Xbox‘s Free Play Days promotion returns this weekend, giving Xbox users a handful of games to check out for free. Xbox’s Free Play Days can be a little complicated, which often seems to be the modus operandi of Xbox, so sometimes these free games have extra caveats layered on top. That’s the case with the latest additions, but there are still some free games worth checking out if users have the time.
What’s more, each of these Xbox games is accompanied by a serious discount for the duration of the promotion, while one is a celebration for football. It remains to be seen how these games are ultimately received, but Xbox users should be sure to take advantage of the few benefits associated with the hardware.
Xbox Free Play Days Game List (September 3 – September 6)
Xbox Free Play Days for this Weekend (September 3 – September 6) include EA Sports College Football 27, The Lonesome Guild, and Under the Waves as Free for All games. This means there are no extra caveats layered on top to access them, except it’s worth noting that EA Sports College Football 27 is the only one with unfettered access. Football fans will be able to delve as deep into it as they want. The Lonesome Guild and Under the Waves are limited to two-hour time trials, which Xbox Free Play Days does for relatively short games. Lonesome Guild is on the longer end for this promotion, clocking in at 12-hour playtime, while Under the Waves makes more sense at 7 hours long. Finally, The Survivalists is also part of this Xbox Free Play Days promotion, with the caveat that it requires Xbox Game Pass, but it is billed as a “free with membership” inclusion. Once in-game, fans have full access to it as well.
- EA Sports College Football 27 (Free for All)
- The Survivalists (Free for Xbox Game Pass Owners)
- The Lonesome Guild (Free for All*)
- Under the Waves (Free for All)*
Further information, as well as Store links, for each game are included below so readers can choose which game to check out for this promotion. What’s more, each game can be installed from Xbox.com via the Microsoft Store, but the easiest way to access these games is via the Subscriptions tab on the Xbox Store on consoles.
GameRant Quiz
Free for All, No Caveats
In celebration of National College Colors Day, EA Sports College Football 27 is free as part of this Xbox promotion and brings the series into a new era with major changes to Dynasty Mode, Road to Glory, and on-field gameplay. Dynasty Mode has been rebuilt around the modern college football landscape, including NIL, a revamped Coaching Carousel and 138 ways to shape a program. Road to Glory adds Edge Rusher, Free Safety, and Tight End as playable positions, while more than 1,500 new plays, dynamic weather, and improved player interactions make every football game feel different from previous entries.
- Release Date: July 9, 2026
- Genre: Sports Simulation
- Developer: Tiburon
- Publisher: EA
- Metascore (Xbox): 75
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? IT depends on how someone defines “beat,” given its numerous modes, but fans can explore a lot of its single-player content for sure.
- Xbox Store Link: Play EA Sports College Football 27 Free on Xbox
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The Survivalists
Free for All with an Xbox Game Pass Subscription
The Survivalists is a survival sandbox game set in the same universe as The Escapists and is easily one of the best survival games on Xbox, as it drops players onto procedurally generated islands filled with resources, wildlife, enemies, and hidden treasures. Players can gather materials, craft weapons, food and structures, explore different biomes, and raid temples for better loot while trying to stay alive. One of the game’s biggest twists is its monkey system, which lets players tame and train monkeys to handle jobs such as gathering resources, building, and fighting. The Survivalists can also be played solo or cooperatively with up to three other players.
- Release Date: October 9, 2020
- Genre: Co-Op Survival-Crafting
- Developer: Team17
- Publisher: Team17
- Metascore (Xbox): 76
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? At around 25 hours, it feels unlikely.
- Xbox Store Link: Play The Survivalists Free on Xbox
The Lonesome Guild
Free for All* (2-Hour Time Trial)
The first more limited Xbox free game is The Lonesome Guild, a colorful top-down action RPG about a spirit named Ghost who wakes up without any memories in a world being consumed by loneliness. Ghost sets out to gather six unlikely companions, with relationships playing a major role alongside the game’s combat and exploration. Players can switch between their party members during battles, combine their abilities to create different strategies, and complete side quests that reveal more about each character.
- Release Date: October 23, 2025
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Developer: Tiny Bull Studios
- Publisher: Don’t Nod
- Metascore (Xbox): N/A (77 on PC)
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? The Lonesome Guild is roughly 12 hours long, but Xbox has limited access to 2 hours.
- Xbox Store Link: Play the Lonesome Guild Free on Xbox
Under the Waves
Free for All* (2-Hour Time Trial)
Under the Waves is a unique narrative adventure game on Xbox that takes players deep beneath the North Sea in an alternate version of 1979. Players take control of Stan, a professional diver dealing with a devastating personal loss while spending an extended period alone beneath the ocean. As Stan encounters strange events and manifestations of his memories, the exploration gradually becomes tied to his struggle with grief and the mysterious past he is trying to escape.
- Release Date: August 29, 2023
- Genre: Narrative Adventure
- Developer: Parallel Studio
- Publisher: Spotlight by Quantic Dream
- Metascore (Xbox): N/A (75 on PC)
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? Under the Waves is roughly 7 hours, but Xbox has limited access to 2 hours
- Price and discount information: $29.99–>$4.49
- Xbox Store Link: Play Under the Waves Free on Xbox
Source: Xbox Wire
