Xbox Free Play Days: Anno 117 and Age of Mythology: Retold Available This Weekend

Microsoft has included Anno 117: Pax Romana and Age of Mythology: Retold in its Xbox Free Play Days lineup this weekend. This gives non-subscribers a chance to try both strategy games at no cost on Xbox consoles and PC.

Age of Mythology: Retold, created by Forgotten Empires and published by Xbox Game Studios, boasts an 89% positive rating from 10,871 Steam reviews. That’s a solid score for a remaster. The game is currently priced at $14.99 on Steam and has 5,637 concurrent players, which is impressive for a strategy title not tied to a major update.

The timing of Free Play Days is interesting due to the recent issues surrounding Age of Mythology: Retold. As reported by Neowin, the game has faced significant backlash over DLC monetization. Players who bought Premium editions before launch feel they didn’t receive the promised content. This controversy arose alongside an April DLC release, which sparked even more criticism.

Anno 117: Pax Romana, Ubisoft’s city-builder set in ancient Rome, also highlights the Free Play Days offerings. It’s one of the most awaited strategy titles for 2025. The trial period allows players to explore the game before deciding to buy it. Ubisoft has used free trial events effectively in the past to boost interest in the Anno series.

GameWatcher confirmed the complete Free Play Days lineup, which features additional titles beyond the two main strategy games. Players who want to keep their progress after the trial must buy the games or maintain an active Game Pass subscription.

By The Numbers

Age of Mythology: Retold Steam Score	89% positive
Total Steam Reviews	10,871
Current Steam Price	$14.99
Current Concurrent Players (Steam)	5,637
Community Sentiment Signals (Negative)	Majority of tracked signals

Despite the high overall review score, some community sentiment around Age of Mythology: Retold has soured. A Steam reviewer shared, “I purchased Premium before launch under the expectation of getting all the DLCs. This was a lie.” This complaint highlights a recurring issue related to pre-launch marketing rather than the game’s actual quality. The gap between the 89% positive score and the strong monetization backlash reveals two different player groups reacting to separate concerns.

What To Watch

• Whether the exposure from Free Play Days brings a noticeable increase in player counts for Age of Mythology: Retold on Steam and Xbox, especially considering the ongoing DLC controversy that might put off potential buyers after the trial.
• How Forgotten Empires addresses the Premium edition complaints. A formal statement or content changes during or after Free Play Days could affect how new trial players view the game’s long-term value.
• The conversion rate for Anno 117: Pax Romana from the trial, which will provide early insights into player interest ahead of the game’s full launch campaign.