Football Manager 2024, a game released just 10 months ago, will be available for free on the Epic Games Store next week.
Even by Epic Games' high standards for offering freebies, its latest giveaway is a doozy.
Unlike EA Sports FC, which focuses on fast-paced action on the pitch, the long-running Football Manager series is a love letter to the strategy and tactics behind the beautiful game.
The latest edition offers a slew of upgrades aimed at newcomers, who may have otherwise been put off by a franchise now in its thirties. Player animations are slicker and more varied, set pieces are more simplified (though you can still micromanage your game plans), and the tweaked transfer system lets you tap middlemen to offload any budget-zapping reserves.
Meanwhile, veteran gaffers will be happy to learn that you can import saves from FM23 and carry on from where you left off.
Still, some may view the game as a stopgap until the next instalment, which promises a full roster of Premier League teams, the addition of women’s football, and a complete graphical overhaul. But, it’s hard to complain when it doesn’t cost a penny.
Next week’s other free game is Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, a single player assassination shooter that lives life through the scope of a rifle. Both titles will be obtainable for a week from Thursday, September 5.
What is the Epic Games Store?
For the unfamiliar, the Epic Games Store is basically a website and app that offers a huge range of PC games. Think of it like Epic’s answer to Steam, the reigning champ of PC gaming.
One way Epic has tried to compete with its main rival is by doling out a revolving range of free titles.
How to get free games on the Epic Games Store
To grab them, all you need to do is create an account, which is as easy as providing your email address or signing up with a PlayStation, Xbox, Google, Nintendo or Steam login.
Of course, the games obviously won’t work on consoles – but plenty of them are supported by GeForce Now, the subscription service that lets you play PC games on laptops and mobiles in exchange for a monthly fee.
What are this week’s Epic Games Store free games?
Seeing as Epic offers free titles on a weekly basis, there are still some treats up for grabs right now.
Chief among them is Fallout Classic Collection, a bundle of pixelated games that includes the original Fallout, its follow-up Fallout 2, and the strategy-themed Fallout Tactics.
It’s available until September 5, alongside the arcade-style American football title, Wild Card Football.
