Microsoft drops free game you can download and keep forever, no subscriptions needed

It’s no secret that gaming can be an expensive hobby.

You need only look at September’s release schedule to see why.

The Casting of Frank Stone, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, Age of Mythology: Retold, Astro Bot, Wargammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, The Plucky Squire, Enotria: The Last Song, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, EA Sports FC 25, and Starfield: Shattered Space are just a few of the games to launch this month.

There are plenty I haven’t mentioned.

You can understand why us gamers have to pick and choose what we’re interested in.

I’m sure your wallet would groan at the thought of keeping up with all major releases.

Even if you just pick up one or two titles, it can still put a dent in your funds, so it’s always nice when you can nab a free game to allow your wallet some breathing room.

At the moment, PC users can download a fun city builder courtesy of Microsoft.

ICYMI: Harry Potter Quidditch Champions is available as of today, and is free via PlayStation Plus. Take a look at the game in action below.

That game is Townopolis, developed by Lonely Troops.

In this single-player city builder, you’ll - can you believe it - build your own city.

“Construct an idyllic neighbourhood with plenty of houses and keep your residents happy by providing all services they need, and they will reward you with a tidy profit,” reads the synopsis.

You can play either via the campaign mode or creatively, so there’s no pressure if you just want to sit back, build, and relax.

If you do opt for the campaign mode, there are a number of trophies you can win across the 24 campaign scenarios, with an additional 22 achievements also present across the wider game.

Typically, the game would set you back $4.99 so nabbing it for free isn’t a huge saving but you should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Free is free. The game will only remain free for six more days, with the offer ending around 9 September so I’d grab it sooner rather than later if you’re interested.