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| Epic Games is giving away two games on PC this week, logo pictured. |
The Epic Games Store is treating PC gamers to another double-feature giveaway this week, swapping out last Thursday’s offerings for two critically acclaimed detective adventures. Starting today, the storefront replaces the relaxing puzzle title Botany Manor and the cosmetic-heavy Poison Retro Set for Pixel Gun 3D with a gritty cyberpunk noir and a lighthearted pixel-art mystery. Nobody Wants to Die and The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark are now free to claim, but there’s an important caveat: while both games are natively available on macOS and Linux via other storefronts, this Epic giveaway is strictly for Windows PC.
A Bleeding‑Edge Noir: Nobody Wants to Die
Set in a 24th‑century New York where immortality is a commodity and death has been “solved” by a sinister governing body, Nobody Wants to Die drops players into the chrome‑shod shoes of Detective James Karra. The game wears its influences on its sleeve—Blade Runner’s neon‑soaked melancholy and Cyberpunk 2077’s transhumanist dread are ever‑present—but it carves its own identity through branching investigations and a haunting narrative about memory, power, and what it truly means to be human.
Since its release last year, the title has garnered a Very Positive rating on Steam, with critics awarding it 75/100 on Metacritic and 77/100 on OpenCritic. Players praise its dense atmosphere, morally grey choices, and a photo‑realistic art direction that feels a generation ahead of most indie productions. If you’ve been yearning for a narrative‑first experience that respects your intelligence, you can grab your free copy directly from Nobody Wants to Die on the Epic Games Store. Don’t forget: the offer is valid only until 16:00 UTC on February 19, and the game supports both PlayStation and Xbox controllers for those who prefer to lean back while they unravel conspiracies.
Pixels, Portals, and Puns: The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark
If neon dystopias feel too heavy, the week’s second title offers a welcome palette cleanser. The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark reunites players with the hapless but lovable Detective Francis McQueen and his sceptical partner, Officer Dooley. This point‑and‑click homage to 1990s adventure games wraps supernatural shenanigans in lovingly crafted pixel graphics and a script that balances dry wit with genuine creepiness.
Originally released to widespread acclaim, A Fumble in the Dark holds an 84/100 average on Metacritic and an 81/100 on OpenCritic, with similarly high marks on GOG and Steam. Reviewers consistently highlight the game’s clever puzzles, its affectionate parody of police procedural tropes, and the surprising emotional beats that sneak up on you between the one‑liners. Like its companion giveaway, this sequel features full controller support, making it an ideal couch experience on a living room PC.
You can add it to your library by visiting The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark’s store page before the February 19 deadline. Both titles will remain claimable simultaneously until that cutoff, after which Epic will unveil its next pair of freebies.
Why This Giveaway Matters
Epic’s weekly free game program has distributed over $2,500 worth of titles per user since its 2018 launch, and 2026 shows no sign of slowing down. The choice to feature Nobody Wants to Die—a game that originally launched at $29.99—alongside a beloved cult classic demonstrates the storefront’s continued investment in both indie darlings and AA gems. It’s also a subtle reminder that while Epic may have lost some exclusive battles, its wallet remains a powerful ally for players.
One oddity this week is the platform restriction. Both games are sold natively for macOS and Linux on Steam and GOG, yet the Epic copies are Windows‑only. The store listing does not offer a technical reason, but it’s a detail worth noting for dual‑boot or non‑Windows gamers. If you fall into that category, you may want to wishlist the titles on other storefronts for a future sale.
Claiming and What’s Next
To claim the games, simply log in to your Epic Games Store account via the desktop app or website, navigate to the respective store pages, and click “Get.” They will be permanently tied to your library—no subscription required. As always, Epic allows a seven‑day window, so even if you’re on holiday or busy, you have until next Thursday afternoon to secure both.
Will next week bring another thematic pairing? Epic has kept its teasers cryptic, but based on recent patterns—horror followed by co‑op, then simulation, now detective duo—a shift to action or strategy seems likely. Until then, these two very different sleuthing sagas offer more than enough content to fill the gap.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
Sources: Epic Games Store (1) (2)