Quick answer: Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles and Mechabellum are the two active free-to-keep PC base-game offers in the U.S. Epic Games Store this week. Epic’s live catalog shows each at a zero promotional price for the same seven-day window. [1] [2]
The $39.98 total is arithmetic from Epic’s current U.S. original prices—$24.99 for Astrea plus $14.99 for Mechabellum. It is not a guarantee of resale value, savings against every historical sale, or how much either game will matter to you. [1]
Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles
Build a pool of dice instead of a hand of cards, then balance Purification against Corruption while crossing a fallen star system. Its routes, blessings, Oracles, and Sentinels make it the more solitary, run-focused choice. [4]
Best for: deck-builder players who want unusual probability management, repeatable runs, and a bright cosmic setting built around risk.
Mechabellum
Draft units, change formations, buy upgrades, and let large 3D mech armies execute the battle. The strategy lives in reading an opponent and preparing the next round rather than clicking faster during combat. [8]
Best for: players who enjoy counters, positioning, adaptation, multiplayer mind games, and watching a plan succeed—or collapse—at scale.
Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles turns deck-building into dice craft
Developer: Little Leo Games · Publisher: Akupara Games · Original PC release: September 21, 2023 [4] [5] · Epic price this week: $0, normally $24.99 in the U.S. [1]
Epic’s active record identifies Astrea Six Sided Oracles as a BASE_GAME with offer ID 7c14bf0cffdd43be968fdcf28e5af653, namespace a940fa38f001486a9884640924119576, a $24.99 original U.S. price, and a zero promotional price. [1] The 2026 giveaway is not the game’s debut: publisher and storefront records date the PC release to September 21, 2023. [4] [5]
Premise: restore a corrupted star system
A disaster called the Crimson Dawn has spread corruption across a once-thriving civilization. You travel through its ruins as one of six Oracles, assembling a changing dice pool and working with enchanted Sentinels to purify corrupted enemies. The fiction gives the central mechanic a readable purpose: the same struggle between cleansing and decay is expressed by Purification and Corruption during play. Akupara describes the game as a dice-deck-building roguelike and credits Little Leo Games as developer. [4]
The key departure from familiar card roguelikes is physical vocabulary. Instead of drawing a fixed card text and paying an energy cost, you assemble dice whose faces can produce different actions. Rolls introduce uncertainty, but the design is not asking you to surrender to luck. Your choices include which dice enter the pool, how their faces work together, when to reroll or alter outcomes, and whether a risky result is worth accepting. That makes probability another resource to shape rather than a verdict delivered after a single throw.
Purification, Corruption, and controlled risk
The dual “damage” system is the heart of the game. Purification pushes enemies toward defeat, while Corruption can threaten your Oracle—but can also interact with powers that reward operating near danger. [4] A strong run therefore is not just about finding larger numbers. It is about building a pool whose good faces, bad faces, cleansing tools, and conversion effects form a plan you can still navigate after an awkward roll.
The publisher lists more than 350 dice, six playable Oracles, 20 upgradeable Sentinels, and more than 170 blessings. [4] Those counts explain the game’s intended breadth without promising that every unlock will suit every player. Oracles create distinct foundations; Sentinels add companion abilities; blessings bend rules; and dice determine the actions available from moment to moment. Roguelike routes and resets mean experimentation is the point, not a failure state to be avoided forever.
Reasons to claim it
- Dice faces make build design and probability management inseparable.
- Six Oracles and 20 Sentinels provide different starting assumptions and support roles. [4]
- Purification versus Corruption gives defensive and offensive decisions a shared language.
- The publisher-maintained PC requirements list only 2 GB of available space, useful for a crowded drive. [5]
Cautions before downloading
- Random rolls are fundamental. Careful planning can manage variance, not remove it.
- Run resets and repeated encounters are part of the roguelike structure.
- The 2 GB figure and controller field come from publisher-supplied Steam metadata, not an Epic-package audit. [5]
- Publisher-supplied Steam metadata lists Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, Adjustable Difficulty, Playable without Timed Input, Save Anytime, Stereo Sound, and PlayStation-controller entries. [5] Those fields are useful but are not a complete Epic-specific accessibility audit; they do not establish screen-reader, remapping, or color-vision support.
Astrea Windows requirements
Phone readers: swipe the table left to compare minimum and recommended specifications.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 10, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 | Intel Core i7 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | 1 GB RAM; OpenGL 3.3 | 4 GB RAM; OpenGL 4.5 |
| Storage | 2 GB available space | 2 GB available space |
Both tiers require a 64-bit processor and operating system. [5] Treat the storage row as planning guidance: launcher overhead, updates, caches, and storefront packaging may change the space required by the Epic installation.
Controller, languages, and accessibility
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks Astrea for full controller support and lists Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, Adjustable Difficulty, Playable without Timed Input, Save Anytime, Stereo Sound, and PlayStation-controller entries. [5] Those fields are useful PC guidance, but they are not an Epic-specific certification or a complete accessibility audit. The same metadata lists English, French, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Korean. [5] Verify any essential accommodation on the current Epic page or with the publisher before downloading.
Official gameplay reveal
YouTube oEmbed identifies this video as “Astrea | Gameplay Reveal” from uploader Akupara Games. [6]
Mechabellum makes preparation the battle
Developer: Game River · Publisher: Dreamhaven · Full release: September 26, 2024 [8] [9] · Epic price this week: $0, normally $14.99 in the U.S. [1]
Epic’s active record identifies Mechabellum as a BASE_GAME with offer ID 6d99eae44d724baf84d6261a7a0f05d2, namespace 36074aa6badf45698cced1a44e837fa2, a $14.99 original U.S. price, and a zero promotional price. [1] The publisher-supplied Steam record dates the full release to September 26, 2024. [9]
Premise and round-by-round strategy
You act as the general of a science-fiction mech army. Between rounds, you spend resources to draft units, position formations, select upgrades, and answer what the opponent has already shown. The armies then carry out the fight automatically. Epic’s description summarizes the loop as drafting troops, customizing units, mastering formations, and fighting in 3D battles—“all strategy, no clickfest.” [1]
That auto-battler label can be misleading if it sounds passive. The execution phase is automated, but the meaningful work happens before it: deciding whether an enemy line calls for range, speed, armor, air power, area damage, a flank, a sacrificial screen, or an upgrade to a unit already on the field. A formation that won one round may expose a pattern the opponent can punish next. The game’s tension comes from revealing enough to win without making the next answer obvious.
Dreamhaven’s March 25, 2025 partnership announcement identifies Game River as the independent developer and says Dreamhaven partnered to publish the RTS-inspired auto-battler. It describes head-to-head 1v1, 2v2, and four-player free-for-all battles. [8] Epic’s current catalog description also lists Survival Mode alongside those competitive formats. [1] Players looking for a fixed single-player campaign should therefore examine the current mode list rather than assuming the presentation implies one.
The Steam Free Edition is a separate question
is_free: false for app 669330. [10] [9] Epic’s feed independently shows a positive $14.99 original price and a time-limited zero promotion for its BASE_GAME record. [1] This article classifies the Epic offer from Epic’s own feed; it does not claim that the Epic entitlement, content, upgrade path, or license terms match Steam’s Free Edition.This distinction matters because labels that sound similar may describe different products. A permanent free tier on one store is not evidence that a temporary $0 order on another store has the same content boundaries. The safe action is to read the exact Epic checkout item, confirm its price and edition, and keep the receipt for that account. Nothing in the Steam announcement extends Epic’s deadline or substitutes for completing Epic’s order.
Reasons to claim it
- The round structure gives you time to study counters and change a plan.
- 1v1, 2v2, free-for-all, and Survival Mode support different kinds of tactical pressure. [8] [1]
- Automated combat puts the emphasis on composition, positioning, upgrades, and anticipation.
- Large armies produce clear visual feedback about which part of a strategy failed.
Cautions before downloading
- Competitive matches may reward familiarity with unit counters and an evolving metagame.
- Broadband is listed for both minimum and recommended configurations. [9]
- The publisher-supplied metadata contains no
controller_supportfield, so controller support is unknown/not listed here—not proven absent. [9] - No detailed first-party accessibility inventory was found in the reviewed official pages; verify essential features directly. [8] [9]
Mechabellum Windows requirements
Phone readers: swipe the table left to compare minimum and recommended specifications.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 8 and above, 64-bit | Windows 10 or higher, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel or AMD 2-core CPU at 2 GHz | Intel Core i7, 8th generation / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 6 cores at 3.7 GHz |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon HD 7730 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT |
| DirectX | Not listed | Version 12 |
| Network | Broadband internet | Broadband internet |
| Storage | 15 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
The published minimum row names Windows 8 and above, while the recommended row names Windows 10 or higher. [9] Because these are publisher-supplied Steam requirements rather than an Epic-package or launcher-compatibility audit, this guide reproduces the rows without certifying current client support on older Windows versions. The recommended tier’s Windows 10-or-higher entry is the safer planning baseline, and actual storage can exceed the listed 15–20 GB as builds, patches, and caches change.
Controller, languages, and accessibility
The current publisher-supplied metadata does not expose a controller-support field for Mechabellum. [9] That makes controller support unknown/not listed for this guide; it does not prove the game can never accept a controller. The listing names Simplified Chinese, English, French, German, Traditional Chinese, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Latin American Spanish, and Russian. [9] As with Astrea, supported-language metadata is not a full accessibility audit.
Official Mechabellum 2.0 video
YouTube oEmbed identifies the video as “Mechabellum 2.0 is HERE! | Star Expedition, Centurion & Free Edition” from uploader Mechabellum. [10] Its Free Edition language refers to Steam and should not be treated as a definition of this Epic promotion.
Which game should you play first?
Choose Astrea first if you want a single-player system that you can pause, study, and learn through repeated runs. It rewards people who like calculating odds, constructing an engine, and finding productive uses for outcomes that initially look bad. Its 2 GB published storage figure also makes it the easier first install on a small SSD, though the Epic package may differ. [5]
Choose Mechabellum first if you want strategy to emerge through opposition. Your decisions are not only about building an efficient army; they are about predicting what another player believes you will do next. The larger 15 GB minimum and 20 GB recommended storage rows demand more planning, and broadband appears in both tiers. [9]
Start with Astrea if…
- You prefer solo runs to competitive matchmaking.
- You like deck-building but want dice faces to change the risk model.
- You enjoy unlocking characters and testing build synergies.
- You want the smaller publisher-listed storage target.
Start with Mechabellum if…
- You enjoy reading opponents and countering visible formations.
- You want 1v1, team, free-for-all, or survival formats.
- You like watching a prepared plan resolve automatically.
- You have broadband and enough room for the larger published footprint.
The practical library answer is to claim both. Epic Support says a successfully claimed weekly free game remains in the account even if it is not downloaded right away. [2] You can begin with the game that fits tonight and leave the other uninstalled until you are ready.
How to claim both games safely
- Use the official Epic product links in this article and sign in to the Epic account that should own the licenses.
- Confirm each page names the intended base game and shows a $0 checkout price in your region. Do not substitute a similarly named edition, DLC pack, or bundle.
- Select Get and continue through checkout. Review the final total before placing the order.
- Complete the order before October 1 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. A wishlist entry does not satisfy Epic’s requirement to claim the game within the indicated period. [2]
- Check the resulting library entry or Epic receipt. An unfinished cart is not evidence of ownership.
- Install now or later through the Epic Games Launcher. The account claim has the deadline; the file download can wait. [2]
These are account-based Epic offers, and this guide makes no DRM-free claim. If offline use, account portability, family sharing, or long-term launcher behavior is important to you, consult Epic’s current terms and the live product page rather than inferring those rights from the phrase “free to keep.”
What is announced for next week?
At this reporting cutoff, Epic’s live feed contains future zero-promotion windows for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and BURIED STARS, scheduled from October 1 at 15:00 UTC through October 8 at 15:00 UTC. [1] That is October 1–8 at 11:00 a.m. EDT at each endpoint.
The same snapshot still shows current paid U.S. prices of $29.99 for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and $39.99 for BURIED STARS because their future giveaway windows have not activated. [1] Treat both as provisional until the scheduled start arrives and each live checkout actually displays $0. A future catalog object is useful advance notice, not a completed claim and not a guarantee that a listing cannot change.
Frequently asked questions
Are Astrea and Mechabellum free forever?
The opportunity to claim them for $0 is temporary. Epic’s free-games program says a free game claimed during its free period remains in the account after the offer ends. [2] Complete both orders by October 1 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
Do I need to install them before the deadline?
No. Complete each $0 account order before the deadline, then install through the launcher when convenient. Wishlisting, bookmarking, or beginning checkout does not finish a claim. [2]
Are these DLC packs, demos, or free-play weekends?
No. Epic’s U.S. feed classifies both included records as active BASE_GAME offers with positive original prices and zero promotional prices. [1] This article excluded add-ons, bundles, demos, trials, subscriptions, mobile-only offers, permanent free-to-play games, and nonzero discounts.
Is the Epic Mechabellum offer the same as Steam’s Free Edition?
This guide does not claim parity. The official video names a Free Edition on Steam, while Epic’s feed independently exposes a $14.99-original-price BASE_GAME record under a time-limited $0 promotion. [10] [1] Compare each storefront’s current product and entitlement details directly.
Does Astrea support a controller?
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks full controller support. [5] That is useful PC guidance, not an Epic-specific certification. Mechabellum’s current metadata has no controller-support field, so this guide labels it unknown/not listed rather than absent. [9]
Why are the specifications sourced from Steam?
The preserved Steam app metadata contains publisher-supplied PC requirements, language lists, release dates, and controller fields that were not all exposed in the Epic feed. [5] [9] They are labeled accordingly and are not presented as proof of byte-for-byte Epic package parity.
Does this article contain affiliate links?
No. Links go directly to official storefront, publisher, developer, and video sources. This independent report contains no affiliate links.
Sources and verification
- Epic Games Store U.S. free-games promotions feed — offer identity, type, price, namespace, product mapping, descriptions, and UTC windows.
- Epic Games Store Support: weekly free-game information — official seven-day claim window, permanent-account ownership after a completed claim, and install-later guidance.
- Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles on Epic Games Store — canonical Epic product page.
- Akupara Games: Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles — developer, publisher, release, premise, mechanics, and feature counts.
- Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles on Steam — publisher-supplied PC release, controller, languages, and requirements metadata.
- Astrea | Gameplay Reveal — YouTube oEmbed title and uploader: Akupara Games.
- Mechabellum on Epic Games Store — canonical Epic product page.
- Dreamhaven and Game River Team Up for Mechabellum — March 25, 2025 publisher partnership, developer, genre, and multiplayer formats.
- Mechabellum on Steam — publisher-supplied release, requirements, languages, controller-field state, and current app metadata.
- Mechabellum 2.0 is HERE! | Star Expedition, Centurion & Free Edition — YouTube oEmbed title and uploader: Mechabellum; source for the separate Steam Free Edition wording.
Checked: September 24, 2026 at 12:02 p.m. EDT (16:02 UTC). Region: United States; currency: USD; platform scope: Epic Games Store PC. Prices, regional availability, catalog metadata, and future offers can change, so active and upcoming records require a fresh feed check immediately before publication. Official hosting establishes provenance, not a blanket reuse license. The hero is original editorial artwork, not official game art. The IT Guys is not affiliated with Epic Games, Little Leo Games, Akupara Games, Game River, Dreamhaven, Valve, YouTube, or the other rights holders. This report is independent and contains no affiliate links.