Gamers have 48 hours to play a $60 strategy masterpiece for free on Steam
Sid Meier's Civilization VI is going free for 96 hours on Steam this weekend, giving gamers the change to play this incredibly popular strategy title without having to fork up the $60 price tag — and it could become your new obsession.
In recent years there has been a growing influx of free games available on PC across multiple different storefronts, and everyone's favorite marketplace Steam has participated in the trend too.
While most of these aren't free to keep forever, they still act as a great way to trial the game over a weekend or short period of time, and could be the reason why you pick up something you were considering, or avoid a game you weren't 100% sure about.
There are a number of games that you can try for free on Steam this month, but by far the most exciting is Civilization VI, as there's a reason why so many fans have poured hundreds, if not thousands of hours into the title since its launch nearly 10 years ago.
Why should you play Civilization VI
It might not be the most recent game in the franchise as the sequel, aptly named Civilization VII, launched in February last year, but Civilization VI is considered by many to be one of the best entries in the long-running franchise, and for good reason too.
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Expanding on the classic 4X strategy formula that so many players love, Civilization VI offers new ways to play that are perfect both for veterans of the series and new players getting into the genre for the first time.
There are countless different experiences you can get from the game as it evolved over its nine years in the spotlight, leaving you with a near-endless stream of content to enjoy over, and over, and over again.
If you've ever heard of the phrase 'just one more turn' then it's likely come from a Civilization lover, and you too could join the fun this weekend by giving it a try.
When is Civilization VI free on Steam?
Civilization VI will be completely free to try on Steam between the dates of August 15 to August 19, giving you four full days to try it out — and we wouldn't be surprised if some players get beyond 50 hours of playtime within this period.
You get everything the base game has to offer, but unfortunately the free trial period doesn't include any of the DLCs — but you'll want to get to them later on if you do decide to purchase it regardless.
If you find yourself a fan by the end of the trial, it's definitely worth holding out for a sale instead of picking up the game full price, as the hefty $60 price tag regularly drops down as low as $15 in the seasonal Steam sales, with one for Halloween likely just around the corner.
What other free games are there in August?
As shared by Offlane, there are currently four games that you'll be able to play for free across the month of August, with the titles and available dates listed below:
- Stellaris: August 8 to August 12
- Civilization VI: August 15 to August 19
- Anno 1800: August 22 to August 26
- Humankind: August 29 to September 1
These are coincidentally all strategy games to coincide with the Steam Strategy Fest, which makes it the perfect opportunity for lovers of the genre and anyone that's wanted to explore these titles as a newcomer.
In order to take advantage, all you need to do is head onto the game's page during the relevant dates and select the 'Play Free Now' button. This will add it to your library and start the download, with the game being accessible only during the free window.