If you're a fan of puzzle games, the free Epic Games Store title for January 16 is Escape Academy. This escape-the-room-style adventure marks the fourth giveaway of 2025 and is set to be the highest-rated game offered yet, with a "Strong" OpenCritic score of 80. Originally released in July 2022, the game tasks players with solving intricate puzzles while playing as students at the titular academy, where the goal is to master escape room challenges.
Previously available as a free mystery game on January 1, 2024, this latest release will be the first time Escape Academy is freely accessible for a full week. Conveniently timed, it coincides with the departure of the game from Xbox Game Pass on January 15 after an impressive 18-month run on the platform.
Escape Academy is available for free from January 16 to January 23. Alongside its strong single-player mode, the game offers robust multiplayer options, including online and split-screen play, earning it praise as one of the best cooperative puzzle games in recent years.
Epic Games Store users have already enjoyed three other giveaways this year: Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Hell Let Loose, and Turmoil. Escape Academy is succeeded by the next free game, which will be revealed on January 16. For those eager to dive deeper into the game's content, two DLC packs—Escape From Anti-Escape Island and Escape From the Past—are available for purchase separately at $9.99 each or bundled together for $14.99 via the Season Pass.
