October 18th free games roundup

Four indie PC games are currently free to claim and download, led by a pair of limited-time psychological horror giveaways and a community rebuild of a classic 1990s city builder. Whether you're in the mood for eerie narrative adventures on itch.io or want to tinker with municipal zoning laws, you won't need to spend a dime.

Free games on itch.io

1. The Green Light

Solo developer waleedzo is giving away The Green Light at a 100% discount through a 7-day promotional bundle on itch.io to build anticipation for their upcoming release, As Long As She Forgot. You play as Fred, a miserable worker stuck in a dead-end job who hears a mysterious radio broadcast during his late shift and sets out toward a distant lighthouse in search of freedom. It usually sells for $9.99, and you can claim it to keep in your Windows library until October 24, 2026.

2. The Black Within

Originally released in 2024, The Black Within is the second half of waleedzo's current giveaway, dropping from its standard $9.99 price tag to zero dollars until October 24, 2026. Set in 2007, this single-player horror game follows a 38-year-old failed musician named Laila Rose who signs a deal with the devil for fame and quickly suffers the psychological fallout. It only takes about 70 minutes to beat, making it an easy evening playthrough if you're looking for a quick, eerie story before Halloween.

3. SunScrap

For something a bit more analytical, indie creator Uwhayo recently launched SunScrap, a browser-based incremental puzzle and electronics strategy game that actually started out as a playable Microsoft Excel spreadsheet shared between office colleagues. Now converted into an interactive HTML5 prototype on itch.io, it's built specifically for numbers enthusiasts who enjoy optimizing circuits and systems. It's permanently free to play directly in your web browser, so there's no expiration window to worry about.

Open-source PC downloads

4. Reticulating Splines

Created by Doom modding veteran Daniel Gimmer (Realm667) and built on top of Nicholas Ochoa's OpenSC2K engine, Reticulating Splines is an enhanced, open-source reimplementation of 1993's SimCity 2000. You can import original graphics and audio from a copy of the Maxis classic if you own one, or just use the included replacement asset packs right out of the box alongside modern additions like 24-hour day and night lighting, weather effects, and an experimental multiplayer beta. The option to toggle the new visual effects off and keep the simulation pure is a smart touch, and the native Windows, Linux, and macOS builds are permanently free to download via GitHub with no expiration date.

While the open-source and browser projects aren't going anywhere, promotional giveaways on itch.io vanish fast once their timers run out. Make sure to grab waleedzo's two horror games and tie them to your account before the sale wraps up on October 24.

The Green Light is available on Humble Bundle for $0.51 (96% off).

The Black Within is available on Humble Bundle for $0.51 (96% off).

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