Free this weekend: you can play 6 games for free and keep 3 of them forever

This weekend, Steam and Epic Games are giving you a few more games, some of which you can keep forever.

It’s Friday at last! The weekend is just around the corner and has some really cool games in store for you. Instead of wasting your time at Christmas markets with way-too-expensive mulled wine, why not fill your game libraries with free games? Steam and Epic Games have a few free titles for you over the weekend, some of which you can even keep!

Highlight 1: Cities Skylines 2

With Cities Skylines 2, the successor to an acclaimed city-building simulation, has been released. As in its predecessor, you do everything you can to gradually transform your settlement into a metropolis. You provide a functioning infrastructure, expand the transportation network and design various urban areas.

Basically, it’s a decent city-builder, but there were and still are some problems that overshadow the gaming experience.

At release, Cities Skylines 2 had a difficult time, performance issues became more frequent and the community, which loved the first part so much, was dissatisfied. Even a year later, at least in terms of the rating on Steam, little has changed. Currently, at 53 percent, the rating there is at a sobering “balanced” level.

So the free weekend is the perfect opportunity for you to test whether Cities Skylines is for you, whether you can overlook its flaws, or whether you’d rather steer clear of it.

Hightlight 2: Rainbow Six: Siege

In the tactical first-person shooter Rainbow Six: Siege, you throw yourself into the fray in 5-on-5 matches. The defenders use the environment by reinforcing walls and erecting barricades to protect themselves from the attackers. The attackers, on the other hand, are determined to break these lines of defense.

What makes Rainbow Six special is the Operator system. You choose from a variety of characters with unique abilities, weapons, and gadgets to take into battle.

In recent years, the shooter has been regularly updated with more operators, maps and various events. Cross-platform play was finally added with the launch of Operation Collision Point, so even if you play on Steam, you can still team up with your friends on consoles.

More free games

• Synth Riders: If you have a VR headset, you can also try out this rhythm and dance game. It doesn’t work like its genre colleague Just Dance, but is more reminiscent of Beat Saber. You move along a rail and collect points in 144 different songs.
  Free to play until: December 9 on Steam

• Pankapu: In this 2D platformer, you take on the role of the eponymous Pankapu, who is tasked with freeing the world of dreams from a nightmare invasion. You’ll use sword and magic to read the riot act to your bad dreams while experiencing the tragic story of a child in the real world.

  • Free to pick up and keep until: December 18, 7:00 p.m. on Steam

• Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga: If you don’t feel like watching Episodes 1 through 9 of the Star Wars saga as movies, you can fall back on the usual humorous Lego adaptation. You have more than 300 characters at your disposal to explore 23 planets with.

  • Free to pick up and keep until: December 12, 5:00 p.m. on Epic Games

• Bus Simulator 21: What would the world be without simulators? Discover your hidden bus-driving talent alone or in co-op mode and take control of detailed replicas of well-known manufacturers of passenger transport vehicles.

  • Free to pick up and keep until: December 12, 5:00 p.m. on Epic Games

So? Is there something for you this weekend? If you’re not convinced yet, feel free to browse through our lists of free games on Game Pass and Prime Gaming. We’ve linked to both above.

You can also find our review of the free cozy adventure Infinty Nikki there, in which you explore a huge open world while relaxing and being fashion-conscious.