If you're curious to try some Civilization, but have never been able to make the commitment, this weekend might be a good opportunity.

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is available for free on Steam, starting now through Sunday at 1 p.m PT. The full game is also on offer right now at a 40 percent discount, down to $29.99.

In my review last year, I said the game is "an immensely pleasing simulation of a future human society, struggling to survive on a new planet," and scored it at 9/10. It has a Metacritic average of 81 percent.