Monument Valley is this week’s free Epic Games Store game

Epic Games Store is giving away just one game this week, with intensely cozy vibes on the package, but with a much deeper complexity than they may seem to have at first glance.

• Monument Valley
  • Release Date: April 3, 2014
  • Game Type: puzzle, casual
  • POV: 3rd person
  • Party: Single player
  • DLC: none

Monument Valley was an instant classic when it initially released to mobile platforms, and then made its way to the PC market later. It’s a very cozy but mindbending puzzle game, with levels to get through that would make M. C. Escher say “huh?” There are now several entries in this series, but the original is well worth picking up.

Despite being listed earlier, this next game is not up for free this week, but will be next week, so keep an eye out!

• Battle of Polytopia
  • Release Date: August 5, 2020
  • Game Type: turn-based strategy
  • POV: 3rd person, isometric
  • Party: Single player, co-op, PVP
  • DLC: There are several skin and tribe packs for purchase.

Battle of Polytopia is a Civ-like with a cutesy low-poly vibe. It has all the features of one of those turn-based strategy games, from a tech tree to battles, to all kinds of different victory conditions. There are monthly challenges, you can PVP or just play a campaign like Civ. It isn’t quite as in-depth as some of the other titles in the genre, but that makes it a perfect choice for playing long-distance with a younger cousin.