Epic Games Store Free Games This Week and Steam Free Weekend Deals (May 2026)

PC storefront promotions change frequently, but mid‑May 2026 has several overlapping opportunities for players to try or claim games at no cost. The Epic Games Store is running its weekly giveaway alongside the annual Mega Sale and its returning Mystery Games event, while Steam is hosting temporary Free Weekend trials.

Here’s what’s currently available and how these promotions differ.

Free Games on the Epic Games Store (May 14–21, 2026)

The Epic Games Store’s current giveaway includes two titles available to claim between May 14 and May 21, 2026:

• Sunderfolk: Standard Edition
• The Telltale Batman: Shadows Edition

Players who add these games to their Epic account during the promotion window keep them permanently in their library after claiming them.

Epic has followed this giveaway model for years, rotating free titles on a regular weekly schedule—usually every Thursday.

The previous week’s giveaway (May 7–14) included:

• Arranger: A Role‑Puzzling Adventure
• Trash Goblin

Epic Mega Sale 2026 and the Mystery Games Event

The Epic Games Store Mega Sale 2026 runs approximately May 14 through June 11, making it the platform’s largest annual promotion.

Alongside major discounts, Epic revives its well‑known Mystery Game promotion. Instead of announcing upcoming free titles in advance, the store hides them behind teaser graphics and only reveals them when each week’s giveaway begins.

For the opening week of the sale:

• Two mystery titles became free starting May 14
• They remain claimable until May 21
• Another mystery game is expected to replace them when the next weekly rotation begins

This structure encourages players to check the store every week during the sale period because each Thursday can bring:

• A newly revealed free game
• Another limited claim window
• Additional storewide discounts

Steam Free Weekend Promotions

Steam uses a different type of promotion commonly called a Free Weekend or Play for Free event.

For example, listings show GreedFall: The Dying World with a free‑play window running May 13 to May 17, 2026. During this period, players can download and play the full game without purchasing it.

According to Steam’s developer documentation, these promotions typically run from Thursday through Monday, allowing players several days of temporary access.

When the event ends, the game becomes unavailable unless it is purchased.

Epic vs. Steam: Permanent vs. Temporary Free Games

Although both storefronts frequently offer free games, the promotion models work very differently.

Epic Games Store giveaways

• Usually available for one week
• Claimed games stay permanently in your account
• New free titles typically appear every Thursday

Steam Free Weekend events

• Allow temporary access to the full game
• Typically last only a few days
• Access ends after the event unless the game is purchased

Steam sometimes runs “Free to Keep” promotions where games can be permanently added to your account, but those events are separate from the more common Free Weekend trials.

What About the Devil’s Island Giveaway?

Some online discussions reference a Devil’s Island giveaway tied to current promotions. However, available verified sources only confirm that the game exists on storefront listings and do not document an active free‑claim promotion or deadline tied to the Epic Mega Sale or Steam events.

Without a confirmed announcement from an official storefront or reliable listing, reports of a Devil’s Island free giveaway should be treated as unverified.

What to Watch Next

Because the Mega Sale has just started, Epic’s rotating Mystery Game giveaways are expected to continue weekly through early June. Each Thursday during the sale could reveal another free title to claim.

For PC players tracking deals, the combination of Epic’s permanent weekly giveaways and Steam’s temporary free‑play weekends means there are often multiple chances every week to expand your library or try new games without paying.