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The Epic Games Store’s December 23, 2025 mystery giveaway was later identified as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Before the reveal, Notebookcheck reported a cryptic clue about a challenging game, drop rates and spreadsheets—but the original Discord post was not independently verified.
What was the December 23 mystery-game clue?
In its December 23, 2025 report, Notebookcheck quoted a message circulating in the Epic Games Store community Discord. The message described a game as “extremely challenging,” said it required a “deep understanding of the drop rates,” and advised players to “use a spreadsheet.” Notebookcheck attributed the message cautiously to someone believed to be an official staff member; the available reporting did not independently authenticate the original post or identify a named Epic spokesperson.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Fortnite eGift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The game was due to be revealed at 16:00 UTC on December 23. That timing and clue were what readers had before the reveal—not confirmation of a particular title.
Which games were people guessing?
Notebookcheck mentioned Terraria, Stardew Valley, EVE Online content, and Kerbal Space Program or Kerbal Space Program 2 as possibilities discussed ahead of the announcement. These were reader and reporter speculation, not confirmed candidates.
#1 Best Overall
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
| Guess | How it related to the clue |
|---|---|
| Terraria | One of the community guesses; the report did not establish that it matched the drop-rate clue. |
| Stardew Valley | Another suggested title, but no confirmation or specific clue match was established. |
| EVE Online content | Suggested as a possibility; the report did not specify which content or verify it as a candidate. |
| Kerbal Space Program or Kerbal Space Program 2 | Both were floated as guesses; neither was announced as the giveaway. |
What game was actually free?
A later Notebookcheck report identified the December 23 giveaway as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. It said the offer lasted about 24 hours. That retrospective result should not be confused with the guesses circulating before the reveal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How long was the offer available, and how do Epic freebies work?
The specific holiday offer was reported to last about a day. Epic’s general support guidance describes a different, standard weekly schedule: a new free game is available every Thursday at 8 AM PT, with seven days to claim it. A game claimed during its offer remains in the player’s library. Epic also says an account with two-factor authentication enabled is required to claim free games. The standard weekly window should not be assumed to have applied to this shorter holiday giveaway.
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
For current offers, check the Epic Games Store Free Games page; its changing catalog does not establish what was offered in December 2025.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
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.
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