Epic Games Store isn’t easing into the new year quietly. Instead, it’s starting strong with its first free games of the year, offering players a mix of grand strategy and colorful sci-fi action. This week’s giveaway lineup features Total War: THREE KINGDOMS and Wildgate, both available for a limited time and free to keep once claimed.
Total War: THREE KINGDOMS stands as one of the most acclaimed entries in Creative Assembly’s long-running strategy franchise. Set during China’s legendary Three Kingdoms era, the game combines cinematic real-time battles with deep turn-based empire management. Players balance diplomacy, warfare, alliances, and betrayal as they attempt to unify a fractured land under their rule. With detailed characters, political intrigue, rich storytelling, and massive armies clashing on the battlefield, it delivers the kind of strategic depth fans expect from Total War and it remains a standout historical strategy experience.
Wildgate brings something completely different to the table. Instead of tactical planning and empire building, it offers fast-paced sci-fi action in a vibrant, energetic universe. Players dive into colorful worlds filled with combat, futuristic environments, and high-tempo gameplay designed for those who want immediate excitement rather than thoughtful planning. Where Total War is calculated and methodical, Wildgate is flashy, reactive, and built around moment-to-moment fun.
Both titles are free to claim through the Epic Games Store starting at 16:00 UTC / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT, and once added to your library, they remain permanently yours. It’s a strong opening move for 2026, giving players two completely different styles of experience right out of the gate.
Are you rewriting history in massive strategic battles, or blasting your way through a neon-colored sci-fi adventure first? Share your pick with us, and stay tuned to VGNW and follow us on X for more updates, reveals, and free game drops throughout the year.
What are Epic Games Store’s first free games of the year?
Total War: THREE KINGDOMS and Wildgate.
What kind of game is Total War: THREE KINGDOMS?
It’s a grand strategy title featuring large-scale real-time battles, diplomacy, empire building, and political intrigue set in Ancient China.
What kind of game is Wildgate?
Wildgate focuses on fast-paced sci-fi action, colorful environments, and energetic gameplay designed for players who want something more immediate and explosive.
