In short
Epic's free-to-keep game is Sorry We're Closed, free to claim until 5 November 2026 [1]. PS Plus Essential subscribers get Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and Monster Train 2 from 3 November [2]. Steam's Football Manager 27 free weekend ends 3 November [3]. Game Pass is a monthly-priced subscription [4].
Key takeaways
- Epic's current free-to-keep game, Sorry We're Closed, can be claimed with a free account until 5 November 2026 [1], and PC Gamer lists its price as $19.99 [5].
- PS Plus Essential's three November 2026 games, Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and Monster Train 2, became available to subscribers on 3 November [2].
- After a 2026 price rise of 10-13%, US PS Plus Essential costs $10.99 for one month [6].
- On 21 April 2026 Microsoft cut Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 a month and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99 [4][7].
- Football Manager 27's Steam Free Weekend ran until 3 November 2026 at 10 am PT, and players lose access when it ends [3].
- Twelve titles, including GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, are listed as leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on 17 November 2026 [8].
On this page 13 sections
- What are the free games this week (3 November 2026)?
- What are the Epic Games Store free games this week?
- How do you get free games on Steam, and what is a Steam Free Weekend?
- What are the PS Plus free games for November 2026?
- What is coming to Xbox Game Pass in November 2026?
- Is Xbox Game Pass free, and how much does it cost in 2026?
- Which is better value: free-to-keep stores or subscriptions?
- How can you claim free games safely and legally?
- When do free game lists update, and what is next?
- Common mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
- Glossary
- Sources
What are the free games this week (3 November 2026)?
Four kinds of offer are running as of 3 November 2026, and only some of them are truly free. The list below separates what you keep from what you rent.
What is free to keep right now?
Epic Games Store's free game for 29 October to 5 November 2026 is Sorry We're Closed, a survival horror game that is free to keep [1]. PC Gamer lists its full price as $19.99 [5]. GameGrin gives the window as 3 pm GMT on 29 October to 3 pm GMT on 5 November 2026 [9]. Next, from 5 to 12 November 2026, come Flotsam and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms [1][5]. Claiming needs only a free Epic account [1].
What needs a paid subscription?
PlayStation Plus Essential's November 2026 monthly games are Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4), Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (PS5, PS4) and Monster Train 2 (PS5). PlayStation LifeStyle says they are free for subscribers from Tuesday 3 November 2026 [2]. Xbox Game Pass also has a November slate: all eleven entries on Pure Xbox's list are tagged Ultimate and PC, and Void/Breaker is also tagged Premium [10]. Both are subscription services with monthly prices, which are covered in the sections below [6][4].
What is temporary?
Steam's Free Weekend game was Football Manager 27, free until 3 November 2026 at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. Game Rant says players lose access after that time, that progress carries over to the full release, and that the game has a launch discount through its 10 November release [3].
What do the key terms mean?
- Free to keep: a game that stays in your library after you claim it, as with Epic's weekly games [1].
- Free to play: a game with no purchase price, usually funded by optional in-game purchases.
- Free weekend: a time-limited trial of a full paid game, with access that ends at a set time [3].
- Subscription: a recurring payment for access to a catalogue that changes over time.
What are the Epic Games Store free games this week?
In the two windows listed by the outlets cited here, Epic offers one game and then two. The current offer is Sorry We're Closed, free to keep from 29 October to 5 November 2026 [1][9]; PC Gamer lists it at $19.99 at full price [5]. The following offer, from 5 to 12 November 2026, is a pair: Flotsam and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms [1][5].
How do you claim an Epic free game?
You need only a free Epic account. No subscription is required, and claimed games stay in your library [1]. That is what separates a true free-to-keep offer from a trial or a subscription title.
What time do Epic free games change?
Sources give different clock times for the same drop. TechWiser lists 8:00 AM PT and GameGrin lists 3 pm GMT on 29 October 2026 [1][9]. While US daylight saving applies, those are the same moment. After the clocks change, the GMT equivalent should shift by an hour, but this has not been verified. Use the time shown on Epic's own store page and note the date, not just the hour.
What about Mafia Hotel?
GG.deals' roundup for 31 October to 1 November 2026 lists Mafia Hotel on Epic Games as free to keep [11]. PC Gamer and TechWiser list only Sorry We're Closed for the week [5][1]. It may be a separate or mobile offer, so treat it as unconfirmed until you see it on Epic's page.
How do you get free games on Steam, and what is a Steam Free Weekend?
Steam offers free games in more than one way, and they are not interchangeable: a Free Weekend is temporary, while a free-to-keep promotion stays in your library once claimed.
What is a Steam Free Weekend?
A Steam Free Weekend is a time-limited promotion that lets players try a full game. Game Rant describes the latest one as access until a set time, after which players lose access [3]. The example is Football Manager 27, free until 3 November 2026 at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. Game Rant says progress carries over to the full release, which has a launch discount through its 10 November release [3]. An Epic claim is different: claimed games stay in your library [1].
One roundup describes this offer differently. GG.deals' 31 October to 1 November 2026 list says there was no Steam Free Weekend that week and describes free play of the game on Steam and Epic instead [11]. The terms matter, so confirm the exact promotion on the game's Steam store page.
Which Steam games can you keep for free?
GG.deals' roundup lists free-to-keep titles including Asleep: Act 1 and Hexologic on Steam, A New Beginning: Final Cut on GOG, and Sorry We're Closed on Epic. It also lists free DLC for Dying Light 2, Hunting Simulator 3 and V Rising [11]. That list covers 31 October to 1 November 2026, so some offers may already have ended. Check the end date on each store page.
Screen Rant also reports eight Steam games claimable free to keep from 2 November 2026 [12]. Check each game's store page for its claim window.
When is the next big Steam sale?
Screen Rant lists Steam's Winter Sale as running from 17 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 [12]. Valve's own page was not checked for this article, so confirm the dates on Steam.
What are the PS Plus free games for November 2026?
PlayStation Plus Essential's monthly games for November 2026 are Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4), Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (PS5, PS4) and Monster Train 2 (PS5). They are free for PS Plus subscribers from Tuesday 3 November 2026 [2]. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered bundles three games: The Last Revelation, Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness [2].
The sources that loaded for this article do not state a claim deadline, so check the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Blog before you plan around one.
Is PS Plus free?
No. PS Plus is a paid subscription, so these games are free only in the sense that they come with the membership. After a 2026 price rise, US one-month prices are $10.99 for Essential (was $9.99), $16.99 for Extra (was $14.99) and $19.99 for Premium (was $17.99). Three-month prices are $27.99, $43.99 and $54.99. TweakTown puts the rises at 10-13% [6]. These are US prices, so check your own region's price before you subscribe.
What is leaving PS Plus?
TheGamer lists twelve titles leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on 17 November 2026, including GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, Football Manager 26, The Talos Principle 2 and Cricket 24 [8]. The list covers those two catalogues, not the Essential monthly games. If a leaving game matters to you, play it before the date.
What is coming to Xbox Game Pass in November 2026?
Xbox Game Pass is a paid subscription library, not a free service. Microsoft's own November announcement was not available to this article, so treat the dates below as outlet-reported until Xbox confirms them. The list here comes from Pure Xbox's dated guide [10].
Which games are being added?
Pure Xbox's list has eleven entries. The dated ones include [10]:
- Gravhounds on 2 November
- Football Manager 27 Launch Preview on 3 November (PC)
- Void/Breaker on 4 November
- Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School on 5 November
- Football Manager 27 on 10 November
The list also includes Pit of Goblin, Tanuki: Pon's Summer, Warhammer Survivors, Hope in the City, Thronefall and Arkheron [10].
Which subscription tier gets each game?
All eleven of Pure Xbox's entries are tagged Ultimate and PC, and Void/Breaker is also tagged Premium [10]. Tier tags can still differ between games, so check the tier on Xbox's own page before you pay for one title.
What is leaving?
This article could not verify the November 2026 list of Game Pass departures from a source that loaded. Check the leaving-soon information on Microsoft's own pages if a particular game matters to you.
Is Xbox Game Pass free, and how much does it cost in 2026?
Game Pass is not free. On 21 April 2026 Microsoft cut Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 a month and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99 a month. Microsoft notes that prices may vary by region [4][7].
How big was the cut?
CNBC put the cuts at 23% for Ultimate and 15% for PC Game Pass. It also reported that Ultimate had risen by $10 to $29.99 in October 2025 [7].
What do Essential and Premium cost?
Wikipedia lists Essential at $9.99, Premium at $14.99, PC Game Pass at $13.99 and Ultimate at $22.99 a month [14]. Wikipedia is the only source in this research for the Essential and Premium prices, so verify them on xbox.com.
Ultimate or PC Game Pass?
As of October 2026, Gamereactor lists 300+ PC games on PC Game Pass and 500+ games on Ultimate, which covers PC, console and supported devices. It says Ultimate costs $9 a month more than PC Game Pass [13]. That matches the gap between $22.99 and $13.99 [4][7].
Do new Call of Duty games still arrive at launch?
No. From 2026, new Call of Duty games no longer join Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. They arrive in the following holiday season, about a year later. Existing Call of Duty titles in the library stay [4][7].
Which is better value: free-to-keep stores or subscriptions?
It depends on what you value: ownership or breadth. Neither is free in every sense, and the points below show where each one wins.
What are the benefits of free-to-keep offers?
- Ownership: Epic's claimed games stay in your library [1].
- No recurring cost: Epic needs only a free account [1].
- Real retail value: this week's Sorry We're Closed is listed at $19.99 [5].
What are the drawbacks?
- Narrow choice: you get what the store gives away, such as one or two games a week on Epic [1][5].
- Short windows: Epic's current offer ends 5 November 2026 [1].
- Not every offer is a keeper: with a Steam Free Weekend, players lose access when it ends [3].
What are the benefits and drawbacks of subscriptions?
Subscriptions give a large catalogue: 500+ games on Game Pass Ultimate as of October 2026 [13]. The catalogue also rotates. Twelve titles, including GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, are listed as leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on 17 November 2026 [8]. Prices change too: PS Plus rose 10-13% in 2026 [6], while Game Pass Ultimate fell by 23% in April 2026 [7].
Worked example: what would this week cost?
Suppose a US player on PS5 wants every offer in this guide. The Epic game and the Steam trial cost $0 [1][3]. The three PS Plus games need Essential, at $10.99 for one month or $27.99 for three, which works out to about $9.33 a month on the three-month plan (27.99 divided by 3) [6]. Game Pass Ultimate at $22.99 is $7 a month cheaper than the $29.99 it cost before the April 2026 cut, or $84 across twelve months [4]. The free-to-keep route costs nothing; the subscription route costs money in exchange for volume.
How can you claim free games safely and legally?
Claim only through the platform's own storefront and its own claim button. The offers in this guide are as reported by the outlets cited, so confirm each one on the store before you act.
- Check the label. Read whether it says free to keep, free to play, free weekend or part of a subscription. TechWiser says claimed Epic games stay in your library [1], while a Steam Free Weekend ends at a set time [3].
- Check the end date. Epic's current game ends 5 November 2026 [1]. For the PS Plus monthly games, read the deadline on the PlayStation Store.
- Use an official account. TechWiser says Epic requires only a free account [1]. Do not pay anyone to claim something that is free.
- Confirm on the store page. Roundups can disagree. Outlets differ on Epic's offers and on whether Football Manager 27 was a free weekend [11][1][5][3].
- Check the platform. Dead Island 2 and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered are PS5 and PS4 games, but Monster Train 2 is PS5 only [2].
This guide covers only the stores' own claim pages. It does not cover piracy or key-resale sites. Subscription and payment decisions can cost real money, so compare prices on the provider's own page.
Readers in Iran should note that this research found no sourced information on how filtering, payment limits or sanctions affect these offers, so check availability and payment options on each platform before relying on a subscription.
When do free game lists update, and what is next?
The November 2026 coverage shows a clear calendar, though several details are still uncertain.
What are the dated events?
- 5 November 2026: Epic's offer changes from Sorry We're Closed to Flotsam and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, which run to 12 November [1][5].
- 10 November 2026: Football Manager 27 launches on Steam with a launch discount [3] and, per Pure Xbox, joins Game Pass [10].
- 17 November 2026: twelve titles, including GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, leave PS Plus Extra and Premium [8].
- 17 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: Steam's Winter Sale, per Screen Rant [12].
What is still uncertain?
Game Pass tiers and dates rest on outlet reporting, Epic's Mafia Hotel offer is unconfirmed, and the PS Plus claim deadline was not confirmed from a loaded source [10][11]. Subscription prices have moved in both directions in 2026, with PS Plus rising [6] and Game Pass falling in April [4], and nothing in the research says whether they will change again. Game Pass's change for Call of Duty, with launches delayed by about a year, shows that catalogue rules can change as well as prices [4][7]. Check the platform's own page for any offer before you plan around it.
| Platform | What is on offer | Dates | Do you keep it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Games Store | Sorry We're Closed | 29 Oct to 5 Nov 2026 [1][9] | Yes, free to keep with a free account [1] |
| Epic Games Store (next) | Flotsam; Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms | 5 to 12 Nov 2026 [1][5] | Yes, once claimed [1] |
| PS Plus Essential | Dead Island 2; Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered; Monster Train 2 | Available from 3 Nov 2026 [2] | Paid subscription required [6] |
| Steam Free Weekend | Football Manager 27 | Until 3 Nov 2026, 10 am PT [3] | No, access ends at a set time [3] |
| Xbox Game Pass | November additions, such as Gravhounds and Football Manager 27 | Various dates from 2 Nov 2026 [10] | No, part of a subscription sold at monthly prices [4] |
Common mistakes
Treating a Steam Free Weekend as a giveaway you keep
Fix: Check the label. Free to keep means the game stays in your library once claimed [1]. A Steam Free Weekend gives access only until a set time, and players lose access afterwards [3].
Calling subscription games free
Fix: Treat PS Plus and Game Pass as paid subscriptions. In the US, PS Plus Essential is $10.99 for one month and Game Pass Ultimate is $22.99 a month [6][4].
Missing the claim window
Fix: Note the end date when you see a list. Epic's current game runs to 5 November 2026 [1]. For the PS Plus monthly games, check the claim deadline on the PlayStation Store, because no loaded source in this article states it.
Trusting a single outlet's lineup
Fix: Compare at least two outlets and wait for the platform's own announcement. Outlets differ on whether Epic also offered Mafia Hotel and on whether Football Manager 27 was a Steam Free Weekend [11][1][5][3]. Pure Xbox's own list tags Void/Breaker Premium as well as Ultimate and PC [10].
Assuming US prices apply everywhere
Fix: Check your own region's price on the platform before you subscribe. Microsoft says Game Pass prices may vary by region [4].
Following a 'free' headline without reading the terms
Fix: Use each platform's own claim button, and read whether an offer is free to keep, free to play or a time-limited trial before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What are the free games this week?
As of 3 November 2026, Epic's free-to-keep game is Sorry We're Closed, available until 5 November [1]. PS Plus Essential members can claim Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered and Monster Train 2, which became available on 3 November [2]. Steam's Football Manager 27 free weekend ends 3 November at 10 am PT, after which access ends [3].
Is Epic Games Store free games really free, and do you keep them?
Yes, in the sense that you keep them. Claiming Epic's weekly games needs only a free Epic account with no subscription, and claimed games stay in your library [1]. This week's game, Sorry We're Closed, is a survival horror title free to keep until 5 November 2026 [1]. PC Gamer lists its full price as $19.99 [5].
What is a Steam Free Weekend?
A Steam Free Weekend is a time-limited promotion that lets players try a full game [3]. Game Rant says players of Football Manager 27 had access until 3 November 2026 at 10 am PT and lose access afterwards, though progress carries over to the full release on 10 November, which has a launch discount [3]. Epic's free-to-keep claims, by contrast, stay in your library [1].
What are the PS Plus free games for November 2026?
The November 2026 PS Plus Essential monthly games are Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4), Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (PS5, PS4) and Monster Train 2 (PS5), available from Tuesday 3 November [2]. PS Plus is a paid subscription: US Essential costs $10.99 a month after a 2026 price rise [6]. Check the PlayStation Store for the claim deadline.
Is Xbox Game Pass free?
No. Game Pass is a paid subscription. After Microsoft's 21 April 2026 price cut, Ultimate costs $22.99 a month and PC Game Pass $13.99, and prices may vary by region [4][7]. Wikipedia lists Essential at $9.99 and Premium at $14.99, which should be checked on xbox.com [14].
What is the difference between Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass?
As of October 2026, Gamereactor lists 300+ PC games on PC Game Pass and 500+ games on Ultimate, which covers PC, console and supported devices [13]. Gamereactor says Ultimate costs $9 a month more than PC Game Pass [13]. If you only play on a PC, PC Game Pass is the cheaper tier [4][7].
What games are leaving PS Plus or Game Pass in November 2026?
TheGamer lists twelve titles leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on 17 November 2026, including GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, Football Manager 26, The Talos Principle 2 and Cricket 24 [8]. This article could not verify November 2026 Game Pass departures from a source that loaded, so check Microsoft's own pages for those.
What time do Epic free games change?
Sources give different clock times for the same drop: TechWiser lists 8:00 AM PT and GameGrin lists 3 pm GMT for the 29 October 2026 change [1][9]. Those match while US daylight saving applies, but the GMT equivalent shifts after the clocks change. Check Epic's store page for your local time.
Glossary
- Free to keep
- A game that stays in your digital library once you claim it during the promotion.
- Free to play
- A game with no purchase price, usually funded by optional in-game purchases.
- Steam Free Weekend
- A temporary trial of a full paid Steam game that ends at a set time.
- Epic weekly free game
- The Epic Games Store promotion in which one or more games are free to claim for about a week.
- PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium
- The tiers of Sony's paid subscription service, with Essential offering the monthly games.
- Xbox Game Pass
- Microsoft's paid subscription library, sold in Essential, Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers.
- DLC
- Downloadable content: extra material for a game, sometimes offered free for a limited time.
- Subscription
- A recurring payment for access to a catalogue of games that changes over time.
Sources
- Epic Games Weekly Free Games List (October 29-November 5, 2026) TechWiser · 2026-10-29
- PS Plus Essential November Free Games Bring Fan Favorites PlayStation LifeStyle · 2026-10-28
- Steam Officially Makes Brand-New 2026 Game 100% Free Until November 3 Game Rant · 2026-10-29
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Update XBOX Wire (Microsoft) · 2026-04-21
- What's free on the Epic Games Store right now? PC Gamer
- PS Plus Premium and Extra also got price increases, not just Essential tier TweakTown
- Microsoft cuts Game Pass subscription prices after new Xbox CEO promises to 'recommit' to gamers CNBC · 2026-04-21
- Every Game Coming To And Leaving PS Plus In November 2026 TheGamer
- Epic Games Store PC Weekly Free Games 29/10/2026 GameGrin · 2026-10-29
- Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In November 2026 Pure Xbox
- New FREE games this weekend (October 31-November 1, 2026): your comprehensive roundup GG.deals
- Steam Officially Makes 8 Games 100% Free To Download And Keep Forever (November 2) Screen Rant · 2026-11-02
- Game Pass Ultimate vs PC Game Pass (2026) Gamereactor
- Xbox Game Pass Wikipedia
