Since games can be quite expensive these days, and not everyone has state-of-the-art computers, most gamers are always looking for a good deal. In this article we’ve looked through the Steam catalogue to find a few cheap and cheerful games that are definitely worth buying. If you’re looking for something to occupy yourself with the coming winter months, there will definitely be something on this list you will enjoy!
Turn-based strategy masterpiece
Age of Wonders Trilogy Pack – £13.99
If you have even the remotest interest in turn-based strategy games with a fantasy theme, the Age of Wonders pack will really hit the mark. In Age of Wonders, you get to manage cities, build improvements and fight turn-based battles where every individual unit counts. Throughout the game you recruit heroes which gain levels, skills and equipment and these are the units that really make or break your game.
With a ton of spells, artifacts and units, a lot of variety between the races and a campaign which will keep you busy for ages, these games are a great investment. They’re a little dated but they play and run perfectly fine. The Mana Pool team still play multiplayer games of Age of Wonders 2 even today – so this comes highly recommended!
Freedom Force – £2.99
In Freedom Force you control a group of superheroes, out to save the world from villains and what more. The fun of this game is that it doesn’t take things too serious and basically ends up being a giant piss-take of the superhero genre. Freedom Force is an action game with RPG elements – and is generally rated quite highly.
Railroad Tycoon II Platinum – £2.99
In Railroad control you are a tycoon in control of a railway company. You build stations, lay tracks, purchase trains and if you do it all well, you make money. Railroad tycoon can be quite addictive and it’s good fun trying to beat your competitors. For £2.99 you can’t really go wrong!
Overlord – £3.49
“For the master!”. In Overlord you assume the role of an evil overlord – in control of a horde of minions (imps) with various abilities. The game plays as an action game and has some strong puzzle-like elements to it. (Using the right minions at the right time, etc.) With some quirky humor, this game will keep you entertained for a while. And what better way to spent an evening than to burn down and ransack the houses of innocent villagers?
Best. Games. Ever.
X-Com Complete Pack – £8.99*
*Depending whether or not you liked Interceptor, you might only want to buy UFO Defense, TFTD and Apocalypse. Enforcer never happened.
This is one of the greatest game series ever produced. The first X-Com game is known as UFO Defense in the USA, whilst we better know it as X-Com: Enemy Unknown in Europe. Earth is being invaded by an alien force and X-Com, an international organisation created to deal with the alien menace, is the only thing standing between the aliens and total defeat.
You build your first base, including a few interceptors and a troop-transport with soldiers and take it from there. Intercepting UFO’s, acquiring their technology and awesome turn-based combat is what follows. X-Com is one of the most thrilling and nerve-wrecking turn-based experiences I’ve ever played with an awesome soundtrack. These games are seriously addictive! Warning: Do not play Enforcer. It’s a travesty that never happened.
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee – £3.49
Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus – £3.49
The Oddworld series are unique platformers split into screens; when the player moves into the edge of the screen, the environment is replaced. Most screens include various puzzles that must be solved through the use of player-character Abe’s unique abilities: GameSpeak, possession, activation or deactivation of mines or levers, and rocks, grenades, or meat chunks that can be picked up and used in a variety of situations.
These games are great fun and for £3.49 – they are a great purchase.
Rome: Total War Gold – £4.99
Rome: Total War is great instalment in the Total War series, by many still considered the best. The campaign follows the exploits of the three major Roman families – and involves a slow rise to power as the Roman Empire develops around you. The game involves a lot of conquering territory and defeating rebels in typical Total War style. I’d pay at least twice this price for this pack – this is a must-have if you like strategy games.
Fantastic Medieval Strategy Game
Medieval II Complete Pack – £8.99
Another Total War Pack – but this time set in the middle ages. Purely due to the setting this is one of my personal favourites. Medieval II is a fantastic game – with the sort of brutal combat you would expect in this time period. On top of that, there are some absolutely brilliant mods available. The music is great as well, from the moment the menu is on your screen you feel completely immersed. Highly recommended.
Far Cry – £4.99
Far Cry is a first-person shooter which story follows an ex-U.S. Special Forces operative Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their boat was destroyed by mercenaries. This game should play fine even on most older computers and laptops – so if you’re looking for a fun shooter to pass a cold weekend, Far Cry is a great choice.
Knights of the old Republic – £6.99
Knights of the old Republic is an absolutely fantastic RPG by BioWare. It’s setting is long before the Star Wars movies – with a great plot, brilliant characters and loads of lightsaber combat. If you like RPGs and have not played KotoR, you should purchase it this very moment! The game is absolutely huge, as we have come to expect from BioWare RPGs and offers a rich and immersive Star Wars experience. Possibly the best Star Wars game ever made.
Company of Heroes – £6.99
Company of Heroes is a great RTS set in World War II. The game obviously follows a storyline which isn’t full of surprises, but the missions are very well done and there are a lot of hours of gameplay available in this. If you fancy some WW2 strategy – Company of Heroes should be at the top of your list.
One of the best RPG series ever made
Fallout Collection – £16.99
War. War never changes. Fallout 1 & 2 are absolutely -fantastic- RPGs that did things just a little different when everyone else was going for the fantasy angle. These games are full of unexpected events and surprises – and you constantly have the feeling your choices both in plot and skills really matter. If you haven’t played these games yet, they are well worth having in your collection.
Peggle Deluxe – £6.99
When you first show someone a game of Peggle, they think your mad. How can a game which involves a ball dropping down onto pegs possible be fun? Just give up your chair and left them have a go – before you know it they are utterly addicted. Peggle is so well executed that its simple gameplay doesn’t just work: it’s bloody good fun. There’s a demo available, so just give that a shot – you’ll be hooked before you know it.
LucasArts Adventure Pack – £6.99
If you are craving for the ‘good old days’ of point & click adventures – LucasArts has you covered. This pack contains a couple of great classics that should satisfy your craving for many, many hours. You know the drill – you’re presented with problems with seemingly no obvious solution and before you know it you’re clicking all over the screen to find things to interact with. We have a team members here at Mana Pool who loves this genre and she has a great saying: “It’s not a good game if you don’t end up swearing and cursing at it!”.
That’s it – if you find some excellent deals yourself, why not share them with us by leaving a comment?
What about Uplink?
:D
Thanks for the list. Steam sure knows how to fight piracy….low prices!
I can definitely recommend Age of Wonders, one of the first games where I saw Evil Tactician for what he is! A Evil Tactician, taking not only myself but two other players out without too much of a sweat. But some great fun trying to beat him none the less!
I would also highly recommend Rome Total War, still my best game of the Total War series with just enough complexity to keep the strategists happy, yet still easy to follow mechanics and gameplay.
All lies LFFPicard. We should get a game going with the rest of the crew – Zyle and I have been doing a few games the past days, Age of Wonders still rocks even these days.
I need to play it a bit to get used to it again i guess :)
Also i forgot, a honourable mention i think should be for Evil Genius @ £6.99 on steam.