A new Free Weekend promotion on Steam, not to be confused with Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion, is live now and lets players check out four games without paying a single dime through the closure of the promotion period (May 18 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET). Each game can be played free from today to May 18, as of this writing, but they can no longer be played afterward. However, should any of these games tickle your fancy, they’ll all feature discounts either until May 21 or May 28. The cheapest discount is 35%, but it goes up to 75% during the extended promotion period.
It’s worth mentioning that GreedFall: The Dying World entered a Free Weekend Promotion on May 13, before these games did, and it is also available under the same promotion, just for a day shorter. It ends on May 17 but has a discount as well. If it doesn’t appeal to Steam users, then they have four other options, and if those four options don’t appeal to some, then GreedFall: The Dying World is a solid fantasy RPG worth checking out at no cost.
Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion Has 6 Upcoming 100% Free Games
The backend of Steam’s Free-to-Keep Promotion reveals six games that will be made available for free in the coming weeks/months.
Steam’s Big Free Weekend
As aforementioned, each of the new games in Steam’s new Free Weekend promotion cannot be played after May 18 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET, meaning that would-be players should be sure to download ASAP and dive in. While sometimes free game promotions of any kind can have lackluster games, it’s worth noting that each of the included titles has positive reviews. Namely, players are now able to check out V Rising, Misery, Make Way, and Astral Ascent. To claim, Steam users simply need to go to the Steam Page and claim them as they normally would, although they should be aware they’ll lose access if not purchased ahead of the expiration date. To help readers choose which game(s) is best for them, Steam links are provided with each detailed breakdown below.
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)
Open-World Survival Game V Rising is Free on Steam Right Now
V Rising knows what makes survival games addictive but also what makes them frustrating, cutting that away and focusing on the best parts of the genre. Players step into the shoes of a newly awakened vampire, immediately giving the game more character than most open-world survival games. Players, as they progress, must hunt villagers for blood, avoid being hit by sunlight, and construct their own castles. Combat is fast, bosses are difficult, and everything feeds into a successful series of sandbox systems. It’s a game that manages to feel atmospheric, brutal, and oddly satisfying all at once.
- Open-world vampire survival with castle building
- PvE and PvP multiplayer options alongside solo play
- Boss-driven progression system unlocks new abilities
- Daylight survival mechanics add constant tension
- Can You Beat it This Weekend? No, It Takes 60+ Hours to Beat
- Play V Rising for Free on Steam
Co-Op Survival Game Misery is Free on Steam Right Now
Misery leans heavily into the oppressive atmosphere, throwing players into a bleak survival experience where simply staying alive is meant to feel like an accomplishment. Unlike many post-apocalyptic games, where “post-apocalyptic” is the bigger picture but otherwise is mundane moment-to-moment, it focuses on ensuring the opposite. The world is meant to feel harsh minute-to-minute, where resources are scarce, exploration is deadly, and I mean, there’s some misery involved in everything. There’s a rawness to the experience that helps sell the tension, especially for players who enjoy survival games that prioritize immersion and desperation over power fantasies.
- Harsh post-apocalyptic survival gameplay
- Resource management and exploration-focused progression
- Dark, oppressive world design built around tension
- Can You Beat It This Weekend? Yes, It Takes ~10 Hours to Beat
- Play MISERY for Free on Steam
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Online Racing Game Make Way is Free on Stream Right Now
Make Way feels like the kind of multiplayer game designed specifically to ruin friendships in the best possible way. Instead of simply racing on pre-made tracks, players build the course themselves before immediately throwing each other into complete chaos filled with hazards, boosts, loops, weapons, and disaster waiting around every corner. It’s a simple concept, and it definitely executes upon it well.
- Players build tracks together between rounds
- Chaotic top-down multiplayer racing gameplay
- Weapons, hazards, and traps constantly shift races
- Inspired by party racers like Micro Machines and Mashed
- Can You Beat It This Weekend? Yes, It Takes ~5 Hours to Beat
- Play Make Way for Free on Steam
Action Roguelike Game Astral Ascent is Free on Steam Right Now
There’s a reason Astral Ascent has become such an easy recommendation for roguelike fans. It takes the fast-paced combat and repeatable loop players expect from the genre, then injects it with gorgeous pixel art, fluid platforming, and so forth. Every run feels like a balancing act between chaos and control as players experiment with spells, builds, and character abilities while pushing through the Garden’s brutal Zodiac bosses. What really helps Astral Ascent stand out is how energetic it feels from moment to moment, and that helps create the ever-important “one more run” vibe that permeates the best action roguelike games.
- Four playable heroes with distinct combat styles
- Dozens of spells and build combinations across runs
- Hand-crafted pixel art worlds and Zodiac boss fights
- Solo play or two-player co-op support
- Can You Beat It This Weekend? Maybe, ~22 hours to beat but an addictive gameplay loop can add hours easily
- Play Astral Ascent for Free on Steam
