Key Highlights:
- Six Xbox games are free to try this weekend, including two Monster Hunter RPGs.
- Three require Game Pass, while both Monster Hunter games have three-hour trials.
- Riders Republic stays free to play until 26 October, one day longer than the others.
Xbox has made six games temporarily free to play through its latest Free Play Days promotion, running from 22 October 2026. The selection includes Monster Hunter Stories, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin and Dying Light 2, although not every game is available without an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Three titles are open to everyone, while the remaining three require Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate. There is also an important restriction for Capcom’s two RPGs: each Monster Hunter Stories game comes with a three-hour trial, rather than unrestricted access throughout the weekend.
Unlike permanent giveaways featured in our Free Games coverage, these offers provide temporary access. Players must purchase the games or have another valid entitlement to continue playing after the promotional period ends.
Microsoft’s official Free Play Days announcement confirms the following six games and their access requirements.
| Game | Game Pass required? | Free Until |
|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter Stories | No, 3-hour trial | 25 October |
| Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin | No, 3-hour trial | 25 October |
| Riders Republic | No | 26 October |
| Dying Light 2: Stay Human – Reloaded Edition | Yes | 25 October |
| Let’s Build a Zoo | Yes | 25 October |
| Tropico 6 | Yes | 25 October |
The two Monster Hunter Stories games replace the franchise’s traditional real-time hunting with turn-based battles, monster collecting and team-building. Players become Riders who form bonds with creatures known as Monsties, hatch eggs and use Power, Speed and Technical attacks to overcome enemies.
Capcom’s inclusion of both games follows the series’ tenth anniversary on 8 October. The promotion also comes ahead of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection reaching Xbox on PC with Play Anywhere support on 18 November.
There is a worthwhile saving for players interested in keeping the first two games. Both are currently discounted to £8.24 each on the UK Xbox Store, but the Monster Hunter Stories Collection costs just £12.49, saving £3.99 compared with purchasing them separately.
Riders Republic offers a different experience, combining mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and other extreme sports across an open world inspired by American national parks. Its free weekend coincides with the game’s fifth anniversary celebrations, including Ubisoft-themed rewards and a special concert featuring DJ Henri PFR.
Unlike the Monster Hunter trials, Riders Republic has no announced three-hour restriction and remains available until Monday, 26 October. It is also already included with Game Pass Premium and Ultimate, making the temporary offer particularly useful for players without those subscriptions.
The three subscriber-only games cover very different genres.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human – Reloaded Edition combines open-world zombie survival with parkour and melee combat. The Reloaded Edition also includes access to the Bloody Ties story DLC, although the additional content must be downloaded separately.
Let’s Build a Zoo offers a more relaxed management experience, with players constructing enclosures, breeding animals and experimenting with DNA splicing to create unusual hybrids. Meanwhile, Tropico 6 puts players in charge of an island nation, balancing its economy, infrastructure and political future across four historical eras.
All three games currently have substantial UK Xbox Store discounts:
- Dying Light 2: Reloaded Edition: £11.99, reduced from £59.99 (80% off).
- Let’s Build a Zoo: £5.85, reduced from £16.74 (65% off).
- Tropico 6: £8.74, reduced from £34.99 (75% off).
The Tropico 6 discount also continues until 2 November, with selected DLC discounted by up to 60%.
I would prioritise the Monster Hunter trials first if you’re interested in Capcom’s RPGs, simply because their three-hour limits make them the most restricted offers. Riders Republic provides more flexibility, while the subscriber-only games offer an opportunity to sample their gameplay before deciding whether to buy.
As with September’s Xbox Free Play Days promotion, achievements and Gamerscore earned during the free period can be retained if players purchase the game afterwards.
To download the games, open the Xbox Store on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, select Subscriptions, and find the Free Play Days collection. Alternatively, visit the individual game listings on Xbox.com while signed into an eligible account.
The main promotion ends on Sunday, 25 October, with Riders Republic remaining available through Monday, 26 October. Exact access cut-off times may vary, so players should check the offer displayed on their Xbox account.
