Epic Games Store is closing out its holiday giveaway season with a final twist: two mystery free games are set to drop on January 1, 2026. After ending 2025 with a well-received free multiplayer title, the store’s mystery event is heading into its last reveal, and an official staff tease suggests the final picks could be especially worthwhile.
As with the earlier mystery giveaways, Epic is leaning on cryptic clues rather than naming the games outright. That has fans dissecting every word, trying to figure out what genres—and which specific titles—might be coming next.
First mystery game clue: a likely extraction-style multiplayer experience
The first hint reads: “Victory requires everyone to leave; but is claimed only by those who decide when, how, or even if that departure happens.”
That wording immediately brings “extraction” gameplay to mind—games where the goal isn’t simply to win a match, but to survive, escape, and choose the right moment to get out. Because the clue is broad, it could apply to several popular games, but community speculation has focused on a couple of names.
One of the most talked-about possibilities is Hunt: Showdown. An interesting detail fueling that guess is that the game isn’t currently listed on the Epic Games Store, which could make it a strong candidate for a headline-grabbing giveaway. Another potential match is Phasmophobia, since its co-op structure and high-stakes escape loop can also fit the clue’s “leave to win” framing. Either way, the first mystery title is widely expected to land somewhere in the extraction shooter space—or at least a closely related style of tense multiplayer game.
Second mystery game clue: strategy vibes and factions battling for control
Epic’s second clue says: “Three rise from a fallen kingdom; victory belongs not to the last army standing, but to the one who turns fractures into a single mandate.”
This one sounds strongly tied to strategy, politics, and unifying factions—less about pure combat and more about building a cohesive power base. As with the first clue, multiple games could fit, but a few stand out as the most plausible.
Many fans believe Total War: Three Kingdoms matches the “three” reference and the fractured-kingdom theme. Another popular prediction is Crusader Kings III, which is built around dynasties, alliances, and turning fragmented realms into unified rule. A third possibility that some have floated is Dragon Age: Inquisition, though the clue’s emphasis on unifying fractures and mandate-driven victory still feels most aligned with strategy and grand strategy gameplay.
When the mystery games will be revealed
You won’t have to wait long to find out what Epic actually picked. The reveal for both free games is scheduled for January 1, 2026 at 16:00 UTC. Until then, the final free game of 2025 remains available to claim for anyone who doesn’t want to miss out before the new giveaways arrive.
If the hints are accurate, the closing act of Epic’s mystery event could deliver a strong one-two punch: a tense extraction-style multiplayer title followed by a strategy-heavy game focused on unification and control.
