Steam‘s Free Weekend Promotion is a time-honored tradition that lets folks check out a handful of free games almost every weekend, and its latest offering includes four distinct titles. Of course, it’s worth noting that the free period to play these games comes to an end on November 16 at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET, so Steam users should delve in as soon as possible.
For anyone new here, Steam’s Free Weekend Promotion essentially works the opposite way of the equally popular Steam Free-to-Keep Games Promotion. Whereas the latter lets players keep a game forever as long as they claim it during a free time period, Steam’s Free Weekend Promotion lets players play all they want of a game, to their heart’s desire, until an expiration date. At that point, Steam users loose access to it (November 16 in this case), but the good news is that anyone who wants to continue their adventures can simply pick it up afterward at a steep discount (typically).
Steam Free Weekend Games (November 12-November 16)
This weekend’s selection of paid-turned free-to-play games on Steam includes Company of Heroes 3, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad, and Cities: Skylines 2. While two of the games are geared toward military conflicts, both present them differently, and they’re joined by a roguelike shooter and a city-builder. Each game is available from now until 10 am PT/1 pm ET on November 16. Of course, these games may not be for everyone. As such, readers can find additional core information, game descriptions, and links to each game below.
- Company of Heroes 3
- Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core
- IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
- Cities: Skylines 2
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Steam Free Weekend Game – Company of Heroes 3
Company of Heroes 3 is a real-time strategy game from Relic Entertainment that takes players into World War 2, featuring tactical combat, large-scale battles, and campaigns set across Italy and North Africa. The Steam Free Weekend lets gamers check out the title following the release of Update 3.0, its biggest update yet. The patch introduces significant visual improvements, campaign changes, revamped audio, and updates to the Final Stand mode, among other enhancements. The Free Weekend also arrives ahead of Operation Torch, the game’s first dedicated single-player DLC, which is scheduled to launch on November 25.
- Release Date: February 23, 2023
- Genre: RTS Strategy Wargame
- Developer: Relic Entertainment
- Publisher: Relic Entertainment
- Steam Review Rating: 62% Mixed (13K Reviews)
- How Long to Beat: 27 Hours
- Purchase Discount: -67% Until November 19 ($19.79) Plus a Franchise Sale
- Steam Link: Play Company of Heroes 3 Free on Steam
Steam Free Weekend Game – Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core
Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core pairs the franchise’s familiar co-op (four players) gameplay with roguelike progression, with each run providing randomized maps and upgrades to ensure there’s plenty of variety. The goal is to survive long enough to complete objectives and escape, with teamwork becoming particularly important as the difficulty increases.
- Release Date: May 20, 2026
- Genre: Co-Op Roguelike Shooter
- Developer: Ghost Ship Games
- Publisher: Ghost Ship Publishing
- Steam Review Rating: 69% Mixed (7K Reviews)
- How Long to Beat: ~14 Hours
- Purchase Discount: -50% Until November 26 ($14.99)
- Steam Link: Play Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core Free on Steam
Steam Free Weekend Game – IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad offers something completely different from the other free Steam games, putting players in the cockpits of World War 2 aircraft during one of the conflict’s most important battles. The combat flight simulator emphasizes historical accuracy and realistic handling, with players participating in missions inspired by the fighting over Stalingrad. There are both single-player and multiplayer options, along with VR support for those looking for a more immersive experience.
- Release Date: October 22, 2014
- Genre: Flight Simulation
- Developer: For-Games CR LTD
- Publisher: For-Games CR LTD
- Steam Review Rating: 79% Mostly Positive (5K reviews)
- How Long to Beat: Roughly 25 Hours
- Purchase Discount: -85% Until November 15 ($7.49)
- Steam Link: Play IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad Free on Steam
Steam Free Weekend Game – Cities: Skylines 2
Cities: Skylines 2 puts players in charge of building and managing their own city, and it is one of the biggest names when it comes to city-builder games on Steam, where players start with a relatively small settlement and eventually turn it into a massive metropolis. From roads and public transportation to housing, businesses, and essential services, nearly every part of the city is under the player’s control. However, its detailed simulation also means that decisions have consequences.
- Release Date: October 24, 2023
- Genre: City Builder Simulation
- Developer: Iceflake Studios, Colossal Order
- Publisher: Paradox Interactive
- Steam Review Rating: 58% Mixed (with 35K reviews)
- How Long to Beat: Varies based on playstyle, but ~30 hours is normal
- Purchase Discount: -30% until November 19 ($34.99)
- Steam Link: Play Cities: Skylines 2 Free on Steam
