What is the Epic Games Store?

The Epic Games Store is a digital storefront launched by Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite and Unreal Engine. It competes directly with Steam by offering exclusive titles, weekly free game giveaways, and periodic mega sales with deep discounts. The store takes a smaller revenue cut from developers (12% vs Steam's 30%), which has attracted many publishers to offer competitive pricing or timed exclusives on the platform. For PC gamers, Epic has become an essential second storefront alongside Steam for finding the best deals.

How do Epic Games Store prices compare to Steam?

Epic often matches or beats Steam pricing, especially during its own sale events. The Epic Mega Sale typically includes a store-wide coupon (historically $10 off purchases over $14.99) that can make prices significantly lower than any other store. Outside of sales, base prices are usually identical to Steam since publishers set prices across platforms. However, third-party keyshops sometimes sell Epic keys at lower prices than the store itself. XD.deals compares all sources in real time, so you can see exactly where the cheapest offer is. Check Steam keys as well, since many games are available on both platforms.

How do Epic Games Store free games work?

Every Thursday, Epic gives away one or two games completely free for a limited time, usually one week. You need an Epic Games account to claim them, but once claimed, the games are yours to keep permanently. Epic has given away hundreds of titles since launching this program, including major AAA releases like GTA V, Civilization VI and Borderlands 3. Follow our Epic free games this week page and news section to stay updated on every giveaway. During the December holiday season, Epic gives away a different game every single day.

When does Epic Games Store have the biggest sales?

The Epic Mega Sale is the store's flagship event, typically running in May or June for about three weeks. It features deep discounts combined with an unlimited-use coupon that stacks on top of sale prices, creating some of the lowest prices available anywhere. Epic also runs Holiday Sales in December and smaller themed promotions throughout the year. These events often coincide with or compete against Steam's seasonal sales , giving PC gamers multiple options for finding cheap games.

How to find the cheapest Epic Games Store deals?

Use this page to browse all current Epic deals sorted by discount or Deal Rating. Compare prices with other stores by clicking through to individual game pages where you can see side-by-side pricing from Steam , GOG , keyshops and more. Set up price alerts on titles you want and you will be notified when they hit your target price at any tracked store. Check our historical low page during sales to identify games at their cheapest ever price.

Are Epic Games Store exclusive games available elsewhere?

Some games launch as timed exclusives on Epic, meaning they are only available on the Epic Games Store for a period, typically 6 to 12 months, before releasing on Steam and other platforms. After the exclusivity period ends, these titles become available everywhere and often appear on XD.deals across multiple stores. A few titles remain permanently exclusive to Epic. You can always check individual game pages to see which stores currently offer the game. For the broadest selection of PC game deals , browse our main deals page which covers all stores simultaneously.

How to activate an Epic Games key?

Open the Epic Games Launcher, click your profile name in the top right corner, and select "Redeem Code". Enter the key you purchased and the game will be added to your library. If you do not have the Epic Games Launcher installed, download it from epicgames.com. The activation process takes just a few seconds. If you purchased an Epic key from a third-party retailer listed on XD.deals, the key works exactly the same way as buying directly from the store.