As the end of October draws near, so does a selection of discounts on the Epic Games Store. The store's Halloween 2021 sale includes a litany of price cuts to some iconic games. Weekly free game policies and generous discounts have become a staple of Epic's storefront, and the Halloween sale seems to be yet another step in that direction. While vying for recognition in the PC gaming marketplace can be pricey for a company, Epic still seems set on giving its users some good deals this Halloween.
There are a few commonly discounted games that make an appearance in the Epic Games Store Halloween 2021 sale. Most prominently advertised are spooky experiences, as the end of October might imply. Several horror-themed games are on sale, including World War Z: Aftermath and Zombie Army 4: Dead War. Alongside some great thematic "Epic Deals" for free-to-play games like Rocket League and Fortnite, there are also in-game events for premium titles like Void Train. While most of the games on sale would be great, there are a few discounts that stand out above the rest.
Hitman 3
Hitman 3, the ultimate distillation of IO Interactive's hired killer smash hit series, is 50 percent off on the Epic Games Store. Not only does this game itself boast some of the best Hitman levels ever, it can also act as a hub for the rest of the games in the franchise. Not only will players get access to some amazing content straight off the bat, they arguably have the easiest way of accessing the other adventures of Agent 47 in the Word of Assassins storyline. If users already own the previous games (or any of their level and content packs), they can also be accessed straight away. It's one of the biggest discounts the game has ever had, and is definitely worth picking up.
This War of Mine
For a more considered portayal of violence than the murder madness of Hitman, This War of Mine is another brilliant game in the Epic Store Halloween sale. While not a traditional horror game, this looks at the terrifying and real impact of warfare on smaller, vulnerable communities. The game's landscape is realized in haunting charcoal aesthetics, which only amplify the fraught life-and-death decisions throughout 11 Bit Studios' game.
There have been loads of survival games free on the Epic Games Store recently, ranging from Sheltered to Bridge Constructor The Walking Dead. This War of Mine balances the deeply personal element of large-scale conflict with some hardcore survival gameplay. The Anniversary Edition on offer with the Epic Games Store also includes DLC that adds new NPCs, locations, quest, and an entire ending to supplement what was already a solid product. While the game usually retails at $19.99, it is currently discounted by 80 percent, making it an absolute steal this Halloween.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
While the game itself needs no introduction, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's incredible discount is certainly worth mentioning. Fans can get the third Witcher game at an 80 percent discount. Although the game is primarily a fantasy-adventure RPG, it does have plenty of horrific moments and storylines, with a lot of its side quests revolving around the ghosts of wronged dead. After the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077, now is a great time to revisit CD Projekt Red's classic to see what a great game from the developer looks like.
Prey
After the launch of Arkane Studio's hit time-travel shooter Deathloop, many have looked back at the studio's track record. This includes the Dishonored series, as well as 2017's Prey. An awful lot of Deathloop's first-person shooter DNA can be found in Prey, and any fans of the series should consider picking up the discounted game. In it, players take on the role of either Morgan or Alex Yu, who are experimented upon by their brother and find themselves stranded on a moonbase. With a 50 percent sale, Epic Games Store users can start their campaign against Prey's polymorphing antagonists for relatively cheap.
Ghostrunner
Ghostrunner was one of the best action games of 2020, released on October 27. As the game is nearly one year old, if players haven't picked it up already, now is a perfect opportunity.
The game embodies first-person action, with melee mechanics like Chivalry at play in this neo-future tower-crawler. Alongside being one of the best recent cyberpunk games out there, Ghostrunner also tells a compelling story. It is currently discounted by 60 percent, making its purchase a no-brainer for any fan of high-octane first-person games.
Celeste
Extremely OK Games, under director of developer Maddy Thornson, released one of 2018's best indie games with Celeste. The lo-fi visual aesthetics, incredible soundtrack, and meticulously crafted gameplay make for a wonderful experience. It's a story about depression, and portrays it in an incredibly graceful and considered manner.
It's also a great example of queer representation in gaming, as it portrays an implied LGBTQ+ protagonist with the same delicacy as every other aspect of its design. Celeste is a brilliantly accessible video game, as it has a huge range of customization options - from its display settings to gameplay difficulty. It stands as a beautiful example of what games can be, and what can be accomplished even on an indie budget.