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Hidden Gems and Under-The-Radar Recommendations - Steam Winter Sale 2016

Same recommendation as every sale. #brokenrecord



  • $1.99/1.79€ (80% off)
  • 16h long
  • Distinct artstyle
  • Awesome OST
  • Physics puzzles
  • Cards
  • Coop
  • VS Mode

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D

Deleted member 10571

Unconfirmed Member
So this kinda belongs in this thread. Anyone played Styx. Is it a good stealth game??

Styx is fantastic, and its successor is an upcoming big one on my watchlist. It's way more Thief 1/2 than any Thief afterwards.

Just came in originally to say the thread's fantastic, glad I could actually add something lol. Get Styx!
 

Verelios

Member
Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius & Liberation Day technically count, I think. One's free, the other is $10 right now.
I thought I clicked the wrong Sunrider for a second when I went to the page. Okay, thanks, I can probably tolerate space opera wife so I'll get to it.
 

$2.49 (-75%)
Age of Gladiators is a single-player strategy/management sim set at the height of the bloody gladiatorial games in ancient Rome. As your fighters increase in level, it will be up to you to decide how to forge their attributes and abilities.
I need more info about this. I'm vaguely intrigued, a non-sport management sim might interest me
 
3D platformers recommendations? Unique to PC/Steam? Looking for stuff that ranges from Ty the Tasmanian Tiger to classics like Banjo-Kazooie. I have the following in my cart:

Poi
Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth
Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger (have played this back on PS2 in the good old days)

Already bought Mekazoo (and am loving it) on PS4.
 
Legend of Kay is cheap and really nice :)

http://store.steampowered.com/app/313810

Got it on PS4 (and PS2 still), physical! But thank you! =)

Also, I own and have played the following:

Cloudbuilt (did not like)
Grow Home/Up (on PS4, I like these games)
The Last Tinker: City of Color (just okay, on PS4)
Papo & Yo (okay, on PS3)
Freeze Me (own both on Wii U and PS4, I like it)
Psychonauts (both on PS2 and PS4, love it)
Tiny & Big: Grandfather's Leftovers (just okay, haven't finished)

Just realized Poi is early access =/ but whatever, it looks cool. Want Hat in Time!
 
Got it on PS4 (and PS2 still), physical! But thank you! =)

Also, I own and have played the following:

Cloudbuilt (did not like)
Grow Home/Up (on PS4, I like these games)
The Last Tinker: City of Color (just okay, on PS4)
Papo & Yo (okay, on PS3)
Freeze Me (own both on Wii U and PS4, I like it)
Psychonauts (both on PS2 and PS4, love it)
Tiny & Big: Grandfather's Leftovers (just okay, haven't finished)

Just realized Poi is early access =/ but whatever, it looks cool. Want Hat in Time!

Sonic Adventure 2 holds up pretty well
 

Syril

Member
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Pharaoh Rebirth+
I had never even heard of this game outside of a write-up on Hardcore Gaming 101. It's an action platformer that's divided into levels but each level seems to be a small metroidvania. Apparently it was originally released in Japan episodically.
 
While I have not played the game enough to wholly endorse it and because it's in Early Access (has been for over two years at this point), I would like to give a shout out to The Long Dark.
Pzo3USy.jpg


50% off right now at $9.99 USD.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/305620/

I bought it back in the 2014 sale and finally gave it a shot yesterday. It's a wilderness survival game with the basic premises being that you have become stranded in a remote part of Canada during the winter. You need to find food, shelter, start fires, and even fight off wolves. The main feature is exploration and winter survival.

Right now there is no goal or end state, or story mode. You just explore the various regions and try to survive as long as possible. As someone who loves hiking, read Hatchet as a kid, and watched Ultimate Survival Alaska this game really grabbed me.

My first two characters died in less than a day due to hypothermia, but my third has made it nearly two whole days! I think the game has a really good art style, and does night-time really well.

The down side is that at first it may not be super intuitive at what you can do, or how the controls work. It's early access and shows in parts, but for a few hours it can be a really fun, challenging experience.

So if your into wilderness survival it should be worth a look. Going into a game where there is no hope of rescue, but just a bleak cold experience until you eventually die frozen and alone is a nice change from the power fantasies that most games are. Play at night in a dark room with with headphones. Bonus points for turning down your heat (if you live in a cold climate) to get the ultimate interactive experience.



LO6aCLd.jpg
 
header.jpg


Pharaoh Rebirth+
I had never even heard of this game outside of a write-up on Hardcore Gaming 101. It's an action platformer that's divided into levels but each level seems to be a small metroidvania. Apparently it was originally released in Japan episodically.

Ummm, yesss. Bought!
 

finley83

Banned
Picked up Downwell for about 50p and man this game is super fun. Been a bit stressed and down recently and it's just the right thing at the right time
 

Galang

Banned
I'm the biggest Disgaea fan. Even played through Infinite(don't do it, just watch a LP and save yourself some trouble)

Is the first Disgaea game really not worth it at all? The 2nd game is out on steam in a few weeks so I thought I would wait, but considering the discount I'm torn. I've heard the 5th game is the best gameplay wise, but I won't have a PS4 until next year.
 

tebunker

Banned
My Cart So far; just not sure 100% about anything.

Massive Chalice $2.99

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood $4.99

Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition $4.99

Oxenfree $3.99

Train Valley $11.99

Hyper Light Drifter $12.05

Salt and Sanctuary $12.49

Kentucky Route Zero - Season Pass $4.99

Undertale $6.99

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight $5.54

Chronicles of Teddy : Harmony of Exidus $4.99

Dex $2.99

Sentinels of the Multiverse $2.99

Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut $2.99

The other thing I could do is take the $84 and buy a couple of games that are going to be hard to come by soon like Fantasy Life, Fire Emblem Awakening and Bayonetta 2. Older 3ds games are getting tougher to get the carts.

That is a metric ton of Steam games, and I know I have some time to decide, but I also have a massive backlog and I am not 100% on any of these. I do appreciate any feedback re: the list.
 
Satellite Reign. Only $5. Real nice-looking cyberpunk city. Break into compounds, steal equipment, research it and use it to upgrade your units to break into more compounds. Game has a "real-time with pause" option that starts the game with your Support's slow-motion skill fully upgraded, because the game can be pretty hectic otherwise.

Is the first Disgaea game really not worth it at all? The 2nd game is out on steam in a few weeks so I thought I would wait, but considering the discount I'm torn. I've heard the 5th game is the best gameplay wise, but I won't have a PS4 until next year.

I think he's saying not to bother with Disgaea Infinite.
 
My Cart So far; just not sure 100% about anything.



The other thing I could do is take the $84 and buy a couple of games that are going to be hard to come by soon like Fantasy Life, Fire Emblem Awakening and Bayonetta 2. Older 3ds games are getting tougher to get the carts.

That is a metric ton of Steam games, and I know I have some time to decide, but I also have a massive backlog and I am not 100% on any of these. I do appreciate any feedback re: the list.

I kind of halved your list and picked the better options from their respective genres. Like, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, a 2D metroid-like is the better option to Chroniclesof Teddy, for example. Not sure if this helps.

Massive Chalice $2.99

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood $4.99

Oxenfree $3.99

Hyper Light Drifter $12.05

Undertale $6.99

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight $5.54
 
Forgot some big recommendations I usually make:

Age of Wonders 3, USD$7.49 at -75% (I'd also recommend the DLCs, but they're only -40% off.)

It's the best fantasy 4X ever. Excellent turn-based combat, highly polished, with cool factions, and loads of content. An excellent package all around.

Intrusion 2, USD$2.99 at -70%

2D side-scrolling shooter with wonky physics and jaw-dropping bosses. It's not super long, but is one heck of a ride.
I agree with you. Thea is a very unique game. There is a lot crafting and gathering combined with supply management. Nice map to explore, the combat is cards based. I like it for its mixing genres.

There is a demo too.

Thanks for reminding me about this. I even had it on my wishlist from a previous thread like this, but totally ignored it when looking over what to buy.

Nice to see some Thea love!
 
My game LOVE is $1.07 (65% off) and has "Very Positive" overall and recent reviews, so maybe that's considered a hidden gem.



Risk of Rain is only $2.49 right now and THAT game is underrated. I've got 68 hours on PC and many more on Vita. You can also buy 3 get 1 free right now on it too.

Also I put 25 keys for LOVE in this post so that I'm not just flagrantly advertising my own shit.
























 

OraleeWey

Member
Recommendations for local coop/splitscreen games that aren't competitive?

I already have trine 1 & 2, broforce, metal slug x, gang beasts, guacamelee, castle crashers, battle block theater, and lara croft guardian of light.

I will be buying ibb & obb, Lego Jurassic world, trine 3, and how to survive.

Anything else I'm missing ?
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
Recommendations for local coop/splitscreen games that aren't competitive?

I already have trine 1 & 2, broforce, metal slug x, gang beasts, guacamelee, castle crashers, battle block theater, and lara croft guardian of light.

I will be buying ibb & obb, Lego Jurassic world, trine 3, and how to survive.

Anything else I'm missing ?

My wife and I loved Pixeljunk Shooter. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime was okay too.
 

Yuuichi

Member
Recommendations for local coop/splitscreen games that aren't competitive?

I already have trine 1 & 2, broforce, metal slug x, gang beasts, guacamelee, castle crashers, battle block theater, and lara croft guardian of light.

I will be buying ibb & obb, Lego Jurassic world, trine 3, and how to survive.

Anything else I'm missing ?

N++ is pretty solid
 
N++ is pretty solid
More than pretty solid. It's an incredible expanded version of a platformer that I'd consider up there with Super Meat Boy as one of the foundations of the indie precision platformer. Nothing else really plays quite like it, due to its momentum-driven movement, single-screen stages, and huge array of traps
 

tebunker

Banned
I kind of halved your list and picked the better options from their respective genres. Like, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, a 2D metroid-like is the better option to Chroniclesof Teddy, for example. Not sure if this helps.

Massive Chalice $2.99

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood $4.99

Oxenfree $3.99

Hyper Light Drifter $12.05

Undertale $6.99

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight $5.54

I think this a good idea. I had several games in the same genre so paring it down and saving soemmformlater is smart and it allows me to pursue my silly 3ds habit
 
While I have not played the game enough to wholly endorse it and because it's in Early Access (has been for over two years at this point), I would like to give a shout out to The Long Dark.
Pzo3USy.jpg


50% off right now at $9.99 USD.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/305620/

I bought it back in the 2014 sale and finally gave it a shot yesterday. It's a wilderness survival game with the basic premises being that you have become stranded in a remote part of Canada during the winter. You need to find food, shelter, start fires, and even fight off wolves. The main feature is exploration and winter survival.

Right now there is no goal or end state, or story mode. You just explore the various regions and try to survive as long as possible. As someone who loves hiking, read Hatchet as a kid, and watched Ultimate Survival Alaska this game really grabbed me.

My first two characters died in less than a day due to hypothermia, but my third has made it nearly two whole days! I think the game has a really good art style, and does night-time really well.

The down side is that at first it may not be super intuitive at what you can do, or how the controls work. It's early access and shows in parts, but for a few hours it can be a really fun, challenging experience.

So if your into wilderness survival it should be worth a look. Going into a game where there is no hope of rescue, but just a bleak cold experience until you eventually die frozen and alone is a nice change from the power fantasies that most games are. Play at night in a dark room with with headphones. Bonus points for turning down your heat (if you live in a cold climate) to get the ultimate interactive experience.



LO6aCLd.jpg

I will absolutely echo this recommendation for The Long Dark. Had similarly gotten it maybe last year around this time and finally played it a bunch this past summer. I haven't played a ton of survival games, but I really have loved just playing in the sandbox mode of The Long Dark. It's like playing Survivorman or something. The permadeath aspect really makes it feel much more high stakes every time you venture out to explore or get food/supplies. Especially when you finally get a good run of days alive in a row and survive longer and longer, the stakes feel that much more intense.

No single player story campaign yet but even if you don't want to do the totally open ended sandbox mode, you've got the slightly more focused Challenges too to give you a little more direction. Those can be pretty fun too.

Its just a game where you can end up generating a ton of little emergent stories from just surviving out in the wild. And that's kind of what I like most about it- there aren't zombies or anything really crazy going on. You're just stuck in some northern Canadian wilderness and have to survive the elements, with only the occasional overly aggressive wolf or bear attack.

The game looks and sounds really great too. When I was playing this a bunch in the summer, just playing this game and listening to the howling wind would often make me feel cold. Great sound design and ambient music. The stylized visuals are fantastic too. Sunsets and sunrises are great:

Really can't recommend The Long Dark enough, especially for only $10.
 

Yuuichi

Member
More than pretty solid. It's an incredible expanded version of a platformer that I'd consider up there with Super Meat Boy as one of the foundations of the indie precision platformer. Nothing else really plays quite like it, due to its momentum-driven movement, single-screen stages, and huge array of traps

I'm not exactly the kind of person to laud praise on most things, but yea, this is a pretty good description.
 
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