Two Free PC Games to Claim Right Now on the Epic Games Store
We are back for our essential weekly check-in : the free Epic Games Store titles ! This time around, we are offered two completely different experiences, available to claim before next Thursday at 11 AM ET sharp. Whether you want to let off some steam or dive headfirst into intense space battles, there is plenty to fuel your gaming library.
Calico : opening the coziest cat cafe of the year
A highly unique vibe, embraced all the way
Let us be perfectly honest right from the start : the ultra-sweet, very pink, and resolutely kawaii universe of Calico will appeal to a specific crowd. Personally, my aesthetic goes in a different direction. We must absolutely recognize its true coherence, and above all a clear proposition for those seeking a frictionless, stress-free experience, completely free from blinking timers in the corner of the screen. Calico might have received mixed reviews from the press upon its December 2020 release, players tell a whole different story : over 2,600 reviews on Steam, mostly very positive, and a solid 4.4-star rating on the Epic Games Store. So, it's Ok I guess.
💾 Do you remember Tamagotchis, Harvest Moon on GBA, and those games where the only goal was simply... to take care of something ? Calico fishes exactly in those waters. The pure "cozy game" energy before the term was everywhere.
So the plan is that you inherit the town's abandoned cat cafe, and your mission is to bring it back to life. You will have to explore, decorate, cook for the customers, and build yourself a small army of four-legged companions. Every animal you meet in the game can be named, join your party, or settle comfortably in your establishment to set the perfect mood.
💡 Note : Calico features a fairly deep character editor allowing you to create your own magical avatar, and a potion mechanic that lets you, among other things, transform an ordinary cat into a giant mount. Yes, you read that right.
The mechanics remain simple but click together beautifully : space decoration, a cooking mini-game to prepare the villagers' favorite pastries, animal collection and management, and open-world exploration with absolutely no mandatory objectives. Nothing that will drop your jaw, and exactly what you need to unplug your brain after a very busy day.
Available for free until June 4 on the Epic Games Store, Calico usually costs around $12 at full price. For cozy game lovers, it is an instant claim.
💡 Claim Calico for free : Access the Calico page on the Epic Games Store
Lonestar : bounty hunter, deck building, and space to conquer
A roguelite that takes its time to pull you completely in
Complete change of scenery with Lonestar, developed by Math Tide and published by Thermite Games. You are a bounty hunter roaming the universe to capture wanted criminals. The game belongs to the roguelite deckbuilder category, a genre that has absolutely exploded in recent years following the success of Slay the Spire and its descendants, rewarding those who love building synergies, optimizing their choices, and restarting a run with a fresh strategy.
The core gameplay revolves around Shockwave Battles : your ship and your target's ship each accumulate power on their side, then trigger a head-on confrontation. Everything will just come down to your upfront preparation. It is a mechanic that forces you to carefully plan your progression, rewarding deep strategy over sudden emergency reactions.
What makes you want to start another run
The little something extra in Lonestar is its massive variety across runs. The Association assigns you a starter ship with its own specificities, and it is up to you to evolve it by combining a hundred exclusive units, treasures, and equipment logged in a comprehensive in-game encyclopedia. Each pilot comes with their own fixed skills and a pool of randomly generated talents, guaranteeing that no two runs will ever feel the same.
🕹️ A nice detail in the game's structure : between two missions, the Association grants you paid time off. These phases trigger narrative events where your decisions earn you precious resources. A highly welcome breather in your progression.
The game's intelligence center lets you review the profiles of nearly 100 wanted criminals, including 15 particularly tough bosses. The idea is to tailor your build specifically for the target instead of rushing in blindly. This specific attention to tactical depth marks the difference between a roguelite you barely touch and one you end up grinding for hours.
Released in its final version in April 2025, Lonestar usually sits at around $15. For space deckbuilder fans, it is an immediate grab.
💡 Claim Lonestar for free : Access the Lonestar page on the Epic Games Store
How to claim free games on the Epic Games Store in 2026 ?
How to grab them
If you are new to the Epic Games Store or just not used to this weekly routine, here is how it works : create an account on the official Epic Games website if you haven't already, it is completely free and takes two minutes. Head into the store section, look for the titles highlighted as the free games of the week, and click "Get" without ever visiting the payment screen. The games immediately join your library, with no subscription and no strings attached. Once claimed within the time limit, they are yours forever, even if you only install them months later.
⚠️ Mind the deadline : Calico and Lonestar are available for free until Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 11 AM ET. After this strict deadline, new mystery games will take over.
The main takeaways from this selection
This is one of those weeks where the Epic Games Store truly shows the incredible emotional range indie gaming can cover. Calico is here for those who need to put their gaming in airplane mode, and Lonestar arrives for those wanting to keep stretching their brain, just in space. Neither is a massive blockbuster, and both are entirely worth the few seconds it takes to add them to your library.
So, which one tempts you the most this week : the cozy cat cafe or the intense space bounty hunt ? Let us know in the comments !
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