The weekend is finally upon us once more, and although we have both the Summer Game Fest and Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, there is still plenty of time to get stuck into some older titles before our wishlists fill up once more.
Well, if you are an Xbox user, then you are in luck as the Xbox Demo Fest is now live, allowing you to try out over 40 free games for a limited time. Better yet, you do not need to have an Xbox Game Pass subscription to be able to access them. You may not be able to dive into the full game for free, but a demo will allow you to get a feel for the game before you commit to splashing the cash.
Kicking off yesterday, 4 June, and running until 30 June, the Xbox Demo Fest is available on the Xbox One, as well as the Xbox Series X/S, and can be found via the Xbox Demo Fest tab on the Xbox Store. Additionally, if you have a game in mind, you can search for it and both the demo and full game will pop up. However, Microsoft was sure to drop the following disclaimer:
“As a reminder, these demos are early looks at games still in development, so the final versions may differ at launch, including availability by country as developers continue polishing their work.”
With over 40 games included, we could not possibly talk about them all, but I have chosen some that caught my eye, including Active Matter, an upcoming PvP first-person shooter game from Matter Team. With the battlefield covered in a substance that bends time and space itself, you will need to team up with friends and embark on dangerous raids for loot in a fractured universe. As you fight in quantum unstable zones, you will get to experience a first-person shooter unlike any other. Set to launch later this year, you can try out Active Matter right now.
On the other hand, if you are looking for something a bit more cozy, you can try Bao Bao’s Cleaning Services. For fans of Powerwash Simulator and other games that make cleaning feel a lot more fun than it actually is, this 2D pressure washing simulator will see you take on the role of an adorable panda as they clean up pastel environments and listen to chill lo-fi beats. Play solo or in groups of three and be prepared to relax in this cute sim.
One more that caught my eye was Akatori, an epic metroidvania where you will wield your staff in order to fight, jump, and explore a vast realm. With a stunning pixel-art artstyle, Akatori is set in worlds that span across multiple eras, and it will be up to you to fight formidable enemies and help protagonist Mako stop the Amber Storms, which threaten to destroy all living things.
All of these demos and loads more are now available to try out all throughout the month courtesy of the Xbox Demo Fest. So, if you want to try out a handful of 2026 titles ahead of their full launch, make sure to take advantage of the limited-time event.
