NBA 2K27 and Crusader Kings III lead this weekend’s Xbox Free Play Days, and you can play both at no extra cost if you have Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential. Five games are in the Game Pass lineup, and a sixth, The Alters, has a three hour trial that anyone on Xbox can play.
The window is short. It opened Thursday, October 15 and runs through Sunday, October 18. NBA 2K27 joins a day late, on Friday. If one of these sticks, the discounts are steep: Soccer Story is 85 percent off and Ravenswatch 65 percent off.
The full lineup and when it ends
| Game | Who can play | Deal if you buy |
|---|---|---|
| NBA 2K27 (Standard Edition) | Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, Essential, from Friday | Buy digital October 16 to 29 for an Xbox Gift Card and 15,000 VC |
| Crusader Kings III | Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, Essential | No discount announced |
| Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop | Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, Essential | 29.99 US dollars, no discount announced |
| Soccer Story | Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, Essential | 2.99 US dollars (85 percent off) |
| Ravenswatch | Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, Essential | 10.49 US dollars (65 percent off) |
| The Alters | All Xbox players, 3 hour trial | 15.74 US dollars (55 percent off) |
Timing, converted for you:
- Start: Thursday, October 15 for five games. NBA 2K27 unlocks Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PT (3 PM ET, 8 PM UK, 9 PM CEST).
- End: Sunday, October 18. Free Play Days usually close at 11:59 PM PT on Sunday (2:59 AM ET, 7:59 AM UK, 8:59 AM CEST on Monday, October 19). We couldn’t load this week’s Xbox Wire post to confirm the exact clock time, so don’t count on Monday morning in Europe. Play on Sunday to be safe.
NBA 2K27 supports Xbox Play Anywhere for the first time in the series, so a digital purchase covers console and PC.
Which one is worth your weekend
Crusader Kings III is the one to actually learn this weekend. It’s a medieval dynasty sim where the drama comes from your family: rival heirs, bad marriages, plots. Three days is enough to see if it clicks. NBA 2K27 is the obvious draw, but remember it only gets you Friday afternoon to Sunday. Ravenswatch is a co op roguelite with fairy tale heroes, and 10.49 US dollars is a very easy yes if your group likes it.
The Alters is the quiet standout. It’s 11 bit studios’ survival game where you clone yourself into alternate versions of your life to run a base. The three hour trial is open to every Xbox player, no Game Pass needed.
Watch the official Crusader Kings III and Ravenswatch trailers below.
What players are saying
Reaction is quiet this week. The only comment under Pure Xbox’s roundup when we checked was a shrug: “Nothing interests me this week.” That’s fair if you already own NBA 2K27. The real value is in the two strategy and co op picks, which are easy to overlook next to a sports headliner.
Our take
For Essential members, this is a decent weekend. You get a full current NBA game for two and a half days, plus a deep strategy game you might never have tried otherwise. The 15,000 VC and Gift Card bonus is Xbox’s real goal here, and if you were going to buy 2K27 anyway, buying digital between October 16 and 29 is the smart timing.
How to play
Go to the official Free Play Days page or the Free Play Days collection in the Store on your Xbox, sign in with an active Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential membership, and install. Store pages we could confirm: Ravenswatch and Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop. Full details are in the Xbox Wire announcement.
Free Play Days window, platforms and price
- Window: Thursday, October 15 to Sunday, October 18, 2026 (usually ends 11:59 PM PT); NBA 2K27 from Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PT (3 PM ET)
- Platforms: Xbox consoles
- Price: free with Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential; The Alters trial free for all Xbox players
- Stores: Free Play Days, Ravenswatch, Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop
Based on Xbox’s Free Play Days announcement as reported by Windows Report, Pure Xbox and Fragster, and the Microsoft Store pages. Images and trailers: Xbox, Paradox Interactive and Nacon.
About NBA 2K27
- Genre: Sports
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