This week's freebie from the Epic Games Store is an energetic beat-'em-up from developer WayFoward. Originally released by WayForward in 2019 as a spinoff to the studio's Kunio-kun franchise, River City Girls is vibrant, colorful, and packed with charming retro graphics that make it stand out from other popular brawler games.

This week, the Epic Games Store on mobile is also offering Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (Astarion Champions of Renown Pack) for free. Players who want to add these titles to their gaming library need to act fast: River City Girls, Bridge Constructor, and Idle Champions will only be free until April 17, at which time they'll be replaced by new titles.

Why You Should Try River City Girls

The Game Is A Brawler With Soul

River City Girls focuses on two teen girls, Kyoko and Misako, who are out to avenge their boyfriends, Kunio and Riki. As the heroes of previous installments, Kunio and Riki have a target on their backs, so when they go missing, it's up to Kyoko and Misako to save the day. The girls have to work together to take down their enemies and rescue the boys, and they're both up for the challenge.

While there are plenty of fun brawlers on the market, River City Girls is unique in its approach to visuals, which combines retro graphics with gorgeous anime-style cutscenes and manga s. Unlike titles that solely focus on how much destruction players can cause, River City Girls brings an exciting plot and nostalgic charm to people looking for a new gaming experience — despite its controversial ending. River City Girls has single and multiplayer capabilities, so players can dive in alone or with a friend. As a free game, there's really nothing to lose by diving into the streets of River City.

Our Take: WayForward Has A Massive Catalog Of Classic-Inspired Games

The Developer Has Been Active Since The 1990s

Retro style games are making a bit of a comeback, and in an age where studios are scrambling to make the next big game or the latest hot console, WayForward is a breath of fresh air. The developer, while best known for the hit platformer series Shantae, was behind the creation of several games based on children's TV shows and movies, like Barbie, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Adventure Time.

WayForward still has a huge catalog of classic-inspired games available for players today, including their recent releases Clock Tower: Rewind and Retro Realms. Clocktower: Rewind brought a former Japan-exclusive murder mystery to a global audience in 2024, and Retro Realms reintroduced players to Halloween and Ash Vs. The Evil Dead.

WayForward has strong roots and is proud of its storied history and is dedicated to bringing quality games to fans of all ages. Though it was released over five years ago, River City Girls is sure to charm new audiences, and with a limited-time free release through Epic Games, more players can become acquainted with WayForward and its philosophy of gaming.

Source: Epic Games