Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seemed like a steal when it was released for $50. It had comparable features to a modern AAA game that costs $70 or $80, and yet it managed to be successful at that lower price point, gathering a huge following in just a few short months. $50 is still a lot of money for some, but it proves that the right price point can really help a game succeed.
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While big-budget games tend to get a lot of commercial attention, these low-budget games blew players away with their amazing stories and gameplay.
That’s something a lot of indie developers realized long ago, as most smaller games today are $20 and under, and they have comparable runtimes to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. So, which games, current and old, will give players the most bang for their buck under $20? Current sales will not be included, although it is worth mentioning that Wishlisting games and keeping an eye on prices is a good strategy for finding cheap games on digital platforms like Steam and PSN for players on a budget.
Stardew Valley
A Loving Simulator
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
- Standard Price: $15
Every game collection needs some type of simulator experience, and Stardew Valley is a great game that offers tons of content at a cheap price, with regular free updates to keep the experience fresh.
Players will start out on their small farm, cultivating a solitary life. Soon, they can start exploring a seemingly never-ending dungeon to get crafting materials to help build a better farm life. From growing crops to growing a love life, Stardew Valley is a deep game despite the simplistic graphics.
Persona 4 Golden
Back To School
Persona 4 Golden
- Released
- December 9, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Standard Price: $20
For RPG fans, there is no greater game than Persona 4 Golden if they are seeking an experience that extends well over a hundred hours. Released first on the PS2, this enhanced version has a lot of quality-of-life changes, like the game’s upgraded turn-based party system.
While the dungeon crawling and combat are engaging, what fans love most about the Persona series is the social school life they can experience as the protagonist, Yu. By making friends and going on dates, players can strengthen their powers for battle as well as create some unforgettable memories.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
A Discounted Legacy
Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Stealth, Action-Adventure, Shooter, Adventure
- Standard Price: $20
While the new hotness right now is Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which showcases the origins of Big Boss, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain spells out the end of his career as a Metal Gear protagonist. It’s incredible that such an crtically important game can be purchased across a wide range of platforms for such a low cost.
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Despite being a decade old, The Phantom Pain is still a great stealth game set in an open-world environment, featuring tons of missions to go on, team members to recruit, and gear to build. It scratches two must-haves off the list with this genre combination.
Grand Theft Auto 4: The Complete Edition
Hey Cousin!
Grand Theft Auto 4
- Released
- April 29, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Standard Price: $20
While waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6, players should check out Grand Theft Auto 4: The Complete Edition on Steam, which collects the entire Grand Theft Auto 4 saga, including its three DLC campaigns, into one package.
While a bit forgotten now thanks to the juggernaut that is Grand Theft Auto 5, this title offers a great cast of characters to play with. It’s definitely the best version of Liberty City seen to date; it's a sandbox teaming with life. Steal cars, make friends, and cause chaos as Niko, Johnny, or Luis, or watch their stories play out in chaotic fashion.
Rogue Legacy
A Revolutionary Roguelike
Rogue Legacy
- Released
- June 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Roguelike
- Standard Price: $15
Rogue Legacy was one of the first roguelikes to break through to the mainstream, as it offered a unique and engaging upgrade system to motivate players to keep going on run after run, slowly improving their understanding of the game's mechanics until they can eventually complete it in a single life.
Players will begin as a simple knight who tries to vanquish evil in a castle. After his attempt, he’s cursed to see his lineage tackle the same castle on repeat. The standout feature is that each new hero has different features, from walking on the ceiling to growing wings, making each run more unique than the last. While the sequel is better, it’s also a bit more expensive, but worth the extra $5 when it's not on sale.
Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns
RPG Tetris
Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns
- Released
- September 19, 2019
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
- Standard Price: $10-15
This game exists in two forms. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, the original version, runs on platforms like Steam, and Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns is an enhanced remaster that can be found exclusively on Switch. Neither version is all that expensive, and it combines RPG systems with puzzle games like Tetris.
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Fans of puzzle games won’t be able to pick up Puzzle Quest as easily as Tetris thanks to the RPG elements, but it shouldn’t take long to get the hang of the game's intricacies. With multiple characters to play as and a near-endless supply of random quests and puzzles to solve, Puzzle Quest will keep players busy for a long time.
Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition
Gun Hunter
Mercenary Kings
- Released
- July 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Standard Price: $20
Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition is kind of like a 2D version of Monster Hunter, except it replaces giant monsters with a huge list of missions to go on. Crafting is a big part of the game, as materials gained can create all sorts of wild guns, like a toilet trombone rifle, for example.
It’s weird, but gorgeous as a small indie game harkening back to the pixel art days. Great when played alone or with friends in co-op, Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition will never stop being fun.
The Jackbox Party Starter
It’s Party Time
The Jackbox Party Starter
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Standard Price: $20
Every gamer needs at least one Jackbox game in their collection, and while they aren’t all that fun to play alone when trying to wile away hundreds of hours, they will be worth it in the long run.
The Jackbox Party Starter is the cheapest game collection players can get, although the rest of the series often goes on sale, too. It contains a trivia game, Trivia Murder Part 2, a comedy fill-in-the-blank style game, Quiplash 3, and a creative shirt contest, Tee K.O., where players can actually submit shirt designs to Jackbox and have them printed. As the title suggests, it’s the perfect way to start a party, whether players are with friends at home or streaming online.
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