We’re very much in the thick of all things spooky. If you’re not playing Silent Hill Townfall, you’re playing Hellraiser: Revival (or, if you’re not, you should be). But there is no shortage of horror games to choose from – the list is endless; just as endless as your Steam back catalogue. Luckily, the Epic Games Store is giving away two free spooky adventures this week, Sker Ritual and Home, both of which take very different approaches to horror.
Let’s start with Sker Ritual. Reminiscent of other horde shooters like Call of Duty: Zombies and Killing Floor, you’ll be tearing through waves of monsters with up to four pals, blasting and smashing to your heart’s content. As you go, you’ll receive boons from various Celtic gods, allowing you to improve your attacks and abilities and, if you’re lucky, unleash a powerful ultimate. As always, there’s a whole slew of weapons to choose from, so get your gear Super Charged and ready to rock.
Set in the wider Sker universe and following on from Maid of Sker’s ‘bad’ ending, it’s worth trying out Sker Ritual ahead of the launch of Sker: The Bleeding Veil, which is set to launch in 2027. It’s an easy entry point, too, with a whole collection of DLCS. You never know: maybe it’ll introduce you to your new favorite horror series.
Next on the list is Home, which takes a 2D pixel approach to things versus Sker’s gory realism. Described as a “murder mystery with a twist,” you’re the one who chooses how the story plays out – for better or for worse. You awaken in a house that isn’t yours as a violent storm rages outside, and as your adventures play out, the world subtly begins to shift around you, mirroring your actions. With multiple endings and a variety of different pathways, there’s a good amount of replayability here if you enjoy your first playthrough.
That’s the part that intrigues me the most – while games like Baldur’s Gate 3 reflect your choices quite obviously, I’m excited to see how BancyCo subtly switches up its world in accordance with your actions.
Sker Ritual and Home are available for free on the Epic Games Store now, and you have until Thursday, November 29 at 8am PDT / 11am EDT / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST to pick them up. You can grab them here, but we’re not liable for any frights caused.
