Key Takeaways
- Xbox Free Play Days is live now through Sunday, October 18, 2026 with six games free to play.
- NBA 2K27 (2K) headlines the lineup — available from Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PDT through October 18 for Game Pass members.
- Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, Soccer Story, and Ravenswatch are all live now through October 18 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential subscribers.
- The Alters has a free 3-hour timed trial available to all Xbox players — no Game Pass subscription required.
- Sale discounts are live alongside the event: Soccer Story is 85% off, Ravenswatch is 65% off, The Alters is 55% off.
- NBA 2K27 buyers this weekend also get an Xbox Gift Card plus a 15,000 Virtual Currency Pack if purchased digitally (offer runs October 16–29).
If your weekend gaming calendar just opened up, Xbox has you covered. The latest round of Free Play Days is live right now, running through Sunday, October 18, and it packs six games across strategy, sports, survival, simulation, and more. Leading the charge this weekend is NBA 2K27 from 2K, but there’s a solid variety across the full lineup worth diving into.
Here’s the complete breakdown of what’s free, who can access it, and what’s worth your time.
NBA 2K27 — The Weekend’s Highlight
NBA 2K27 is the headliner, available for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members from Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PDT through Sunday, October 18. Note that this one starts a day later than the rest of the Free Play Days lineup — Thursday’s offerings are all live now, but NBA 2K27 specifically kicks off on Friday at noon Pacific.
This year’s entry in the basketball simulation series carries a notable milestone: NBA 2K27 is the first game in the franchise to support Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning your progress and purchases carry across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox handheld devices seamlessly. If you’ve been on the fence about picking it up, this weekend is a perfect chance to get a real feel for MyCAREER, The City, and Play Now across NBA and WNBA rosters before committing to a purchase.
From October 16 to October 29, buying any digital edition of NBA 2K27 also gets you an Xbox Gift Card plus a 15,000 Virtual Currency Pack — a decent sweetener if the free trial converts you.
Crusader Kings III
Crusader Kings III is live now through October 18 for Game Pass members and is arguably the most content-dense offering of this Free Play Days event. Paradox Interactive’s medieval dynasty strategy game puts you in control of a ruler navigating the politics, warfare, religion, and family drama of the medieval world. You’re not just managing an empire — you’re managing a bloodline, making decisions that ripple across generations of rulers.
If you’ve never played CK3 and have a few hours to spare this weekend, be warned: it’s the kind of game where you sit down for “just an hour” and surface four hours later because your ambitious third son just assassinated your chancellor and married into the Byzantine court. A fantastic free trial opportunity for anyone who’s been curious about grand strategy games.
Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop
Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop is available for Game Pass members on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows. It’s exactly what it says on the tin — pick up passengers, follow routes through two open-world cities using officially licensed buses from real manufacturers, and build your own bus company solo or with friends in online co-op. The Next Stop edition includes updates and content that have been added since the base game’s release. A genuinely relaxing option if you want something low-stakes this weekend.
Soccer Story
Soccer Story is a quirky RPG-meets-football hybrid where you explore an open world, complete quests, and use your football (soccer) skills to solve problems and progress through the story. It’s charming, funny, and a total change of pace from anything else on this weekend’s list. Available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows for Game Pass members — and it’s also 85% off if you decide you want to keep it permanently after trying it.
Ravenswatch
Ravenswatch is a roguelite action game from Passtech Games where you play as reimagined dark fantasy versions of fairy-tale characters — think a corrupted Snow White, a werewolf Red Riding Hood, and other twisted takes on classic figures. You fight through procedurally generated stages and unlock new abilities as you progress, with co-op support for up to four players. Available for Game Pass members on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and currently 65% off if you want to keep it after the trial.
The Alters — Free For Everyone (No Game Pass Needed)
The Alters is the one title this weekend that doesn’t require any Xbox Game Pass subscription at all — but it comes with a catch: it’s a three-hour timed trial, not a full free play weekend. Any Xbox account holder can download and jump in for a three-hour window through October 18.
For context on what The Alters actually is: it’s a survival sci-fi game from 11 bit Studios where you play as Jan Dolski, a lone astronaut stranded on a hostile alien planet. To survive, Jan must create alternate versions of himself — “Alters” — by branching his own life down different paths, essentially creating different people who he was and could have been. Each Alter has unique skills and perspectives, and you manage your small crew of selves as you try to escape. The three-hour trial is actually a meaningful chunk of that opening experience, so it’s worth firing up even if you’re not sure it’s for you.
The Alters is also 55% off if the trial hooks you.
How to Access Xbox Free Play Days
All Free Play Days titles can be found through the Xbox Store. On console, open the Subscriptions tab and scroll to the Free Play Days collection. On PC, use the Xbox app or Microsoft Store. The games are tagged clearly and will install like any normal download. Progress and achievements earned during Free Play Days are permanently retained if you purchase a game afterwards — so there’s no risk in jumping in this weekend even if you’re on the fence about buying.
The key timing to remember: Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21, Soccer Story, and Ravenswatch are all live right now. NBA 2K27 joins tomorrow Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PDT. The Alters’ three-hour trial is live now. Everything runs until Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 PM PT.
For more gaming news this week, see our write-up on the Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition being pulled after its disastrous launch, the Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Expansion Pass going live today, GTA 6 squeezing into Game Awards eligibility by one day, and Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 now available natively on Nintendo Switch 2.
