By Jacob Miller | Nov 13, 2026
How the Free Weekend Works
A Free Weekend works the opposite way to Steam's Free-to-Keep promotion. Free-to-Keep lets you own a game forever if you claim it in time. A Free Weekend lets you play as much as you like until the deadline, and then access ends. Anyone who wants to carry on can usually buy the game afterward at a steep discount.
This weekend's lineup is Company of Heroes 3, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad and Cities: Skylines 2. Two of them deal with military conflict in very different ways, and they are joined by a roguelike shooter and a city-builder.
Company of Heroes 3
Company of Heroes 3 is a real-time strategy game from Relic Entertainment set in World War 2, with tactical combat, large-scale battles and campaigns across Italy and North Africa. The free weekend follows Update 3.0, its biggest update yet, which brings major visual improvements, campaign changes, revamped audio and updates to the Final Stand mode. It also comes ahead of Operation Torch, the first dedicated single-player DLC, due on November 25.
The game launched on February 23, 2023, takes about 27 hours to beat, and holds a 62% Mixed rating from 13K reviews. A 67% discount runs until November 19, dropping the price to $19.79, with a franchise sale on top.
Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core
Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core combines the franchise's familiar four-player co-op with roguelike progression. Each run offers randomized maps and upgrades, so there is plenty of variety. The goal is to survive long enough to finish objectives and escape, and teamwork matters more as the difficulty rises.
It came out on May 20, 2026 from Ghost Ship Games, runs about 14 hours, and has a 69% Mixed rating from 7K reviews. A 50% discount until November 26 brings it to $14.99.
IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad
This one is a complete change of pace, placing players in the cockpits of World War 2 aircraft during one of the war's most important battles. The combat flight simulator stresses historical accuracy and realistic handling, with missions inspired by the fighting over Stalingrad. It offers single-player and multiplayer modes, plus VR support for a more immersive experience.
It launched on October 22, 2014, from For-Games CR LTD, takes roughly 25 hours, and sits at 79% Mostly Positive from 5K reviews. An 85% discount until November 15 lowers the price to $7.49.
Cities: Skylines 2
Cities: Skylines 2 puts you in charge of building and managing your own city, and it is one of the biggest names in the genre on Steam. You begin with a small settlement and grow it into a massive metropolis, controlling everything from roads and public transport to housing, businesses and essential services. The detailed simulation means every decision has consequences.
It was released on October 24, 2023, from Iceflake Studios and Colossal Order, published by Paradox Interactive. Around 30 hours is normal, though it varies by playstyle. It holds a 58% Mixed rating from 35K reviews, and a 30% discount until November 19 brings it to $34.99.
