Surveillance state thriller Orwell is free until Saturday on the Humble Store

Orwell is a game about life in a surveillance state, where people are tracked through digital footprints analyzed by massive computer networks and a handful of human analysts—you know, like today. In the wake of a terror attack, it falls to you to put that system to work, to assist the security forces in the hunt for the culprit.

Naturally, your efforts are fraught with ethical dilemmas. How much do you share? What if you're wrong? What value do you put on privacy when the security of the nation is at stake—and what's the value of a nation that strips that most basic freedom from its citizens? For the most part it works: As Shaun said in his 78/100 review, it may not be subtle, but Orwell is "a well told mystery framed by a captivating storytelling device."

Getting to the point of all this, it's also free for the next couple of days on the Humble Store. Just hit the Orwell store page, click the "add to cart" button, and then rock the "checkout" button, unless you want to do some more shopping before you wrap up. Either way, once you've finished up you'll receive a Steam key via email. Activate that and you're off to the races.

There are a couple of conditions attached to this deal: You've got to grab it prior to 10 am PT/1 pm ET on August 18, and the Steam key has to be activated prior to 10 am PT/1p ET on September 1. If you like it, a three-part sequel entitled Orwell: Ignorance is Strength is available for $10.

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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.