Quick answer: Sker Ritual and Home – A Unique Horror Adventure are this week’s free-to-keep PC base-game offers on the U.S. Epic Games Store. [1] Both records in Epic’s live catalog are BASE_GAME entries priced at $0 for the same seven-day window, down from $24.99 and $4.99 respectively. [1] The two games are a very different pair: one is a round-based supernatural shooter set on a storm-lashed island, the other a pixel-art murder mystery inside a house. [4] [10]
The $29.98 figure is arithmetic on Epic’s own current U.S. original prices: $24.99 for Sker Ritual plus $4.99 for Home. [1] It is not a resale value, not a comparison against every past sale, and not a measure of how much either game will matter to you.
Quick answer
Sker Ritual
Round-based zombie survival shooter from Wales Interactive, built for solo play or up to four players online. [4] Regular U.S. price $24.99, $0 through the promotion window. [1]
Best for: players who want cooperative horde combat, upgrade systems, and a heavier horror tone than the week’s other free game.
Home – A Unique Horror Adventure
Pixel-art horror murder mystery from BancyCo about a house that changes to reflect your perspective, with multiple paths and endings. [10] Regular U.S. price $4.99, $0 through the promotion window. [1]
Best for: players who want a short, quiet, single-player story that rewards attention rather than reflexes.
BASE_GAME offers with positive original prices and a temporary zero promotional price, which is Epic’s free-to-keep weekly model rather than a free-play weekend. [1] Epic Support states that once claimed, the game is yours permanently even if you don’t download it right away. [2] That same support page also says you need an Epic Games account with two-factor authentication enabled to claim. [2] This article does not claim either build is DRM-free, and it does not promise anything about offline use, account portability, or family sharing.Mobile comparison
Sker Ritual at a glance
Access: free to keep while the Oct 22–29 window is active. [1]
Developer: Wales Interactive. [4] [6]
Publisher on Epic: Skybound Game Studios, Inc. [1]
PC release: April 18, 2024. [4] [6]
Style: Action, Adventure, Indie per publisher-supplied Steam genres. [7]
Play: single-player or up to four players online. [4]
Storage listed: 15 GB available space, minimum and recommended. [7]
Controller: publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks full controller support. [7]
Install size caution: listed figures are publisher-supplied Steam metadata, not an Epic package audit. [7]
Home at a glance
Access: free to keep while the Oct 22–29 window is active. [1]
Developer: BancyCo. [10] [11]
Publisher: BancyCo. [11]
PC release: June 1, 2012 per the Steam store page. [11]
Style: Adventure, Indie per publisher-supplied Steam genres. [12]
Play: single-player. [12]
Storage listed: 50 MB minimum, 100 MB recommended. [12]
Controller: publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks full controller support. [12]
Install size caution: listed figures are publisher-supplied Steam metadata, not an Epic package audit. [12]
Free to keep this week · $0 until Oct 29, 11:00 a.m. EDT
Sker Ritual: round-based horror shooting on a storm-lashed island
Epic price this week: $0, normally $24.99 in the U.S. [1]
What it is
Wales Interactive describes it as an intense, round-based, zombie horror shooter, and says it was built by its own indie team. [4] The studio states it is an FPS spin-off from its horror game Maid of Sker rather than a direct sequel. [4] Its own feature list names old-school round-based FPS action, play solo or up to four players online, a story continued from Maid of Sker’s “evil” ending, optional objectives and hidden Easter eggs, supercharged “Elites” with unique abilities, collectible and upgradable “Miracle” powers, and free reward systems called “Dread Levels” and “Sker Pass.” [4]
The setting is 1914: Wales Interactive’s own description has Elisabeth Williams conquering Sker Island and seeking domination with a broadcast of the Siren’s Song, with her daughter Arianwen opposing her. [4] The developer also says the hordes scale to the number of players, so a solo run and a four-player run are not the same experience. [4]
Epic’s retained record names the seller Skybound Game Studios, Inc. [1] Wales Interactive’s own page names Wales Interactive as developer, and the Steam store page for the same title lists Wales Interactive as developer and Skybound Games as publisher. [4] [6] Those are two different storefront fields with slightly different publisher names, so treat “Skybound Game Studios, Inc.” as the Epic-side seller string rather than a universal credit.
Epic’s retained record also carries the offer identifiers a reader can verify: offer ID 6aab3ddef4f84fbc9dd81c60f9d8549c, namespace 156c17659ff0468bb533eba104a1f19f, offer type BASE_GAME, status ACTIVE, original price 2499 and promotional price 0 in USD cents. [1]
Why it is worth claiming
Three things make this the more mechanically dense of the week’s two free games. First, the developer describes a choice of three random upgradable powers on a Miracle drop that alter shooting, melee, grenade and healing, with a fifth slot reserved for a chargeable Ultimate. [4] Second, it describes an upgradeable steampunk weapon system bought at a booth around the maps, with a chance of gambling on a randomly picked weapon for a higher base level. [4] Third, interchangeable masks and unique voice-line taunts are described as part of customisation. [4] Those three systems are the reason to take it rather than to leave it uninstalled.
The counterweight is straightforward. Wales Interactive’s own feature list includes Dread Levels and Sker Pass as reward systems, and the publisher-supplied Steam metadata for the same title carries an in-game-purchases note alongside descriptors for violence, blood and minor gore. [4] [7] The Steam metadata’s own wording is that the game “features violence, blood and minor gore and may not be suitable for all ages.” [7]
Reasons to claim it
Solo or four-player online play means you can try it before committing an evening of group scheduling. [4]
Random power drops make each round’s build different. [4]
Upgradeable weapons and masks give long-term variation. [4]
The listed 15 GB storage target is modest next to many modern shooters. [7]
Know before you start
Publisher-supplied Steam metadata lists 16 languages, of which only English is marked as having full audio support. [7]
That same metadata marks full controller support. [7]
Content descriptors cover violence, blood and minor gore. [7]
No first-party accessibility inventory was found in the reviewed official pages, so verify any essential accommodation directly. [4] [7]
Link note: both buttons open Epic’s canonical product page for this offer. Neither is a direct-download URL. [1]
Official Epic Games Store key art, used for editorial identification. Rights remain with its owner; hosting here is not a reuse license. Source: Epic Games Store key art for Sker Ritual. [3]
Sker Ritual PC requirements
Phone readers: swipe the requirements table left to compare minimum and recommended specifications.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required) | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4460 / AMD FX-6300 | Intel Core i5-10500 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or better |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 / AMD Radeon R7 260x with 2GB Video RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or better |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 15 GB available space | 15 GB available space |
Both tiers also state that a 64-bit processor and operating system are required. [7] Treat these rows as planning guidance rather than a verified Epic-package audit: launcher overhead, patches, caches, and storefront packaging can change the space the Epic install actually needs. [7]
Controller, languages, and accessibility
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks Sker Ritual for full controller support, and its category list includes Single-player, Multi-player, Co-op, Online Co-op, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Leaderboards, and Family Sharing. [7] The same field lists sixteen supported languages — English, French, Italian, German, Spanish – Spain, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese – Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Welsh, Czech, Polish, Thai, and Traditional Chinese — with an asterisk marking languages that have full audio support. [7] Only English carries that asterisk. [7]
That is useful PC guidance, not an Epic-specific certification and not a complete accessibility audit. It does not establish subtitle options, remapping, screen-reader support, or colour-vision modes on the Epic build. [7]
Official story trailer
YouTube’s oEmbed record identifies the video as Sker Ritual | Official Story Trailer, uploaded by the channel Wales Interactive. [8] Wales Interactive’s own site published that trailer in a post announcing the game’s launch platforms. [5]
Trailer fallback: watch the Sker Ritual story trailer on YouTube. The player uses the privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com host. [8]
Free to keep this week · $0 until Oct 29, 11:00 a.m. EDT
Home – A Unique Horror Adventure: a pixel murder mystery that changes as you look
Epic price this week: $0, normally $4.99 in the U.S. [1]
What it is
BancyCo’s own page describes the game as a horror adventure set in a beautifully realized pixel world, and as a murder mystery with a twist because you decide what ultimately happens. [10] It says you wake in a strange, dark room in a house that is not yours, and that as you play the game changes, subtly and almost imperceptibly, to reflect your perspective. [10] The studio states plainly that its truths are entirely subjective. [10]
The studio’s feature list is short and specific: a horror tale you help create through your choices, a haunting atmospheric soundtrack, a gorgeous illustrative pixel style, multiple paths and endings, and a Nintendo Switch version that adds an exclusive Postmortem Mode developer diary and gallery. [10]
Epic’s retained catalog record names the seller BancyCo and carries offer ID 06190191cede42afb633fe89ef08c27e, namespace c7e46cce751b40b6937e878abd0fc531, offer type BASE_GAME, status ACTIVE, original price 499 and promotional price 0 in USD cents. [1] The Steam store page for the same title lists developer BancyCo, publisher BancyCo, and a release date of June 1, 2012. [11]
One editorial note on that date. BancyCo’s page footer reads “Home is © 2012, 2026 BancyCo (formerly known as Benjamin Rivers Inc.)”. [10] That is a copyright line spanning multiple releases, not a second release date; the Steam store page’s June 1, 2012 entry is the single dated fact this article relies on. [11]
Why it is worth claiming
The honest argument for Home is not scale. It is that a four-dollar game with multiple paths and endings is close to zero-cost experimentation, and that the studio describes it as a narrative rather than a combat system. [10] The pressure the game applies is interpretive: the developer says the house changes to reflect your perspective and that its truths are entirely subjective, which describes a game about what you believe rather than about what you can prove. [10]
The counterweight is that this is a very small commitment in the other direction. The publisher-supplied Steam requirements list 50 MB of storage at minimum and 100 MB recommended, and the recommended OS is Windows 7 with a Core 2 Duo or above. [12] At that size it costs you almost nothing to try and almost nothing to keep installed. [12]
Reasons to claim it
It is single-player, so no scheduling or matchmaking is involved. [12]
The studio advertises multiple paths and endings. [10]
The listed install size is tiny. [12]
It pairs naturally with Sker Ritual for players who want both free horror games. [1]
Know before you start
Publisher-supplied Steam metadata lists only English, marked as having full audio support. [12]
That metadata marks full controller support. [12]
The publisher-supplied Steam requirements are old, listing Windows XP at minimum. [12]
No first-party accessibility inventory was found in the reviewed official pages, so verify any essential accommodation directly. [10] [12]
Link note: both buttons open Epic’s canonical product page for this offer. Neither is a direct-download URL. [1]
Official Epic Games Store key art, used for editorial identification. Rights remain with its owner; hosting here is not a reuse license. Source: Epic Games Store key art for Home – A Unique Horror Adventure. [9]
Home PC requirements
Phone readers: swipe the requirements table left to compare minimum and recommended specifications.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows XP | Windows 7 |
| Processor | Core 2 Duo | Core 2 Duo or above |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Graphics card with 256 MB RAM | Graphics card with 512 MB RAM |
| Storage | 50 MB HD space | 100 MB HD space |
| Sound | Soundblaster or equivalent | Soundblaster or equivalent |
These rows are publisher-supplied Steam metadata for a game released in 2012, not an Epic-package or launcher-compatibility audit. [12] Treat the storage row as planning guidance rather than a promise about the Epic installation size. [12]
Controller, languages, and accessibility
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks Home for full controller support, and its category list includes Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, and Family Sharing. [12] The same field lists English as the only supported language, marked as having full audio support. [12]
As with Sker Ritual, those are publisher-supplied PC metadata fields, not an Epic-specific certification and not a complete accessibility audit. [12] Verify any essential accommodation on the current Epic page before downloading. [9]
Official launch trailer
YouTube’s oEmbed record identifies the video as Home – June 2012 Launch Trailer, uploaded by the channel BancyCo. [13] BancyCo’s own itch.io product page embeds that same trailer. [13]
Trailer fallback: watch the Home launch trailer on YouTube. The player uses the privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com host. [13]
Which game should you try first?
They are not really competing for the same evening, and the practical answer is to claim both and play whichever fits the time you have. [2] That said, the sourced differences are sharp enough to guide you. [4] [10]
Start with Sker Ritual if…
You want combat systems rather than interpretation. [4]
You may play with up to three friends online. [4]
You want progression that persists across sessions. [4]
You have a machine that meets the listed GTX 760 or R7 260x minimum. [7]
You are comfortable with violence, blood and minor gore descriptors. [7]
Start with Home if…
You want a single-player experience with no scheduling. [12]
You prefer a short narrative with multiple paths and endings. [10]
Disk space matters to you: 50 MB minimum listed. [12]
English audio and text are sufficient. [12]
You would rather not install a shooter. [12]
How to claim both games
Epic Support states the mechanics that matter: a new free game arrives every Thursday, you have seven days to claim it, and once claimed the game is yours permanently even if you don’t download it right away. [2] The steps below turn those statements into an ordered routine. [2]
- Sign in to the Epic Games account that should own the licences. Epic’s support page says you need an Epic Games account with two-factor authentication enabled to claim. [2]
- Open each canonical product page from the buttons above and confirm the title and edition match what this article names, because both pages are the recorded slugs for the retained offers. [1]
- Check that the live checkout price is $0 before you act. The feed records a promotional price of 0 for both records at this cutoff. [1]
- Complete the $0 order before Thursday, October 29 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Epic’s support page requires the claim within the seven-day period before the offer rotates. [1] [2]
- Confirm the resulting library entry. Epic says the game is yours permanently once claimed, and that download can happen later. [2]
- Install whenever convenient. Epic’s wording is explicit that you need not download immediately. [2]
What Epic lists next
At this reporting cutoff, Epic’s live catalog contains a future zero-promotion window for Sorry We’re Closed, scheduled from 2026-10-29T15:00:00Z through 2026-11-05T16:00:00Z. [1] That start is an 11:00 a.m. EDT changeover on October 29 and that end is 11:00 a.m. EST on November 5, because November falls after the daylight-saving change. [1] That is next week’s window, not this one. [1]
The same snapshot shows current nonzero discounts that are deliberately excluded from this article’s weekly cohort: Eternal Threads at 20 percent off, Castlevania Anniversary Collection at 40 percent off, Monument Valley at 35 percent off, and Sorry We’re Closed at 70 percent off, each ending 2026-11-02T16:00:00Z. [1] It also lists base games such as Them’s Fightin’ Herds, Model Builder: Complete Edition, Luftrausers, and TerraScape at full price with no active promotional window, plus a LISA: The Definitive Edition bundle and a Lost Castle: The Old Ones Awaken add-on. [1]
Treat the future window as advance notice rather than a completed claim. A catalog object can change before activation, and only a live checkout showing $0 proves the offer. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Are Sker Ritual and Home free forever?
The $0 opportunity to claim them is temporary: Epic Support says you have seven days to claim a free game before it rotates, and that once claimed the game is yours permanently. [2] That is the same support page that states the weekly Thursday cadence. [2] Complete both orders before October 29 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. [1]
Do I have to install them before the deadline?
No. Epic Support says that once claimed the game is yours permanently even if you do not download it right away. [2] The claim is the deadline-bound step, not the download. [2]
Is a free weekend involved here?
No. Epic’s catalog records both retained offers as active BASE_GAME entries with a positive original price and a temporary zero promotional price, which is the free-to-keep weekly model rather than temporary play access. [1]
Are these DLC packs, bundles, demos, or trials?
No. Both retained records carry offer type BASE_GAME. [1] This article excluded add-ons, bundles, demos, trials, playtests, subscriptions, mobile-only offers, permanently free-to-play titles, and every nonzero discount. [1]
Are these games DRM-free?
This article makes no DRM-free claim for either title. [1] Epic’s support page speaks to claiming, permanence after a claim, and the two-factor requirement, and says nothing reviewed here about DRM. [2]
Do I need two-factor authentication?
Epic Support states that you need an Epic Games account with two-factor authentication enabled to claim. [2] That page does not explain the setup steps, so enable it on your account before the deadline. [2]
Can I play Sker Ritual with a controller?
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata marks full controller support and lists Single-player, Multi-player, Co-op, and Online Co-op categories. [7] That is publisher-supplied PC metadata, not an Epic-specific certification; verify on the live Epic page if a specific controller matters. [3]
What languages does Sker Ritual support?
The publisher-supplied Steam metadata lists sixteen languages and marks English as the one with full audio support. [7] The same field marks English as having full audio for Home, listed as its only language. [12]
Why are the requirements taken from Steam?
The frozen Epic feed records identity, offer type, prices, and the promotion window, but the reviewed official pages did not expose a full requirements table or language list in a machine-readable capture. [1] The Steam metadata is labelled as publisher-supplied throughout and is not presented as byte-for-byte Epic package parity. [7] [12]
Are the trailer players from official channels?
Yes. YouTube’s oEmbed record identifies the Sker Ritual trailer as uploaded by Wales Interactive and the Home trailer as uploaded by BancyCo. [8] [13] Both players use the privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com host, and each has a visible direct-watch fallback link. [8] [13]
Do these buttons download the games?
No. Each button opens the canonical Epic product page recorded in the feed for that offer. [1]
Sources and verification
- Epic Games Store U.S. free-games promotions feed
- Epic Games Store Support: What are the free games on the Epic Games Store?
- Sker Ritual on Epic Games Store
- Wales Interactive: Sker Ritual
- Wales Interactive: Brand New Sker Ritual Story Trailer
- Sker Ritual on Steam
- Steam Web API appdetails snapshot for Sker Ritual (app 1492070)
- Sker Ritual | Official Story Trailer
- Home – A Unique Horror Adventure on Epic Games Store
- BancyCo: Home – A Unique Horror Adventure
- Home on Steam
- Steam Web API appdetails snapshot for Home (app 215670)
- Home – June 2012 Launch Trailer
- The IT Guys — Book an Appointment
- The IT Guys — Contact Us
- The IT Guys media record for the original editorial hero
Checked: October 22, 2026 at 12:01 p.m. EDT (2026-10-22T16:01:28Z). Region: United States; currency: USD; platform scope: Epic Games Store PC. Included promotion class: active BASE_GAME offers at a zero promotional price with an active promotional window. Prices, regional availability, catalog metadata, requirements, language lists, and future offers can change after that cutoff, so the live storefront and a fresh feed check are required immediately before publication. Official hosting establishes provenance, not a blanket reuse license. The hero is original editorial artwork, not official game art. [16] This report is independent and contains no affiliate links.
Need help getting a gaming PC ready for these?
The IT Guys provides on-site visits in Port Saint Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach, Florida; remote support is available anywhere with an internet connection. [14] The shop is at 308 West Arbor Ave, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952, and the listed phone number is 772-667-4469. [15] Book an appointment with The IT Guys [14]