Steam Summer Sale Ends Today: The Best Deals To Grab While You Still Can

The huge annual PC games sale to mark the midway point of the year--the Steam Summer Sale--has officially begun. It began last week and will run for two weeks, ending on July 9. This lines up nicely with the July 4 holiday for those in the United States, when you might have an extra day or two off to spend time with family, grill out--and play all the video games you can get on steep discount right now. But what's worth picking up from the sale?

The Summer Sale is one of Steam's biggest storewide sales and arguably has some of the best discounts available all year long, so it's an event you don't want to pass up if you're even remotely interested in PC games. With thousands of game deals offered across all genres, you can snag excellent games at super low prices, from Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition for $28 and Monster Hunter World for $30 to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for $48 and Borderlands: The Handsome Collection for $5.90. But that's really just the beginning of what's available.

• Best cheap Steam sale games under $10

As is often the case with Steam's big sales, the sheer scale of it can make it difficult to figure out what to buy. With so many choices, it's easy to be overwhelmed with the task of figuring out which games are worth your time and money, especially when you get into the indie space. Luckily, we're here to help you get the most out of this year's Steam Summer Sale and hopefully find new games that'll entertain you for hours. To help you out, we've assembled a list of what we think are the best game deals in Steam Summer Sale 2019. You'll find more than two dozen picks below--be sure to let us know what you recommend in the comments below.

This year's Steam Summer Sale also introduced a new Grand Prix mini-game in which you choose among five different teams and compete to go the furthest, earning points by completing various Grand Prix Quests that will, in turn, boost your team's speed and help it move up in the race. You can win various freebies at the Pit Stop, such as chat emoticons and profile backgrounds, but the real goal is to be on a team that finishes in the top three every day, as random members of those teams will win the top game on their Steam wish list for free. So if you plan to participate, get your wish list up to date beforehand. We also have some tips on how to save even more money in the Steam sale.

$10 / £8.74 / $14.23 AUD (75% off)

Stellaris takes the signature grand strategy design of Paradox Interactive’s games and uses it to paint across the biggest canvas possible: galactic-scale 4X in the tradition of classics like Master of Orion. The game initially released to a middling reception in 2016, but Paradox has committed to continually updating the game with new content and complete overhauls for several of its core systems, so the game we have today is hardly recognizable. If you want to simulate the civilizational space opera of shows like Babylon 5 or Deep Space 9--replete with factional politics, interspecies warfare, and ancient mysteries--Stellaris is the best option on the market. -- Will Fulton, tech editor

See it at Steam

$7.49 / £6 / $10.75 AUD (50% off)

Darkwood is a brilliant, top-down, survival-horror game that you owe it to yourself to check out. You play as an unnamed protagonist struggling to escape a dark, oppressive forest where an otherworldly phenomenon occurs. All the while, the world itself is bleak; a mysterious plague has wiped out most of humanity, and those left in its wake are slowly going mad.

You'll spend most of your time scavenging for resources and exploring devastated, overgrown landscapes. The sound design is engrossing, sending unwelcome tingly sensations down every vertebra extending from your skull to your pelvis. But there are no jump scares here--just howling winds, creaky floorboards, snapping branches, and the worst of your imagination paralyzing you. Of course, there are also plenty of dangers you'll have to fight off physically, but I'll spare you the terrifying details of how you encounter and defend yourself against them. Just know that once it gets dark, you better make sure you're inside your safehouse and that you've got enough gasoline in your generator. Oh, and it doesn't hurt to have a few bear traps set by your windows. -- Matt Espineli, editor

See it at Steam

$3.88 / UK £2.76 / $5.56 AUD (86% off)

Before writing this, I couldn't decide which Legacy of Kain game to recommend here. I spent a half-hour trying to choose one, but then I noticed that every game in this cult-favorite series by developer Crystal Dynamics is on sale on Steam for almost nothing. So here's what I'm going to say: Buy them all.

The meat of LOK is its captivating storyline, which is rather complex, but I'll give you the long and short of it. Set in the gothic fantasy world of Nosgoth, you play as Kain, a nobleman-turned-vampire who gets caught up in a blood-soaked saga of vengeance. While he's seemingly forced to follow a road that ends in his ruin, Kain sets out on a quest to defy the dark powers that be to liberate himself of their hold. Oh, and in other games, you play as Raziel, a soul-sucking wraith who is on a quest to kill Kain, but then starts to see past his vendetta and realize that an even larger conspiracy is at play. It's all intriguing stuff albeit a tad convoluted at times, but bear with it, and you'll experience one of the most satisfying stories in games.

To fulfill the destinies of Kain and Raziel, you'll explore mysterious lands, uncover hidden secrets, and fight both vampiric and supernatural creatures. Aside from vampiric superpowers, the series also dabbles with some pretty interesting mechanics, such as the ability to shift between the material and spectral realm. -- Matt Espineli, editor

See it at Steam

$12.50 / £9.74 / $17.97 (50% off)

Few games have hooked me as immediately and thoroughly in recent years as Slay the Spire. It’s a single-player, deck-building rogue-lite in which you start with one of three basic class decks and then add cards and powerful relics to it as you progress through each run. This gives you all of the personal sense of accomplishment from building your own deck, as in conventional deck-builders like Magic or Hearthstone, but rolls that process into the game itself, greatly enhancing its strategic complexity. The art and sound design are charming, and after an extensive early access period, the game is extremely polished. But the detail that drew me in the most was learning that the developers used to run one of the biggest community sites for Android: Netrunner (which was actually the greatest card game of all time, so they know what they’re talking about). -- Will Fulton, tech editor

See it at Steam

$6.79 / £5.09 / $8.15 AUD (66% off)

There aren't many games out there that combine anime-style visuals, military-themed tactics, and the power of friendship--but Valkyria Chronicles is just that. First released in 2008 on PS3, Valkyria Chronicles got a pretty fine PC port in 2014, which is on sale now. The first thing that'll probably jump out to you is the game's unique blend of anime and pencil-drawn artwork in motion. Beyond that, Valkyria Chronicles tells a gripping story by drawing strong parallels to World War II--hell, it's even called the Second Europan War in the game.

As for gameplay, the series marries turn-based strategy and active, real-time controls by giving you command of a squad in each mission, individually controlling units to take down the opposing army. Think of it as X-COM with the freedom of movement of a third-person shooter. It's a clever, sometimes difficult, mix of two genres that comes together wonderfully. -- Michael Higham, associate editor

See it at Steam

$10 / £7.74 / $12 AUD (50% off)

If you've finished Neon Genesis Evangelion on Netflix, and you're looking for more stories like it, then you might want to check out Forgotton Anne--an adventure platformer with a gripping narrative driven by player choice. Forgotton Anne is one of my favorite games to look at and listen to, as it's animated in the same hand-drawn style of '90s anime and the orchestral soundtrack is reminiscent of that era.

The story follows a teenage girl named Anne who's forced into the role of Enforcer in the Forgotton Lands, a parallel universe where all lost objects--from missing socks to discarded scarves--are transported to. Here, lost objects gain sentience, and it's Anne's job to police them (even taking their lives if necessary) while her master, Bonku, tries to build a way for everyone to get home to their human owners. When Bonku's efforts are met with violent resistance, Anne is tasked with stopping the rebels. What begins as a simple investigation quickly spirals into a tale of betrayal, one which also captures the emotional and mental turmoil of those who struggle with self-worth. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$12 / £9.29 / $17.37 AUD (40% off)

Battle Chef Brigade is the charming tale of Mina's quest to join the titular group, an organization of knights who hunt down the kingdom's monsters and cook them into delicious dishes for the populace to eat. This indie gem is a mish-mash of genres, playing out like a visual novel between missions before transitioning into a tile-matching puzzle game slash side-scrolling brawler in the cooking portion. It's fairly simple to grasp Battle Chef Brigade's basics, but it's in the nuances of each cook-off--such as time limit, requested ingredients, and number of dishes to complete--where the game becomes a satisfying challenge to conquer.

The Deluxe version of the game takes this winning formula and adds a bunch of fan-requested content. My favorite addition is local multiplayer, which allows you to challenge your friends to cooking competitions. The other pieces of post-release content, like Survival Mode and Daily Cook-Off, add some fun online alternatives as well, so you can keep coming back to the kitchen long after you've beaten the well-written single-player campaign. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$9 / £6.59 / $10.50 AUD (40% Off)

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania with death mechanics and world-building seemingly inspired by Dark Souls. Like Metroid or Castlevania, Hollow Knight takes place in a vast, interconnected world that slowly opens up as you defeat powerful bosses, discover secrets, and unlock new abilities. The game's narrative is told similarly to Dark Souls, with the overall story delivered in tiny chunks through NPC interactions and hidden items, many of which are difficult to find. And much like From Software's Souls series, your character loses currency upon death and must track it down before dying a second time in order to recover it.

These mechanics and features alone make for one of the most challenging, yet satisfying to overcome indie games out there. But Hollow Knight seals the deal with its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, each piece of music reflecting your continued journey through a diverse, but dying kingdom. With its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, currently scheduled to release in 2019, now is the best time to catch up and play one of the most beloved indie games out there. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$8 / £6 / $11.58 AUD (60% Off)

On the surface, Full Metal Furies seems to be an entirely female-led variation of Castle Crashers. And it's true, a huge part of Full Metal Furies is played as a four-player co-op brawler. But beneath that, there's a good five to seven hours of complex, multilayered riddles to find and solve that tie into a fascinating meta-narrative interwoven within the campaign's story.

There's never a dull moment in Full Metal Furies, thanks in large part to the personable protagonists. There's Triss, the leader who is always sassily drinking tea and doing spit-takes; Meg, the near-sighted sniper with a poor sense of direction; Erin, the brainy engineer who's desperate to prove to Meg that she's cool; and Alex, the airhead with a penchant for violence. On their quest to destroy the god-like Titans responsible for their world's ruin, these four meet a wide variety of humorous characters and enemies who are just as goofy as they are. And for the most part, the jokes land.

When Full Metal Furies isn't trying to make you laugh, it's attempting to stump you with its puzzles, some of which even require you look to sources outside of the game to solve. The game is an absolute blast to tackle with friends, as a group makes combat more enjoyable and riddle-solving a tad easier. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$12 / £10.49 / $17.37 AUD (40% off)

Iconoclasts is the metroidvania-inspired breakout hit by Joakim Sandberg, who developed the game completely on his own. The game puts you in the shoes of Robin, a woman who works as a mechanic without a license, dooming herself and those she knows to be labeled as sinners and killed. Robin manages to survive the attempt, however, and vows to put an end to the totalitarian government that rules the planet.

The story that follows is intricately layered, with themes of faith, human kindness, overconsumption of natural resources, good vs. evil, friendship, and personal purpose all explored through multiple lenses, symbols, and plotlines. There is no traditional conclusion to Iconoclasts, as the narrative is left open to personal interpretation. Even if you don't understand what the ending is trying to say, the journey is a fascinating one, with hours of world-building to dissect and theorize about.

Gameplay-wise, Iconoclasts wears its Metroid influences on its sleeve, featuring challenging bosses, platforming puzzles, and environmental hazards that can only be overcome by unlocking certain abilities. Robin's Stun Gun even evolves in a similar manner to Samus' Arm Cannon. If you like playing action platformers or unraveling symbolic stories, then you'll probably love Iconoclasts. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$12 / £9 / $17.37 AUD (40% off)

Celeste is as much a story about overcoming the hurdles of depression, self-doubt, and low self-esteem as it is a narrative about climbing a mountain. The game manages to get to the core of the frustrating helplessness of failure and liberating relief of success associated with both experiences by crafting them into a very challenging platformer. Celeste is a hard game to beat, but the reward for doing so is well-worth the trial.

The characters you encounter are all charming, ranging from the social media-savvy Theo to the overly helpful Mr. Oshiro. But Madeline's evolving relationship with her inner "pragmatic" side--the part of her that's logical, controlling, fearful, paranoid, and cruel and takes on a physical form after Madeline starts climbing the mountain--is the best part of the story. My favorite part of the game, though, is easily the soundtrack composed by Lena Raine. Raine's contribution to Celeste is a phenomenal work of art, and I find myself regularly listening to it and her other work to this day. If you're willing to drop a little extra money, the Steam Summer Sale includes a bundle of Celeste and its soundtrack. It's absolutely worth the money. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$5 / £3.74 / $7.23 AUD (75% off)

More than 10 years after its release, Dead Space is still a terrifying action survival-horror game. Even if franchise fans tend to regard Dead Space 2 as the best of the trilogy, the original title holds a special place in my heart. No matter how many times I've played Dead Space, stepping off the tram at the start of Chapter 6 and hearing the game's haunting rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" has always remained one of the most frightening moments I've played through in any game.

Dead Space works so well because it makes you feel like a normal dude trapped in the worst possible situation. Isaac Clarke may be the game's action hero, but he's just a simple engineer. His heavy spacesuit is designed for withstanding the vacuum of space, not the cannibalistic appetite and murderous impulses of the zombified necromorphs that hunt him. And with the exception of one weapon, all of Isaac's firearms are retrofitted engineering tools with no practical military application. Isaac's quest is simple too: Fix the ship and save his girlfriend. Everything about Isaac is very human, and it contributes to making him--and thus the player--feel powerless against the seemingly never-ending onslaught of necromorphs. Couple this powerlessness with the game's incredible use of sound, lack of HUD for fuller immersion, and delight in subverting jump scare expectations, and you have one frightening horror experience. -- Jordan Ramée, associate news editor

See it at Steam

$30 / £25 / $45 AUD (50% off)

While the sheer discount here might not be the same level of price drop on many other games, it still represents a great deal. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is an astonishingly large game, and while some have criticized its cookie-cutter content, that's all easily skipped. That leaves you with a vast, gorgeous world to explore that's filled with interesting quests and characters, including a game-spanning hunt for mysterious cultists, the identities of which you'll have to discern for yourself. Play with Exploration mode enabled--which holds your hands less with fewer quest markers--and you're in store for an epic adventure across land and sea. Even if you haven't played an Assassin's Creed game before, it's well worth diving into. -- Chris Pereira, engagement editor

See it at Steam

$13.39 / £10.71 / $19.39 AUD (33% off)

The Advance Wars series has remained idle for more than a decade, but that reality got a little easier to accept earlier this year with the release of Wargroove. Trading battleships and guns for dogs and swords, Wargroove is effectively the Advance Wars sequel we've been waiting years to see. It takes the same style of tactical strategy and makes clever refinements to combat to keep things fresh and interesting. New systems to dictate critical hits and ways to use Hero units provide new layers of consideration to every turn. And with a robust campaign and map creator, you'll be able to make or find plenty of additional missions to play after seeing through everything the game ships with. -- Chris Pereira, engagement editor

See it at Steam

$39.59 / £31.19 / $56.65 AUD (34% off)

Capcom's stylish action series, Devil May Cry, has always been in a class of its own when it comes to offering slick, satisfying, and memorable combat. After a long hiatus, the franchise's latest entry, Devil May Cry 5, is a return to fighting form, going back to the original storyline--as opposed to a continuation of the underrated reboot DmC: Devil May Cry. Helmed by long-time series director Hideaki Itsuno, DMC5 is the action franchise firing on all cylinders, featuring three distinct characters with unique missions and play styles.

Along with the returning Dante and Nero--the later of whom uses reusable Devil Breakers that have unique special attacks--the newest character to join the series is V, a devil summoner who fights with his familiars. Right from the game's opening missions, you just know you're in for something special as Nero fights off attacking demons while standing on top of an airborne van. The combat of DMC5 is the series at its best, and getting to experiment with the trio leads to some of the finest action gameplay in 2019. -- Alessandro Fillari, editor

See it at Steam

$15 / £11.24 / $26.21 AUD (25% off)

Following Wolfenstein: The New Order in 2015, Bethesda was starting to show a knack for successfully publishing revivals of respected but dormant shooter franchises. Doom 2016 proved it wasn’t just beginner’s luck. The reboot of the seminal FPS was a flurry of curated chaos. Whereas shooters had been trending toward cover mechanics and cautiously exploring interiors, Doom reveled in its recklessness and encouraged you to always be the aggressor. Everything in the game, from the risk-reward mechanic of the melee finishers to the cutscenes that barely let the exposition finish, fed the idea that you are a force of nature. It’s a uniquely satisfying game, and with its sequel just around the corner, now is a perfect time to catch up with it at the right price. -- Steve Watts, associate editor

See it at Steam

$27 / £18 / $38.97 AUD (40% off)

Larian Studios recently broke the news that it's been given the keys to the Baldur's Gate series and that the team has been busily plugging away at the upcoming Stadia and PC sequel, Baldur's Gate III. The relationship between Larian and Wizards of the Coast was long in the making, according to head of Larian, Swen Vincke, and the moment that sealed the deal came during the development of Divinity: Original Sin II. This incredible RPG earned the very rare 10 on GameSpot in 2017, and it's available during the Steam Summer sale at 40% off. If you've yet to plunge into the storied and detailed world of Rivellon, you've been missing out on an amazing journey packed with all the drama, surprise, and action we've come to expect from Larian. It's a deep and fascinating RPG that shouldn't be missed. -- Peter Brown, managing editor

See it at Steam

$16.74 / £14.73 / $24.08 AUD (33% off)

Dead Cells bubbled beneath the surface in early access for many months before it finally released in 2018, and in hindsight, it's amazing that it slipped under most people's radar for so long. Summarize it however you wish, be it a 2D Dark Souls meets metroidvania or a rogue-lite action-RPG, Dead Cells has a spirit of its own that feels strong enough to ultimately inspire other games in its wake. It won numerous awards last year from almost every media outlet and organization in gaming, including our own Best Games of 2018 list. With a 33% discount during the Steam Summer Sale, you might as well wake up and see what all the hype is about if you're still sleeping on this absolute gem. -- Peter Brown, managing editor

See it at Steam

$20.39 / £17 / $33.98 AUD (66% off)

Ready for another dose of anime, turn-based tactics, and the power of friendship? Well, get ready for the proper follow-up to Valkyria Chronicles that's also part of the Steam summer sale. The series went in a slightly different direction after the first entry with VC2 and VC3 (Japan-only) being PSP games, but Valkyria Chronicles 4 channels much of the same energy as the original. Here, you play as a different band of troops to show another perspective on the same conflict, the Second Europan War.

The game still has that beautiful blend of anime-inspired visuals and sketchbook-style flair that brings its story to life. As main protagonist Claude Wallace, you'll command a group of soldiers through the familiar mix of turn-based strategy and real-time third-person controls. However, it's the bonds you form with your friends and fellow troops that'll have you remembering Valkyria Chronicles 4 well after you finish it. -- Michael Higham, associate editor

See it at Steam

$21 / £18 / $29.97 AUD (40% off)

Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden released at the very end of 2018 to an inadequate amount of fanfare (I tried my best), muffled by the behemoth blockbusters taking up all the airtime. But this game, along with Into The Breach, was one of last year's strategy gems. Mutant Year Zero puts a hefty twist on the XCOM-style cover tactics with a real-time stealth and ambushing component. The odds are overwhelming, but if you can take advantage of the terrain, and optimize the positioning of your squad mates, you might just be able to thin the pack when an enemy strays too far from the herd. There's a great sense of tension both in and out of battle, accentuated by the game's stellar sense of atmosphere. Oh, and you get to play as a bunch of anthropomorphic animals. That's good too. At 40% off, it's not the deepest discount in the sale, but it's still a good price for a gripping tactics game, and it'll get you set up for the upcoming expansion pack. -- Edmond Tran, editor and senior producer

See it at Steam

$7.49 / £5.69 / $10.75 AUD (50% off)

Into The Breach is the perfect distillation of tactical turn-based strategy, a sharp, compulsive run-based game that you can play again and again. The sophomore title from Subset Games (the team behind the exceptional FTL: Faster Than Light) asks you to pit a variable team of mechas to stop an invading insect race called the Vek, but it isn't as straightforward as you might think. Instead of being a game about pulverizing all threats, Into The Breach is more a chess-like game of creative thinking. While you'll still be punching giant bugs, the overwhelming odds mean you'll spend more time displacing enemies using unorthodox tools--hookshots, freeze rays, smoke bombs--in an effort to mitigate as much damage as possible for a set period of time. It's incredibly smart in its design, it'll have you on the edge of your seat, and it was one of our Best Games Of 2018. Into The Breach is well worth that 50% discount. -- Edmond Tran, editor and senior producer

See it at Steam

$5 / £3.74 / $7.23 AUD (75% off)

Dead Space set the stage for a resurgence of survival-horror games when it released in 2008, but Dead Space 2 elevated the entire concept with a bigger, even more frightening experience. Wandering the new, huge space station known as the Sprawl opened up a ton of new opportunities for scares while giving players a chance to experience a Necromorph outbreak in its opening moments. Moments such as walking the halls of the station's residential section and hearing horrific attacks playing out behind closed doors gave a new immediacy to the Dead Space universe's underlying threat. Locations like the Sprawl's nursery expertly built on the first game's sense of dread by telegraphing new terrors long before you encounter them, allowing our imagination to run wild with suggestions of what awful things you might find. And the game's choice to flesh out the story by giving Isaac Clarke a voice, after he had previously been a silent protagonist, helped make the series' frightening story feel more grounded and impactful. Everything that was great about Dead Space gets amplified in Dead Space 2--it's worth playing just for its awesomely gory eye scene. -- Phil Hornshaw, editor

See it at Steam

$9 / £6.74 / $13.02 AUD (55% off)

It's the rare game that perfectly combines the act of playing to the story it tells. What Remains of Edith Finch is really a series of short gameplay vignettes, each providing a different, character-specific experience that puts you in the tragic mindset of one of protagonist Edith's relatives. Developer Giant Sparrow tells a bittersweet tale of a family beset by tragedy, and uncovering the fates of each of the game's characters creates a surreal, fascinating, and affecting journey. What's most interesting about Edith Finch, though, is that it tells the kind of story that only video games can portray; the first-person interaction within the stories of each of the characters is essential to what Giant Sparrow wants to get across to the player. It was my favorite game of 2017, and it's a steal at this price. -- Phil Hornshaw, editor

See it at Steam

$10 / £8.49 / $14.97 AUD (50% off)

Ubisoft has a knack for supporting its games through the years, and Rainbow Six Siege is a prime example of how that support can lead to something much greater. At its core, Siege is a five-on-five, round-based, multiplayer FPS that'll stress your tactical prowess and teamwork skills. What makes it stand out is the deep roster of playable Operators who each have their own unique abilities that completely change how matches play out. You can almost think of it as the perfect blend of Overwatch's heroes and Counter-Strike's pacing and tactical sensibilities with ever-changing maps.

You may have heard about it or tried it back in 2015, but Siege has drastically changed since its launch with new maps, balance tweaks, and game-changing Operators. It's currently in year four of its roadmap, and it's not slowing down; Ubisoft just rolled out the latest update dubbed Phantom Sight that adds two wildly different Operators. Give it a shot to see if you like it for just $10--it might be your new favorite game. -- Michael Higham, associate editor

See it at Steam

$10 / £7.49 / $12.49 AUD (50% off)

For the past few years, we've been shouting from the rooftops of Kamurocho's tallest skyscraper for folks to play Yakuza. Now you don't have an excuse, because one of the series' best entries, Yakuza 0, is $10 on the Steam's Summer Sale. You'll follow the story of two legends, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, in their younger days as they navigate Japan's complicated and ruthless criminal underworld. It sounds harrowing (and at times, it very much is), but Yakuza 0 is absolutely filled with charming absurdity and genuine laugh-out-loud moments. It strikes that unique balance of seriousness and ridiculousness perfectly, something developer RGG Studios does so well time and time again.

You'll explore two districts that never sleep, Kamurocho and Sotenbori, where the bright lights and nightlife flood their lively streets. Gameplay-wise, Yakuza plays like a 3D beat-'em-up where you fight through hordes of bad dudes with different fighting styles and a roster of savage, stylish special moves. And the side quests (aka substories) are full of wacky, unique, and heartfelt moments that you won't see anywhere else. Treat yourself to Yakuza 0. -- Michael Higham, associate editor

See it at Steam

$4 / £2.79 / $5.80 AUD (60% off)

The thing about Undertale is that it's genuinely different. On the surface, you see a retro-style RPG that draws quite heavily from the likes of EarthBound. You may have even heard about its relentless cult following. But if Undertale is still sort of a mystery to you, it's one worth exploring, especially for $4. In a world where many games give you choices and try to impress consequences based on the decisions you make, Undertale goes well beyond conventions and accounts for actions you yourself may not even be tracking. And the ways in which the game expresses that to you are unexpected and sometimes chilling.

Undertale strikes two distinct tones extremely well; it's cute and charming throughout, but leverages that to create some truly horrifying scenarios. It's done through witty writing, expressive pixel art, and one of the best soundtracks of all time. All these elements feed into each other so effortlessly; it's an incredible achievement for independent developer Toby Fox to have made such a tightly-bound experience that's fun and impactful. Give Undertale a chance. -- Michael Higham, associate editor

See it at Steam