Deponia Is Free to Keep on Steam Until 20 August

Deponia is free to keep for a limited time

PC players can claim Deponia at no cost on Steam and keep it in their library permanently. The hand-drawn point-and-click adventure is free until 20 August, making its roughly eight-hour campaign an easy weekend project.

The giveaway forms part of Daedalic Days, a Steam event running from 13 to 27 August. Daedalic Entertainment is also using the event to promote discounts on several publisher titles.

A broadcast scheduled for 9 p.m. CEST on Thursday will include a look at new games and updates on previously announced projects.

A dieselpunk comedy set in a world of rubbish

Released in 2012, Deponia comes from a development team often compared with LucasArts. Its setting is a post-apocalyptic dieselpunk world built around enormous piles of rubbish.

You play as Rufus, a resident of the lowest social tier who is desperate to escape his miserable surroundings. His opportunity arrives when a woman from the privileged upper world falls into his life. Rufus tries to help her, but the situation becomes stranger when he discovers that her husband looks almost exactly like him.

The resulting adventure follows Rufus’s attempts to leave the trash-covered world below and reach the society above it. The game combines extensive dialogue, environmental puzzles and detailed 2D artwork drawn by hand.

What to expect before you start

Deponia has a “mostly positive” user rating on Steam, with more than 3,000 positive reviews. Its style may suit players who enjoy the absurd comedy associated with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Futurama and Discworld.

“Deponia was a fun game,” reads the top-voted Steam review. “The dialogues are funny, the voice dubs are expressive, and the animations are smooth.”

There are two practical warnings in the player feedback. Many users recommend keeping a puzzle guide nearby, as some solutions can be difficult to work out. Recent reviews also report a game-breaking bug near the beginning of the adventure, so saving regularly is advisable.

How to claim the free game

Visit the Deponia Steam page, add the game to your account before 20 August, and it will remain in your library. Australian players should check the local countdown shown by Steam, as the end time may differ by time zone.

If you are considering a larger gaming setup, RETROCADE’s arcade blog covers gaming news, while the arcade machine buying guide can help with choosing a cabinet. Compact setups are covered in the bartop arcade range, and hands-on builders can explore DIY arcade kits.