Plenty to explore this weekend with Free Play Days! Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (XPA), Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game and Wildgate are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, November 20 until Sunday, November 23.

Nowhere Prophet, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, and For the King II are free for all Xbox members to try during Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

How To Start Playing

Scroll down and find and install the games on each of the individual game details pages on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.

Keep The Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

Wildgate

Dreamhaven, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
170

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

Wildgate
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Wildgate is a PvP multiplayer shooter that blends tactical ship-to-ship combat with fast-paced first-person action. The latest update, Wildgate: Emergence, is out now for the spacefaring crew-based first-person shooter. Emergence introduces highly requested new game modes, Treasure Hunt and Fleet Battle, Psionic prospector Charlie, the Outlaw solo or two-person crew ship, the ability to create custom game lobbies, and more.

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers

astragon Entertainment GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆
446

★★★★★

$29.99

$23.99

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Welcome to Brighton! Join the ranks of this fictitious American city’s police force and experience the everyday life of a police officer. Begin with parking violations and work your way up to shouldering greater responsibilities. Be part of Brighton’s community, get to know your neighborhood, and fulfill the daily duties of a police officer as you fight crime during your shift.

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

Focus Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
273

★★★★★

$49.99

$24.99

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
Embark on ever-rewarding scientific expeditions and unravel the mysteries of uncharted lands for free as part of Xbox Free Play Days. To celebrate the release of Season 4: Amber Dusk, you can also grab the game for 50% off. Jump in alone or with your friends now – adventure awaits!

Free Play Days For All

Nowhere Prophet

No More Robots

☆☆☆☆☆
178

★★★★★

$24.99

$7.49

Get it now

Nowhere Prophet
Xbox Play Anywhere
Prepare your decks and go on a pilgrimage through the wasteland! Nowhere Prophet is a unique single-player card game. Travel across randomly generated maps and lead your followers in deep tactical combat. Discover new cards and build your deck as you explore this, strange, broken world. Try Nowhere Prophet for free as part of Xbox Free Play Days, and grab the full game at 70% off.

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4(Xbox One)

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
261

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
All aboard, pirates! Battle your way through waves of enemies as your favorite One Piece characters in One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. In search of treasure, relive some of the One Piece series’ most memorable moments from Alabasta all the way to the Land of Wano. Experience the latest evolution of Pirate Warriors action and prepare for an even more thrilling gameplay with enhanced graphics on Xbox Series X|S and check out the upcoming DLC, Character Pack No. 7.The new Legendary Edition is on sale at 50% off this weekend — don’t miss your chance to own the most complete One Piece experience!

For The King II

Curve Games

☆☆☆☆☆
228

★★★★★

$24.99

$9.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

For the King II
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Battle against Fahrul’s tyrannical Queen alone or as a party of four players in the sequel to For The King, the massively popular turn-based roguelite tabletop RPG. Will you unravel the once beloved Queen’s terrible secret?

Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

In SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide, available now for Xbox Series X|S, we wanted to place a special focus on the themes of duality. SpongeBob and Patrick are longtime BFFs, but strikingly opposite in their approach to challenges. SpongeBob is the eternal optimist, hardworking and curious, while Patrick is laid back, good natured and carefree. The two are united in their love for live, playing jokes, and annoying Squidward.

It’s a character trope that we see throughout the series through other character relationships like Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and Plankton and Karen. The series always focuses on interpersonal relationships and finding unity in differences. This was a huge inspiration for us as we approached the antagonists King Neptune and the Flying Dutchman, and we felt like this was a unique opportunity to take this recurring series theme and apply it to a less explored dynamic between two series characters.

When we set out to make Titans of the Tide, we had two strong SpongeBob games to base our learnings on. Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated remains a cult classic, beloved by the SpongeBob community. Its gameplay is a little slower, but the writing and story development is superb and all three main characters – SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy are playable. With Cosmic Shake, we focused on the fidelity of gameplay and wanted to highlight this through focusing on SpongeBob as the main character with Balloon Patrick by his side throughout their adventures. In Titans, we further refined gameplay by re-introducing Patrick as a playable character. You can see the duality theme pop back up again here as SpongeBob and Patrick’s approach to saving Bikini Bottom varies with their skillset.

While SpongeBob is an agile karate king, Patrick’s burly nature helps players to pick up and throw heavy objects, burrow, and use a grapple hook to bring objects closer to him. Switching between the two characters is seamless, which lends itself to epic combinations and unique puzzling. We intentionally kept the basic fighting and traversal abilities mechanically similar (though vastly different in animation style) so that parents and kids alike can play large swathes of the game as their favourite character.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the antagonists: King Neptune is a posh aristocrat whose main concern is his reputation and debonair lifestyle, while the Flying Dutchman is a rowdy pirate who haunts the Seven Seas. Bringing these larger-than-life characters to our audience can be challenging. We worked hard to match the dialogue and character developments throughout the game to those of the series, so that viewers and players have a seamless experience throughout the SpongeBob universe. Once our base for the characters was established, we prototyped the story outline and filled it in with dialogue and story development based on the development of our key features so that the result is a smooth experience that feels like a natural extension to the series.

In creating the story, we started with the premise that Mr. Krabs was having a 50% off discount at the Krusty Krab. Pay half price for, well, half of a Krabby Patty. A legendary marketing move, courtesy of Eugene Krabs. The Flying Dutchman has been waiting in line for hours when King Neptune storms in and jumps the line. The two iconic egos clash and chaos is unleashed upon Bikini Bottom. Half of the population is turned into ghosts, including SpongeBob who’s caught in the crossfire. Luckily Patrick and SpongeBob figure out that they can trade places as the “ghost buddy” by holding their BFF rings together. While King Neptune and the Flying Dutchman battle it out, you follow SpongeBob and Patrick in their journey to reconcile those two old geezers.

We’ll leave the rest for you to explore and we look forward to seeing what your favorite moments are. SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is available now for Xbox Series X|S.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide

THQ Nordic GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

How do you stop the two biggest egos of the Seven Seas from fighting? A clash between the Flying Dutchman and King Neptune has unleashed ghostly mayhem all over Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob and Patrick will need all their skills, bravery and – dare I say – wit, to return life to what passes for normal in their undersea home. Join Bikini Bottom’s most notorious duo on their ghostliest adventure yet!

Switch seamlessly between SpongeBob and Patrick
Combine SpongeBob and Patrick’s unique platforming skills
Master Patrick’s brand-new skills like grappling and burrowing
Experience a new ghostly story
Fully voiced by the original cast of the show
Visit iconic locations like Neptune’s Palace and Mount Bikini
Battle epic bosses like the Flying Dutchman, King Neptune and Hibernation Sandy

Delta Force has been out on Xbox Series X|S for a little more than three months. Available for free, the game provides three distinctive modes for players of various taste palette: Operations, the game’s accessible, Operator based Extraction Shooter; the Black Hawk Down PvE campaign; and Warfare mode, where players engage in vehicle and/or infantry skirmishes taking place on a growing roster of maps, with its latest addition: Monument. It’s big, with lots of POIs and routes, meaning it’s packed with gameplay opportunities. But this map is more than just a new playground with a new look. It’s delivering a vibe. I spoke with two developers from the team to find out what this map was all about, and why it was so special for the team.

The making of this map took a rebellious turn. Gameplay-first has always been Team Jade’s go-to recipe but with this map, the team decided to flip the script. “I think it really started with a tribute,” said Kai, Level Designer at Team Jade who worked on this map. “We really liked ‘Operation Monument,’ the first mission from Delta Force: Land Warrior. We were discussing what to make next, and someone tossed out: ‘Why don’t we do a pyramid?’ and instantly, everyone just knew—that’s it!”

“This wasn’t just about a simple remake,” he continued. “With modern tech, we finally had the power to actually deliver the desert atmosphere and pyramid experience we’d dreamed of. This was very much a continuation of that classic experience. Getting the opportunity to build content around this really fired us up.”

“We wanted this map to let players truly immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere of the local culture, and this became our top priority for this map,” Wei, the 3D Environment Artist, chimed in. “So, our team actually made the trip out there for hands-on research—to experience the real sand dune terrain and pyramid architecture for ourselves.”

The caveat here, is that the team had already built a prototype of the map, in a bunch of grey boxes as you’d imagine in the engine editor. The team thought the trip would just add some cherries on top, but they were wrong. This trip, as it turned out, changed everything.

“Honestly, picturing something in your head and seeing it with your own eyes are two completely different things,” Wei laughed. The already built “greybox” version of Monument, designed with a traditional gameplay-first, hand-crafted approach, “showed promising results in internal playtests, but when we actually stood among the pyramid complex, we realized the real terrain’s elevation changes and sheer scale far exceeded anything we’d imagined. The desert environment really amplifies the grandeur and mystery. This vibe is something that we must, we have to deliver with this map.”

After the team got back, they effectively redesigned the map, drawing inspiration from the actual terrain. This “authenticity-first” approach, bolstered by photogrammetry scanning done back in the HQ office, created natural combat spaces that felt more organic than anything they could have “hand-designed” from scratch. “It’s like every grain of sand, every brick carries a story,” Wei said.

But getting the look and feel right is only half the job for a map. That’s where level designing shines. “Overall, Monument is a map that combines the diverse combat experiences from… Warfare mode while showcasing distinctive regional culture,” Kai remembered. The battlefield is split into four sectors, each with its own feel, from an abandoned town in Sector A to the dunes of Sector C.

“Sector D brings us inside the pyramid itself, with a maze of passages,” he beamed with excitement. This is where the “vibe” and the “gameplay” truly merge. “Besides the orderly corridors built by craftsmen… there are also secret passages carved out by tomb raiders over the centuries. So if a frontal assault gets too tough, try switching things up and taking a different route; you might stumble onto something unexpected. Players want big maps filled with POIs and routes, and this map really just speaks to that.”

I asked Kai what the team was most excited for players to experience. “I can’t spoil too much,” he chuckled a bit, “but there’s this feeling as the battle progresses. You gradually move from the distant town, across the dunes, closer to the pyramid, and finally step inside, with each stage offering a totally different feel… It’s those moments where you breach that final interior, with sand trickling from the crevices and the distinct sound of the Ney flute in the music… that’s the stuff that sticks with me. Like, this is so cool. You don’t usually get to experience this in a shooter.”

“Players may have already seen pyramids in movies or history books,” he finished, “but this is their first chance to really explore one… running freely, driving at full speed, and fighting in its shadow. We hope everyone has a blast playing it.”

Delta Force is now available for free on Xbox Series X|S. Season Ahsarah, featuring the Monument map, is available now. On top of this new map, the game is to introduce a new Engineer Operator, Gizmo and more content to the game. Delta Force will support console only cross-play with this new season, and native mouse and keyboard input, among other console-specific improvements.

Delta Force

TiMi Studio Group

☆☆☆☆☆
549

★★★★★

Get it now

Delta Force is back!

The iconic series returns as the definitive free-to-play modern team-based tactical shooter, and featuring three distinct gameplay modes:

– Warfare: battle the enemy across land, sea and air in truly epic 32 v 32 PvP combat, featuring a wide range of vehicles and unique tactical gear.

– Operations: Delta Force meets the next generation extraction shooter as you deploy behind enemy lines with your squad, search for valuables, take on rival players, and extract before it’s too late. Alternatively, our PvE Raid mode offers challenging objective-based missions designed to push your squad to the limit.

– Black Hawk Down: step into the boots of legendary Delta Force operators for this remake of the classic series campaign based on the gripping 2001 movie.

We are committed to NO PAY-TO-WIN and development is driven by community feedback. Fair play is a top priority, and our dedicated G.T.I. security anti-cheat team ensures a fair gameplay experience by proactively targeting and removing cheaters.

And remember…

“No-one gets left behind”

We spend more time than ever scrolling, swiping, and streaming. Most of it passes by in a blur, and habits like doom-scrolling fill the time but leave us feeling empty. But there’s one type of entertainment that feels different – one that gives back, turning moments into meaning – and in a way that our social feeds rarely do. Gaming.  

That’s the story behind The Culture of Play Report, a new look at why play feels different and why so many people say it’s time well spent. To get a truer picture of how players feel about gaming, we partnered with Edelman Data & Intelligence to survey 1,500 adult video game players in the U.S. – representing a broad mix of play styles and perspectives, from core players to casual participants, across diverse demographics and backgrounds (you can read more about the report’s survey below).

The findings reveal three key reasons players keep coming back: meaning, connection, and self-expression. It’s something you’ve known for years, and now the world is catching on: gaming just might be the most fulfilling, socially connected, and powerful form of entertainment today.  

Meaningful Play  

Nearly 68% of players surveyed say gaming is more emotionally fulfilling than their other hobbies, and three in four reported feeling that they’re doing something meaningful when they play. At Xbox, we think that’s for good reason: games don’t just entertain us – they ask something of us. When we build, explore, or compete, we create our own joy. The reward isn’t passive. It’s personal. 

Likes Fade. Play Lasts 

Six in ten players in our study made lifelong friends through gaming, and more than half say their communities have supported them in tough times. In a world of fleeting interactions, gaming helps build something lasting – real connection. Connection so real, in fact, that three in four players we talked to hope to pass their love of play on to the next generation.

Over the past 12 months, 46% of our players on Xbox chose to game together across titles like Call of Duty, Forza Horizon 5 and Fortnite that consistently deliver these shared experiences.  

Play Shaped By You  

Everywhere else online, algorithms decide what we see next. But in games, we decide who we are, what we do, and how we play. That freedom matters. But freedom doesn’t mean going at it alone. Nearly half of players surveyed say they often feel overwhelmed by too many choices in gaming, almost nine in ten find curation useful, and eight in ten say they’re open to smarter ways to discover what to play next.

That’s why we’re exploring new tools like Gaming Copilot to keep discovery simple and make every session feel a little more personal, without taking away the choices that make play yours. 

The Culture Play Built  

Every day, millions of players are building more than just games. The meaning, connection, and self-expression they find through play have reshaped how we tell stories, share ideas, and see ourselves. When people are fulfilled by play, they create, share stories, connect, build worlds, remix trends — and that creativity is now part of our collective culture.

Gaming’s influence shows up everywhere: in the movies we watch, the music we stream, the clothes we wear, and the communities we form. It’s proof that play doesn’t just reflect culture — it helps build it. 

Your Turn

Everyone has a moment that reminds them why they play – a favorite game, a shared win, or a friendship that’s lasted long after the game ended.  For nearly 25 years, Xbox has been about bringing people together through play –and creating moments and experiences that turn players into friends, teammates, and even family.

As we enter our 25th Anniversary year, we’ll celebrate your stories and connections that define the heart of Xbox. These insights will help us keep shaping what comes next, because we believe everyone should have the chance to create those moments – playing the games they love, wherever they are.  

How We Conducted the Culture of Play Report Survey 

Microsoft commissioned Edelman Data & Intelligence to conduct a 20-minute online survey among 1,500 video game players in the United States, between June 25 and July 2, 2025. The panel of survey respondents were carefully selected to closely match U.S. population demographics and the respondents are representative of American men and woman, ages 18 and older.

The audiences analyzed in this report include three distinct segments: Core Players (who spend most of their entertainment time gaming and following gaming news closely), Enthusiastic Players (who spend a quarter to half their entertainment time gaming and casually follow trends), and Casual Players (who primarily play on mobile or tablet and rarely follow gaming news).

Grab your spray tool, and step back into Spatterville—there’s a new coat of polish on Spray Paint Simulator! This update focuses on player creativity, smoother gameplay, and better performance. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a new painter just learning the ropes, you’ll find this update makes your work smoother, faster, and a lot more colorful.

Paint the Bridge Your Way

Just like the three new levels, the bridge level has opened up to your full creative control! You can now paint the bridge in any combination of colors you like. Whether you want a sleek industrial gray, a sunset gradient, or a chaotic rainbow masterpiece, go wild.

Smarter Preparation and Masking

We’ve also reworked how masking and preparation steps are grouped in certain jobs. To make things flow better, we’ve streamlined these areas by combining some masking and prep steps. You’ll now spend less time fiddling with tape and more time spraying. It’s all about getting you into the action faster without losing the satisfaction of doing a professional-grade job.

Clearer Tutorials and Better Guidance

New tutorial messages have been added throughout the game to help new players understand key mechanics and progression steps. If you’ve ever wondered why a surface wasn’t taking paint, or how to perfect a tricky angle, the new tooltips and hints should keep you on track.

Nozzle Improvements – No More Getting Stuck

Some players reported trouble completing certain later jobs when using smaller nozzles or fine-detail spray guns. We’ve tweaked how completion zones and spray detection work in those cases, so you won’t get stuck trying to hit every last pixel. The smaller tools should now behave more consistently across all job types, letting you focus on technique instead of wrestling with the last stubborn patch of unpainted surface.

Performance and Memory Optimizations

Behind the scenes, we’ve been sanding down rough edges to make Spray Paint Simulator run even smoother. This update includes further optimizations to performance and memory usage, especially noticeable on longer sessions and larger levels. Expect quicker load times, steadier frame rates, and an overall more responsive feel.

Improved Network Reliability

For those who like to spray with friends, our multiplayer experience just got sturdier. The network layer has been rebuilt to better handle communication hiccups and recover gracefully from temporary issues. Fewer disconnects, faster recoveries, and smoother co-op sessions all around.

A Fresh Coat and a Better Feel

This update is all about refining the experience: more freedom in color choice, less friction in setup, and smoother play from start to finish. We’ve listened closely to player feedback and made targeted changes that should make every job, big or small, feel more satisfying.

We hope you’ll dive back in and see how much smoother it feels to paint, spray, and create. As always, we’re grateful for your feedback and support!

Spray Paint Simulator

Whitethorn Games

☆☆☆☆☆
225

★★★★★

$14.99

$11.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

COLOR YOUR WORLD

Bring color to the world in Spray Paint Simulator! Restore worn-out surfaces with a fresh coat of paint and watch them come back to life. Use your spray tool with precision, cover every inch, and enjoy the satisfaction of a flawless finish. Step into Spatterville, where you’ll build your own spray-painting business. Meet the locals as you restore, repair, mask, and spray paint everything—from kitchens and local landmarks to a giant robot. Buy new tools and equipment, unlock Free Spray mode, and transform the town.

PREP AND MASK-TERPIECE

You’ve got to earn your stripes before becoming the town’s top spray painter. No worries, though! There’s plenty to keep you busy! Mask surfaces to protect them from overspray, remove and repair objects, and fill damaged areas to create the perfect canvas.

SATISFATION IN EVERY SPRAY

Grab your spray tools and watch worn-out objects spring back to life with fresh, snazzy colors! Feel the thrill of transformation, groove to the soothing rhythm of spraying, and enjoy the sheer joy of rejuvenating each item. It’s all about making things look brand new and having a blast while doing it! Let’s spray, play, and make the old new again!

BUSINESS MADE EASY

Running a spray-painting business has never been more fun! Keep an eye on your consumables like paint, masking paper, and tape, because nobody likes a half-finished job. Upgrade to cooler spray tools with more paint capacity, greater coverage, and bigger batteries. Need a boost? Choose from a variety of step ladders and scaffolding to reach those pesky high spots. Managing your supplies and equipment adds just the right amount of strategy, keeping things fun and light-hearted without getting too complicated.

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY

After completing jobs for customers, dive into Free Spray mode! Return to your finished projects and let your imagination run wild. Spray the job and the surrounding environment any way you please. With a rainbow of colors at your disposal, the entire town becomes your canvas. Express yourself freely and enjoy hours of creative fun. Make Spatterville your masterpiece, one spray at a time!