thursday rhythm. That cadence is why regular claimers treat Thursday as a standing appointment.
The catch compared with those rivals is platform lock-in. A Prime or GOG freebie may also land on Steam or your library of choice; an Epic free game lives only in the Epic client. If you already run Epic for Fortnite, that is no cost, but pure-Steam players absorb another launcher.
The bigger picture is that Epic uses free games as a customer-acquisition cost. The store loses the per-copy revenue but gains an active library account that may spend later on DLC or other titles. Knowing that helps you claim without guilt: the game is a genuine gift, not a bait switch.
What's Free (or Discounted)
Mindcop is the free adventure title this week. It normally sells for around $24.99, so the free claim is roughly a $25 value on its own. It is a psychological detective game where you profile a suspect by reading behavior, a niche genre that rarely goes free elsewhere.
Shogun Showdown is the free strategy title. It usually runs about $19.99, adding another $20 of value to the haul. It is a turn-based roguelike built around positioning and counter-attacks, closer to Into the Breach than a typical strategy game.
Combined, the two games are worth about $45 at standard pricing. That is the real math most deal sites skip: you are not getting one game, you are getting two full releases from different genres.
Neither title is a demo or a timed trial. Both are the complete base game with all core content included. DLC or soundtracks are separate, but the base game is unrestricted and downloads to your own machine.
If you only want one of the two, claim both anyway and ignore the one you skip. There is no penalty for claiming a game you never install, and keeping it in your library costs nothing if your taste changes later.
How to Claim It Step by Step
Open the Epic Games Store free-games page on your PC or in a browser. Sign in with your Epic account, or create one for free if you are new.
Find Mindcop and Shogun Showdown on the page. Each shows a "Free" button where the price normally sits during the claim window.
Click "Get" or "Free" on each title, then confirm the zero-dollar purchase in the checkout popup. The game lands in your library instantly.
Install the Epic Games desktop app if you claimed on the web. Open the app, go to your Library, and hit Install to download either game.
That is the whole process. No payment method is required because the total is $0.00, and the games stay in your library permanently.
Who Is Eligible?
Anyone with a free Epic Games account can claim, whether the account is brand new or years old. There is no region lock for the continental United States; both titles are listed for the US store.
You need a PC or Mac that meets each game's minimum specs. Mindcop is light; Shogun Showdown needs a modest GPU but runs on most modern laptops.
No email verification wall beyond a standard account. If your account is flagged, verify your email first, then return to claim.
One account claims one copy of each game. You cannot stack multiple free copies on a single login, but you can claim on separate accounts in the same household.
Important Fine Print to Know
The claim window is strict. Epic resets free games every Thursday around 11:00 AM Eastern. Miss the September 24 cutoff and the price returns to normal with no grace period.
A confirmed account is required. Epic occasionally asks new accounts to verify email before the first claim, which can eat into your window if you wait until the last hour.
These are base games only. Any paid expansion, season pass, or cosmetic pack is still priced separately and is not part of the free drop.
The free version is permanent. Unlike a PlayStation Plus or Game Pass loan, an Epic free claim does not vanish if your subscription lapses, because there is no subscription.
How This Compares to Other Free Game Sources
Epic is not the only store giving away PC games, but its rhythm is the steadiest. The table below shows how this week's double drop stacks up against the other major free-game channels.
Source | Cadence | This Week | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
Epic | Every Thursday | 2 games, ~$45 | Epic client |
Monthly rotation | 1 to 2 titles | Needs Prime | |
Occasional | Varies by event | GOG launcher | |
Monthly | 1 title | MS Store |
The practical read is that Epic is the only one you can set a calendar reminder for with confidence. Prime Gaming and Microsoft rotate without warning, so a week can pass with nothing free. For a player who wants a steady trickle of owned games, Thursday on Epic is the backbone, and this Mindcop plus Shogun Showdown week is a strong example of why.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I claim both games at once?
Add each title separately by clicking its "Free" button and confirming checkout. Epic does not offer a single bulk-claim button for the weekly drop, so claim Mindcop, then claim Shogun Showdown. Both land in your Library immediately and stay there forever.
What happens if I miss the September 24 deadline?
You lose the free price. Both games revert to their standard tags, about $24.99 and $19.99, and you would pay full price to play them later. Set a reminder before the Thursday reset, because Epic does not extend free-game windows once they close.
Is Shogun Showdown free on Steam too?
No. This free claim is exclusive to the Epic Games Store. Shogun Showdown on Steam remains its normal paid price during the Epic promo. If you prefer Steam, you would buy it there; the free copy only exists in your Epic library.
Can I play these on a Mac?
Mindcop supports Mac through the Epic app, and Shogun Showdown also lists Mac among its platforms. Check each game's store page for the exact macOS version requirement before installing. Both run through the Epic Games desktop app rather than a browser.
Do I need a credit card to claim a free game?
No. Because the total is $0.00, Epic never prompts for payment details on a free claim. If a card field appears, you likely clicked the wrong "buy" button on a paid edition. Close it and use the "Free" button on the promo listing instead.
Is there a catch with the "free" label?
The only catch is the deadline. There is no subscription, no trial timer, and no in-game paywall on the base game. The titles are yours permanently after claim. The real risk is simply forgetting to claim before September 24, which is the most common way people miss Epic freebies.
Similar Deals Worth Checking Out
If you enjoy free PC games, the same week also lines up with other no-cost entertainment.
Our rundown of the free Fandango movie ticket ties into cheap date-night plans, and the free Grubhub Plus offer helps stretch a gaming snack budget.
For food while you play, the National Cheeseburger Day roundup and the Dairy Queen free shake both pair well with a long session.
Check the Qdoba free chips and guac deal for another easy win.
About Epic Games Store
Epic Games Store launched in 2018 as a PC marketplace competing with Steam, and its weekly free-game program is the headline hook. The store gives away a full title every Thursday and has distributed hundreds of paid games for free since launch.
Owned by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, the store runs on PC and Mac through its desktop app.
Since launch the store has used free games as its main wedge against Steam, and the program has quietly become a habit for millions of players. The weekly drop drives app installs and keeps the Epic launcher on machines that might otherwise only open for Fortnite.
For publishers, a free week is cheap user acquisition; for players, it is a reliable way to build a backlog of owned titles at zero cost. The Mindcop and Shogun Showdown drop fits that model exactly, and it shows why Thursday mornings are worth a quick check.
Epic also rotates a mobile free game each week through its Android and iOS app, extending the same idea to phones, though the PC drop remains the headline. If you only claim the big-name weeks, you still walk away with dozens of owned games a year.
