Xbox Free Play Days is live right now, running from July 23 through July 27. Game Pass members get free access to three titles spanning Konami's classic stealth series and a narrative adventure, all available until late Sunday.
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What's in the lineup
Here's the full Free Play Days roster for this weekend:
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Version (standalone access)
- Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (via Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1)
- Tides of Tomorrow
The key here is that all three Metal Gear entries technically live under the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 umbrella. The original MSX2 titles, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, are bundled inside that collection rather than available as separate purchases, so if you play both free offerings this weekend and decide to buy, you're essentially looking at one purchase to keep everything.
Tides of Tomorrow is the outlier, a choice-driven adventure that gets its own spotlight this weekend alongside Kojima's stealth classics.
Discounts if you want to keep them
Free Play Days almost always pairs access windows with purchase discounts, and this weekend is no different.
The 50% discount on the Master Collection covers all three Metal Gear titles in one shot, which makes the math pretty straightforward if the weekend trial hooks you.
Why Metal Gear landing here matters
Putting Metal Gear Solid in a Free Play Days slot is a smart move. The Master Collection launched back in 2023 and has been sitting in a lot of wishlists since. A free weekend trial lowers the barrier for players who have been curious but not quite ready to commit to a stealth game from 1998 that controls like it was designed for a PlayStation 1 (because it was). That's not a knock. That's context.
For anyone who grew up with Snake, this is a nostalgia hit. For anyone discovering it fresh, the weekend gives enough time to feel out whether the classic formula clicks.
Tides of Tomorrow is a different proposition entirely. It's a newer narrative title built around player decisions, so the free window is genuinely useful for players who want to test whether the writing and choice structure land before spending money.
How to grab your free access
Head to the Xbox Store on console or via the Xbox app on PC, search for any of the titles above, and you'll see the Free Play Days option if you have a qualifying Game Pass membership. Progress and saves carry over if you purchase after the trial ends.
For players already deep in the Xbox ecosystem, there's plenty of value stacking up this week. If you've been following the Forza Horizon 6 rollout, the Forza Horizon 6 loyalty rewards guide breaks down how to claim up to 6 free cars just for having a history with the series. Free weekends, free cars, free trials: Xbox is leaning hard into lowering the cost of entry right now.
The Free Play Days window closes July 27. If you want more ways to play without paying full price, the gaming guides hub has you covered on trials, early access windows, and everything in between, including a breakdown of how to play EA Sports College Football 27 free through EA Play if you want to stretch your free play options beyond this weekend.
