Epic's Next Free Game Is Axiom Verge

The Epic Games Store just started giving away The Jackbox Party Pack for free, and you know what that means –the store has unveiled the next title (via GameSpot) slated for a free download come Feb. 7.

It's Axiom Verge, the 2015 Metroidvania from Thomas Happ Games. And like most of the games Epic has given away prior, it's pretty good.

The good people at Nintendo Life were particularly high on the title, saying that "Axiom Verge is a fantastic example of how to do a Metroidvania right, and we couldn't be more pleased with it." And Hardcore Gamer praised Axiom Verge for being "endlessly creative with new enemies, weapons and tools, making each new area a fun challenge to explore while giving plenty of reason to revisit the older ones."

Here are the titles that Epic has given away so far as part of the promotion for the Epic Games Store's launch: Subnautica, Super Meat Boy, What Remains of Edith Finch, and The Jackbox Party Pack. The addition of Axiom Verge in less than two weeks' time is yet another win, as quality titles will keep people visiting the store, where Epic is hoping to rope new players into cash cow Fortnite and sell some of the other games available. And Epic looks to be making headway into signing some serious exclusivity agreements, too. The Division 2, for instance, will forego a Steam launch in favor of selling on the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft's own Uplay shop.

Our own Christopher Gates took a good, hard look at what Epic's store is doing to challenge Steam, and why Valve's long-running operation might face a serious threat from Epic's upstart project. It's definitely worth a read if you're not all that familiar with the digital distribution side of games.

We'll likely have news on the next game Epic plans to make free when Axiom Verge goes live on Feb. 7. Until then, keep your eyes peeled.