Summary

TheEpic Games Storehas been providing plenty of PC gamers with new experiences, if not an excuse to keep extending their libraries of games and backlogs. For anyone with an account on the storefront, every week they have one or two full-length freebies they can pick up. This promotion has served theEpic Games Storewell for over half a decade, as it not only keeps the store relevant in gaming communities, but helps developers get their games played by a bit of a wider audience.

It’s hard to predict what games will be offered by Epic Games each week, as the promotion has a penchant for switching things up between genres and length, and often showcases lesser known indie titles between the bigger free games.Some Epic Games Store free games have enough in common to go well together, while others couldn’t be more different from one another, and March 7 marks yet another change. It isn’t one that many fans should be complaining about, though, asAstro Duel 2is releasing free of charge for Epic Games Store users.

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Epic Games Store Free Game Astro Duel 2 Explained

Astro Duel 2 Is Free on the Epic Games Store On Launch Day

In an unexpected twist, the free game for March 7 is a brand-new game beingoffered for free for an entire week only on the Epic Games Store. The title in question is party-action shoot ‘em up game calledAstro Duel 2. The game is developed by Wild Rooster, the original publishers of the firstAstro Duel, which lacked platforming-based fighting once a ship is taken out in battle, a feature that makes the sequel stand out.Astro Duel 2keeps plenty of features from its predecessor, such as multiplayer. It has additional modes to keep players interested as well, including co-op bounties with up to 3 players and a mini-game called “Cash Grab” where players can team up or fight for in-game currency for upgrades.

Astro Duel 2is likely being offered for free due to an agreement with Epic Games, which means the developers are being paid for the deal, but there are ways to support the game after picking it up for free. Players who enjoy it can gift the game on Steam to their friends, for example.

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While piloting a Nano Fighter, players will have to fight against other ships like in other classic games such asSinstar. Players can either enter a “gravity zone” to “absorb” their ship to explore and take down foes, or use them to try and make a comeback after their ship has been destroyed in what looks like a miniaturizedMega Manlevel. Compared to the first game, the number of players who can enjoy the adventure together goes from four to six, which makes it a great unexpected party game for those who want a new experience to play with friends.

Astro Duel 2

WHERE TO PLAY

Astro Duel 2 is a sci-fi combat game that blurs the line between top-down space shooter and platform fighter. Whether versus or co-op, prepare to fight in space and on foot at the same time!BATTLE THROUGH GRAVITY AND SPACE: Pilot an elite Nano Fighter that lets you smoothly transition between space flight and ground combat. Enter gravity zones to instantly absorb your ship and switch controls to platforming action.CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER: Pick from a roster of unique ships. Each with a different play style and advantages. Warp, Drill, Reflect - Each ship is armed with a powerful special ability. Shared traits like the ship dash make it easy to switch between styles.OUTPLAY YOUR RIVALS: Pickup and deploy useful items including mines, shields, shotguns, and grenades. Get creative by using the fully-destructible levels to your advantage. Or just nuke them from orbit.GUN FOR HIRE: Play solo or co-op in Bounty Mode. Fight off savage beasts and their wranglers. Purchase job intel and upgrades in the Shadow Market. Locate the elusive Data Dog?

Astro Duel 2 is Worth Trying on the Epic Games Store At No Extra Cost

In terms of free games, it seems that the Epic Games Store is trying its best to take advantage what PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass are known for. There’s a big difference betweenMicrosoft and Sony’s subscription servicesand Epic Games’ digital storefront, but the subscriptions are known for coming with the important perk of free launch day games regularly. Epic Games' offering, however, is almost as free as it gets, as anyone with an account can grabAstro Duel 2for free. Those who want to take advantage of this deal can get the ship-shooting platformer between March 7 and March 14, rotating in at 10 AM CT.

Epic Games Store

A digital video game storefront for Windows PC and macOS created and operated by Epic Games. Originally launched in December 2018, Epic Games Store is both a website as well as a standalone launcher.