42 votes

The Steam Winter Sale has begun (Dec 21st - Jan 4th)

21 comments

    1. ACEmat
      Link Parent
      I'm pretty sure Monster Hunter World also makes this list. It's currently at $9.89 USD which is its lowest ever Steam price, at least for the base game. Iceborne, it's expansion, adds $10 to the...

      I'm pretty sure Monster Hunter World also makes this list. It's currently at $9.89 USD which is its lowest ever Steam price, at least for the base game.

      Iceborne, it's expansion, adds $10 to the tag, but base world has hundreds of hours of content as is. Iceborne then doubles that.

      EDIT: Word of warning, if you pick up World, do NOT use the Defender equipment. It's insanely overpowered for base game world and is intended to accelerate players through base to the expansion. It's useful for return players starting a new game, but if you're a first timer, don't use it. You will fail to learn a lot of the mechanics in the game, as the weapons and armor remove the need to engage with them.

      4 votes
    2. [2]
      CannibalisticApple
      Link Parent
      If you enjoy anime, scifi, murder mysteries and Danganronpa or Zero Escape or other visual novels, I cannot recommend AI: The Somnium Files enough. It was one of my most enjoyable gaming...

      If you enjoy anime, scifi, murder mysteries and Danganronpa or Zero Escape or other visual novels, I cannot recommend AI: The Somnium Files enough. It was one of my most enjoyable gaming experiences in years. That game constantly threw me for a loop and had me second-guessing myself constantly. It has one of the most intricate storytelling webs I've encountered, and one of the most callous depictions of psychopathy as well with one of the antagonists.

      3 votes
      1. Lapbunny
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        I'm an enormous fan of Uchikoshi and I could not get into it, twice. The goal of trying to gamify understanding dream logic is... Commendable, I guess, but it made the gameplay mean absolutely...

        I'm an enormous fan of Uchikoshi and I could not get into it, twice. The goal of trying to gamify understanding dream logic is... Commendable, I guess, but it made the gameplay mean absolutely nothing to me. Felt like giant brute-force potholes between story beats. Also seemed like the localization team was on overdrive trying to smooth out some really stupid queer stereotypes.

        EDIT: Also I don't typically get bothered by Anime Horny™, it was peppered into Zero Escape and it was whatever, but in AI it's really egregious and the rest of the script never saved it for me.

  1. [2]
    phoenixrises
    Link
    Linking the current Save Points thread here! Always check deals aggregators before spending money, you might have better deals on Fanatical, GmG, or similar 3rd party sites! Feel free to ask if...

    Linking the current Save Points thread here!

    Always check deals aggregators before spending money, you might have better deals on Fanatical, GmG, or similar 3rd party sites! Feel free to ask if something is legit or not (I personally use IsThereAnyDeal)

    13 votes
    1. Spaz
      Link Parent
      That's a great thread and good advice, thanks for linking it!

      That's a great thread and good advice, thanks for linking it!

      3 votes
  2. [10]
    Pistos
    Link
    Picked up (so far): West of Loathing Just Shapes & Beats Was eyeing: BattleBit Remastered Linux compatibility still seems iffy Isonzo WWI FPS, cuz I have 2 others in the series Sacred Fire Early...

    Picked up (so far):

    Was eyeing:

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      msnspk
      Link Parent
      I guess I will be the dissenting voice: Don’t buy games developed or published by Paradox unless you are willing to spend $200 on that game or it hasn’t had a DLC release in two years. Otherwise...

      I guess I will be the dissenting voice:

      Don’t buy games developed or published by Paradox unless you are willing to spend $200 on that game or it hasn’t had a DLC release in two years. Otherwise you’re signing up for the wallet-burning-train.

      Paradox has a nasty habit of updating their base games in ways that pretty much break the gameplay, and then simultaneously release a DLC that includes the “fix”. I don’t really think they do this intentionally or maliciously, but it has happened in the past, especially with EUIV.

      I really don’t recommend Paradox games at all. After thousands of hours, I stopped playing their games altogether. It’s just endless DLC.

      If you insist on trying out CK, go rent CK2 and all its DLC for $5/month to get a feel for the series. Then you can decide if inevitably spending $200 on a single video game is actually worth it or not.

      10 votes
      1. Pistos
        Link Parent
        Thanks for your input. (no, honestly!) I actually already made the purchase yesterday. I actually already have Europe Universalis IV (backburnered a long time ago), and Cities: Skylines. I've...

        Thanks for your input. (no, honestly!)

        I actually already made the purchase yesterday. I actually already have Europe Universalis IV (backburnered a long time ago), and Cities: Skylines. I've avoided most C:S DLC because I find the prices expensive for what they offer, but I did enjoy the base game. I would probably still be playing it if it didn't get edged out by other games in my library.

        I'm not sure about $200, at least not too soon, but I am willing to spend on DLC if I find a game and devs to be really good. For example, if I get 1000 hours out of a game, spending $100 on it comes out to 10 cents per hour of entertainment, which I consider a very fair exchange. Using that measurement, even 400 hours for $80 (20 cents/h) seems reasonable to me. So, $200 for 1000 hours would also be okay with me.

        CK3 was 50% off, so I think I won't feel too badly if it turns out to be a dud for me, if I can squeeze out at least 50 or 60 hours of play from it.

        5 votes
    2. MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      If you like story generators, CK3 is truly excellent. It starts with a baseline of a given historical moment, but will go off the rails in part due to randomness and in part due to your own...

      If you like story generators, CK3 is truly excellent. It starts with a baseline of a given historical moment, but will go off the rails in part due to randomness and in part due to your own influence on history. There's a lot of DLC, but even the base game is fun and it'll give you a sense of what DLC is worth it to you as you want to delve deeper into a given region or playstyle.

      7 votes
    3. Kenny
      Link Parent
      CK3 is amazing. Don't let the reviews tell you otherwise ;)

      CK3 is amazing. Don't let the reviews tell you otherwise ;)

      6 votes
    4. [4]
      fefellama
      Link Parent
      Just wanted to jump on the train and tell you that CK3 is amazing. Bit of a learning curve but that's no different from any Paradox game really. Commit a few hours to it the first time you play it...

      Just wanted to jump on the train and tell you that CK3 is amazing. Bit of a learning curve but that's no different from any Paradox game really. Commit a few hours to it the first time you play it (maybe watch a couple of tutorial vids online) and slowly things will start to feel like second nature. The return on investment for these Paradox games is ridiculous if you find that it clicks with you. I have maybe a couple thousand hours on EU4 and then another couple hundred on CK3 and maybe another few dozen in Imperator. And that's honestly nothing compared to some of the other users you'll see (just look at the steam review for EU4, CK3, Victoria3, HOI4, and Stellaris and pay attention to the number of hours played). Used to play a lot of Civilization and Total War games about a decade ago before trying some of these Paradox games. Now every time I try to boot one of them up I find myself wanting a feature that doesn't exist in those games but DOES exist in EU4 or CK3. They're just so incredibly detailed, there's layers upon layers of strategy and optimization to be had if that sort of thing interests you.

      6 votes
      1. [2]
        CptBluebear
        Link Parent
        Ha spot on. I tried CIV after a thousand hours of EU4 and found myself quickly bored. Total War manages to grip me slightly better because of the fights, but the campaign map is sorely lacking...

        Ha spot on. I tried CIV after a thousand hours of EU4 and found myself quickly bored. Total War manages to grip me slightly better because of the fights, but the campaign map is sorely lacking too.

        Paradox games are something else. If it takes you in, it takes you in deep.

        2 votes
        1. fefellama
          Link Parent
          It's a shame too, as I used to LOVE Rome and Empire Total War, as well as Civ IV and V, but around a decade ago I discovered EUIV and just can't play those older games for more than a couple of...

          It's a shame too, as I used to LOVE Rome and Empire Total War, as well as Civ IV and V, but around a decade ago I discovered EUIV and just can't play those older games for more than a couple of hours before I completely lose interest and go back to EUIV. I wish I could enjoy Civ VI or any of the modern Total War games as much as I used to enjoy their predecessors, but every time I try they just feel so slow and barebones.

          Funny enough the same thing happened to me with FIFA and Football Manager. I used to love playing FIFA career mode every year growing up, but I cared less about playing the actual matches and more about managing the teams and players and finances. Then one day around 2010 I discovered the Football Manager series and it ticked all of my boxes much better than FIFA ever could. I've tried a couple of times since to play a FIFA or PES game, but inevitably find myself saying the same things that I do about Civ and Total War: "Man, this feels so barebones, I wish I was playing EUIV/FM instead..."

          1 vote
      2. Pistos
        Link Parent
        You make a compelling sales pitch. I'll probably grab it. I have enjoyed strategy games in the past. I was just suspecting that my taste has evolved over the years.

        You make a compelling sales pitch. I'll probably grab it. I have enjoyed strategy games in the past. I was just suspecting that my taste has evolved over the years.

        1 vote
    5. lexabear
      Link Parent
      I loved West of Loathing. If you like it, Shadows of Loathing is more of the same in a different setting.

      I loved West of Loathing. If you like it, Shadows of Loathing is more of the same in a different setting.

      1 vote
  3. [2]
    Spaz
    Link
    What games are you looking to pick up this holiday season? And if you did buy something, what are your thoughts on it so far?

    What games are you looking to pick up this holiday season? And if you did buy something, what are your thoughts on it so far?

    4 votes
    1. BusAlderaan
      Link Parent
      Dave the Diver, which has proven to be a great choice. My issue with games like Stardew is that there’s too much to manage and too many options on how to use your time. Dave just makes you go from...

      Dave the Diver, which has proven to be a great choice. My issue with games like Stardew is that there’s too much to manage and too many options on how to use your time. Dave just makes you go from task to task and you get time to do em, that’s it.

      7 votes
  4. [3]
    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link
    Looking for recommendations: bullet heaven games (think Vampire Survivors) that are complete and not in early access I play these types of games while listening to audiobooks, but I also don't...

    Looking for recommendations: bullet heaven games (think Vampire Survivors) that are complete and not in early access

    I play these types of games while listening to audiobooks, but I also don't like starting something that's still being developed. I'd like to play through the full release of something. Halls of Torment looks awesome, for example, but I want to wait until it's fully cooked before I take it out of the oven, you know?

    Other full-release games in the genre that I've enjoyed:

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      gt24
      Link Parent
      I have purchased and am having fun with Time Wasters. You are in a space ship in a singular area of space trying to fend off an alien invasion. Your ship will generally automatically shoot at the...

      I have purchased and am having fun with Time Wasters.

      You are in a space ship in a singular area of space trying to fend off an alien invasion. Your ship will generally automatically shoot at the nearest thing but you can control where it shoots as well (and some weapons work far better if aimed). The key is that your ship can boost in a direction and you will really want to do that. There are things in space which you can fly over to get a beneficial effect. The "time cubes" (or whatever cube like thing you find) can be traded in for level upgrades or is used for currency on the main menu for unlocking things. You will fight some larger boss ships as well which breaks a few things up.

      You fly as a specific captain of the ship but if you upgrade that character enough then you can "recruit" them to be on your ship (where "recruit" means "select them during a level upgrade"). If your captain (or a "recruit on your ship") has a high enough level, you can upgrade their associated specialty weapon to its' "super level" (kind of like how weapons in Vampire Survivors can be upgraded to a "super level" as well with other weapons).

      Regardless, that finished game is certainly worth the $4 it costs right now during the Steam sale.

      2 votes
      1. kfwyre
        Link Parent
        I’ve been in this game all day today. This is definitely the most polished take on the genre I’ve played so far. Thank you for the recommendation!

        I’ve been in this game all day today. This is definitely the most polished take on the genre I’ve played so far. Thank you for the recommendation!

        2 votes