Gaming has never been more expensive. We’re here to investigate why, and help you play more while spending less. Welcome to GameSpot Cheap Week.
Although games themselves are technically cheaper than ever before, it’s no secret that our average disposable income has diminished significantly. As such, paying $70 (or more) each time a new game comes out is simply not feasible for the vast majority of us. Thankfully, there are a ton of fantastic games out there that don’t require a second mortgage or Klarna account to start playing.
We’ve rounded up 14 games that, we believe, give you the absolute best bang for your buck. Each one of these titles offers a robust experience–one that will keep you coming back for well over 50 hours and could very easily be the sole title you buy and play over several months. And while we do firmly believe that playtime does not equate to value, our focus here is on providing options for those who have little to spend and would like something that is both great and can occupy a lot of their time.
Additionally, we tried to avoid all the usual free-to-play, live-service games that appear on lists like these. Chances are, you already know Overwatch, Fortnite, and the like are free, and we wanted to focus on games that you technically need to buy but are going to net you a lot of playtime. We also steer clear from games that have yet to drop below $30, hence why you won’t see Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, or Fire Emblem: Three Houses on here, for example. Sure, these games are fantastic and feature a ton of content and replayability, but we wanted to ensure some threshold was set in place prior to curating this list.
Now, whether you’re looking for a sweeping RPG, a charming life sim, or a strategic roguelite, here are 14 games that prove you don’t need to spend serious dough to have a seriously good time:
Final Fantasy XIV
Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy 14? Of course you have–and you’ve probably even stumbled upon that famous copypasta, too. Final Fantasy XIV’s free trial is a frankly absurdly good deal, hence the reason its players can’t stop evangelizing it, myself included.
With no time restrictions and the inclusion of the game’s first three expansions, including the critically acclaimed Shadowbringers, the sheer abundance of things to do in FFXIV makes it quite easily one of the greatest deals in gaming. And sure, MMOs aren’t for everyone, but with FFXIV, it’s free to find out if that’s the case for you. — Jessica Cogswell
The Sims 4
Sure, it’ll cost you around $1,200 to buy all of The Sims 4’s numerous pieces of DLC, but you might be surprised to know that The Sims 4 itself is available for the low, low cost of… nothing! Following a decade’s worth of free updates–and the creation of an extremely robust mod market–the base version of the game is actually pretty fun to play, offering a streamlined yet satisfying experience that proves why the game remains the de facto life sim after all these years.
And, if you do play and find it a bit too sparse for your liking, rest assured that EA often runs a deal where you can bundle an expansion, a game pack, and a stuff pack at a reduced price and many overarching sales that offer massive discounts on just about all of the game’s DLC. — Jessica Cogswell
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
You’ve probably been told a million times that you should play The Witcher 3, but let’s go ahead and make that a million and one, just for good measure: You should play The Witcher 3.
More specifically, you should play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition, as it includes all of the game’s existing DLC and regularly goes on sale for $10. On top of being one of precious few games that blends meaningful open-world design and masterful storytelling (to resounding success, I might add), it’s also incredibly fun to play and offers well over 100 hours of gameplay–and that’s without factoring in all the Gwent that awaits you. Plus, it has Yennefer in it. Need I say more? — Jessica Cogswell
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Now, speaking of characters from beloved RPG trilogies whom I desperately want to smooch, it’s time to talk about Mass Effect. If you want to experience what is arguably one of the best epic sci-fi stories of all time, I urge you to pick up Mass Effect: Legendary Edition immediately. Actually, wait, doing so now kinda defeats the whole “extremely cheap” angle of this piece, so let me rephrase: I urge you to wait until it goes on sale for less than $10, which happens often, then pick it up, okay?
But seriously, in combining all three Mass Effect games and their respective DLC, ME’s Legendary Edition is a fantastic way to experience a series that is now heralded as a masterclass in worldbuilding and storytelling. With dozens of unforgettable characters, narrative-driven gameplay that is molded through player choice, and plenty of action (both on the field and in the bedroom), the Mass Effect trilogy is a space opera that no gamer should miss. — Jessica Cogswell
Vampire Survivors
Sure, Vampire Survivors might not be a visual spectacle, but it doesn’t have to be when playing it feels as phenomenal as it does. Beneath its simplistic UI and retro visuals, Vampire Survivors boasts one of the most compelling gameplay loops around. It’s the type of game that begs players to do just one more run, and I, for one, am always happy to oblige.
Though each adventure begins as a slow jaunt through an evil forest or haunted tower, these journeys grow increasingly more chaotic as time goes by. Before you know it, the center of your screen is all lasers, garlic barriers, and whirling bibles, while its edges spill forth a seemingly endless undead army. Vampire Survivors is one of the ultimate “number go up” games, and is always available for a “number go low” price. — Jessica Cogswell
Hades
Few games make dying as fun as Hades, a game in which you play as the son of the titular god of the underworld, Zagreus, who is fed up of living under his temperamental father’s thumb. Though progression through failure and an emphasis on replayability are staples of the roguelike genre, Hades takes it all a step farther by tying these mechanics so intricately to the game’s overarching narrative–which is phenomenal, by the way–that the entire experience feels harmonic.
With razor-sharp combat, a bold visual identity that only Supergiant Games could craft up, dazzling characters, and one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all-time, Hades is one of the best games in the past decade–and one you could easily sink a hundred hours into. Though the game is currently listed at $25, it frequently goes on sale for $7.50. — Jessica Cogswell
Stardew Valley
I might have grown up with Harvest Moon, but when someone mentions “farming sims,” there’s no denying that the first game that comes to my mind is Stardew Valley. At this point, the game is synonymous with the genre, and for good reason. Despite being developed by just one person, Stardew Valley redefines what it means to be a farming sim, delivering the cozy collecting and farming experience we all know and love alongside dungeon-crawling, a story with a surprising amount of lore and absurdity, and plenty of townsfolk drama.
Since its release, developer ConcernedApe has rolled out several massive updates to the game, all of which have been free of charge and contribute to this already massive game feeling truly endless. If you’re looking for extremely cheap comfort food–the mashed potatoes of gaming, if you will–I highly recommend you pick up Stardew Valley. Especially whenever it drops down to its frequent sale price of $8. — Jessica Cogswell
Fallout 4
Although Fallout 4 might be one of the weaker entries in the series, it still manages to distill and wonderfully package what Bethesda does best: offer players a sprawling, atmospheric sandbox for them to do both wondrous and ridiculous things in. With its emphasis on FPS and crafting elements, Fallout 4 is perfect for those craving semi-mindless joy–for players who want nothing more than to meander around post-apocalyptic Boston while looting, shooting, and crooning along to some good ol’ fashioned 1950s radio.
In the years since its release, Fallout 4 has amassed quite a large modding community, with some players going so far as to create graphics overhauls and entire expansions for the game. In short, there’s never been a better time to play it. And with hundreds of hours of potential gameplay and a current price of just $7, Fallout 4 feels like an easy buy. — Jessica Cogswell
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Nowadays you can’t browse Steam without bumping into countless roguelites, but back in 2011, The Binding of Issac offered a novel (and disturbing) take on the somewhat-dormant genre. More impressive, however, is how even in the midst of the modern roguelite renaissance, The Binding of Isaac remains a fun yet grueling genre staple that features remarkable mechanical depth.
With thousands of possible run combinations and compelling Zelda-meets-twin-stick-shooter action, sinking a few hundred hours into the game is an easy feat–so long as you can stomach it. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, a robust remake of the original game, is generally $15, but has gone on sale for as low as $1.50 just within the last month. — Jessica Cogswell
Monster Train
Many games have been spawned in the wake of Slay the Spire’s success, but few, if any, have put as distinct spin on the roguelike deckbuilder genre as Monster Train. You’ll defend a three-leveled train from incoming waves of monsters by assigning units to each of those by playing cards, and using additional cards to power them up, debuff foes, launch attacks, and more. There is still a whole lot of game here, with numerous decks, tons of cards, and the inherent randomization of the genre that keeps it feeling fresh over countless hours playing run after run.
While its sequel surpasses it, the original remains a terrific experience and sometimes goes on sale for as little as $2.50-$5, making it an absolute steal. –-Chris Pereira
Cyberpunk 2077
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched back in 2020, it was clear that the game was released before it was actually finished. Over the years, however, CD Projekt Red made monumental improvements to the game, not just in fixing the litany of bugs and glitches, but also adding entirely new content and tweaking game systems so it more matched the vision players anticipated when it was first announced.
The game is currently back at its regular $60 price, but it goes on sale often, dipping down to $17.50 just last month. Plus, it’s available on everything from PC to Nintendo Switch 2. If you really can’t get enough of Night City, you can also play the outstanding Phantom Liberty expansion for a cyberpunk-style espionage story. — Gabe Gurwin
Balatro
Balatro might look like a poker game out of the NES era, but underneath that deceptive surface, there beats the heart of the ultimate “just one more turn” experience. It’s a game that brilliantly transforms poker into a satisfying loop of experimentation and rule-breaking, keeping you glued to your screen with a highly replayable loop of chaotic multipliers and absurdly high numbers. Balatro wants you to shatter the rules of poker, and it gives you all the tools, cards, and upgrades to help you beat the house.
It only takes a few minutes to pick up, and once it sinks its hooks into you, don’t be too surprised to find yourself awake at night, working toward that perfect run of legally cheating your way to victory. ––Darryn Bonthuys
Grand Theft Auto V
More than a decade has passed since GTA 5 first debuted, and Rockstar’s crime-thriller is still a masterpiece in open-world design. The base game alone is a gripping tale told through three distinct viewpoints and set inside a living city, one where you’re free to wander off the beaten path and engage in various activities for dozens of hours.
But it’s GTA Online that has raised the bar for the franchise, as the MMO sandbox has continued to evolve and grow over the years with a frequent influx of free new content and missions. GTA Online has become one of the biggest third spaces in gaming, and this is one underworld community that’s hard to quit. — Darryn Bonthuys
Persona 5: Royal
With the largest linear story on this list (well, outside of Final Fantasy XIV, but who can compete with that?), Persona 5: Royal is an extraordinary value. But beyond being a great value, and the sheer enormity of its 120-hour narrative, Persona 5: Royal is also a masterpiece. I’d even go so far as to call it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts, especially those who love time management and life-sim elements, or the over-the-top storytelling and visual stylings associated with anime and manga.
And sure, Persona 5 is generally a bit cheaper than Royal, which often goes on sale for around $15-20, but the amount that Royal adds to an already-great game merits whatever the price difference might be. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience that combines the woes of adolescence, turn-based combat, disturbing psychological scenarios, and, last but not least, the power of friendship, you can’t go wrong with Persona 5 Royal. — Jessica Cogswell
