The one thing possibly more exciting than soaking up the sun (at least until Thursday, 11 July) is Steam’s Summer Sale. Even if you’re a seasoned gamer with a backlog longer than your forearm, Steam’s -90% offers are hard to resist. If you’re a newbie looking to dive into a new hobby, iconic video games for as low as USD 2.99 mean that the barrier entry is as friendly as ever. So boot up your PCs, fellow gamers and gaming-curious friends. Here’s what to snag while you can.

#1- BALDUR’S GATE 3: Perhaps one of the biggest games to hit the shelves in 2023, Baldur’sGate 3 made waves as a fan favorite with a 96% positive rating on Steam. As the protagonist, you find yourself infected by an insidious mind-flayer parasite, which awakens mysterious abilities inside of you. You must choose whether to resist and vanquish the darkness, or to embrace its corruption and become the ultimate evil.

THE NUMBERS: The game, previously selling for USD 59.99, was already marked down to USD 34.99. Steam’s Summer Sale has it on an additional -20%, bringing the price to USD 27.99.

You can read our review of this game here, and watch the trailer here.

#2- STARDEW VALLEY: If you’ve ever daydreamed about leaving the 9-5 grind behind (increasingly so in the summer, we know), Stardew Valley is for you. Players inherit a rundown but charming farm from their grandfather, and leave their corporate life behind to move to the countryside. It may look like a farming sim from the outside, but this iconic game goes far beyond those expectations as you soon learn that things in Pelican Town aren’t as wholesome as they seem. Stardew Valley stands as one of the highest ever rated games on Steam at 98%.

THE NUMBERS:This indie game is already budget-friendly with plenty of bang for your buck, but you can find it on Steam on promotion for only USD 3.59 until Thursday. You read that right.

You can read our review of the game here or watch the trailer.

#3- RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2: Five years ago, RDR2 made history. The Grand Theft Auto developers created a critically acclaimed hit with over 175 Game of the Year Awards and a score of 91%. In this action-adventure, you play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw cowboy in the gorgeous Wild West in 1899. Who hasn’t had that fantasy before? Story Mode is a single-player experience, but you can log into Red Dead Online to share all the gunfights, robberies, and hunts with your friends.

THE NUMBERS: The ultimate edition of RDR2 usually retails at USD 99.99, but you can cop it for just USD 34.99 this week. Some may call it highway robbery. You can find the standard edition for USD 19.79.

You can watch the trailer here.

#4- IT TAKES TWO: Looking for something you can only play with friends? It Takes Two is the kind of co-op game that builds bonds instead of leaving you screaming at each other. Cough, Overcooked, cough. You play as married couple Cody and May, who have fallen apart over the years. In a last-ditch attempt to keep her parents together, daughter Rose turns them to dolls in a fantasy world. To go back to normal, Cody and May have to overcome the distance between them and work together to navigate all kinds of puzzles and obstacles that come their way.

THE NUMBERS: Instead of the usual USD 39.99, you can nab It Takes Two for USD 13.99. To promote their dedication to cooperation, the developer lets you invite a friend with Friend’s Pass to join you without them having to buy the game.

You can watch the trailer here.

#5- GOD OF WAR: RAGNARÖK: Perhaps you’re late to the game, and perhaps you didn’t think it would live up to the hype. But God of War is all that and a side of fries. This reboot still follows Kratos, the protagonist from the first game, years after his vengeance against the Gods of Olympus. Now, not only must Kratos survive in the unforgiving world of Norse Gods (and Norse monsters), but also pass his skills onto his son, Atreus. God of War is just as intense and bloody as before, Kratos’s path to redemption streaked with the blood of his enemies. The powerful character arcs, stunning graphics, and engrossing plot earned this game a 96% score on Steam.

THE NUMBERS: You can find God of War for 50% off, standing at USD 24.99.

You can watch the trailer here.

#6- TEKKEN 8: We’ve been living for the 90s fighter game revivals we’ve been seeing this past year, but nothing beats Tekken. Whether you want to relive your childhood or try the game out for the first time, this installment is where to do it. You know the gist — Tekken 8 follows the classic Jin vs Kazuya conflict we all know and love, featuring its iconic character roster. You can choose between classic arcade mode, longer tournaments, multiplayer, and play either online or offline. Looking for a game night contender? Tekken Bowl is also an option.

THE NUMBERS: The Ultimate Edition now retails for USD 50.39, down from USD 71.99, but you can grab the Standard Edition for USD 25.64, saving yourself 64%. Still on the fence? You can download the demo at no charge.

You can read our review of T8 here, and watch the trailer here.

#7- HADES: It’s official. It’s time to jump on the Hades bandwagon. This indie roguelike took the world by storm during the pandemic, with its rich Greek lore and intensely loveable and love-to-hate characters. You assume the role of Zagreus, the rebellious prince of the Underworld, on a quest to escape his father’s realm and learn the truth about his mother. Battle your way through hordes of mythical creatures, challenging dungeons, and the occasional Olympian god (if you piss them off). At 98%, it is one of the most critically acclaimed video games in recent release.

THE NUMBERS: This is yet another budget-friendly indie game that would have still been worth every penny had it been a hit to our bank accounts. You can add to cart now for a shocking USD 3.30.

You can read our review of Hades and its sequel (currently in early access), or watch the trailer here.

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