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We all know that sometimes gaming as a hobby can get a little bit expensive. Maybe you aren’t willing to shell out $60 for the latest release, or maybe that dream PC is still just out of your reach. Well, fear not! Sick Critic is here to give you the lowdown on the best budget games currently available. These are games that range in price from completely free to around $10, and all of them are absolutely worth your time.
Spelunky – Free
While an updated version of Spelunky is now available on PS4, Xbox One and PC for just over a tenner, you can still play the original completely for free (only on PC mind). If you have even a passing interest in rogue-like 2D platforming then you’ll probably adore this. The visuals may not be up to modern standards but they retain a certain appeal, and anyway, it’s the gameplay and the random systems where Spelunky really shines. Check this out if you’re looking for something deep and challenging to sink a few hours into.
Get your free copy here: Spelunky
Path of Exile – Free
Do you like Diablo? Or just action RPGs in general? If the answer is yes then you are in for a treat. Path of Exile is a deep, challenging hack and slash that many consider more Diablo than Diablo itself. If you can’t bring yourself to pay for the latest Blizzard offering, then Path of Exile provides a more than worthwhile alternative.
Get your Copy here! Path of Exile
The Cat and the Coup – Free
This one’s a little bit weird but still worth playing. Here’s the Steam description, “The Cat and the Coup is a documentary game in which you play the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran”. It’s a bit artsy, it’s a bit obtuse, but right now there’s nothing quite like it.
If you’re not into more contemplative, experimental stuff, maybe give this one a miss, but at the low, low price of completely free, there really isn’t a reason to at least try it. Who knows? You might like it.
Get your copy here: The Cat and the Coup
The Binding of Isaac – $4.99
A thoroughly disturbing trip through a series of randomly generated dungeons. This is a top-down shooter where you play as the titular Isaac, a small, terrified boy. I don’t want to spoil too much of the story or Lore because the dark, twisted world that Isaac exists in is one that deserves to be experienced fresh, but safe to say you are in for some truly shocking moments. The gameplay is also excellent and nicely varied. The replay value makes this one an absolute steal.
Get your copy via Steam here: Binding of Isaac
Hotline Miami – $9.99
Unspeakable violence rendered in gorgeous pixel art coupled with a story half-glimpsed through a drug-addled haze. This is the first of the two Hotline Miami games, and arguably the best. Fast paced combat and a gripping narrative make for a game you won’t be able to put down.
If you really like this then go out and get the sequel Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number it isn’t that much more expensive. You could also do a lot worse than check out some of the other stuff developers Devolver Digital have put out.
Get your copy via Amazon here: Hotline Miami [Online Game Code]
FTL: Advanced Edition – $9.99
One of the best Rogue-likes of recent years. In FTL (Faster than Light) you must guide your ship across the galaxy to warn the federation of the incoming rebel fleet. Nail-biting tension and tough decision making place FTL firmly among the best the genre has to offer, and with new content in the advanced edition, there’s never been a better time to jump in.
Get your copy here: FTL: Faster Than Light [Download]
So there you go, a few little gems to keep you going until that next paycheck, and if you’re short on time check out these great free mobile options!
- Dragon Ball: Dokkan Battle
- PostKnight
- Pixel Drifters
