Tag: Steam Free Weekend

  • Free Sci-Fi Strategy Hit: Free Weekend on Steam

    Key Takeaway

    – Stellaris is free to try until June 22, then 70% off ($14.99) until June 25.
    – The game offers complex real-time 4X strategy with high customization (species, ethics, government).
    – Universes are procedurally generated, providing high replayability through exploration, diplomacy, and expansion.
    – Praised for its sci-fi atmosphere and depth, but criticized for late-game slowdown and tedious empire management.
    – Highly recommended by players (84% positive on Steam, 8.1 User Score on Metacritic).

    After Hearts of Iron IV was free to try last week, Steam is now putting the next Paradox hit in the spotlight: Stellaris. The sci-fi strategy game offers similar strengths to its historical cousin. Instead of taking control of a single nation, however, players lead their own intergalactic empire. The free trial runs until June 22. After that, Stellaris remains available until June 25 with a 70% discount, costing $14.99 instead of $49.99. According to SteamDB, however, the usual discount in recent months has been 75%. The current price is therefore not a new record low, but thanks to the free weekend, the promotion may still be interesting for strategy fans.

    Complex Real-time 4X Strategy

    As is typical for Paradox titles, Stellaris offers complex real-time 4X strategy. At the start, players create their own species, including its origin, ethics, form of government and societal orientation. The young empire then begins on its home planet in a procedurally generated galaxy that offers new star systems, resources, anomalies and alien civilizations in every playthrough. From there, expansion begins: science ships explore unknown systems, construction ships build outposts and space stations, while colony ships settle habitable planets. At the same time, technologies are researched, fleets are built, trade relations are established and diplomatic decisions are made. Depending on the playstyle, the player’s empire develops into a peaceful federation, a technological superpower or a military threat to the entire galaxy.

    Creative Story Generator

    German gaming magazine GameStar described Stellaris roughly as a creative story generator that depends heavily on the imagination of its players. It particularly praised the successful science-fiction atmosphere, the vast scope and the high level of customization. Due to its steep learning curve, the strategy game requires a considerable amount of familiarization, but those who invest the time can spend hundreds of hours with it. Criticism was directed primarily at the later stages of the game: In large galaxies, Stellaris runs increasingly slowly, and according to the reviewers, managing vast empires can become quite tedious over time. Nevertheless, GameStar awarded it a solid score of 82 out of 100 points.

    International and Community Reviews

    Stellaris also fares well in international reviews. Metacritic lists a Metascore of 78 and a User Score of 8.1. The Steam community’s verdict is even more positive: 84% of over 194,000 user reviews recommend the game. On the Steam Deck, Stellaris is classified as “Playable,” though the interface and controls are clearly designed for mouse and keyboard.

    Price and Availability

    The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability. Stellaris is currently priced at $14.99 (down from $49.99) until June 25, but the usual discount in recent months has been 75%, so this isn’t a record low—still, it’s a good chance for strategy fans to dive in.


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  • Deal: Dinosaur Skeleton Tycoon Game Free on Steam

    Key Takeaway

    – Two Point Museum is free to play this weekend on Steam, with a 33% discount for the first time since release (around $20).
    – The game features diverse museum themes: prehistory, aquariums, supernatural, science, and space.
    – Gameplay involves sending experts on expeditions, managing exhibits, staff, and visitor happiness (including security).
    – Wccftech gave the game a perfect 10/10, praising its beginner-friendliness, expedition system, and Two Point humor.
    – The game reportedly plays well on controller/Steam Deck, but mouse-and-keyboard controls are somewhat awkward.

    Theme Park Tycoons Got Nothing on This

    If theme parks are the furst thing that comes to mind when thinking of tycoon games, Two Point Museum offers an intersting alternative. Instead of roller coasters and food stands, this game is all about dinosaur skelletons, exhibition halls and museum chaos. This weekend, the management game from Two Point Studios and SEGA is free to play on Steam. Anyone who wants to keep playing afterward can get a 33% discount on the reguler price of $20.09 for the first time since the game’s release in March 2025, according to SteamDB. That makes Two Point Museum available for just around $20 for the first time.

    Expeditions and Sticky Fingers

    Players take charge of there own museums in Two Point County. It is not just about dinosaurs, either. The themes range from prehistory and aquariums to supernatural curiosities, science and space. Experts are sent on expedishuns to discover new exhibits, while back at the museum, visitors must be kept happy and exhibition halls have to be built and maintained. Staff also need to be managed – including security, as some museum visitors have sticky fingers.

    A Perfect Score from Critics

    In Wccftech’s review, Two Point Museum recieved a perfect 10 out of 10. Editor Amy Eastland writes: “I loved every moment of this game, and didn’t have a single issue throughout.” Among other things, the reviewer praises the game’s beginner-friendliness, the exciting expedition system and the signature Two Point humor that players will already know from games such as Two Point Campus or Two Point Hospital. Incidentally, the tycoon game is reportedly suprisingly good to play with a controller or on the Steam Deck. Mouse-and-keyboard controls, on the other hand, are said to be somewhat awkword. Aside from that, there were no notable points of criticism in Wccftech’s review. The game is also very well recieved on Steam: 95% positive reviews from around 12,000 user reviews.

    Pricing and Availability

    This weekend, Two Point Museum is free to play on Steam with a 33% discount on the reguler price of $20.09, marking the first such deal since March 2025. The game is available for just around $20. It is subject to time restrictions and limited unit availibility.


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