Xbox's Free Play Days promotion runs from October 15 through October 18, giving eligible Game Pass members temporary access to a new group of games. Check the Xbox Wire for the original details.
The lineup includes Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, Soccer Story and Ravenswatch. The Alters also receives a three-hour free trial during the promotion, while NBA 2K27 Standard Edition joins the event from October 16.
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Players can install participating games through their Xbox store pages or the subscription area on console. Progress and achievements can carry forward when a player buys a participating title after the free period.
The promotion covers several very different kinds of games, from grand strategy and simulation to action and sports. That makes the weekend useful for sampling titles that players may not normally buy immediately, especially when a full-game window and a time-limited trial are offered side by side.
The carry-over of progress and achievements is the practical detail to remember. Someone who decides to keep playing after the event can purchase the game and continue from the progress made during Free Play Days instead of starting over.
The main Free Play Days games are available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members through October 18. NBA 2K27 starts its own window on October 16, while The Alters offers a separate three-hour trial that does not require Game Pass.
Xbox says the games can be installed from their individual Xbox.com store pages or from the Free Play Days collection inside the console subscription area. Any limited-time discounts can vary by title and region.
Ravenswatch supports solo play and co-op for up to four players, and its current version includes Kintaro, a hero inspired by Japanese folklore. Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop also supports online co-op across its two open-world cities.
Xbox split the October 15–18 event into several access categories. Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, Soccer Story and Ravenswatch were available to eligible Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members for the weekend. NBA 2K27 began its free period on October 16, while The Alters offered a three-hour timed trial without a Game Pass membership requirement. Distinguishing the categories helps readers avoid confusing a time-limited trial with a full weekend of access.
The published event window has now ended, so the original article should serve as a dated record rather than an instruction to download the games for free in the present. Xbox notes that achievements and saved progress can carry over when a player purchases an eligible title after the event. Discounts and availability vary by region, and free-weekend access does not amount to a permanent license. For a current opportunity, readers should consult Xbox's latest Free Play Days post rather than rely on the October 15 announcement.