Epic Games Store is offering two free indie games from September 17 to 24: Mindcop, a 2D point-and-click graphic adventure that blends noir investigation with surreal puzzle sequences, and Shogun Showdown, a turn-based roguelike that mixes grid movement, deck-building and strategy.
Mindcop: time-limited investigative graphic adventure
In Mindcop players assume the role of a detective who can enter suspects’ minds to investigate a murder. The game follows a graphic-adventure structure with fully 2D movement, but adds a surreal “mindsurf” mechanic where mental sequences become puzzle challenges.
Unlike many classic point-and-click titles, Mindcop enforces a strict time limit: the protagonist has five days to solve the case. Each action—searching locations or interrogating characters—consumes minutes, and when the day’s time runs out the player advances to the next day. That restriction makes choices consequential and creates the possibility of missing clues or reaching incorrect conclusions.
During mindsurf sequences the gameplay shifts: the detective must surf across a mental landscape before a timer expires, while colored “mental bullets” impact the subject’s brain. Players rotate the brain to align color combinations horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Successful combinations open one of three doors—truth, uncertainty or lie—each presenting fragments that mix memories, imagination and surreal dream imagery. It falls to the player to interpret those fragments to progress the investigation.
Mindcop will appeal to players who enjoy investigative mysteries and graphic-adventure puzzles, provided they accept a cartoony art style and limited spoken dialogue (voiceover appears only in cutscenes). The game offers a distinct pace and challenge compared with typical point-and-click adventures.
Shogun Showdown: card-based roguelike with tactical grid combat
Shogun Showdown starts like many roguelikes—you pick a character and begin a run—but its combat and progression systems set it apart. Each wave presents a horizontal-grid board where your character moves while attacks and abilities are represented by cards. Between waves you can upgrade cards or acquire new ones, and during combat you can combine cards to execute varied attacks.
Turn-based movement is integral: players can distance themselves from enemies or swap positions with foes, sometimes causing enemies to hit each other. Enemies do not display a countdown for action timing, but a yellow indicator shows when an attack will occur, signaling the right moment to move or strike. These mechanics echo elements from Megaman EXE-style games while emphasizing shared board tactics among all characters.
After clearing all waves in a stage the player navigates a map to trigger new battles, encounter merchants and obtain upgrades. The game uses pixel-art visuals that are modest but detailed, with generally fluid enemy animations. Playable characters’ animations are noticeably stiffer, a trade-off tied to the large variety of attacks and abilities available to each character.
Shogun Showdown will likely attract indie game fans who enjoy pixel art and strategic roguelikes that favor quick planning and adaptable deck-building. Both it and Mindcop are available to claim for free on Epic Games between September 17 and 24.
