An interesting trend has become apparent in the Epic Games Store's free games over the last few months. Epic offered two titles a week, and the free content did not stop there, with a whole host of microtransactions and other in-game purchases popping up for no cost on the storefront. While it might not have been as interesting as the free content from the store's free mystery game month, the late summer of 2021 was still profitable for Epic Games Store customers. Among these free titles have been Void Bastards, Yooka-Laylee, and Automachef. Some of these newer titles, and the free release for September 2, share one thing in common: their publisher.
Many free games on the Epic Games Store recently have come from specialist indie publisher Team17. Team17 tends to release highly ambitious games such as Greak: Memories of Azur and the highly anticipated Thymesia. Ultimately, the publisher seems to maintain a unique talent of picking unique gameplay blends to make its titles really stand out. On top of that, Team17 have the publishing rights to Worms and its countless iterations, securing it as one of the premier indie publishers to date.
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What is Team17?
Team17 is a publishing studio from Wakefield, United Kingdom. What used to be a tiny producer is now a publicly traded company on the New York Stock exchange. Not only is it a highly commended business, it also releases some fantastic games. These include Yooka-Laylee, which ranks highly as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.
Similar to publishers like Devolver Digital, Team17 prioritizes indie games. Most of the Team17's free Epic Store games have been independent titles, often made by tiny teams. The publisher’s output is a testament to the creative power that indie developers have, and moreover it shows that if given to an audience, indie games can become cultural touchstones.
The publisher also has a relationship with the cartoonish multiplayer turn-based physics shooter Worms. The series has great cartoon-y visuals, and balances this with a cheeky sense of humor. Team17 has a fantastic reputation and a big library of games, and many of these are also making their way onto the Epic Games Store.
Team17 on the Epic Games Store
Like many great independent titles on the Epic Games Store, Team17 has offered a number of titles for free. Some of them even debuted for free on the Epic Games Store. The store commonly launches new titles on its platform entirely for free, which no doubt brings in a number of players every time.
Several Team17 titles have been free on the Epic Games Store over the past few months. Most recently, the publisher released Yooka-Laylee and Automachef over two weeks. Before that, Overcooked 2 also saw a free Epic Store release (following up its prequel’s free status back in 2019). The Overcooked franchise is a great case study in Team17’s publishing strategy. The series has a few different game awards among its massive acclaim.
When Yoku’s Island Express launches for free on the Epic Games Store in September, it will mark three consecutive weeks of free titles coming from Team17. The extensive library of games it has on offer makes this an exciting prospect for users in the coming months. Hopefully, this strategy will also bring a new set of eyes onto some of the publisher’s newer and more obscure titles.
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What Team17 Games Should Come To The Epic Store for Free?
After Team17 releases Yoku's Island Express, there are a whole host of great games that could come next. Tactics/squad FPS blend Hell Let Loose would be an excellent free game. Epic's strategy is one built upon building a committed and consistent playerbase, and as such a persistent multiplayer title like Hell Let Loose would be solid ideal.
One upcoming Team17 title with a lot of hype behind it is Thymesia. This Souls-like blends Bloodborne, Sekiro, Dark Souls, and a few other action RPGs, looking incredibly ambitious. It may be an amazing get for fans of the Souls series and gothic horror stylings, so if Thymesia is offered for free it would undoubtedly bring in a huge swathe of interested fans to the Epic Games Store.
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