Edward’s Steam Summer Sale 2024 Recommendations

As another summer is upon us, it’s never been a better time to get your hands on some hidden gems or old favorites for your Steam Deck or PC. Considering the sheer amount of discounts during the yearly Steam Summer Sale, it can be hard to sift through everything to find something worth your time. Hopefully, these recommendations can help you decide on the next game for your library.

Ori and The Will of the Wisps – Discount 65%, Sale Price $9.89

Coming in at just about 10 dollars is the sequel to the stylish Metroidvania which debuted on Xbox One in 2020. Will of the Wisps continues the adventures of the bright forest creature and somehow manages to deliver even more beautiful environments than the previous game. Complement that with a wonderful score and great controls and you’ll be in for an atmospheric platforming adventure that will stick in your memory for ages. Now this game can certainly stand on its own, but if you are a completionist (like myself), the definitive edition of the original game Ori and the Blind Forest is also on sale for $4.99.

Curse of the Dead Gods – Discount 70%, Sale Price $5.99

This is my favorite of the many Rogue-likes I’ve played over the past few years. Set within an ancient Mesoamerican-inspired tomb, you play as a treasure hunter whose greed has led him to become afflicted with a dangerous curse. Picking up abilities and items or advancing through hidden areas comes with the cost of building up your curse level. When this reaches maximum you’ll be afflicted with a permanent debuff of some kind which will increase the game’s difficulty. In order to prevent this you can also sacrifice your own health or gold.

This curse system alone makes every run feel truly unique with every decision becoming especially important. Additionally, Curse of the Dead Gods boasts some fluid, satisfying action combat that will keep your pulse racing. Around every corner is another threat waiting to be overcome, with lethal traps or buried secrets that could spell success or doom. I feel this is a must-play for fans of the genre and for this price, it’s an absolute steal.

The Riftbreaker – Discount 45%, Sale Price $16.49

If you are looking for a game that will test your management skills to the max, then check out The Riftbreaker. The Riftbreaker combines elements of tower defense, RTS, and survival RPGs all into one highly polished end product. I enjoyed this game quite a bit back when I reviewed one of the DLCs, and I feel it isn’t talked about enough. It’s not only complex but can be incredibly challenging with brutal difficulty levels.

The Riftbreaker has also received significant updates since my initial time with it, with a further two DLC packs adding new planets and content to explore. Both “Metal Terror” and “Into the Dark“ are on sale along with the base game at 45% and 30% discounts respectively. Not only that but the latest DLC, “Heart of the Swamp” was just released in June.

Batman: Arkham Knight – Discount 90%, Sale Price $1.99

Though not exactly a niche title, I feel at this price I can’t ignore recommending the latest entry in the main Batman: Arkham series. Since the series will be continuing with a VR title, it’s a great time to catch up on the world crafted by Rocksteady, which went on to define future superhero games.

Arkham Knight stands out mainly for its scope and the amount of features you can toy around with. Nothing beats cruising the streets in the mobile tank that is the Batmobile and cracking skulls while solving mysteries. While the story left a little to be desired for me, I’m sure the more casual Batman fan will find more enjoyment here.

Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader – Discount 35% Sale Price $32.49

I’ve saved the most expensive entry for last. If you are looking for a story-driven tactical RPG in the realm of Baldur’s Gate, then I would highly recommend this. I spoke at length about Rogue Trader back when I first reviewed it. However, you’ll certainly receive your money’s worth in content as the main story alone will take at least 40 or more hours of your time. That doesn’t take into account the dozens of side quests and the upcoming DLC “Void Shadows” which will contain new companions, balance adjustments, and a Co-Op campaign option.

The world of 40K fits perfectly into this style of gameplay, especially given the tabletop game that spawned the universe is also known for its complexity and depth. Owlcat Games manages to capture that aspect perfectly while also delivering memorable characters and great presentation.

Those are my top five picks for this year’s Summer Sale. You can pick up all these games for around the same price as a brand-new triple-A release without sacrificing anything in terms of quality. That’s the beauty of PC gaming, especially for those of us who have trouble keeping up with the vast array of releases every year. It’s nice to be able to go back and play through quality titles you may have missed on the cheap.