Let’s take a break from all the April Fool’s Day shenanigans and check out something that isn’t arguably a joke. Other than this being a day for pranksters being funny and/or annoying, it’s also Thursday. And every Thursday for quite some time has brought us a free game to check out courtesy of the Epic Games Store. This week’s free game is Tales of the Neon Sea, a neon-rich noir cyberpunk tale. Next week, 3 out of 10: Season Two is up for grabs, allowing you to continue your game development misadventures.
The more I read about Tales of the Neon Sea, the more I regret missing out on it when it landed in 2018. In the game, you star as an archetypal “cop turned hard-boiled detective” as he scours the grimy streets of a cyberpunk city. It uses pixel art to convey its tale, made up of criminal cases it’s up to the trench coat-wearing Rex to solve. However, Rex begins to notice odd happenings: clues that suspiciously point to a serial murder case more than a decade old.
Tales of the Neon Sea, of course, focuses on detective work. Murder scenes exist for you to pick apart using your analytical skills, hunting down hidden clues that lead you closer to the truth. There are also puzzles to solve that blend narration and the environment. You can also play as a cat. What more would you ask for?
Detective meow-ir. God, I need a nap.
Back to the game development grind
3 out of 10 came out as a free game on the Epic Games Store in August of last year. Developer Terrible Posture Games dropped all five of its episodes on the store, allowing players to live the life of a game developer in the chaotic Shovelworks Studios. The game was more satire than simulation, however. We liked it.
Much like the first, the game’s second season will also be free next week. 3 out of 10: Season Two has you return to the studio as you attempt to answer the question: “Will Shovelworks ever make a game that rates higher than 3 out of 10?” Season two will include five more episodes, promising hijinks including sentient AI, rival studios, and much more.
You can pick up Tales of the Neon Sea for free on the Epic Games Store by going to its page today. The second season of 3 out of 10 releases for free on April 8.
