The most reliable way to play for "free" is through a 14-day free trial of Xbox Game Pass for PC . This service includes both State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition and State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition .
Developer Undead Labs occasionally hosts "Free to Play Weekends" on Steam where the full game is downloadable and playable for a limited time, often accompanied by deep discounts if you choose to buy it afterward.
While "State of Decay" and its sequel are not permanently free titles, there are several legitimate ways to play the full versions on PC at no additional cost or through affordable trials. Official Ways to Play for Free
If you missed a free window, the games are often heavily discounted on official storefronts:
Offers the "Play Anywhere" feature, meaning if you buy it on PC, you also own it on Xbox consoles.