Beyond Blue and Never Alone are next week’s Epic Games Store freebies

destructoid.com:

Epic Games has revealed the next two titles that it will be offering up to all Epic Games Store users free of charge next week — And it looks like deep sea diving and mythic adventure is the name of the game, with the arrival of E-Line Media’s Beyond Blue and Upper One Games’ cutesy platformer Never Alone.

Released on PC and consoles in the spring of 2020, Beyond Blue is an informative undersea adventure, inspired by the critically acclaimed BBC series The Blue Planet. As deep-sea researcher Mirai, the player will explore the fathoms of the deepest oceans, investigating the flora and fauna that dwells within this fascinating and sometimes alien universe. On release, Beyond Blue was praised by critics for its immersive atmosphere and heavenly vibes, though some were disappointed with its lack of activity and somewhat empty world. You can check out Jordan Devore’s thoughts on the game right here.

Developed by Upper One Games and released way back in 2014, Never Alone is a wholesome puzzle platformer that is also an adaptation of the legendary Iñupiat tale of “Kunuuksaayuka”. The story concerns the odyssey of a young Iñupiat girl, Nuna, and her arctic fox companion as they attempt to identify the source of a strange blizzard that has engulfed their community.

Synergizing the abilities of the two characters, players must negotiate the world, dodging hazards and traversing the environment, while pressing ever closer to the truth about the strange snowstorm. Never Alone received divisive reviews, with many praising the title’s attractive art style and informative and historical nature, while others complained about the game’s controls and general mechanics.

Beyond Blue and Never Alone will be available to download from Epic