Epic Games free games are yours to keep when you claim them through the store’s weekly giveaway. Once you’ve completed the £0 checkout, Epic adds a licence to your account and the game stays in Library after its usual price returns. You don’t have to install it, open it or finish playing it before the Thursday deadline.
The deadline is for claiming the game. Downloading is a separate step, and uninstalling a claimed title doesn’t take it away. That’s why you can build a sizeable Epic library without keeping every game on your PC at once.
Do you keep Epic Games free games forever?
When Epic Games free games appear in the weekly promotion, open the relevant product page, sign in, click Get and complete the free order. Epic records that transaction against your account. The game may go back to its full price the following Thursday, but your copy will already be in Library.
The current example is Sorry We’re Closed, which is free from 29 October until 5 November 2026 at 4 PM GMT. Redeeming the base game during the promotion means you can install it in November, December or later. The Deluxe Edition, soundtrack and artbook are separate products rather than automatic additions to the giveaway.
Claiming versus downloading a free Epic game
The Epic Games free games offer is not a seven-day rental. You can remove a game from your hard drive to reclaim storage, then download it again by signing into the account that originally claimed it. Keep track of which Epic login you use, especially if you sometimes sign in with a linked Google or console account.
There is one deadline you can’t skip: you must complete the £0 checkout while the promotion is running. Adding the game to your wishlist does not reserve it. If you missed last week’s giveaway, that particular free checkout has ended; you would need to purchase the game or wait for a future offer.
Epic Games free games versus free-to-play titles
Not all Epic Games free games are weekly giveaways. Fortnite and Rocket League are examples of free-to-play games, available without the same one-week checkout window. They have optional purchases, but the basic game is free regardless of which Thursday you join.
A free weekend or trial is different. It gives you temporary access so you can try a game without buying the full version. When that period ends, the trial can stop working or disappear from your library. Check whether a promotion says free to keep or simply offers free access for a few days.
Are free weekends and trials permanent?
To confirm you own Epic Games free games, open the Launcher and select Library. If a title isn’t installed, remove the Installed filter so it appears alongside your downloaded games. You can also sign into the Epic website and check Transactions for the completed £0 order.
How to check which free games you own
If a game is missing, the account is the first place to look. Epic notes that people sometimes have separate accounts created with different sign-in methods. Check the email used at checkout, then try refreshing Library and clearing active filters. Our missing Epic game guide covers hidden items and the Launcher Preview as well.
A paid subscription isn’t required to keep Epic Games free games from the weekly giveaway. You’ll still need a compatible PC for Windows-only titles, and games with online modes retain their normal account and connection requirements. But there is no monthly fee simply for keeping a successfully redeemed game in your library.
Where to find the current weekly giveaway
For the latest offers, use our weekly free-games tracker. The October 2026 roundup preserves the earlier titles and dates. If you’re claiming this week’s horror game, our Sorry We’re Closed guide takes you through the free checkout and installation.
With Epic Games free games, the rule is simple: claim the whole game during its free-to-keep offer and it stays on your account. Download it later, uninstall it, or reinstall it on another compatible PC. The store price changing next week doesn’t undo your completed order.
Official source: Epic Games Store FAQ on claiming and keeping free games.
