It’s that time of the year again: The Steam Summer Sale is approaching, the games in your library are piling up, and like most of us, you have no idea which ones are worth playing.
If all of the above applies to you, then I think the following list will help you narrow it down before you go shopping for bundles. They all have “Very Positive” ratings from a few hundred to thousands of reviewers.
Here are 10 hidden gems you might have overlooked in 2018:
1. Ether One
Ether One is a 1st person adventure game that focuses on the fragile state of the human mind. The story has two unfolding paths for the player to explore at their own pace.
Price: $19.99
2. Nimbus
Nimbus combines racing and puzzle-solving into a platforming game about crossing the islands to find your lover. There’s a catch: the aircraft cannot propel itself, only going where the wind takes it.
Price: $9.99
3. A Walk in the Dark
Another platformer that resides in a dark and strange fantasy world, where you play a sleek, fast-moving kitty cat. The shadows are filled with danger so you never know what lies ahead.
Price: $6.99
4. ADOM
Ancient Domains of Mystery is a rogue-like strategy game with plenty of hard levels to keep you on your toes. It features loads of races, monsters, and items to throw the player into unexpected situations.
Price: $14.99
5. Technobabylon
A cyberpunk game with a dystopian future setting, in which an omnipresent AI powers the city and genetic engineering is the norm. Three fugitives are on the run from the CEL police for their past crimes.
Price: $14.99
6. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Travel through a neon galaxy in your co-op battleship to shoot down the Anti-Love fleets. Your team is in charge of manning the turrets, lasers, and thrusters to help rescue those poor space bunnies.
Price: $14.99
7. Block N Load
An ever-changing, tactical FPS where you build your defenses and destroy enemy fortresses. With up to five players per team, you’ll need tons of blocks to survive in these randomized campaigns.
Price: Free to Play
8. Two Worlds Epic Edition
In the midst of a war between the free world and the orcs, you become a hired mercenary still seeking the whereabouts of your missing sister. You start off by tracing your family’s lineage to the chosen ones.
Price: $9.99
9. Badland
A game riddled with creative puzzles and unique obstacles packaged into a single, side-scrolling platformer as players control a forest dweller to go investigate trouble brewing in the badlands.
Price: $9.99
10. Contradiction – Spot The Liar!
Catch the suspects in a lie and bring them to justice in this installment of Contradiction. It’s a murder mystery game where you interview shady characters to gather evidence, right out of an interactive movie.
Price: $9.99
I picked these out specifically because they were the underdogs of this year. I knew it was unlikely they will ever attain the popularity granted to mainstream, Triple-A games.
My recommendations for 2018 are highly subjective as I relied on their ratings from Steam users prior to making this list. But I still believe these titles are worth checking out even if they aren’t your cup of tea.
Disclaimer: I can’t guarantee that the prices will stay consistent during holiday sales events and may become cheaper if you’re lucky.