The Epic Games Store’s free game for January 16 is Escape Academy, available for users to claim for one week, as is standard practice.

Developed by Coin Crew Games in Los Angeles, Escape Academy is an escape-room-style puzzle game released for PC and consoles in July 2022. Players step into the role of students at the academy, training to master the art of solving escape rooms.

Escape Academy is confirmed as the next free title on the Epic Games Store. PC players can claim it starting Thursday, January 16, once Turmoil is no longer available. The game will be free to download until January 23.

Escape Academy Returns as a Free EGS Title

The Epic Games Store previously offered Escape Academy as a free mystery game on January 1, 2024. This upcoming giveaway, however, marks the first time the 2022 title will be available for a full week. The timing aligns perfectly for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as Escape Academy will exit Microsoft’s service on January 15 after an 18-month run.

Epic Games Store Free Games for January 2025

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance (January 1)
• Hell Let Loose (January 2 – 9)
• Turmoil (January 9 – 16)
• Escape Academy (January 16 – 23)

Escape Academy holds a "Strong" OpenCritic rating, with an average score of 80 and an 88% recommendation rate from reviewers, making it the highest-rated free game on the Epic Games Store in 2025 so far. It has also earned widespread praise from players, with "Very Positive" reviews on Steam and 4.42- and 4.2-star ratings on the PlayStation and Xbox Stores, respectively. Beyond solo play, the game supports online and split-screen multiplayer, with its co-op mode widely praised as one of the best in recent puzzle games.

Escape Academy is the fourth free title from the Epic Games Store in 2025, following Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Hell Let Loose, and Turmoil. The platform’s fifth free game of the year is expected to be revealed on January 16, coinciding with Escape Academy’s availability. Fans of the game can also explore two DLC packs, Escape From Anti-Escape Island and Escape From the Past, priced at $9.99 each, or bundled together in the Season Pass for $14.99.