November 18, 2024

Shopping Guide: Steam holiday sale 2019

It’s here. It’s finally happening. And this guide is going to help give you the ultimate bang for your buck.

Steam is a digital store that sell video games and software. It’s arguably the most popular platform that PC gamers use to buy and store their digital game library. There’s no subscription service, you can download Steam for free.

Every winter, Steam holds a huge sale on the majority of games that are offered on their platform. The 2019 winter sale just begun and will end on January 2.

It’s the season of giving, but sometimes, you have to treat yourself to something nice. So here’s a list of some of the best bargains and gaming experiences available on Steam right.  

This list has been specially curated to not just highlight games with the best price discounts but also games that can offer you hundreds of hours of enjoyment. 

For those that don’t have powerful computer rigs, worry not, because some of the titles on this list can be run on standard laptops that are used for school.

Don’t Starve

Original price: $9.99

Sale price: $2.49

In Don’t Starve, players are dropped into an untamed wilderness filled with dozens of secrets to discover and challenges to overcome. It’s a survival game through and through. Players will need to gather and manage resources to survive as long as possible.

It starts as a rather casual and relaxing gaming experience, similar to the peacefulness of Minecraft, but once you dive deeper into the gameplay, things will get brutal, and even scary. At night, it’s a good idea to stay near your campfire, there’s no telling what’s lurking out in the darkness.

Photo courtesy of Steam

The characters and creatures are well drawn, and the artwork of the game is very “Burtonesque,” with a little bit of Lovecraftian horror vibes thrown in. If you’re of fan of Tim Burton’s artistic style, then you’ll definitely fall in love with this game. 

The game can easily run on any computer you have, and for the price of something that you could get at a vending machine, Don’t Starve is definitely a strong recommend. It’s a no-brainer.

Fallout 4

Original price: $29.99

Sale price: $8.99

Photo courtesy of Steam

Fallout 4 is a post-apocalyptic action RPG where players can craft armor, modify advanced weaponry, build settlements, and fight mutated creatures that have risen from the ashes of America.

With an open world to explore and a countless amount of quests, players can easily sink in over 50 hours of playtime. Not to mention that there are hundreds of mods that you can download to make the game even more fun.

For those that are interested in a more “richer” roleplaying experience and don’t have strong computers, then Fallout: New Vegas is a definite recommend. It’s current price is $2.99, and it can easily run on pretty much any modern laptop at this point.

Garry’s Mod

Original price: $9.99

Sale price: $4.99

Garry’s Mod is a sandbox game that utilizes assets from all of the Valve games (Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Team Fortress 2, etc.). You’re given the freedom to create anything using thousands of tools and objects that are provided by the game and other players. It’s probably the ultimate sandbox game that you’ll ever play. 

Photo courtesy of Steam

There’s no story, no quests to complete, it’s just you and your infinite imagination.

The game also host a wide array of multiplayer modes, such as Trouble in Terrorist Town, Dark RP, and Prop Hunt.

The Witcher 3 GOTY Edition

Original price: $49.99

Sale price: $14.99

The Witcher is one of the most revered franchises of the past decade. The books are international bestsellers, the video games have been met with critical acclaim, and there’s even a new series that has premiered on Netflix. It’s the perfect time to snag one of the best entries in the series, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Photo courtesy of Steam

The story centers around Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter known as a “witcher.” Geralt embarks on a fantasy-filled adventure to find Ciri, his long lost adopted daughter. His quest won’t be easy though, since a supernatural force known as the Wild Hunt is tracking her down too.

The game offers a breathtaking landscape to explore, filled with monsters, dwarves, elves, and hidden treasure. One of the coolest features of the game is a card game called “Gwent.” Every city and village that you travel to will most likely have a Gwent player that you can challenge. You can win prizes by winning matches and collect more cards to strengthen your deck.

The base game is $11.99, but honestly, the GOTY edition is strongly recommended, because for only an additional $3, you’ll get access to two huge expansions packs that add about 30 more hours to the game.

The Wolf Among Us

Original price: $14.99

Sale price: $5.09

Photo courtesy of Steam

The Wolf Among Us is a critically-acclaimed episodic game that infuses comedy, fairy tales, and neo-noir. After six years, the sequel has finally been announced, so now is the perfect time to get into the series if you haven’t already. 

The player takes on the role of Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of Fabletown. When a prominent figure in the Fable community is found dead, Bigby is sent in to solve the mystery.

It’s a game that focuses more on story rather than gameplay; akin to watching an interactive TV show. Bigby will be faced with tough decisions throughout his investigation, and the player is responsible for making each choice for him. 

Since each choice has a different outcome, there’s definitely a replayability factor, even after you get to the bottom of the mystery.

System-wise, the game isn’t taxing, so you should be able to run it on a laptop.

Yakuza 0

Original price: $19.99

Sale price: $6.79

“Yakuza” is essentially a term for Japanese mafia groups. Members see themselves as descendents of ancient samurai. In Yakuza 0, players get to take on two roles. One role is that of Kazuma Kiryu, a legendary yakuza figure trying to clear his name after a deal goes wrong. The other is Goro Majima, a former yakuza member that has been sent into exile for mysterious reasons.

Photo courtesy of Steam

The game is open world, with a strong focus on street brawling paired with an intense crime story. Players can take a break from the dramatic storyline by partaking in a range of exciting minigames and side missions. 

Such excursions include disco dancing (this game takes place in the 80s), bowling, hostess clubs, R/C car racing, batting ranges, and arena fights. Players can also manage their own real estate business in the sprawling city of Kamurocho, one of the main locations in the game.

Author

  • Robert Cumberlander

    Robert Cumberlander is the Editor-in-Chief of The Chimes and a senior at Capital University, majoring in Film and Media Production with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Journalism.

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