The Epic Games Store Free Game for November 27 Makes Sure You Have Something to Talk About This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us once again, and while it can be one of the most joyous occasions of the year, there’s an inherent social pressure usually baked into the holiday season. After the questions about work come to an end, the topic of politics has been narrowly avoided, and the general small talk has all but dried up, there comes the dreaded awkward pause at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Thankfully, the latest Epic Games Store free game ensures that people will have at least one more thing to talk about this holiday season.

While the Epic Games Store usually pulls out all the stops for the holidays, it isn’t quite ready to dish out the heavy hitters just yet. That said, the next Epic Games Store free game does hold unique value this holiday season. Available on November 27, Epic Games Store users will have just enough time to wake up early on Thanksgiving morning, claim Universe for Sale for free, play through the entire game, and head into Thanksgiving dinner armed with a few lively anecdotes about their time with the peculiar narrative-focused adventure game.

Epic Games Store Free Game for November 27–December 4: Universe for Sale

A Great Conversation Starter This Thanksgiving

• Released in November 2023
• Developed by Tmesis Studio
• Retail price: $14.99
• A narrative-focused point-and-click adventure game with bizarre characters and Sci-Fi concepts
• Hand-drawn animation and art style
• Main story takes around 5 hours to complete
• Sitting at an 80 on Metacritic
• ‘Very Positive’ on Steam

Set in a dilapidated space colony on one of the clouds of Jupiter, Universe for Sale follows two main protagonists: Lila and an unnamed cultist. Lila is a young woman with the extraordinary ability to craft entire universes by mixing together ingredients and brewing a tea-like substance, while the unnamed cultist has become a master in the school of detachment, a process that has resulted in him stripping most of the flesh from his body. Universe for Sale‘s short but sweet five-hour story revolves around the cultist’s fascination with Lila’s universe-making abilities, and the misadventures that come from their connection.

Players take control of the cultist as he converses with a sizable cast of colorful characters, including a sentient orangutan and all manner of classic Sci-Fi citizens. Universe for Sale‘s gameplay mostly consists of simple point-and-clicking, with an occasional minigame and dialogue choice thrown in for good measure. But while the gameplay of Universe for Sale is enjoyable, it’s the game’s story, characters, and art direction that take center stage.

Without spoiling too much of Universe for Sale‘s main narrative hook, players can expect a mind-bending, time-twisting adventure that will keep them guessing throughout the game’s runtime. That unconventional method of storytelling, the game’s bizarre array of NPCs, and its intriguing exploration of Sci-Fi concepts and deep philosophical themes should make for a lively conversation starter this Thanksgiving. On top of that, Universe for Sale‘s hand-drawn art style is also worthy of sharing around the dinner table, with its comic book-like paneling and expressive character designs paving the way for some impressive screenshots.

Universe for Sale received a fairly positive critical reception when it first released in November 2023. The delightful indie adventure game is currently sitting at an 80 on Metacritic, though that score is an average based on just four reviews. On Steam, Universe for Sale has achieved a ‘Very Positive’ rating based on 94 user reviews. The general sentiment is that Universe for Sale features strong writing, a compelling core premise and cast of characters, and distinct art direction, though it does suffer from overly simple gameplay mechanics and a lack of interactivity.

Released

November 16, 2023

Developer(s)

Tmesis Studio

Publisher(s)

Akupara Games