Circle back next week for Cities: Skylines
This week’s free PC games are a modern take on arcade jams. The Epic Games Store is giving outCentipede: RechargedandBlack Widow: Rechargedthrough July 18, 2025.
From what I’ve seen (and admittedly experienced myself), these twoRechargedversions have flown wayunder the radar— but they’re worth a look if you’re in the mood to tackle some tricky arcade challenges rather than just chasing down the usual high scores.
The vector-style art immediately stands out, though it’s worth stressing that these games aren’t exact recreations ofCentipedeandBlack Widowwith a fresh coat of paint. Expect gameplay changes, power-ups, and co-op, too. In the case of alesser-knowngame likeBlack Widow— a twin-stick shooter that plays out on a spider web — you might not have as much of a frame of reference, for better or worse. It’s best to go in with an open mind.
I like having access to the classics in their purest formas well astrying out updated versions with extras packed in. The prospect of “killing 40 enemies with bombs” inCentipedespeaks to me, you know? It’s tapping into thatGeometry Warsmindset. When everything goes right, these sorts of goals can keep me hooked. When they’re poorly implemented, these play-a-certain-way challenges can just end up being frustrating.
On top of arcade revivals, the Epic Store has another freebie on the side: theEpic Slayer KitforDauntless, a monster-slaying action-RPG. This is normally a $10 DLC purchase, and it comes with “three days of VIP club and a dash of currencies to accelerate your progress.” In case that phrasing wasn’t a dead giveaway, this is a free-to-play game.Boost away.
Next week, from March 10–17, we’ll be able to claimCities: Skylinesfor free. This city-builder has made the rounds many times over since 2015, but if it hasn’t found its way into your PC game library, here’s another chance. It’s stillgetting expansionsto this day!
