The Ouroboros King, a chess roguelike with Very Positive reviews on Steam, is free on the Epic Games Store until June 18, 2026. Claim it now and keep it forever.
The Ouroboros King is available for free on the Epic Games Store from June 11 through June 18, 2026. Developed by Barcelona-based solo developer Oriol Cosp Games and published alongside Hawthorn Games, this indie strategy title holds a Very Positive rating on Steam with over 530 reviews and an estimated 26,000 copies sold since its February 2023 launch. It normally retails for $9.99, so this is a solid pickup for anyone with an Epic account.
What Is The Ouroboros King?
The Ouroboros King is a roguelike that uses chess as its core combat system. Instead of traditional roguelike card battles or dungeon crawling, every encounter plays out on a chess-style board. Players assemble an army of classic and “fairy” chess pieces (pieces with custom movement patterns), enhance them with relics that provide passive bonuses, and use consumable gadgets for temporary advantages. The goal is to defeat the Coven, an evil force holding the Kingdom of Thessalonia captive.
The game follows a Slay the Spire-style map structure where each run takes you through branching paths with battles, shops, and upgrade opportunities. Runs last between 15 and 45 minutes, and every defeat sends you back to the start with a completely new map, new enemies, and new rewards. There is no gated progression: all content is unlocked from the very beginning.
Do You Need to Know Chess?
No. Developer Oriol Cosp has been clear that no knowledge of chess openings or theory is required. The game borrows the movement logic of chess but builds an entirely new system around it with exotic pieces, relics, and consumable items. It is designed to be easy to learn and hard to master. If you have ever played any turn-based tactics game, you will feel at home within minutes.
Key Features at a Glance
- Army Building: Combine classic and fairy chess pieces with relics and consumable items to create powerful compositions.
- Roguelike Structure: Procedurally generated maps, enemies, and rewards ensure no two runs feel the same.
- No Gatekeeping: Every piece, relic, and difficulty option is available from the start. Progression is skill-based, not grind-based.
- Short Sessions: 15-45 minute runs make it ideal for quick breaks or extended play.
- Local Multiplayer: Hot Seat mode lets you challenge friends to chess matches with the game’s expanded piece roster.
- End-Game Challenge: Multiple difficulty modifiers let experienced players dial up the challenge to extreme levels.
- Multi-Platform: Available on PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS.
The Solo Developer Behind the Game
Oriol Cosp is a mathematics graduate and former data scientist from Barcelona who built The Ouroboros King in roughly 12 months of part-time work (3-4 hours per day) using Unity. It was his first commercial game. The idea came from combining two observations: chess is an excellent turn-based combat system with simple rules and deep strategy, and the Slay the Spire roguelike map pattern works with almost any combat system.
The game launched with around 20,000 wishlists, largely driven by coverage from content creators like Aliensrock and Retromation, a popular post on r/chess, and visibility during Steam Next Fest. It sold approximately 4,500 copies in its first month, and its moderate commercial success allowed Cosp to quit his day job and become a full-time indie developer. He is currently working on his next title, Gods vs Horrors.
How to Claim The Ouroboros King for Free
- Visit the Epic Games Store website or open the Epic Games Launcher on your PC or Mac.
- Log in with your Epic Games account. If you do not have one, creating an account is free.
- Navigate to the Free Games section on the store front page.
- Click on The Ouroboros King and hit the “Get” button.
- Complete the checkout. The total will show as $0.00.
Once claimed, the game is permanently added to your library and can be downloaded at any time. The free period ends on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM BST. The Epic Games Store also supports mobile claiming on Android globally and on iOS within the EU.
Is Warhammer 40K: Speed Freeks Also Free?
The original announcement listed both The Ouroboros King and Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks as this week’s free titles. Multiple sources confirmed both games were available as of June 11. However, some reports indicated that Speed Freeks was pulled from the free lineup at the last minute. Check the Epic Games Store directly to verify current availability, as the situation may have changed since initial announcements.
What Are Next Week’s Free Games?
Epic Games Store has confirmed that Citizen Sleeper and Robobeat will be the free games from June 18 through June 25, 2026. Citizen Sleeper is a narrative-driven RPG set on a deteriorating space station, while Robobeat is a rhythm-based first-person shooter. Both will be claimable starting the moment The Ouroboros King’s free period ends.
How Does The Ouroboros King Compare to Similar Games?
The chess roguelike niche has grown steadily in recent years. The Ouroboros King cites Shotgun King, Pawnbarian, Slay the Spire, and Into the Breach as direct inspirations. Compared to Pawnbarian, which uses a single piece on small boards, The Ouroboros King gives players a full army of up to eight pieces with diverse abilities. Compared to Shotgun King, which focuses on a single rogue chess piece, this game emphasises army composition and synergy building.
The Steam version holds a Very Positive rating at around 81%, and completionist playtime sits at roughly 3.5-4 hours. The console ports (PS4, Switch) have received mixed feedback regarding technical performance, but the PC and Mac versions are widely praised. Since the Epic Games Store version is for PC and Mac, players should expect the polished experience that earned those positive reviews.
Things Players Usually Want to Know
How long does a single run take?
A full run consists of sixteen rounds and typically takes between 15 and 45 minutes depending on your pace and strategy. This makes it excellent for short gaming sessions.
Is there online multiplayer?
No. The Ouroboros King offers local Hot Seat multiplayer on the same device but does not include online multiplayer. The single-player roguelike campaign is the primary experience.
What are the system requirements?
Extremely low. Windows 7 SP1 or later, any processor with SSE2 support, and a basic graphics card. The game also runs on Mac and Linux. It will work on virtually any modern computer.
Is the free copy permanent?
Yes. Any game claimed during its free week on the Epic Games Store stays in your library permanently. You just need to add it before the offer expires on June 18, 2026.
Does it support controllers?
Yes. The game offers full controller support as well as keyboard and mouse input.
Why This Week’s Freebie Is Worth Your Time
The Ouroboros King may not be a blockbuster AAA title, but it represents exactly the kind of creative indie design that Epic’s weekly free game programme excels at surfacing. A solo developer with a mathematics background turned chess into a compelling roguelike in just 12 months, and the result earned strong reviews and a dedicated following. At zero cost, there is no reason not to add it to your library.
Epic Games Store has been running its weekly free game initiative since December 2018, and the 2026 lineup has already included standouts like Total War: Three Kingdoms, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, and Songs of Conquest. If you are looking to grow your Epic Games library, the Epic Games accounts section on GamerMarkt is worth exploring for accounts with extensive libraries and exclusive content.
