First free mystery game for December 2024 on Epic Games Store unveiled

The Epic Games Store has unveiled its latest free game, and this time, it comes as a complete surprise. Unlike the usual practice of announcing the free game in advance, this one kicks off Epic's Mystery Game promotion, which will run until the end of the year. During this period, free games will be released more frequently than the standard weekly schedule, where new titles are typically available every Thursday. However, the first free game in the promotion will follow the standard one-week availability, maintaining the usual routine.

The first mystery game being offered is The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, which originally launched in December 2023 for PC and PS5 before arriving on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in the summer of 2024.

Developed by North Beach Games and published by Free Range Games, this cooperative survival action-adventure game is set during the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, taking players beyond the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. While the game received mixed reviews from critics upon release, it has been met with much more positive feedback from players.

“The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria follows the Dwarves as they embark on a new adventure to reclaim their legendary home of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains,” according to the official game description. “Players will join forces to survive, craft, build, and explore the iconic, sprawling mines. Courageous expeditioners will need to be vigilant as mysterious dangers await.”

For those looking to complete the main storyline, it takes approximately 35 to 45 hours, while completionists aiming to experience everything the game has to offer will need closer to 80 hours.

As usual with the Epic Games Store, this free game can be downloaded completely free of charge—no subscription required. Unlike services like PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, or Nintendo Switch Online, all you need is a free Epic Games Store account. Once claimed, the game is yours to keep permanently and play as much as you want. And like always, remember to use our comparison tool to find the best deal for your next favorite game.