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| The December 31 free game hint isn't easy to decode. Pictured: edited artwork from Deathloop. |
The Epic Games Store is wrapping up 2025 with a bang, offering one last free game surprise for its loyal users. As has become a thrilling tradition, an Epic staffer has dropped a cryptic teaser for the December 31st giveaway, sending the gaming community into a frenzy of speculation.
The clue, posted on the store's official social channels, is a two-parter that has fans scratching their heads. It reads: "We did this in the past... but the clue has layers."
The first part seems straightforward, suggesting the upcoming giveaway is a repeat of a previous offer. However, the second phrase, "the clue has layers," throws a curveball. Does it refer to the game's genre, its narrative, or its very structure? The ambiguity is deliberate, and it’s worth noting that a straight repeat of a past free title on the prestigious December 31st slot would be unusual for Epic.
To crack the code, many are looking back at Epic's history of New Year's Eve giveaways. The storefront has made a habit of closing the year with a notable title:
- 2024: Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- 2023: A Plague Tale: Innocence (currently $7.99 on Humble Bundle)
- 2022: Mortal Shell
- 2021: Salt and Sanctuary
- 2020: Torchlight II
The pattern suggests a strong indie or AA title, though Epic has been known to pull out an AAA blockbuster for the grand finale.
So, which game fits the "layered" clue and is a repeat? The community has two strong frontrunners.
The leading theory points to ARK: Survival Ascended. This makes sense: Epic famously gave away the original ARK: Survival Evolved in 2020, fitting "we did this in the past." The "layers" could brilliantly describe the game itself—a survival experience with deep, stratified systems of crafting, taming, and building, not to mention its literal geological and technological progression.
The other popular guess is Deathloop. Epic gave away Bethesda's timeloop shooter in 2023. The "layers" here could refer to the game's intricately layered narrative, its overlapping player systems, or the literal layered levels of its multi-story districts.
Whether it's surviving dinosaurs or breaking a temporal loop, the reveal is just around the corner. The free game will be unveiled and available to claim on December 31, 2025, at 16:00 UTC. This is also when the current free game offer expires, so mark your calendars.
What’s your guess for the final free game of 2025? Join the speculation and discussion with thousands of other gamers on our community Discord server. The countdown to the big reveal is on!
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| Final free game for 2025 clue shared by Epic Games Store staff |