The Stealthy Dragon in Epic’s Wardrobe: Is This Bonus Freebie Actually Worth Your Hard Drive Space?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Epic Games is offering a surprise Early Access freebie, *Undead: Rise of the Betrayed King*, giving players a chance to play as a dragon-in-disguise before the offer expires on April 23rd.
Right, so apparently Epic Games thinks our digital libraries aren't quite cluttered enough with games we ‘definitely’ intend to play one day. I’ve been tinkering with the latest news from the Epic Games Store all morning, and bloody hell, it’s a bit of a weird one this time. Usually, the EGS freebie cycle is as predictable as a level-one tutorial—you show up on Thursday, click the shiny button, and go back to your life. But right now, there’s a sneaky little bonus hiding in the grass, and it’s got a bit of a ‘choose your own adventure’ vibe to it.
According to a report by Richard Warren over at Game Rant, we’ve got until April 23rd to snag an unexpected freebie called *Undead: Rise of the Betrayed King*. Normally, this would set you back twenty dollarydoos, but for the next few days, it’s absolutely free. Now, before you go sprinting to the checkout like a rogue who’s just spotted an unlocked treasure chest, let’s talk about what this actually is. Because, as any wizard worth his salt will tell you, the fine print is where the real magic happens.
First off, let’s set the stage. The current ‘main’ freebie is a stealth game called *The Stone of Madness*, and the one following it on April 23rd is a 2D metroidvania called *Doomblade*. Both look perfectly lovely in their own right. But *Undead: Rise of the Betrayed King* is the surprise guest that’s crashed the party. It’s an action RPG built on Unreal Engine 5, which usually means two things: it looks gorgeous, and my cooling fans are about to sound like a jet engine taking off.
Here’s the hook: you play as the last Golden Dragon. That sounds brilliant, right? But there’s a catch—you’re disguised as a human barbarian. It’s a bit like being a literal god but having to wait in line at the post office. You’re being hunted because of your true form, all while trying to save a world that basically wants you dead. I reckon that’s a fair dinkum metaphor for the average Tuesday morning, honestly. You get to mix melee combat with ‘dragon magic’—think frost spears and fiery explosions. It’s the kind of power fantasy that makes you feel like you’ve accidentally blown a hole through reality in the best way possible.
Now, here is where my gentle skepticism kicks in. I took a look at the digital tea leaves (also known as the game’s store page), and it turns out this is an Early Access title. And when I say Early Access, I mean it’s *really* early. The developers are saying the current version represents about 10% of the total story. Ten percent! That’s like a wizard promising you a legendary staff and handing you a very polished twig. You get one chapter, one mount, and one companion out of a promised thirty-five.
But look, I’m an optimistically chaotic fellow. Getting in on the ground floor of a UE5 project for the grand price of zero is nothing to sneeze at. The developers are promising monthly updates over the next two years, including ten whole kingdoms to explore and a swimming system—because apparently, even dragon-barbarians need to do a bit of breaststroke occasionally. If they actually pull off thirty-five companions with their own stories, I’ll be seriously impressed. That’s a lot of digital friendships to manage; I can barely keep track of my own guild mates.
What’s interesting here—and this is me putting on my clever observer hat—is how Epic is using these freebies to seed their ecosystem with Early Access projects. It’s a bit of a gamble for the player’s time, isn't it? We’re essentially becoming unpaid playtesters, but in exchange, we get a seat on the dragon’s back before it becomes a twenty-dollar flight. It’s a classic Web3-adjacent vibe without the actual tokens—community-driven development where the 'initial offering' is just your attention and feedback.
So, what does this mean for you, the actual gamer? Well, if you’re a fan of realistic action RPGs and you don't mind a bit of jank as a game finds its legs, it's a no-brainer. Snag it before April 23rd. Even if you don't play it today, it'll sit in your library, slowly growing as the developers add those other nine kingdoms and the other thirty-four mates you're supposed to recruit. By the time it hits version 1.0, you might actually have a massive epic on your hands that you got for the price of a hearty ‘thank you.’
Just remember that *The Stone of Madness* is the one to grab if you want a finished experience right now, and *Doomblade* is waiting in the wings for those who prefer their action 2D and punchy. But for the curious tinkerers among us? *Undead: Rise of the Betrayed King* is a fascinating little experiment. It’s a bit like casting a spell and seeing it half-form into a dragon; it’s not quite there yet, but bloody hell, the potential is exciting.
Fair warning, though: don't wait too long. Once April 23rd rolls around, the portal closes on this freebie, and you'll have to pay full price to join the dragon-barbarian club. And let’s be honest, we’ve all got enough games on our ‘to-do’ list, but what’s one more dragon-shaped hole in the schedule? Stay curious, mates.
Tags: Epic Games Store, Indie Games, Early Access, Action RPG, Free Games
Original article: Game Rant