I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream & River City Girls 2 — FREE on Epic Games Store | Free Download

Every Thursday, Epic refreshes its free games shelf, and most weeks it’s a decent-but-forgettable duo. This week is different. On one hand, you get a genuine piece of PC gaming history – a 1995 point-and-click horror adventure that people still argue about nearly 30 years later. On the other hand, one of the most colorful, punch-happy co-op controversies of the last few years. Plus they will usually cover your price $49.98. Right now, they cost nothing at all.

None of the games have been offered on Epic before, so even if you’ve been claiming the free ones for years, these are new additions to your library. Here’s what you’re getting, why both are worth your click, and how to claim them in less than two minutes.

Game #1: I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream – The Horror Classic That Still Bites

Let’s start with the heavyweights – not in file size, but in reputation. Released in 1995 by The Dreamers Guild, this point-and-click adventure is based on Harlan Ellison’s famous 1967 short story, one of the most reprinted stories in the English language. And this wasn’t some lazy licensed cash-in: Ellison worked on the game himself and voices AM, the deranged supercomputer at its center.

The setup is serious and spectacular. A godlike AI named AM has wiped out humanity, leaving only five survivors alive underground for over a century – only to torment them. You play as each of the five, guiding them through distorted scenarios built around their guilt, fears, and past. It’s dark, uncomfortable, and unlike anything being made today.

Before you dive in, a few things to know:

Small? Yes. But this is the gaming equivalent of a classic novel – you’ll finish it in one sitting and think about it for weeks. If you have any interest in gaming history, AI-gone-wrong stories, or classic adventure games, this is essential stuff. And considering how relevant a story about a malevolent AI seems to be in 2026… well, the timing writes itself.

Game #2: River City Girls 2 – Perfect Palette Cleanser

After spending an evening trapped in a computer’s revenge fantasy, you’ll need something loud, bright, and fun. Enter River City Girls 2 – WayForward’s 2022 beat ’em up sequel, packed with anime style, pixel-art charm, and Megan McDuffie’s soundtrack that slaps harder than most punches.

Story: An old enemy returns for revenge, and it’s up to Misako, Kyoko, Kunio and Riki – as well as newcomers Marion and Provi – to clean up River City the only way they know how: punching first. There are six playable characters, each with their own moves and voice lines, and the whole thing supports Up to 4-player co-op, both sofa and online.

Compared to the first game (which Epic gave away back in April 2025 – so this gift literally completes the set), the sequel is bigger in every direction:

• deep competition – Guard-crush attacks, lift-off combos, and elemental status effects give Brawl real fighting-game depth
• a big city – More districts to discover, more shops (40+!), more stuff to break, and a day-night cycle
• recruit your enemies – Beat up thugs, then recruit them to fight with you
• nonlinear progression – Tackle River City in the order you want

It sits at a solid 81 on Metacritic with “very positive” Steam reviews, and is regularly mentioned alongside Streets of Rage 4 and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge as part of the modern beat ’em up revival. At the usual $39.99, it’s a great buy. At $0? This is no easy task, especially if you have a friend and a second controller.

⏳ Don’t sleep on this: both games disappear from the freebie shelf July 9, 2026 8:30 pm IST (8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET). After that, they go back to full price.

How to claim both games (takes about 2 minutes)

You don’t even need to download them right away. Claim now, install whenever – next week, next year, whenever the mood strikes.

Why does this pairing really work?

Give credit where it’s due: Whoever manages Epic’s freebies has enjoyed it. These two games have almost nothing in common – one is a slow, oppressive psychological horror from 1995; The second is a candy-colored brawler where enemies yell “BARF!” When defeated. But that contradiction is absolutely true. Play the first solo with the lights off, then invite friends over and let the others overcome the existential dread.

It’s just been a strong value week too. At a combined $49.98, this gift is worth more than Epic’s past few weekly drops, and neither title has appeared in the rotation before. If you caught last week’s RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and The Void freebies, your July backlog is off to a healthy start.

Want to keep the free games coming? We track every worthwhile giveaway – check out our free games section, and don’t miss our roundup of recent free PC games on Steam and Epic if any of them are still live.

questions to ask

Claimed Games? Let us know in the comments which you’re playing first – Nightmare or Knuckle Sandwich.