Half-Life and Portal. It’s hard to think of another two games that so instantly and consistently spark peoples’ enthusiasm – mention either of Valve’s iconic series to basically anyone with a gaming PC, and chances are they’ll loose a string of superlatives about how Gordon Freeman, GLaDOS, and the Companion Cube et al completely changed their idea of what games can be. Almost 20 years since the last full instalment, we’re still waiting on Half-Life 3. Likewise, Portal 3 remains one of gaming’s mythical beasts. We hear stories, but we’ve never seen anything solid. However, with Steam Next Fest now upon us, we’ve unearthed the next (no pun intended) best thing, a physics-driven puzzler with flashes of Aperture Science, Black Mesa, and some of the best parts of Half-Life and Portal combined. And you can try it now for free.
Free PC games – grab these two 9/10 puzzlers while you can
21.09.2023 - 15:49 / pcgamesn.com / You Can
If you love free PC games as much as we do, you won’t want to miss this pair of absolutely gorgeous indie puzzlers, which can be yours completely free this week. Out of Line and The Forest Quartet are both up for grabs as part of the recurring Epic Games store free game promotion, and they’re two rather different but equally beautiful puzzle games.
The first of your two free PC games for this week is The Forest Quartet, a haunting, emotional story about the lead singer of a musical quartet who has passed away. Taking control of her spirit, you’ll travel through three acts, each of which represents one of her bandmates and their relationship to her, as the remaining trio prepare one final farewell concert for their companion.
Out of Line is your second free game, and it’s a hand-drawn 2D adventure game filled with all manner of puzzles. You take charge of San, a young boy determined to escape the factory that has been his home. Key to his adventure is the spear he carries with him, which can be used to manipulate the environment in various ways, placed into walls to help him climb, or thrown at otherwise out-of-reach objects.
You’ll also encounter several characters on your adventure, some of whom will aid San in his quest to escape. With visual design and themes that feel like a rather beautiful halfway house between Inside and the Ori games, Out of Line is a game that will stick in your mind long after you’ve finished San’s journey.
The Forest Quartet and Out of Line are both free games on the Epic Games Store from Thursday September 21 to Thursday September 28, 2023. They’re yours to keep once you’ve claimed them, so be sure to head to The Forest Quartet page and the Out of Line page on the Epic store to pick them both up by then.
If you’re after more memorable adventures, take a look through the best story games for some unmissable classics. We’ve also got our picks of all the best free Steam games, if you’re looking for something new to play on Valve’s platform as well.
Grab Ghostwire Tokyo as a free PC game while you can
Ghostwire Tokyo gets a bad rap. This supernatural thriller is a bizarre magical FPS filled with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures, tasking you with uncovering the truth behind a vanished city. It might not be the traditional survival horror we expected from Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami’s Tango Gameworks, especially following The Evil Within games, but you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to try Ghostwire Tokyo for free.
Banish the tedium of setting up Windows with a built-in while-you-wait retro game, courtesy of Microsoft
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You can get free games with the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 this weekend
There’s never been a better time to join the current console generation, thanks to this weekend’s deals. Current promotions on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are mighty tempting, as either console comes with a free game to kickstart your collection. We have more details below.
Waiting for GTA 6? Play GTA trilogy for FREE while you wait! Know how to get it online
Rockstar Games launched GTA Online in October 2013, just two weeks after GTA 5 debuted. It gave GTA 5 players, who had completed Story Mode, another exciting opportunity to get back in the game. In this mode, Players in GTA Online can join a biker club, compete in races, play a sport, plan heists, invest in stocks, and do much more in an action-filled sandbox environment. As an added incentive for players, Rockstar on March 29, 2022, announced a membership program exclusively for GTA Online on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
Brazen Blaze is a VR Smash Bros. where you can punch people into space
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Metal Hellsinger dev says “get it while you can” amid Unity concerns
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Digital Eclipse is remaking the original Wizardry, and you can play it right now
Surprise! Like a dual-wielding rogue pouncing from the shadows, Digital Eclipse has simultaneously revealed and launched a remake of the original Wizardry.
The original Wizardry has been remastered — and you can play it right now
By Andrew Webster, an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.
Snag this Logitech gaming gear at record low prices while you can
If you’re looking to pick up an ultralight gaming mouse to give you the edge in competitive FPS games or want to get involved in handheld streaming, we’ve got great news for you: the Logitech Logi Play Days promotion has just begun. This UK-only sale includes a range of excellent Logitech gaming products at record-low prices, and there’s sure to be something that catches your eye.
The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Collector's Edition is here and you can get 19 inches of Sephiroth for $350
In a time where hard copy games are starting to thin out, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Collector's Edition promises two honest-to-god discs, a steelbook case, and hold-in-your-hand goodies like an art book and a hefty Sephiroth figure.
You Can Not Pet The Cat In Lies Of P
It's because it doesn't like you.