Stellaris, MechWarrior 5, and more headline Steam's latest free to play weekend
Overview & Key Takeaways
Steam's latest free-to-play weekend features five high-profile games.
If you're looking to try some PC games this weekend, but don't want to break the bank, Steam has you covered. You can currently play five games for free on Steam from now through June 22 at 1 p.m. EDT. The list includes a grand strategy classic, one of 2025's best games, and a multiplayer juggernaut. All of those games are currently on sale too, so if you like what you played, you can pick them up at a deep discount after. Beyond the following lineup of free trials, Don’t Nod’s narrative adventure game Tell Me Why is free to keep for the rest of Pride Month.
1 Stellaris
Image: Paradox Interactive
Stellaris is a grand strategy game about forging a galactic empire. You lead an advanced civilization by sending out ships to explore the cosmos while striking diplomacy or war with alien societies. The game released in 2016 and has since been supported with a dozen expansions. It was created by Paradox Development Studio, a team known for strategy games like Crusader Kings 3, Hearts of Iron 4, Victoria 3, and more. Stellaris is currently on sale for 70% off at $14.99 until June 25.
2 Two Point Museum
Image: Two Point Studios/Sega via Polygon
Two Point Museum is the latest sim from Two Point Studios, casting the player as the manager and curator of a museum. There are five distinct museum types to choose from, including ones focused on prehistory, science, and the supernatural. Players are tasked with catering to guests' preferences while managing employee satisfaction and turning a profit. The Two Point series has been well received, and this most recent entry is no exception, with an Overwhelmingly Positive user score on Steam, a BAFTA nomination, and an 84 on Metacritic. It will be on sale for $20.09 (33% off) until next week.
3 Dead By Daylight
Behaviour Interactive
Dead By Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer game that refuses to go the way of a horror movie victim, having stayed alive for an entire decade. You play as either a slasher villain or as the prey, working with or against other players to survive. The game has been a veritable phenomenon, attracting over 60 million players as it has collaborated with almost every major horror franchise, including Halloween, Saw, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Stranger Things, and more. The base version of the game is currently 60% off at $7.99.
4 MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is getting two new biomes with its paid expansion. They include megacities, like this one.
Image: Piranha Games
If you like giant robots, it may be worth checking out MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. The latest mainline entry in the BattleTech series is set during the Succession Wars, a period of tumult where human colonies from across thousands of star systems wage war. The game is first-person, with an emphasis on the nitty-gritty of these fictionalized death machines, requiring the player to monitor various meters and component damage to survive. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is currently going for $7.49 (or 75% off) until June 25.
5 Speedball
Image: Rebellion
Lastly, there’s Speedball, an admittedly more obscure action sports game that is a revival of the 1988 series of the same name. Set in a dystopian future, athletes compete in a mashup of football and handball that involves parkour and jetpacks. This may be the best time to jump in and try the game out, as this multiplayer title has struggled to find an audience, with only 83 reviews on Steam giving it a Mixed user score. A major complaint is that developer Rebellion seems to have stopped supporting the game, leaving it with solid core gameplay in a bare-bones package. It’s currently going for $8.99, which is 70% off.
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