Xbox Free Play Days: Games to Try for Free, October 8–11, 2026

Xbox Free Play Days runs October 8–11, 2026, with different access rules across its seven games: two require an eligible Game Pass membership, ARC Raiders is free for all Xbox members, and four are timed trials. The announcement gives calendar dates but no exact end time or time zone, so check the game’s Xbox Store listing while the offer is active.

Which games are free, and do you need Game Pass?

Xbox’s October 8 announcement groups this weekend’s offers into three access types. The table reflects the announcement; discounts and availability can vary by title and region.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$100.00	Buy on Amazon
2		$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$10.00	Buy on Amazon
3		$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$50.00	Buy on Amazon
4		$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]	$25.00	Buy on Amazon
5		Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25	$25.00	Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Xbox names Ultimate, Premium, and Essential as the eligible tiers for Screamer and Family Man. ARC Raiders is explicitly offered without a Game Pass membership. The announcement labels the other four as timed trials, but only specifies Rogue Waters’ two-hour limit; it does not state trial lengths for the other three.

How to find and install the games

1. On Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S: Open the Xbox Store, go to the Subscriptions tab, and look for the Free Play Days collection.
2. On Xbox.com: Open the individual game’s Xbox.com detail page and use its installation option.
3. For Screamer or Family Man: Sign in with an account that has one of the eligible Game Pass tiers. Xbox says you must be signed in to see the eligible installation option.
4. Before installing or buying: Check the listing in your own Xbox Store region for current access, trial details, and any discount.

When does the offer end?

The announced dates are Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. Xbox says the games are time-bound but does not publish an exact closing hour or time zone, so the calendar dates alone do not establish when access ends in a particular region.

#1 Best Overall

$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

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What to know about the discounts

The Xbox Wire announcement lists temporary purchase discounts for Screamer, Family Man, ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Rogue Waters. The ARC Raiders purchase window is stated as October 8–15, which extends beyond the Free Play Days dates. Xbox cautions that discount percentages and title availability may vary by game and region; verify the offer in your local store before relying on a price or assuming a title is available.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

$100 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$100.00

Bestseller No. 2

$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$10.00

Bestseller No. 3

$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$50.00

Bestseller No. 4

$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

Gift cards are region‑specific (U.S. only) and cannot be transferred once redeemed.

$25.00

Bestseller No. 5

Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25

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$25.00

Best Value

Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25

• XBOX GIFT CARD: Buy full digital game downloads, game add-ons, in-game currency, memberships, devices, apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
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• MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
• PERFECT GIFT: Great as a gift for a friend or yourself. Xbox Gift Cards are easy to use, never expire, and give the freedom to pick the gift they want. Enjoy more ways to play without a credit card attached to your Microsoft account.

$25.00

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Rank #4

$25 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

$25.00

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Rank #3

$50 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

$50.00

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Rank #2

$10 XBOX Gift Card [Digital Code]

• THE PERFECT GAMING GIFT — Buy an XBOX Gift Card for yourself or a friend and let them choose the games, add‑ons, subscriptions, and accessories they want most.
• USE FOR GAMES & CONTENT — Redeem for thousands of digital XBOX games, from backward compatible classics to the latest new releases, plus DLC and in‑game currency.
• GAME PASS READY — Apply your balance toward XBOX Game Pass Ultimate to play new titles on day one* and access a library of hundreds of high‑quality console games.
• PRE‑ORDER & PRE‑INSTALL GAMES — Use your balance to pre‑order and pre‑download upcoming titles so you’re ready to play the moment they launch.
• NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.

$10.00

Buy on Amazon

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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