This week’s Epic Games Store free games of the week are Dead Island 2 and Happy Game

This week the Epic Games Store is giving us a bit of whiplash in the thematic juxtaposition between the two games they’re offering for free this week: the gleeful gorefest of Dead Island 2, and the devolving dreamscape (perhaps nightmare) that is Happy Game. Between the two, Dead Island 2 is much more carefree, while Happy Game is downright dark and unsettling. Not that beating zombies to death with a bat is wholesome family entertainment or anything.

• Dead Island 2
  • Release Date: April 21, 2023
  • Game Type: Horror, Shooter
  • POV: First Person
  • Party: Single player, co-op
  • DLC: Various cosmetic and mission packs.

Dead Island 2 is another classic in a genre that delights in cartoonishly awful violence. To be clear, that is in no way a negative criticism. The Dead Island franchise knows exactly what it is and revels in that knowledge, in a gaming experience which is fun, if you’re into that kind of thing. If you’re squeamish about blood, or yearn for the days when zombies were intended as social commentary, this probably isn’t the game for you.

• Happy Game
  • Release Date: October 28, 2021
  • Game Type: Puzzle
  • POV: 3rd person
  • Party: Single player
  • DLC: None for gameplay, but you can also purchase the soundtrack and art book.

As the disclaimer says, “Happy Game is not a happy game.” It takes a dream and makes it unsettling and dark. The disclaimer also talks about decapitating bunnies, which in an odd way is far more disturbing to me than the rivers of viscera promised in Dead Island 2.

Either way, well done to the person at Epic Games who arranges these free games, because the combination of these two games is truly food for thought.