If you were looking for an excuse to stay in and game this week, XBOX just gave you several. XBOX Free Play Days are back, and this round brings a stacked lineup: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Diablo IV, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure, Demonschool, and The Stone of Madness are all getting limited-time free access or trials, plus discounts if you decide to keep playing. It’s a perfect moment for XBOX Game Pass players to sample some of the biggest shooters and RPGs alongside a couple of excellent indie gems.
XBOX is once again using Free Play Days to spotlight a mix of blockbuster franchises and under‑the‑radar titles, giving both longtime fans and curious newcomers a chance to try games before they buy. In the latest XBOX Wire update, Marketing Manager Kyle Ocean breaks down how each game fits into the promotion, how long you can play for free, and what kind of discounts you can expect if you decide to pick them up permanently. It’s a familiar format at this point, but this particular lineup feels tailor‑made for players who like to mix big-budget action with indie experimentation.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 goes all‑in on multiplayer and Zombies
Headlining the Free Play Days event is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which you can play completely free for a limited window from July 2, 10 AM PT, through July 6, 10 AM PT. During the trial, XBOX players can jump into Multiplayer and Zombies, including more than 45 multiplayer maps, three fresh maps from Season 04, and two remastered favorites. If you’ve been on the fence about the latest entry, this is your chance to feel how it performs on XBOX Series X|S with Smart Delivery and cross‑gen support, without spending a cent.
The multiplayer portion includes staple modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination, plus newer additions such as Team Blueprint Sharpshooter and Knife Fight, giving you a good spread of traditional and experimental playlists to test. On the Zombies side, the free window covers the new roguelite mode and a brand‑new round‑based map set atop a volcano, injecting some variety into the classic survival loop. If you enjoy your time, the Cross‑Gen Bundle is discounted from the regular $69.99 price, making it easier to carry your progress forward.
Diablo IV opens the gates to Sanctuary with a week‑long trial
Action RPG fans aren’t left out of this event. Diablo IV’s Standard Edition is getting a generous free trial from June 30 to July 7, letting everyone step into Sanctuary and play through the campaign up to level 30. You can experiment with any class available in the base game, and even get a taste of the new Warlock from the Lord of Hatred expansion during the trial window, lining up perfectly with Season of Death Awakening, which also launches June 30.
During the Free Play Days trial, Diablo IV is 40% off, dropping from $49.99 to $29.99, so you can lock in your purchase while you’re still playing. The nice touch here is that all progress carries over once the trial ends. If you stick with the Standard Edition, you’ll retain access to the original five classes; upgrade to the Age of Hatred Collection and you can continue playing Warlock, Paladin, and Spiritborn once the expansion is live. It’s a smart way to give new players a full week to decide if Diablo IV’s grind-heavy, seasonal structure fits their taste.
Demonschool and The Stone of Madness bring indie flavor
Free Play Days isn’t just about massive franchises. Two indie titles—Demonschool and The Stone of Madness—are getting timed trials that could easily hook fans of tactics and stealth games. Demonschool is a “new‑style” tactics RPG where you juggle university life with demon‑slaying and apocalyptic threats on a mysterious island. The current build includes recent free updates like New Game+ and dialogue text logs, plus various quality-of-life improvements, making this a good moment to see how the game’s unusual blend of horror and campus drama plays out.
The Stone of Madness, meanwhile, is a real‑time tactical stealth experience set in an 18th‑century Spanish monastery that doubles as a madhouse and inquisitorial prison. You’ll control five prisoners, each dealing with their own phobias and mental strain, as they attempt to survive, uncover the monastery’s secrets, and ultimately escape. XBOX players get a two‑hour free trial, and if the premise grabs you, the game is steeply discounted—67% off, dropping from $29.99 to $9.89—during the Free Play Days weekend.
Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure joins Free Play Days for Game Pass members
On the co‑op, chill‑gaming side, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure rounds out the lineup. Available as part of Free Play Days for XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members, Ikonei Island drops you into a lush, mysterious island full of magic, creatures, and secrets. You can play solo or jump online with friends to gather resources, craft tools, farm, build your home base, befriend magical creatures, and battle monsters as you uncover more of the island’s story.
If you like what you see in the trial, Ikonei Island is half off in the Multiplayer Madness Sale, slicing the price from $23.99 down to $11.99. It’s the kind of game that pairs nicely with the heavier action of Black Ops 7 and Diablo IV—something you can just relax with after grinding competitive matches or tackling endgame bosses.
How to jump into XBOX Free Play Days
Getting started is straightforward. On the web, head to XBOX.com and visit each game’s detail page, then sign in and look for the option to install using your XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential membership. On console, open the Microsoft Store, go to the Subscriptions tab, and scroll down until you find the Free Play Days collection on your XBOX One or XBOX Series X|S. From there, you can install any of the participating titles and start playing within minutes.
As usual, any Gamerscore and achievements you earn during Free Play Days stay on your account, and your game progress carries over if you decide to buy. Discounts and availability may vary by region and by title, so it’s worth checking the store listing closely for your local pricing and exact timing. If you’re an XBOX Game Pass subscriber, this week’s event is a low‑friction way to try some of 2026’s biggest releases and a few standout indies without committing up front—and potentially snag them at a serious discount if they click with you.
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