Xbox Free Play Days: Free Games on Xbox Series X|S

In a holiday‑season move that has gamers swooning, Xbox has opened the doors to the so‑called Free Play Days, letting subscribers and free‑to‑play enthusiasts alike dive into a range of both fresh releases and beloved classics for a limited period.

When you hear the term “Free Play Days,” you might imagine a short‑lived free‑game fest, but here the schedule stretches out until the end of December, offering an impressive bouquet of titles at no cost to those with a Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential subscription – and even a few gems for everyone, regardless of membership.

What the Free Play Days Really Mean

At its core the promotion is a chance for players to test out games they might otherwise postpone, all while keeping any achievements earned in the process. Microsoft’s policy gives you the option to purchase any of the titles after the window closes, often at a discount that recognises the limited‑time nature of the offer.

The games are grouped into two distinct categories. The first set, titled “Free Play Days For All,” is available to everyone. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Fallout 76 fall into this bracket, allowing all players – even those without a Game Pass – to try them during the exclusive period. The remainder of the line‑up is tied to Game Pass membership and can be unlocked from the Subscriptions tab within the Microsoft Store.

Getting Into The Games

As a gentle reminder, the free period is set to end on Sunday 21 December – so you’ve got roughly five days to experiment and decide if a particular game is worth adding to your permanent library.

The Games You Can’t Miss

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Even before the Free Play Days began, Black Ops 7 had the advantage of being free to all players for the first week of December. During the event you can experience a curated selection of the Multiplayer and Zombies modes, along with the highly‑anticipated Nuketown 2025 map. The developers added a festive touch with a “Sleighjacked” MP map, which reminds me of “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today,” a sentiment that fits the holiday cheer perfectly.

Fallout 76

Continuing the tradition of open‑world sandbox, Fallout 76 offers players a free pass to explore the Mojave wasteland until the 23rd of December. The 2024 expansion, Burning Springs, is included as part of the free package, reintroducing Walton Goggins as the Ghoul from the Prime Video series. The setting is a mix of post‑apocalypse nostalgia and contemporary storytelling.

NBA 2K26

NBA 2K26 is a Game Pass exclusive for the rest of the event. The release is built around the new My Career narrative and an online mode that pits real‑time rivalries against each other. The graphics push for consoles aim to replicate the feel of watching an actual NBA game, with commentary that keeps you immersed.

WWE 2K25

WWE 2K25 sees a short window during the weekend where it appears under the “Free Play Days For All” banner. Xbox players in the U.S. and Canada benefit from extra incentives: a $5 gift card if you purchase the game by the 7th of January, and a 15 000 VC pack for the in‑game currency.

PGA Tour 2K25

Golf fans get the chance to refine their swing in PGA Tour 2K25, a title that blends My Career and My Player modes with a strong multiplayer component. The promotion features twelve days of daily free rewards, encouraging regular play even after the main event concludes.

Ark: Survival Ascended

Ark is a cross‑platform title under the “Xbox Play Anywhere” umbrella, and its free play variant is among the most exciting. Set on a mysterious island where futuristic tech coexists with dinosaurs, Ark’s survival mechanics provide an open world where you must master both combat and resource gathering.

The Forgotten City

Another “Xbox Play Anywhere” entry, The Forgotten City throws you into a subterranean metropolis that exists in two timelines. You can witness the city’s bustling life in its original era and then see how it fell into ruin centuries later by making critical choices that alter its destiny. It’s a clever example of narrative branching.

Extras & How To Make the Most of It

Beyond the titles themselves, Microsoft is generous with free content. For instance, the “Free Play Days: For All” list means that, even if you’re not a Game Pass holder, you can still indulge in titles that would otherwise be behind a paywall for a brief window.

Moreover, the games that require Game Pass offer you a taste of their full versions, allowing players to consider upgrading their subscription after experiencing the games. The experience you accumulate—win streaks, trophies, and even the lore you’ve discovered—transfers fully to your library, ensuring you retain the effort you’ve invested during the free period.

This is a time where the industry shows that community engagement is rewarded; after all, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it,” as Malcolm X famously said. By providing a platform of diverse titles, Xbox is letting players prepare for what comes after the holiday season.

As you navigate your favourites, keep your console ready and follow the <a href='https://www.xbox.com'>Xbox.com</a> page for any updates or extensions to the event. And, of course, you can always return to the Microsoft Store to claim any games you liked during the window.

Why This Matters to the Gaming Community

For the first time in recent years, a major console rival offers a generous free‑play library that mixes high‑profile releases with nostalgic staples, all while keeping the opportunity to purchase at a discount afterward. This move encourages newcomers, gives seasoned players a chance to test out content, and ultimately strengthens the Game Pass ecosystem.

It’s also a reminder that the joy of gaming is, at its heart, about shared experience. Whether you’re shooting in a deathmatch, surviving a dinosaur‑laden wasteland, or swinging a golf club across a digital fairway, the time you spend playing is time spent with a community that extends beyond a single console.

With that in mind, dive into the collection this week, experiment with the variety of gameplay offered, and enjoy the freedom that comes with playing for free. The holiday season is fleeting, but the fun doesn’t have to finish when the promotional window closes.