while steam's Stay Free promotion may be a favorite of many gamers because it grants permanent access to games rather than temporary, meaning users shouldn't sleep on free-to-play weekends. Of course, players will only have access to the following three Steam games for free until July 13th, but that might be enough time to get attached to the titles.
This special Steam Free Play Weekend, running from July 9th to July 13th, features three very different genres of video games. That is, a first-person survival game full of building, exploration, and dinosaurs, a cozy multiplayer idle game, and a roguelite city-builder. With such a variety of gameplay available for free this weekend, most gamers will be interested in at least one of the following games:
Gamers have until July 13th to play as many games as possible. ARK: Survival Ascension, van goghand against Storm as they please. As is typical with Steam Free Weekend promotions, games will be discounted during and immediately after the free play period, allowing players to purchase permanent access if they find a title that suits their taste. For those curious about the three titles listed above, the following analysis will help you decide which games are worth a look.
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ARK: Survival Ascension
It's undoubtedly the most well-known game on the list due to its potential as an anime series and streaming title. ARK: Survival Ascended A stunning Unreal Engine 5 remake of the hit game. ARK: Survival Evolved. From Megalodons to T-Rexes to Dodos, every creature has received a visual overhaul in this new version, while character models and the game's maps have also become more breathtaking. New additions like photo mode and quality of life changes like a UI overhaul are certainly welcome. However, it's important to remember that reviews of the game have been mixed due to performance issues. Players should not expect this early access version to run flawlessly, as the cutting-edge visuals are likely to cause crashes even on powerful hardware. Additionally, despite the core crafting and combat being very enjoyable, the expensive modes and DLC have caused controversy.
- release date: October 26, 2023
- genre: Survival, open world
- developer: Studio Wild Card
- Comprehensive evaluation: Positive 60%
- Can you win before the free-to-play promotion ends?? The base map offers hundreds of hours of content, and other maps are also available, so players won't be able to see everything the game has to offer in one weekend.
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Price and discount information:
$44.99→ $11.24 (until July 23) - Steam Link: play ARK: Survival Ascension Free until 1pm on July 13th.
against the storm
essentially the opposite ARK: Survival AscensionThis well-known yet controversial city-building game may have gone unnoticed due to its niche genre, but it was loved by almost everyone who played it. The critically acclaimed game's smart balance of city-building and rogue-lite elements makes every play truly different and players will make permanent progress despite the inevitable mistakes. Players can expect to manage a variety of citizens with different strengths and try to carry out the best missions possible, while also dealing with a constant storm of enemies and other threats. For those who crave that “one more run” that all the best roguelites provide, this strategy game is definitely worth a look.
- release date: December 8, 2023
- genre: Strategy, city building
- developer: Eremit Games
- Comprehensive evaluation: 95% positive
- Can you win before the free play promotion ends?? The First Seal, an end-game objective that significantly improves future runs, takes approximately 20 hours to complete and can be completed during the free weekend. But the game is designed to be replayable, so you'll get an additional 100 hours of content.
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Price and discount information:
$29.99→ $8.99 (until July 23) - Steam Link: play against the storm Free until 1pm on July 13th.
van gogh
It offers the most raw gameplay of the three titles available for free this weekend. van gogh It's a game you “play” while doing other things. Studying for an exam? Are you busy filling out spreadsheets at the office? Do you like to spend time watching TV series or sports matches and watching commercials? van gogh is the perfect idle game for these scenarios, as it sees players create a full working environment by selecting not only animated avatars, but also the images and GIFs that will house them. van gogh Players can relax with others online in the same space, chatting in-game or watching YouTube videos together to let their avatars emote. Additionally, in-game tools like to-do lists and timers help with practical tasks, and if you simply want to work with your avatar, you can do so using mini-window mode.
- release date: April 30, 2025
- genre: Cozy, Customized, Idle
- developer: Amb
- Comprehensive evaluation: 93% positive
- Can you win before the free-to-play promotion ends?? N/A, because there's nothing worth 'winning' van gogh.
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Price and discount information:
$11.99→ $7.19 (until July 23) - Steam Link: play van gogh Free until 1pm on July 13th.
All three games are available on Steam Deck. ark and against the storm Confirmed.
exception van goghIt was already pretty cheap to begin with, but these discounts are truly huge. So if Steam users are impressed with one of the titles listed above, it would be a smart move to purchase it as soon as possible.
