Snag an unforgettably stylish airborne shooter for nothing as part of this week's Epic Games Store free games

The weekly Epic Games Store giveaway is always a chance to snag some great freebies, but it can be easy to log in and add things to your account in the moment, only to forget you've got them waiting for you. Don't make that mistake this time, though, because you'll be missing out on one of the most glorious arcade shooters in recent memory. As if that wasn't enough, you can also snag an extremely well-regarded 2D roguelite that will immediately scratch the itch if you're a Dead Cells or Absolum enjoyer.

Luftrausers is one of those experiences that manages to transcend the medium, becoming a glorious fusion of gameplay, audio, and visuals that makes your neurons sing. It comes from developer Vlambeer, who also made the phenomenal Nuclear Throne, and it drops you into an alternate history somewhere between WWII and the Cold War, putting a fictional twist on proceedings that Co-founder Rami Ismail described as "Superweapon dogfighting in a world with World War II-era Thunderbirds."

It's a symphony in crimson and cream, with tight controls and demanding action sequences that will keep you on your toes and force you to adapt to each situation carefully. The real hook is the customization, however. As you play, you'll be able to alter all manner of plane bodies, engines, and weapon types, adding up to more than 125 possible combinations. This obviously has a major impact on your aircraft, but it also dynamically alters the game's soundtrack to match, ensuring your chaos is scored in the most suitable manner possible.

Also up for grabs in this week's deal is Astral Ascent, an action-platforming roguelite from Hibernian Workshop that's earned itself Steam's elusive 'overwhelmingly positive' user review average. Pick from four distinct heroes and attempt to escape an astral prison known as The Garden. Doing so will mean facing off against its 12 Zodiacs, guardians who have been tasked with ensuring you stay put.

To somewhat oversimplify, you can think of Astral Ascent as blending the side-scrolling action of Absolum or Dead Cells with the run-by-run narrative drip feed of Hades. It's stunning to look at, satisfying to play, and there's even the ability to bring a friend along for two-player co-op.

You can get both Luftrausers and Astral Ascent for free this week via the Epic Games Store, and they're yours to keep if claimed between Thursday September 10 and Thursday September 17. Simply head here to add them to your account while the offer lasts.

I'll never begrudge a free gift, but this week's Epic freebies are particularly strong winners, so don't just drop them in your cart and forget about them - jump in and give Luftrausers and Astral Ascent a try, and you might find your next favorite game.