As happens every week, Xbox‘s Free Play Days promotion is back with a new curation of games for Xbox gamers to check out, most of which come with no caveat. Sometimes, the Xbox Free Play Days promotion requires an Xbox Game Pass membership (although these are not part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog), and sometimes they are available to all. The good news is that this week’s selection is split down the middle: 3 games are Free for All, 3 games are Free alongside an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
The easiest way to play these games is to fire up an Xbox console, search for them on the Xbox Store, and download them from there. Another solid option is to go through the subscriptions tab on an Xbox console and navigate to the Free Play Days promotion. Either way, Xbox owners should definitely check out these games while they are free (through October 25 for most and, in one case, October 26).
Xbox Free Play Days Game List (October 22-October 25/26)
The Xbox Free Play Days Free for All games include Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin until October 25, as well as Riders Republic until October 26. Xbox Game Pass subscribers get three extra free games to play this weekend in the form of Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Let’s Build a Zoo, and Tropico 6. To help players make the most of this Free Weekend promotion, further details on each game are below, including store links.
- Monster Hunter Stories (Free for All)
- Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Free for All)
- Riders Republic (Free for All)
- Dying Light 2 (Xbox Game Pass Required)
- Let’s Build a Zoo (Xbox Game Pass Required)
- Tropico 6 (Xbox Game Pass Required)
Build your perfect top ten one reveal at a time.
Swap two picks?
Pick two spots to swap before locking in your final ranking.
Xbox Free Play Days: Monster Hunter Stories/Monster Hunter Stories 2 (Free for All)
Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin put a different spin on Capcom’s beloved action RPG franchise, replacing traditional monster hunting with turn-based combat, monster collecting, and story-driven adventures. Instead of playing as Hunters, players become Riders who form bonds with creatures known as Monsties, collecting eggs, hatching monsters, and building powerful teams to take into battle. Both games feature colorful worlds, familiar Monster Hunter creatures like Rathalos, and a rock-paper-scissors-style combat system built around Power, Speed, and Technical attacks. While the original Monster Hunter Stories introduces players to the world of Riders, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin expands the formula with a new story centered on a mysterious black-winged, flightless Rathalos, as well as improved combat mechanics and cooperative multiplayer.
Xbox Free Play Days: Riders Republic
Riders Republic is an extreme sports open-world Ubisoft game where players can compete in mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and more. The game features a massive outdoor playground inspired by real-world American national parks, with multiplayer races, stunt challenges, and career progression. At the heart of it, of course, is how it approaches multiplayer: players can explore freely or compete against others in large-scale events.
- Release Date: October 28, 2021
- Genre: Open-World Sports
- Developer: Ubisoft Annecy
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Metascore (Xbox): 79, Generally Favorable
- How Long to Beat: 15 Hours
- Xbox Store Link: Play Riders Republic Free on Xbox
GameRant Quiz
Xbox Free Play Days: Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2: Stay Human combines its open-world zombie survival formula with fast-paced parkour and first-person melee combat. Set in the infected city of Villedor, the game follows Aiden Caldwell as he searches for his missing sister while navigating conflicts between different factions. Exploration becomes particularly dangerous at night, when more powerful infected creatures emerge, and players must rely on their movement skills to survive.
- Release Date: February 4, 2022
- Genre: Open-World Action RPG
- Developer: Techland
- Publisher: Techland
- Metascore (Xbox): 76, Generally Favorable
- How Long to Beat: 25 Hours
- Xbox Store Link: Play Dying Light 2 Free on Xbox
Xbox Free Play Days: Let’s Build a Zoo
Less extreme than Riders Republic and less deadly than Dying Light 2, but no less fun, is Let’s Build a Zoo. It’s a management/simulation game all about creating and managing an animal pack (if that wasn’t obvious(), from designing enclosures to hiring staff and keeping visitors happy. There’s also a rather unusual twist to its traditional management gameplay: DNA splicing. By combining different species, players can create bizarre animal hybrids while making business decisions that influence the zoo’s reputation and success.
- Release Date: November 5, 2021
- Genre: MAnagement/Simulation
- Developer: Springloaded
- Publisher: No More Robots
- Metascore (Xbox): 74, Mixed or Average
- How Long to Beat: 40 hours
- Xbox Store Link: Play Let’s Build a Zoo Free on Xbox
Xbox Free Play Days: Tropico 6
Tropico 6 puts players in the shoes of El Presidente, who must transform a small Caribbean nation into a thriving i sland paradise (or an oppressive dictatorship). Managing the economy, developing infrastructure, and navigating political relationships are all essential to maintaining power. Elections, citizen demands, and international diplomacy add further complications as players guide their nation through several historical eras.
- Release Date: March 29, 2019
- Genre: City-Builder Strategy Game
- Developer: Limbic Entertainment
- Publisher: Kalypso Media
- Metascore (Xbox): 78, Generally Favorable
- How Long to Beat: 50 Hours
- Xbox Store Link: Play Tropico 6 Free on Xbox
