Now that Steam’s servers have recovered from the marauding horde of bargain hunters who arrived last night when the Steam Winter Sale began, we can see what’s actually worth buying. Normally at RPS we make a big set of recommendations from the whole gang, but everyone else has been fired all year long, so it’s just me and my factual opinions. Probably the best RPS recommendations ever I think.
For your budget convenience, I have ranked the recommendations by price.
Post Void – £ 1.56 / € 1.67 / $ 2.00 (33% off)
While Sin was way into Post Void, I never got around to trying the FPS she called ‘a masterpiece of compulsive movements and hypnotic, irresistible sounds.’ It wasn’t expensive in the first place, but now it’s less. So I just bought it.
Convenience Store Nocturne – £ 1.59 / € 1.59 / $ 1.99 (60% off)
On a rainy night, visit a corner store in Quebec to find the perfect gift for someone waiting at home. Lovely little first-person exploration game with plenty to poke and talk about with the shopkeeper. Tons of secrets to discover too. I kept wanting to post about this but never did and I’m sorry for that.
Devil Daggers – £ 1.99 / € 1.99 / $ 2.49 (50% off)
This murderous score attack arena FPS is still one of the best looking and best sounding games.
Wide Ocean Big Jacket – £ 2.31 / € 2.63 / $ 3.19 (60% off)
A niece, her aunt and uncle and her special friend embark on a camping trip in his charming story from the creators of Little Party. It’s a slice of life, a weekend where maybe nothing big happens but people grow. Mort is also a wonderfully funny force of mischief.
Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 – £ 3.59 / € 4.09 / $ 4.99 (50% off)
Oh what is this, another weird recommendation for first-person exploration games from Alice? Yes. But also! Our Nate, who is usually wary of anything that doesn’t involve orcs or javelin throwers, raved about Off-Peak City. It earned a spot on our advent calendar this year.
American Truck Simulator – £ 3.74 / € 4.99 / $ 4.99 (75% off)
When in doubt, keep driving. The older extensions that add additional states are also on sale, with the oldest at a 70% discount.
Yakuza 0 – £ 3.74 / € 4.99 / $ 49.99 (75% off)
It’s hard to believe £ 4 can hold so much joy. Sega’s fighting RPG prequel introduces two of the best guys in gaming, two golden heart punchdads that will help sad kids one minute and wipe out criminals the next by swinging a bike. Yakuza 0 works hard on all its facets and takes crazy side issues just as seriously as crime drama. God what a game.
Doom – £ 4.49 / € 5.99 / $ 5.99 (70% off)
Honestly, I had given up Id Software’s leftovers to make a good FPS again. Oof!
Hollow Knight – £ 5.49 / € 7.49 / $ 7.49 (50% off)
I haven’t played it myself, but everyone I know loves it, so maybe it’s okay. This is a recommendation on behalf of Imogen, I assume.
Infra – £ 5.94 / € 6.99 / $ 7.49 (75% off)
A first-person Explore-o-puzzler set in a European city on the brink of disaster. So we’re probably some sort of super cop who saves the day with gun killings, right? No buddy, we are an infrastructure analyst sent to inspect bridges and dams along a river, take pictures of code violations and solve machine puzzles. Sometimes it feels like Deus Ex is a first person puzzle game? And sometimes it feels like … I’m not even sure. Was really surprised and delighted with this, some rough and too long stretches aside. I don’t know of any other game that starts with giving a Powerpoint presentation. And for fans of the Source Engine, oh my, it’s the Sourceiest-lookin ‘Source game Source has ever played.
Stardew Valley – £ 7.36 / € 9.37 / $ 9.99 (33% off)
Christmas at a distance? Do it in Stardew multiplayer. I just got a major update with a beach farm.
In Other Waters – £ 7.63 / € 8.36 / $ 10.04 (33% off)
Exploring an otherworldly sea is a good choice for me, and Alice Bee’s review bounces this in my basket.
The Deus Ex Collection – £ 7.79 / € 10.60 / $ 10.60 (88% off)
That’s all Deus Ex, all games and all expansions, for £ 8. They’re discounted separately too, but damn, £ 8.
Slay The Spire – £ 9.74 / € 10.49 / $ 12.49 (50% off)
We have a lot of roguelikelikes to build the deck these days, but this is my favorite. The world is funny and interesting to fantasy (ohhh!) And the cards give a solid sense of play as a person. I think the run-building decisions are a very pleasant process. It is well.
Cloudpunk – £ 11.38 / € 13.39 / $ 13.39 (33% off)
The premise of delivery packages to a cyber-future city in a flying car put this on my wish list, and the recent addition of a first-person mode got it in my basket.
Paradise Killer – £ 11.61 / € 12.59 / $ 14.99 (25% off)
Venture into a failed paradise to solve a murder and learn about the strange and terrible cruelty on which it is all built. Not a huge discount, but damn, the game hasn’t been out for four months yet. Although every time we say “Nani the fuck?” Saying a little die, I’m a sucker for a game where I can spill my own blood on a sanctuary.
Outer Wilds – £ 11.69 / € 12.59 / $ 14.99 (40% off)
Another mystery to solve! Only this one takes place in a very small solar system that rotates on a timeloop of 22 minutes. Picking the many sci-fi mysteries is great, and I like that everything revolves around gravity and thrust simulations that can feel punishing at times. It’s like being in different episodes of Star Trek TNG, except everyone is nice.
Heaven’s Vault – £ 11.99 / € 13.19 / $ 14.99 (40% off)
Yet another mystery! This one has been solved through words, revealing the secrets of ancient civilizations by learning language as you travel through the stars. Awesome.
Monster Train – £ 13.64 / € 14.69 / $ 17.49 (30% off)
This would be my second favorite recent roguelikelike. Imogen and James also liked Monster Train enough to give it a spot on the RPS advent calendar.
Hades – £ 15.59 / € 16.79 / $ 19.99 (20% off)
Not a huge discount, but how else do you understand all the hot memes your friends are posting? The roguelikelike hack ‘n’ slash game from Bastion and Pyre developers Supergiant is pretty chuffy awesome too.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection – £ 17.99 / € 23.99 / $ 23.99
Who is this master chef whose cooking has been so enthusiastic about Xboxeers for so many years? You can find out in this big bundle of PC re-releases, minus Halo 5, because Microsoft is doing its best to pretend it never happened. I’ve only played Halo: Reach so never got to know the secrets of its buttery biscuit bass and might catch up now. The games are on Game Pass, so you can watch them for a cheaper price in a month or two.
Crusader Kings 3 – £ 33.59 / € 39.99 / $ 39.99 (20% off)
The discount isn’t huge, but it’s Crusader Kings, baby! This one is also on Game Pass, but it is a game you might play for years. Given Paradox’s propensity to revise and expand games in updates, things could get very different (and better!) Over the eons.
Half-Life: Alyx – £ 34.86 / € 37.49 / $ 44.99 (25% off)
If you can afford a VR headset, do you really need discounts on VR games? Yes, because you are saving to buy Cybershoes.
I’m sure you have recommendations too, dear reader – what games and discounts do you want to highlight?