It’s that time of year again: Logging on to Steam and spending some money on a bunch of discounted games we may never play. The Steam autumn sale is here until Oct. 6, so you have a week to peruse your wishlist and decide what’s worth adding to your cart. If, for some reason, you’re looking for an excuse to buy even more PC games than whatever you’ve already got planned, we’ve got some recommendations for you.
Personally, I’m probably pulling the trigger on the cutesy rhythm game Melatonin (50% off), the ambitious story-driven game Dustborn (80% off), stylish visual novel Mediterranea Inferno (85% off), and maybe sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder Cobalt Core (35% off.) There are plenty of solid bets to invest in, like Cyberpunk 2077 (65% off), the eternally updated No Man’s Sky (60% off) and kick-ass action game Doom Eternal (90% off). These are the types of AAA games that Steam itself will probably recommend on its front page, or games you might already own based on their reputation. Rather than wasting your time with games you might already know about, here are some suggestions for under-the-radar games that are on sale right now, alongside their Steam store pitch and trailer.
Promise Mascot Agency
If you had the fortune of playing the excellent murder mystery game Paradise Killer, Promise Mascot Agency is the next game by that same studio. Expect a weird, lively world with impeccably written characters. Players love to compare it to the Yakuza series. It’s 25% off at $18.74.
Explore a cursed Japanese town! Recruit mascot friends and come to the rescue when disaster strikes! Solve the mystery of your exile! Help a living finger work through her many anger issues! Turn Promise Mascot Agency into the best agency in Japan in this open-world narrative adventure!
Fields of Mistria
If you’re hungry for a farming game to take over your life, and you’ve already played games like Stardew Valley and Disney Dreamlight Valley, this one is for you. Fields of Mistria is a more fantasy-based take on the cozy life simulator. For you lovebirds, romances involve anime-style hotties who you can date, and the dialogue is a cut above other games of its kind. It’s still in early access, but the game just got a big update over the summer. It’s 20% off at $11.99.
Start your new life! Build the farm of your dreams as you discover a world brimming with possibilities. Magic, romance, and adventure all await you in this nostalgic farming / life sim RPG!
Kabuto Park
This is a charming bug collecting game that will make you wistful for summer. It’s short and sweet, with the game taking place over the course of a month. There are 40 bugs to capture and battle, and the game has an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam. Kabuto Park is currently 20% off at $3.99.
Enjoy summer in Kabuto Park! Catch the cutest bugs, train them and win the Summer Beetle Battles Championship in this tiny bug collection game! Upgrade your equipment to find rarer, stronger and shinier little friends.
Sorry, We’re Closed
It’s spooky season, which means it’s time to play horror games. Here’s an impossibly stylish survival horror game with Killer 7-meets-Resident Evil 4 vibes. Great story, awesome soundtrack, and aesthetics to spare. Don’t take it from me, it’s won a bunch of awards! Sorry, We’re Closed is 25% off at $18.74.
Sorry We’re Closed is an eccentric story-driven survival horror game about demons, angels and what happens when both sides collide. A mix of classic fixed-camera exploration and arcade-style shooting where Michelle must use her Third Eye to see between worlds, uncover secrets and solve puzzles.
Paper Animal Adventure
Paper Animal Adventure is an adorable roguelike with a procedurally generated map that’s unlike anything else you’ve played. You know when your computer is chugging and the game you’re playing struggles to load beyond your immediate horizon? What if that, but as an intentional art style fused with 2D sprites designed to look like 3D graphics? This is also in early access, but the development cadence has been promising. It’s now 20% off at $11.99.
Paper Animal Adventure is a cute roguelike game where you can explore a colorful world, fight scary enemies, and relax with your friends at the campfire! Will you be the one to seal the timelines and find the missing king?
