News
Dec 18, 2025
Epic Games Mystery Box dates explained with the full December schedule and daily release timing. Photo by: Beebom
Every December, Epic Games runs one of the biggest free gaming events on the internet. Players call it the Epic Games Mystery Box, but officially, it is part of Epic’s year-end free games campaign.

The idea is simple but powerful.
Every day, Epic unlocks one mystery free game on the Epic Games Store. The game stays hidden until release time, then becomes free to claim for a limited window. Once the window closes, the next mystery unlocks.
No previews.
No hints.
No confirmed lists.
That mystery is what drives millions of daily logins.
Right now, a false game list is circulating on social media, Reddit, and Instagram posts. Many of these lists recycle old games from previous years or mix in random popular titles.
Epic Games has not officially confirmed any full list.
This is important:
Epic never reveals the full lineup in advance
Any list claiming exact titles is speculation
Only dates are reliable information
This blog focuses only on verified release dates, not game names.
The Epic Games Mystery Box event starts in mid-December, following Epic’s yearly pattern.
December 11
On this day:
The first mystery game becomes free
The store switches to daily unlock mode
The countdown resets every 24 hours
From this point on, one mystery game drops every single day.
Each mystery game follows the same timing structure:
Game unlocks at the same global time daily
Game remains free for 24 hours only
After 24 hours, the game is replaced by the next mystery
If you miss a day, that game is gone permanently.
This design pushes urgency and daily engagement.
Below is the date-only schedule, which is the only reliable information right now.
Date | Event |
|---|---|
December 4 - December 11 | The Jackbox Party Pack 4 |
December 11 - December 18 | Hogwarts Legacy |
December 18 - December 19 | Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel |
December 19 - December 20 | Eternights |
December 21 | Mystery Game #5 |
December 22 | Mystery Game #6 |
December 23 | Mystery Game #7 |
December 24 | Mystery Game #8 |
December 25 | Mystery Game #9 |
December 26 | Mystery Game #10 |
December 27 | Mystery Game #11 |
December 28 | Mystery Game #12 |
December 29 | Mystery Game #13 |
December 30 | Mystery Game #14 |
December 31 | Mystery Game #15 |
Epic may adjust start pacing, but once the daily cycle begins, releases are consistent.
Epic hides the games on purpose.
There are three reasons:
It prevents leaks and expectations
Stops any entitlement reactions
Boosts the daily store traffic
This strategy works. Every year, Epic Games Store traffic spikes massively during this period.
Based on Google search trends and community behavior, players mainly search for:
Epic Games mystery box dates
Epic Games free games December
Epic Games daily free game schedule
Epic Games mystery game today
Epic Games free game countdown
To claim a mystery game:
Log in to Epic Games Store
Open the free game page
Click “Get”
Complete checkout (price is $0)
Game stays in your library forever
No payment details required.
This process follows Epic’s standard store policies and is safe under Google Analytics and privacy compliance.
Short answer: yes.
Even if:
You already own many games
You only play a few genres
You are just curious
This event costs nothing but gives permanent access.
For younger gamers (14-25), this is often how libraries grow fast.
This is not charity.
Epic uses the Mystery Box to:
Promote Epic Games Store
Compete with Steam
Drive long-term user retention
Build daily habits
It’s marketing but smart marketing.
The Epic Games Mystery Box is not about leaks, rumors, or fake lists. It is about showing up on the right day.
If you remember one thing from this blog, remember this:
Dates are real. Game lists are not.
Claim daily. Ignore leaks. Trust the countdown.
It begins on December 11.
Usually around 15 daily games through December 31.
No. Epic does not confirm full lists in advance.
No. All mystery games are free to claim.
Yes. Once claimed, they remain in your library permanently.