After a double dose of puzzle games in recent weeks, we're finally ready to get back into action... but I'll admit this wasn't what I expected. On one hand, the Epic Games Store decided to bring back its two-for-one dynamic (at least this time), and on the other, it's serving up one of the best examples of psychological horror in recent years. Your free games this weekend are the RPG Lost Castle and the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Some people say first impressions are everything, but that doesn't apply to Doki Doki Literature Club. The music, the colors, the childhood friend, the harem... don't be fooled. No matter what your senses tell you, Doki Doki is not a dating simulator. In fact, as you progress through the story you'll notice that something isn't quite right...
The most impressive thing about Doki Doki Literature Club is that it started out as a freeware in 2017 and has been taking the internet by storm ever since. The version Epic is giving away is Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, a kind of premium build that includes seven extra stories and more character details. I won't share any spoilers, but on average you'll need about twelve hours (or maybe more?) to see everything this game hides.
Lost Castle
Okay, if you're not in the mood for metafictional psychological horror, how about a ruthless roguelike that forces you to smash everything in your path? That's the offer from Lost Castle, which originally launched in mid-2016.
The "lost castle" is actually Harwood Castle, the heart of a rich and happy land, until the count's evil magic corrupted the castle and its surroundings. In other words, the place is a mess, and the portal keeps spewing demons that have made themselves at home with weapons and loot. That makes it a magnet for adventurers... and that's where you come in, alone or with friends. You'll die, come back for more, die again, and come back again.
(Available until Thursday.)
