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Epic Games Store gave away Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness from January 15 through January 22, 2026. The offer ended at 16:00 UTC on January 22, so these games are no longer claimable through that promotion.
Which Styx games were included?
The January 2026 giveaway paired the first game, Styx: Master of Shadows, with its sequel, Styx: Shards of Darkness. Epic announced the planned pair on January 8, and a January 15 follow-up reported that both were live. Notebookcheck’s January 8 report covered the announcement; its January 15 update confirmed the active offer.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Styx Blades of Greed - XBOX Series X | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Styx: Shards of Darkness - Xbox One | $8.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Styx: Shards of Darkness (Xbox One) | $19.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Styx: Blades of Greed (PS5) - Stealth Adventure, Three Open Worlds, Fantasy Environment | $39.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Styx: Shards of Darkness (PS4) | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Both are stealth-focused adventures with RPG elements. Notebookcheck characterized them as closer to Thief for players seeking stealth than to the more action-heavy style of Assassin’s Creed; that is an editorial comparison, not a developer classification.
When did the offer end?
The reported claim window ran from January 15 to January 22, 2026, ending at 16:00 UTC. That window has passed. The January 8 announcement described the dates as planned, while the January 15 coverage specified the end time and said the games were then available.
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- Styx steps up as leader, commanding his own crew aboard a zeppelin.
- Hunt a powerful new resource, Quartz, while dodging Inquisition traps.
- Meet returning allies and new characters as the origins of the Great War unfold.
- Prepare heists by crafting weapons, potions, and gear.
- Use classic Amber abilities—Cloning and Invisibility—plus Quartz powers like Mind Control and Time Shift.
How did the two editions differ?
The Epic offer for Styx: Shards of Darkness was reported as the Deluxe Edition. TechRadar said it included cosmetic items that did not affect gameplay. The January coverage did not identify a comparable special edition for Styx: Master of Shadows. TechRadar’s January 15 coverage describes the edition offered.
What did “highly rated” mean in the coverage?
Notebookcheck reported that both games carried a “Very Positive” user-rating label on Steam in January 2026. This is a dated snapshot of Steam user ratings, which can change; it should not be read as a current rating or a critic-review score.
Rank #2
- Grapple, climb and zip-line - Diverse abilities and improved stealth mechanics open up new possibilities to reach unfamiliar ground
- Skills that kill - Upgrade abilities and use lethal tactics to defeat enemies; even utilize a murderous clone
- Drop-in/drop-out Co-op Mode - Sneak and stab your way through missions with a friend at any point within the game
- Vicious rivals - New monsters to defeat in the cryptic city of Dark Elves
- Impressive new environments - A brand new engine brings beautiful graphics created in Unreal Engine 4
Notebookcheck’s January 8 report listed each game at $19.99 at that time and said sale prices could fall to $1.99. Its January 15 report gave a combined listed value of $39.98 and also noted the possible $1.99 sale price. These are historical price observations, not current prices or a measure of what every player saved.
How Epic’s weekly giveaways generally work
Epic Player Support’s guidance, accessed October 8, 2026, says a new free game is available each Thursday at 8 AM PT for seven days. It also says an Epic account with two-factor authentication enabled is required. Once a game is claimed, it remains in the account library permanently, even if it is not downloaded immediately. These are Epic’s general rules; they do not establish that terms were identical in every region for the January 2026 promotion.
Rank #3
- Grapple, climb and zip-line - Diverse abilities and improved stealth mechanics open up new possibilities to reach unfamiliar ground
- Skills that kill - Upgrade abilities and use lethal tactics to defeat enemies
- even utilise a murderous clone
- Drop-in/drop-out Co-op Mode - Sneak and stab your way through missions with a friend at any point within the game
- Vicious rivals - New monsters to defeat in the cryptic city of Dark Elves
Epic’s support page states: “Once claimed, the game is yours permanently – even if you don’t download it right away.” See Epic Player Support’s guide to getting free games for its claim guidance. The Epic Games Store Free Games page shows the live offers; its current inventory does not establish which games were offered in January 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you play them with a controller?
Notebookcheck’s January 15 article says both games support Xbox controllers and names the 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless 2 as one third-party option. A controller is optional, not a requirement for claiming or playing the games.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Grapple, climb and zip-line - Diverse abilities and improved stealth mechanics open up new possibilities to reach unfamiliar ground
- Skills that kill - Upgrade abilities and use lethal tactics to defeat enemies
- even utilise a murderous clone
- Drop-in/drop-out Co-op Mode - Sneak and stab your way through missions with a friend at any point within the game
- Vicious rivals - New monsters to defeat in the cryptic city of Dark Elves
Rank #4
- FREEDOM IN PLAY: Choose from a variety of approaches to past guards and traps, either by sneaking past or by using your abilities to manipulate the surroundings to your advantage.
- FANTASY: Follow the Styx and his crew as they set their own goals and hunt for quartz, a rare and mighty source of energy, while bringing a grand conflict between different races to emerge.
- VERTICAL ENVIRONMENTS: Explore three large open areas where height differences and complex landscapes offer creative solutions and new challenges at every corner, all in a detailed imagination environment.
- NEW Abilities & TOOLS: Discover and master new skills such as cloning and invisibility, as well as use special equipment to reach previously unavailable places and take on more difficult missions.
- HUMOR AND PERSONALITY: Experience the characteristic wit and humor, which set a unique touch on the adventure and make every choice and action memorable during your journey.
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.
