A new Xbox free game promotion lets players gain access to two beloved multiplayer games (of different genres) from now until Sunday, September 20. While that is not a particularly long time, it’s a great way to enjoy some free games on Xbox this weekend (although both are available for free on PC as well).
Every Thursday, Xbox’s Free Play Days promotion takes a handful of paid, premium games and makes sure they are available for free until a certain date. Through that date, usually there’s a discount, but players do lose access once it expires. That means September 20 is the last day to play these Xbox games for free, but each also makes for good appetizers anyway.
Xbox Free Play Days (September 17-September 20)
Xbox Free Play Days divides its games into two categories: free for Xbox Game Pass users (not a traditional or permanent addition) and free for all. While the exact approach may vary, one Xbox game this week is free for all, while the other requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription. The Xbox Free for All game is Sea of Thieves, while Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is free for those who have Xbox Game Pass. To access these games, players need to visit the subscriptions tab of the Xbox Store and scroll down to Free Play Days. Further details about each game are included below, with their free play window coming to an end on September 20.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Xbox Free Play Days: Sea of Thieves
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Image via GameRant | Sources: Microsoft, Rare -
Image via Rare -
Sea of Thieves is an open-world pirate game where players sail ships, explore islands, hunt for treasure, battle enemies, and fight other crews, with a bigger focus on PvE but the inclusion of PvP. Much of the game revolves around working together to manage a ship and complete voyages, with players able to customize their characters and vessels while building up their reputation. It’s a different type of pirate game compared to something like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, which is also why it still raises the pirate flag to begin with. It’s a good time to check it out if someone hasn’t played Sea of Thieves before.
- Original Release Date: March 20, 2018
- Genre: Action-Adventure Sandbox
- Developer: Rare
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Metascore (Xbox): 69, Mixed or Average
- Xbox Store Link: Play Sea of Thieves for Free on Xbox
- It is currently discounted to $13.99 for a time.
Xbox Free Play Days: Hell Let Loose Vietnam
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Image: GameRant via Expression Games -
Image: GameRant via Expression Games -
Image: GameRant via Expression Games
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is a large-scale tactical PvP shooter set during the Vietnam War, with 50-player teams fighting across massive jungle battlefields. Players can fight as either the North Vietnamese Army or US Armed Forces, choosing from specialized roles covering infantry, reconnaissance, armor, mortars, and helicopters. The Vietnam setting also changes how battles play out, with US forces using helicopters for troop movement, fire support, and supply drops, while NVA players can build tunnel networks to move around the battlefield and launch surprise attacks. In other words, it’s one of the best military games for historical authenticity.
- Original Release Date: August 13, 2026
- Genre: Large-Scale Tactical PvP Shooter
- Developer: Expression Games
- Publisher: Team17
- Metascore (Xbox): 71, Mixed or Average (Based on PC)
- Xbox Store Link: Play Hell Let Loose: Vietnam for Free on Xbox
- It is currently discounted to $35.99 for a time.
Source: Xbox Wire
