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The Epic Games Store’s February 2026 giveaway was Botany Manor, a first-person puzzle game about investigating clues and growing unusual plants in a Victorian manor. The offer ended on February 12, 2026, so it is no longer a current freebie. And although it may appeal to people curious about Blue Prince, the available coverage does not establish that Botany Manor influenced or paved the way for it.
What is Botany Manor?
Botany Manor is a first-person puzzle game set in a late-nineteenth-century English manor. Players explore the house, follow botanist Arabella Greene’s research, find clues, and use unusual apparatus to cultivate mysterious plants. Exploration and connecting information found around the estate are central to solving its puzzles.
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| 1 |
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The Séance of Blake Manor - Nintendo Switch 2 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
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Asylum - Nintendo Switch | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch 2 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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LEGO The Incredibles for Nintendo Switch | $28.64 | Buy on Amazon |
PCGamesN describes the game’s Victorian setting, painterly visuals, stained glass, and peaceful tone; PC Gamer likewise characterizes it as a cozy puzzle adventure. These descriptions make it a natural recommendation for someone seeking an atmospheric, clue-led game, rather than evidence of a connection between its development and another title.
Is Botany Manor like Blue Prince?
The comparison is best understood as a recommendation based on puzzle appeal, not a claim of direct influence. PC Gamer pitched Botany Manor to people drawn to the idea of Blue Prince but looking for a less punishing-feeling puzzle experience. The sources reviewed do not establish that Blue Prince’s developers took inspiration from Botany Manor, or that the earlier game materially shaped its development.
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- ENTER THE MANOR - It is October 28th, 1897, and Private Investigator Declan Ward arrives at Blake Manor to find a missing woman. What he finds is the Grand Séance and a group of mystics who have gathered from all corners of the world – waiting for All Hallow’s Eve, the night when the veil between worlds is thinnest. The night to tear down the barrier and speak to the dead.
- BECOME THE DETECTIVE - Interview and interrogate your suspects, keep a record of all evidence, motivations, and clues in your journal, and confront them about their motivations when you’re certain of your deductions. Uncover the truth about Blake Manor and the mysterious séance that has brought everyone together. Navigate Blake Manor's haunted corridors and uncover its secrets as you race against time to save Miss Deane.
- RACE AGAINST TIME - Investigate the manor, solve environmental clues and reach the forbidden areas of the hotel…and beyond. But be careful - each action counts the day down. Be in the right place at the right time to catch critical events pertinent to your investigation. Everyone has their own agendas and schedules – it could truly be a loss to miss out on a quick chat by mistiming your actions. And who knows what hidden secrets lie in wait once you’ve turned in for the night...
- SAVE EVELYN DEANE - Brought to you by the creators of The Darkside Detective and Raw Fury, The Séance of Blake Manor is depicted by a beautiful comic-book art style. Inspired by Irish Mythology and the spiritualist movements of the Victorian era, players are cast into a first-person narrative adventure, blending the supernatural with a classic detective mystery. With its striking cutscenes, compelling narrative and dynamic soundtrack that reacts to the environment around you, Blake Manor and its secrets will leave you on the edge of your seat morning through night.
- LANGUAGES - English voice and text.
| Comparison point | What the available coverage supports |
|---|---|
| Puzzle approach | Botany Manor has players find and connect clues to grow plants. PC Gamer presents it as a pick for readers interested in Blue Prince who want a different level of challenge; the coverage does not provide a detailed, direct comparison. |
| Setting and atmosphere | Botany Manor is described as a peaceful, Victorian-house setting with painterly visuals and stained-glass details. The sources do not supply a systematic comparison of both games’ atmospheres. |
| Exploration and solving | Exploring the manor and locating clues are central to Botany Manor. The reviewed coverage does not give enough detail for a feature-by-feature account of how its exploration compares with Blue Prince. |
Lead developer Laure De May told PC Gamer in a 2024 interview that the team aimed for puzzles that were neither too challenging nor too simple. She described the challenge as coming from the number of clues and steps, what players need to keep in mind, and how far apart clues are spread. That helps explain the recommendation: the appeal lies in piecing together information across a setting, not in a verified shared lineage with Blue Prince.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When was Botany Manor free on the Epic Games Store?
PCGamesN reported that Botany Manor was free to keep on the Epic Games Store through Thursday, February 12, 2026. PC Gamer’s report, published February 6, also described it as free for that week. The promotion has ended; the sources do not verify the game’s current price or whether it has been given away again.
Rank #2
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Epic’s official free-games page describes the store’s general weekly giveaway cadence, with a new game every Thursday on PC and mobile. That policy does not mean Botany Manor is currently free. Check the official page or the game’s current store listing for present availability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Players must work together and combine the Parr family's iconic abilities and unique powers to build massive LEGO structures
- Players can complete action packed side missions and defeat iconic super villains that control the city districts in an open hub world that provides an exciting free play experience
- Players can modify their character's appearance and abilities using a customize themed to Edna E mode
Rank #4
- Build whatever you can imagine in your own infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
Rank #3
- A chilling journey into the dark mind: Explore the Hanwell Mental Institute and uncover its dark past.
- Experience a mind-bending original storyline as recurring hallucinations blur the line between memory and reality.
- Investigate a detailed, decrepit asylum through point-and-click adventure gameplay.
- Solve evocative challenges that reward wit and observation.
- Enter an engrossing atmosphere with a memorable soundtrack inspired by 1980s horror films and John Carpenter.
Sources
- PCGamesN, updated February 5, 2026, on the giveaway and game.
- PC Gamer, published February 6, 2026, on the giveaway, comparison, and developer interview.
- Epic Games Store, official free-games page.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
