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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.
Massive, popular games go on sale all the time, but there are a plethora of titles that emulate those experiences with a lower starting price than the typical $60-$70 price tag. With that in mind, here are some fantastic games that are often cheaper than other titles in their wheelhouse, with many also bringing fresh ideas to the table.
We've assembled this list based on these games' lower-than-average retail prices, but you'll often find them on sale for even less, making them even more of a steal.
Another Crab's Treasure (souls-likes)
Another Crab’s Treasure, which has a starting price of $30, is not only a great souls-like, but also features a bright and colorful world--a stark contrast to the doom and gloom often associated with the genre. Its main character, a hermit crab named Krill, has more in common aesthetically with the likes of Mario or Spyro than he does the Tarnished. Yet be that as it may, Another Crab's Treasure is every bit as enticing (and challenging) as many other beloved souls-like games.
Another Crab’s Treasure also expands upon the genre, introducing 3D platformer elements that provide some nice gameplay variety when mixed in with the game’s combat. Combined with other novel ideas, such as Krill’s ability to interchange his shell for different effects in encounters, and an unexpectedly thoughtful story, Another Crab’s Treasure is a great experience for anyone who considers themselves a fan of souls games.
See at Fanatical
Cassette Beasts (Pokemon)
Pokemon games are notorious for a lot of things, including rarely being discounted significantly. If you’ve been looking to get a modern pocket monster fix at a reduced price, check out Cassette Beasts, which retails for $20 (or the same amount that Nintendo charges for Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green, 20+ year-old games, on the Switch eShop).
Cassette Beasts borrows heavily from the series that inspired it while also introducing several fantastic mechanics, such as fusions. This is a feature many fans of Pokemon have posited could be added to that franchise, and consists of taking two creatures and fusing them into a single entity for the duration of a match, greatly expanding upon gameplay variety and adding new layers of strategy. Featuring an open-world that you can explore with another player locally or up to eight players online, as well as the ability to play it on devices other than the ones Nintendo makes, Cassette Beasts is a delightful throwback with modern sensibilities at a great price.
See at Fanatical
The Crew 2 (Forza Horizon)
Forza Horizon opened up the world of simulation racing to a whole new audience by injecting a healthy dose of arcade flavor into the mix. In the years since, it has become one of Xbox’s most popular franchises both on and off its consoles. If you’ve been wanting to jump into the series with Forza Horizon 6, but don’t want to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Edition or shell out $70, you should take a look at The Crew 2, which now retails for only $30.
While cars are front and center in The Crew 2, the game features a ton of other vehicles to explore and compete with in its open world with, such as boats, bikes, and planes. This offers something entirely new even for those who have already had a taste of Forza Horizon. Additionally, when in free roam or specific match types, the game also allows you to switch to a different vehicle type in an instant, making it unlike any other racing game you can play. These quality-of-life changes set The Crew 2 apart, but its core gameplay still adheres to a familiar, popular formula that is sure to appeal to Forza fans.
See at Steam
RoboCop: Rogue City (FPS Campaigns)
Sadly, not a lot of first-person shooters nowadays launch with a strong emphasis on their single-player experience. Instead, many opt to center these games around multiplayer experiences to various degrees of success. However, those looking for a meaty story campaign with great FPS gameplay are not entirely out of luck thanks to Robocop: Rogue City, which retails for $40.
The game authentically captures the dystopian world featured in the movies and fills it with interesting side stories that you can undertake in a contained, open-world Detroit. It also sets itself apart from most other modern FPS games, which tend to err on the side of speed and agility, by taking a more methodical approach to the genre. RoboCop is a meticulously moving, nigh-unstoppable machine, and the game perfectly adapts that trait into satisfying gameplay. And did I mention actor Peter Weller returns to voice the titular character?
If you’re hungry for more mechanical mayhem after completing Rogue City, there’s the standalone expansion Unfinished Business, which costs even less.
See at Fanatical
Neon White (Doom)
One of the few FPS series that does release games with a focus on single player is Doom, which delights with its frenetic, aggressive gameplay. Anyone who’s enjoyed a Doom game, or been interested in the series, would love Neon White, which features a comfortable starting price of $25.
As with Doom, Neon White sees you face off against the hordes of hell, but this time, you’re doing so in the sunlit, angelic spires of heaven, which have become infested with demons. The game features similarly energetic gameplay to what you experience in a Doom title, but with a delightful twist: Soul Cards. Each Soul Card you collect gives you a different weapon to use in your demonic slaughter, but sacrificing those cards also provides specific movement mechanics depending on the card being discarded, resulting in a bespoke tactical approach for every run. It’s a unique FPS experience, while costing much less than many other titles in the genre.
See at Fanatical
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Action Adventure)
In a sea of modern action adventure games, Kena: Bridge of Spirits stands out for its aesthetic and its $40 price tag. Studio Ember Labs brought its years of film animation know-how to the world of game development, and with it made Bridge of Spirits, an impressive debut that is able to stand toe-to-toe with other, higher-priced games in the genre.
Its familiar combat can be deceptively difficult while not being overly punishing, and when mixed in with the use of the Rot, little Ghibli-esque creatures Kena can command to help solve puzzles, Bridge of Spirits has a satisfying mechanical depth to it that is matched in quality by its engaging, emotional story. Plus, Ember Labs has announced an upcoming sequel, Scars of Kosmora, so it's a great time to explore this studio’s inaugural title.
See at Steam
The Ascent (Cyberpunk 2077)
While cyberpunk is a popular aesthetic, there are only a handful of titles in the genre that deliver a satisfying gameplay fantasy in that world. Fortunately, The Ascent is one of them, and retails at $30.
It offers everything players have come to expect from a cyberpunk game: a neon-soaked megacity, augmentations and implants for their character, and multiple elements within the world that are open to hacking. Featuring twin-stick shooter gameplay, The Ascent includes a critical feature that is missing from the marquee title in the genre, Cyberpunk 2077: multiplayer, both local and online. For anyone that is looking to jump into a mechanical dystopia with deep gameplay at a discounted price--and potentially bring along their friends for the ride--The Ascent is the game for you.
See at Steam
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