The apocalypse plays out on a deck of cards
While exploring the multiple endings of Foretales, I felt that thrilling sensation unique to the best board games : the one where every card played permanently alters the fate of the entire group. The Epic Games Store is offering this title for free this week, instead of the usual €19.99, and the offer ends on Thursday, July 30th. Snagging such a dense and original narrative card adventure without spending a single dime is truly an opportunity you cannot miss. I'm breaking down the deep mechanics of the title, its artistic strengths and the exact steps to add it to your collection forever.
🕹️ Key takeaways :
- Foretales is a narrative card game with multiple endings, developed by Alkemi and published by Dear Villagers, released in September 2022.
- The title is free on the Epic Games Store until Thursday, July 30, 2026 : a rare chance to expand your library for €0.
- The original soundtrack is co-composed by Christophe Héral (Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil) and the game is fully playable in English.
🕹️ OUR QUICK VERDICT ★ Score : 8/10
A refreshing take on card games, elevated by narrative choices that have a genuine impact on the story's unfolding.
For whom : Fans of board games, tactical adventures and branching storytelling.
Current price : €0 on the Epic Games Store (instead of €19.99, offer valid until July 30, 2026).
A dark prophecy to thwart with your deck
A thief, a cursed kingdom and the end of the world
The premise of Foretales goes all in : the kingdom is ravaged by a terrible curse, and the only one capable of changing the course of events is Volepain, an insignificant little thief. The Weaver has entrusted the instruments of creation to her children, the Nymphants : relics capable of spawning or destroying entire worlds. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to uncover the true intentions of this mysterious cult... or let the Maelstrom swallow the universe for eternity. Time is running out, every action consumes precious resources, and this race against the apocalypse will leave you no respite. It sounds like a classic tale on paper, and the deeply branching narrative radically shifts the paradigm.
A true virtual board game reinventing the rules
Foretales truly stands out in its way of bringing the board game experience to the screen. Exploration, encounters and turn-based combat are entirely handled through an ingenious card system, featuring an original mechanic dubbed "decksploration". The plotlines are deeply branching : your alliances as well as your betrayals lead to multiple endings, and every run reveals something new. If you are the type to replay everything to see what could have happened differently, you are in for a massive treat.
Top-tier art direction and voice cast
A soundtrack by a genius and razor-sharp storytelling
Immersion in Foretales comes first and foremost through a universe entirely illustrated by hand, vibrant and consistent from the first screen to the very last. Every card is a tiny work of art bringing the many characters of this fantasy epic to life. The audio layer makes a massive difference : the original soundtrack is co-composed by Christophe Héral and Raphaël Joffres, two names that speak volumes if you know the worlds of Rayman and Beyond Good & Evil. The result is exactly what we hoped for : enveloping, cohesive, easily making you lose track of time.
💾 Christophe Héral's touch is something you recognize instantly. This way of blending orchestration and organic soundscapes sent me straight back to the hours spent on Beyond Good & Evil, cruising across Hillys on a hovercraft. Finding this level of polish on an indie game like Foretales is honestly a fantastic surprise.
The voice narration is delivered by Travis Willingham, well-known to fans of Critical Role and The Legend of Vox Machina. A cast that clearly brings massive credibility to the project. If you want to see all this in action before making up your mind, here is the official trailer :
Price, specs and value for money in 2026
Foretales is a lightweight and well-optimized title, perfect for long sessions on a laptop or a modest rig. Here is the pricing and technical info to give you a clear picture before checking out.
| Criteria | Foretales |
|---|---|
| Genre | Narrative Adventure / Card Game |
| Developer / Publisher | Alkemi / Dear Villagers |
| Release Date | September 15, 2022 |
| Usual Price | €19.99 |
| Epic Games Promo (until July 30) | Free |
| Windows 11 Compatibility | Yes, flawless |
| Minimum Specs | Windows 10, CPU 2 GHz, 4 GB RAM |
| Recommended Specs | Windows 10, CPU 3 GHz, 6 GB RAM |
| Texts in English | Yes (audio also in English) |
How to get your hands on Foretales before July 30th ?
The process is simple, fast and requires no subscription. You have until Thursday, July 30th at 11 AM to add it to your library, by following these three steps.
Step 1 : logging into your Epic account
Open the Epic Games launcher on your computer or go directly to the official website via your browser. Log into your personal space. If you don't have an account yet, creating one is free and takes less than two minutes.
Step 2 : confirming the €2.99 purchase
Search for Foretales in the search bar or head directly to its page on the Epic Games Store. Click the buy button and confirm the €0 transaction : the game will be permanently linked to your library.
Step 3 : download and launch
Once the purchase is confirmed, you can start the download immediately or schedule it for later. The game is lightweight and installs without a hitch. All that's left is to pick your side and decide the fate of this cursed kingdom.
FAQ : everything you need to know about Foretales
Will Foretales remain playable after the promo ends ?
Absolutely. As soon as you confirm the purchase during the promotional period, the game is yours for life. You can install it, uninstall it and play it again without any time limit, even after the offer expires.
Is Foretales fully playable in English ?
Yes, the interface and texts of the game are fully available in English, matching the original English audio. Travis Willingham's narration is incredibly gripping. This is absolutely essential to fully enjoy the narrative subtleties of this highly written adventure.
Do you need a beefy PC setup to play it ?
Not at all. Foretales is very undemanding thanks to its nature as a 2D card game : the minimum required spec is a 2 GHz CPU and 4 GB of RAM running Windows 10. It runs flawlessly on almost all current desktop and laptop PCs, even the older ones.
Who developed and published Foretales ?
The game was developed by Alkemi, an independent studio, and published by Dear Villagers, a French publisher specializing in niche games with a strong artistic identity. The title was released on September 15, 2022 on PC, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Verdict : on your cards, get set, play !
Foretales is a beautiful demonstration of what a virtual board game can convey when placed in the right hands. The freedom given to the player, the sound design by Christophe Héral and Raphaël Joffres, and the polished art direction turn it into a standout experience, far from cookie-cutter productions. This is the perfect opportunity to try out a different genre, rack your brain and shiver when faced with impossible choices. At €0, the "I'm hesitating" excuse honestly doesn't hold up anymore. So, will you favor brute force, cunning or diplomacy to save this kingdom ?
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