XBOX Free Play Days is serving up seven games to check out this weekend, with ARC Raiders leading a lineup that includes S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, High On Life 2, Screamer, Family Man, and Rogue Waters.
The event runs from Thursday, October 8, through Sunday, October 11, 2026. There’s a little something for racing fans, horror players, sci-fi shooters, and anyone who would rather command a pirate ship than deal with another busy weekend.
There is one important catch: not every game offers the same kind of access. Screamer and Family Man require XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential, while ARC Raiders is available to everyone without a Game Pass membership. The other four games offer timed trials, so don’t expect unlimited playtime across the whole lineup.
For more weekend lineups, check out our XBOX Free Play Days coverage.
Which XBOX Free Play Days games are available this weekend?
Here’s the October 8–11 lineup at a glance:
| Game | Access during the event | Advertised U.S. sale price |
|---|---|---|
| Screamer | Weekend access with Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential | $23.99, down from $59.99 |
| Family Man | Weekend access with Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential | $2.99, down from $19.99 |
| ARC Raiders | Free weekend for all XBOX players; no Game Pass required | $19.99, down from $39.99 |
| High On Life 2 | Timed trial for all XBOX players | $31.99, down from $39.99 |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | Timed trial for all XBOX players | $41.99, down from $59.99 |
| Little Nightmares III | Timed trial for all XBOX players | $19.99, down from $39.99 |
| Rogue Waters | Two-hour trial for all XBOX players | $7.49, down from $29.99 |
The announcement specifies a two-hour limit for Rogue Waters but does not list the trial lengths for High On Life 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, or Little Nightmares III. Check each game’s store page for its available trial allowance before starting.
Prices above are the advertised U.S. prices in the event announcement. Discounts, editions, and availability can vary by region.
Screamer brings anime-inspired racing and combat
Screamer combines arcade racing with anime-inspired visuals and fighting mechanics. These drivers aren’t just chasing a podium finish: glory, power, and revenge all play a part in the story.
If your idea of a good racing game involves more than clean overtakes and careful braking, this is one to put on your download list. The mix of racing and combat gives it a different flavor from a traditional motorsport sim.
XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can play during the weekend. The announcement also advertises 60% off both the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition, with the Standard Edition listed at $23.99.
Family Man puts your choices—and your family—on the line
Family Man is a dark, story-driven RPG built around a rough situation: you owe the mob money, and you have three weeks to repay it. You can try to earn an honest living or take on dirtier jobs that pay more but threaten the life you’re trying to protect. Your decisions affect both your neighborhood and your relationships at home.
That makes this a very different kind of weekend game. Instead of saving the world, you’re trying to keep your own little corner of it from falling apart.
Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members get weekend access. At an advertised 85% discount, bringing the U.S. price down to $2.99, it’s also the cheapest purchase in this week’s lineup.
ARC Raiders is free to try without Game Pass
ARC Raiders is the big no-subscription-required pick this weekend. All XBOX players can try it from October 8 through October 11, making this a chance to see what the extraction adventure is about without buying it first.
You venture out from the underground community of Speranza to scavenge a surface patrolled by dangerous machines. Play solo or with a party of up to three, collect supplies, and try to make it back with your haul. The machines aren’t your only concern, either—other Raiders can make an already risky trip even more unpredictable.
The event announcement highlights the Frozen Trail update, which brings new dangers to the Rust Belt, and advertises 50% off the base game, Deluxe Edition, and Deluxe Edition upgrade from October 8 through October 15. The base game’s advertised U.S. sale price is $19.99.
High On Life 2 offers a timed taste of intergalactic chaos
High On Life 2 brings back talking alien weapons, strange worlds, and a bounty hunter whose comfortable life gets turned upside down when someone puts a price on their sister’s head. From there, you’re shooting, stabbing, and skating through another intergalactic conspiracy.
If you enjoyed the original game’s ridiculous humor and unconventional weapons, this trial gives you a chance to see where the sequel takes things.
High On Life 2 is available as a timed trial for all XBOX players during the event. The announcement lists an advertised U.S. sale price of $31.99, down from $39.99.
View High On Life 2 on XBOX.com
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 lets you test your survival skills in the Zone
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl drops you into a hostile open world where radiation, anomalies, mutants, and rival stalkers can all end your expedition. Supplies are limited, equipment wears down, and exploring an abandoned location can turn dangerous in a hurry.
This weekend’s timed trial is a chance to explore the Zone before committing to the full game. The event announcement also highlights Update 2.0, describing performance improvements, changes to the game’s look and feel, and new features.
The trial is open to all XBOX players. If you want to keep exploring afterward, the advertised 30% discount brings the U.S. price to $41.99.
View S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on XBOX.com
Little Nightmares III brings unsettling puzzles and childhood fears
Little Nightmares III follows Low and Alone as they search for a way out of the Nowhere. Their journey takes them through the Spiral, a collection of disturbing places filled with threats that are much bigger than they are. You can play solo with an AI companion or team up with a friend in online co-op.
It’s a fitting October pick if you prefer your horror with environmental puzzles, eerie scenery, and a constant feeling that something is watching you.
Little Nightmares III is available as a timed trial for all XBOX players. The event announcement lists a U.S. sale price of $19.99, down from $39.99.
View Little Nightmares III on XBOX.com
Rogue Waters gives you two hours to start your pirate adventure
Rogue Waters trades guns and racing cars for pirate crews, naval battles, and tactical boarding fights. You play as Captain Cutter, recruiting and upgrading a crew while working through a story of betrayal and revenge.
Each run brings new encounters, and combat involves more than trading hits. You can use the ship’s layout to your advantage, push enemies into hazards, and summon sea creatures to help turn a fight in your favor. Permanent upgrades let you build a stronger crew and ship over time.
All XBOX players can try Rogue Waters through a two-hour trial. The advertised 75% discount drops the U.S. purchase price to $7.49.
How to download this week’s XBOX Free Play Days games
To find the games on your console:
- Open the XBOX Store.
- Go to the Subscriptions tab.
- Find the Free Play Days collection.
- Select a participating game and choose the available install or trial option.
You can also use the XBOX.com links above. Sign in with your Microsoft account so the store can show the access available to you, including membership-based offers.
Screamer and Family Man require XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential for this event. ARC Raiders has a no-membership-required free weekend, while the four timed trials are available to all XBOX players.
Your earned points and purchased DLC carry over if you buy a participating game after the free period, according to the XBOX Free Play Days FAQ. The event announcement also confirms that you can keep your earned Gamerscore and achievements.
Which game should you try first?
ARC Raiders is an easy starting point if you want a full free weekend without a Game Pass subscription. Screamer is the racing pick, while Family Man offers a slower, choice-driven alternative.
For something more seasonal, Little Nightmares III and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 cover two very different kinds of horror. Just keep their trial limits in mind before setting aside an entire evening.
The event ends Sunday, October 11, so download your picks while access is available. For more gaming updates, visit our XBOX and gaming coverage, or catch up on the XBOX Game Pass September lineup.
Discover more from Microsoft News Now
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.