Steam Free Weekend Games: ARC Raiders, Core Keeper, Squad 44, and Pony Island

Steam’s free weekend lineup includes three temporary game trials and one free title you can add to your library permanently. ARC Raiders, Core Keeper, and Squad 44 are available to play for a limited time, while Pony Island is free to claim before its deadline.

The offers do not all end at the same time. The three trial games require a purchase for continued access once their free-play periods finish. Pony Island, on the other hand, remains in your Steam library if you claim it before the promotion ends.

Steam Free Game Offers and Deadlines

ARC Raiders Free Trial on Steam

ARC Raiders is available to play for free through Oct. 12 at 1 a.m. PT. After the trial ends, the game is discounted by 50% through Oct. 15, bringing its listed price from $39.99 to $19.99.

The game is an extraction shooter from Embark Studios. Players enter a dangerous surface environment alone or with up to two teammates, searching for technology while avoiding hostile machines and other raiders.

The free trial arrives alongside the Frozen Trail update. The Pendola Pass map normally requires progression to unlock, but trial players can access the snowy area by joining someone who already has access.

Core Keeper Free Trial on Steam

Core Keeper is free to play through Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. PT. The game is then available at 40% off through Oct. 22, reducing the listed price from $19.99 to $11.99.

This pixel-art sandbox supports one to eight players. You begin as an explorer trapped in an ancient cavern and can mine resources, create custom bases, grow crops, and fight large underground bosses.

The trial includes the full base game, online multiplayer, and post-launch content updates. That includes the Riders of the Underground expansion, which adds rideable mounts and a hookshot.

Squad 44 Free Trial on Steam

Squad 44 can be played for free through Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PT, the longest trial period in this weekend’s lineup. It is listed at 70% off through Oct. 15, dropping from $19.99 to $5.99.

Previously called Post Scriptum, Squad 44 is a tactical World War II shooter built around 50v50 combined-arms battles. The game calls for real-time squad communication, positioning, and coordinated logistics rather than run-and-gun play.

Its extended free-play window gives players more time to learn the game’s demanding style before deciding whether to purchase it.

Pony Island Is Free to Keep on Steam

Pony Island is free to claim until Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. PT. Unlike the other games in the promotion, it is not a limited trial. Add it to your account before the deadline, and it stays in your Steam library permanently.

Normally listed at $4.99, Pony Island is a psychological puzzle game created by Daniel Mullins. You play as a trapped soul attempting to escape a possessed arcade machine by accessing its internal software and repairing deliberately broken game mechanics.

The title’s playful name does not reflect its unsettling premise. And because the giveaway expires before some of the free trials do, claiming it first makes sense if you want to keep it.

Do You Keep Steam Free Weekend Games?

No. Downloading ARC Raiders, Core Keeper, or Squad 44 during the free weekend does not provide permanent ownership. Access ends automatically at each game’s stated deadline unless you purchase the full game.

Your save files, achievements, and unlocked items remain connected to your Steam account. If you buy one of the games later, you will not lose that progress.

Pony Island is the exception. It is offered as a free giveaway rather than a free weekend trial, so claiming it before Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. PT adds it to your Steam library permanently.

FAQ

Which Steam game is free to keep forever?

Pony Island is free to keep permanently when claimed before Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. PT. It is a giveaway, not a temporary free-play trial.

When does the ARC Raiders free trial end?

The ARC Raiders free trial ends on Oct. 12 at 1 a.m. PT. The game is then 50% off through Oct. 15.

Which Steam free trial lasts the longest?

Squad 44 has the longest free-play period in the lineup. It remains available through Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PT.