There’s an old saying among gamers that a game should provide one hour’s worth of content for every dollar it costs. There have been a number of games released in the last few years that didn’t deserve a fifty-plus price tag – likeCyberpunk 2077. On the other hand, there are also games that onecan spend years playingat a much more affordable price – likeStardew Valley.
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Steam is a haven for the thrifty gamer – even for games that cost less than a pack of gum. While many are garbage, some of these games are being slept on. They’reincrediblycheap for what they offer – some $1 games are comedic and meant to be played once or twice, while others are genuinely enjoyable mini-experiences.
Bad Ratsgained notoriety a few years ago when multiple YouTube content creators started LetsPlays of the strange game. It’s a puzzle game that tasks the player with guiding a group of rats to an imprisoned cat… so they can kill it. The game is extremely dated visually; most characters resemble those found inWindows 3D Movie Makerfrom the early 2000s.
However, the game atits core is pretty fun. It uses a physics engine for its puzzles and each level has a number of different methods for completion. The bizarre visuals lend themselves to hilarious moments in the game too, and at just 99 cents it’ll keep you occupied well longer than an hour.
6Orion: Prelude
Orion: Preludepits players against dinosaurs in a futuristic FPS scenario. The game was released in 2013 but its graphical style still, strangely, holds up to this day. It’s a short but sweet game that offers a lot of customizability, modding support, and even co-op modes.
For 99 cents,Orion: Preludeknocks it out of the park. It’sengaging, visually unique, and more complex than just about any $1 game on Steam. Even if you don’t like the singleplayer, the game’s multiplayer modes make it a fantastic party game for you and your Steam buds.
5Bit Blaster XL
Bit Blaster XLis the grandaddy of cheap and amazing steam games.Bit Blaster XLcould be compared to the classic Atari gameAsteroids, except the ship cannot stop moving and there’s an ever-increasing number of enemies to contend with.
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The game is still updated to this day and offers replayability like no other. It’s fast-paced, boasts brilliantly rendered pixel art, and is one of those games that you won’t be able to stop playing once you get invested (although, you might want to talk to someone if you play this game as long as,say,The Witcher 3).
Shower With Your Dad Simulatoris perhaps the most bizarre game to ever hit the Steam store.Shower With Your DadSimulatorisn’t actually a simulator but a series of small mini-games based around three Dads and their three corresponding sons… in a shower.
Each level ends with one of the dads telling a dad joke before the game continues. The pixel art style really lends itself to this title because itkeeps the gamerelativelyPG. It’s one of the funniest games on Steam if you can get past the uncomfortable feelings the title inspires, and at 99 cents it’s a very affordable comedy game.
3Mountain
Mountainis not so much a game as it is an experience. It’s a game likeJourneythat has no real goals, no real mechanics, and no real gameplay. What it does have in spades, though, is the feeling of quiet contemplation that arises when meditating on a mountaintop.
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The game is essentially a simulation of a mountain growing and shaping over the years in a 3D space. It’s nice to relax to or to keep on a second monitor while working from home just to keep an eye on how everything is developing. At 99 cents, it’s cheaper than an afternoon Yoga class, too.
2Timberman
Timbermanwas originally a mobile game that was ported to PC and given a number of new features.Timbermansimply tasks the player with chopping down a tree, rhythmically, and while dodging obstacles as the tree is felled over time. The game has a number of unlockable customization options and even a multiplayer mode.
The local coop and head-to-head modes are really fun on the Steam-only edition, which also gives players 5 more unlockable characters in-game. It’s oldschool and insanely addicting, and for 99 cents you too can chop down trees in its pixely world.
1Handsome Mr. Frog
Handsome Mr. Frogis a throwback to a time long passed. The game is simple – the player must adventure through a series of levels and waves of enemies to get the highest high score possible. And that’s it! It sounds simple because it is – but it’s also a nostalgia trip.
Handsome Mr. Froghas one of the best soundtracks for a cheap game ever. The game was made by Cowboy Color, a games company probably named after the Gameboy Color. The art style of the game is reminiscent of Gameboy Color games too, albeit with a modern touch. It’son sale quite a lot, but its 99 cent price point won’t break the bank.
