Free Epic Game Store Title Revealed for January 16

Escape Academy, a highly-rated escape-room style puzzle game, is the Epic Games Store's free game offering for January 16th, 2025. This marks the fourth free game offered by the EGS in 2025 and, based on its OpenCritic score of 80 (88% recommendation), is currently the highest-rated freebie of the year.

This free offering is available for a week, from January 16th to 23rd, replacing Turmoil. Developed by Coin Crew Games, Escape Academy challenges players to hone their escape room skills as students at the titular academy. Originally released in July 2022 for PC and consoles, this is not the game's first appearance as a free EGS title; it was previously offered on January 1st, 2024, but this time it's available for a full week. The timing is particularly beneficial for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as the game is leaving the service on January 15th.

The Epic Games Store's January 2025 free game lineup so far includes:

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance (January 1st)
• Hell Let Loose (January 2nd-9th)
• Turmoil (January 9th-16th)
• Escape Academy (January 16th-23rd)

Escape Academy boasts positive player reviews across various platforms (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store), and features both solo and online/split-screen multiplayer modes, praised as one of the best co-op puzzle experiences recently. Following the Escape Academy giveaway, the EGS is expected to announce its fifth free game of 2025 on January 16th. Players who enjoy the core game can also purchase two DLC packs: Escape From Anti-Escape Island and Escape From the Past, individually for $9.99 or together as a Season Pass for $14.99.