25 Incredible Games You Can Play Right Now for Under $20

The Best Games You Can Play Right Now for Under $20

The conversation around game pricing has never been louder. With new releases routinely launching at $70 or more, the barrier to entry for quality gaming experiences keeps climbing. But here's the thing the industry doesn't always advertise: some of the greatest games ever made are available right now for less than the cost of a fast food meal for two. You just have to know where to look ?" and sometimes, when to look.

Gameranx host Falcon recently compiled an essential rundown of 25 standout titles available for under $20, and the list is a masterclass in value gaming. Whether you're a lapsed player dipping back in, a budget-conscious newcomer, or simply someone who refuses to pay full price on principle, this guide covers everything from spine-chilling survival horror to sweeping open-world epics ?" all at prices that feel almost scandalous.

"The best deals and discounts you're going to get are on PC," Falcon notes. "With the state of the consoles, I would say there's no better time to come join us in the deep end of the pool."

A quick note before diving in: the prices listed here reflect deals available primarily on PC storefronts including Steam, GOG, Greenman Gaming, Fanatical, and Games Billet. Sale prices fluctuate, so treat specific figures as a strong guide rather than a guarantee ?" but the broader point stands. These games go on sale regularly and deeply, and patience is richly rewarded.



The Marquee Deals: AAA Games at Unbelievable Prices

The top tier of this list reads like a hall of fame reel. These are games that dominated awards seasons, shipped millions of copies, and defined their respective genres ?" and they're now available at prices that would have seemed unthinkable even a few years ago.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition ?" $4.79

Claiming the number one spot is an easy call. BioWare's landmark science-fiction trilogy, remastered and bundled into one definitive package, is currently sitting at a jaw-dropping 92% off on Steam ?" just $4.79 for all three games. The Mass Effect series remains one of the most emotionally resonant and narratively rich experiences in gaming history, and the Legendary Edition polishes the rough edges of the originals while preserving everything that made them special.

"The second game might be regarded as the best, but all three have their merits," Falcon says. "I certainly enjoy playing all three kind of in a row. I think they work as one big long experience."

For under five dollars, players get Commander Shepard's complete arc ?" a sprawling, choice-driven epic spanning thousands of years of fictional history, dozens of unforgettable companions, and some of the finest writing the medium has ever produced. At this price, it's not just a deal. It's practically a moral obligation.

Dead Space Remake ?" $5.99

EA's 2023 reimagining of the survival horror classic is one of those remakes that doesn't just modernize its source material ?" it elevates it. Atmospheric, terrifying, and impeccably crafted, the Dead Space remake is currently available at 90% off on both Steam and the EA store, bringing it down to just $5.99. Falcon is refreshingly candid about the time sensitivity here.

"I don't think it's going to last super long, and I would doubt it'll be this cheap again in the near future."

If survival horror is anywhere in your wheelhouse, this is the rare case where urgency is genuinely warranted. Dead Space delivers relentless tension, brilliant environmental storytelling, and combat that remains uniquely satisfying a decade and a half after the original launched.

Cyberpunk 2077 ?" $17.99

CD Projekt Red's Night City odyssey had a famously rocky launch, but after years of patches, updates, and the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 has transformed into one of the most visually stunning and narratively compelling open-world RPGs available. At $17.99 on both Steam and GOG ?" the all-time low price ?" it's a no-brainer pickup.

"This one, to be fair, also goes on sale all the time," Falcon points out. "If you're not able to buy it now for whatever reason, do not pay full price for this game. It's either heavily discounted somewhere you haven't looked yet, or it will be."

Red Dead Redemption 2 ?" $13

Rockstar's sweeping Western epic is a genuine artistic achievement ?" a game so dense with detail, character, and atmosphere that it still holds up as a benchmark for open-world design. Falcon doesn't mince words about a recent controversial piece of games criticism that labeled it a failure.

"A real gaming outlet had the gall to post 'Eight years later, it's time to admit Red Dead Redemption 2 is a terrible game.' Look, I like the first one better, but that's nuts. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an achievement, and it's worth every dollar at $60."

At $13 on Greenman Gaming ?" down from the standard $60 ?" Rockstar's magnum opus is an almost comical value proposition. Falcon's advice is warm but practical: "Even though it's worth it, like all of the detail and love that went into this game ?" people bought it at full price when it came out. Rockstar is doing fine monetarily. Trust me, buy it for less than 15 bucks."



The RPG Goldmine

For players who measure their gaming in hours-per-dollar, the RPG section of this list is where the math gets almost absurd. These are games that routinely demand 80, 100, or even 150 hours to experience fully ?" and they're available for less than a streaming service subscription.

Persona 5 Royal ?" $15.95

Atlus's stylish JRPG masterpiece is widely considered one of the finest games of the last decade, and its Royal edition brings even more content to an already overflowing package. Currently available for $15.95 on Games Billet ?" down from the standard $60 ?" it's a stunning value for what is essentially a full-semester commitment in gaming form.

"If you're looking to get a lot of gameplay, good gameplay, this is the JRPG to play," Falcon says simply. "It's easily over 100 hours, and man, is it fun."

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ?" $15.95

SEGA and RGG Studio's latest entry in the beloved Yakuza-adjacent franchise is available at Games Billet, Newegg, and Fanatical for $15.95 ?" or $17.49 on Steam for those who prefer the convenience of a unified library. For a game that retails at $70 and delivers dozens of hours of gloriously unhinged content, either price is a steal.

"Huge game, tons of goofy stuff to do, but excellent," is Falcon's characteristically efficient verdict.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ?" $3.99

If there is a single open-world RPG that has defined the genre's storytelling ambitions for the past decade, it is CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3. Currently available for a staggering $3.99 on Steam and GOG ?" down from the standard $39.99 ?" this is perhaps the most outrageous value proposition on the entire list.

"This is the standard for open-world action RPGs in terms of storytelling, at very least," Falcon says. "The game's just freaking brilliant."

The Complete Edition includes both major expansions ?" Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine ?" which alone are widely regarded as better than most standalone games. Four dollars. For all of it.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Remake ?" From $13.99

Square Enix's ambitious reimagining of the Final Fantasy 7 saga is available at remarkable prices across both entries. The second chapter, Rebirth, is currently $19.99 on Steam ?" a fair price for a game of its stature and scope. The original Remake, meanwhile, has dropped to $13.99 on Steam and $14 on Greenman Gaming, down from a standard $40.

"The game is absolutely worth way more than 20 bucks," Falcon says of Rebirth. "It's nuts. I mean, you're going to need a graphics card to show off."

Action, Horror, and the Art of the Genre Game

Beyond the sprawling RPG epics, the list is packed with tightly crafted genre experiences ?" games that do one or two things exceptionally well and never overstay their welcome.

Doom: The Dark Ages and the Doom Franchise ?" From $3.52

id Software's demon-slaying series is on sale across the board, and the timing could not be better. The newest entry, Doom: The Dark Ages, is available for just over $20 at $20.33 on Greenman Gaming ?" close enough to the list's cutoff that Falcon felt compelled to include it. But the older entries are where the value truly staggers: Doom Eternal is $8.84, and Doom 2016 has dropped to just $3.52.

"Literally any of these games ?" these are all incredible," Falcon says, and it's hard to argue.

Resident Evil 4 Remake ?" $8.55

Capcom's 2023 reimagining of the genre-defining survival horror classic is a near-perfect remake ?" one that respects the original while smartly updating its mechanics, pacing, and presentation for a modern audience. True to the publisher's pattern, the price has begun its steady decline, currently sitting at $8.55.

"One of the best remakes ever of one of the best games ever," is Falcon's tidy summary. Hard to disagree.

Hogwarts Legacy ?" $7.88

Avalanche Software's open-world Harry Potter adventure has become a reliable fixture on sale charts, regularly dipping below the ten-dollar mark. The current best price is $7.88 at Games Billet ?" a convincing value for a game that delivers a genuinely enjoyable open-world experience regardless of your level of Potter fandom.

"I know there are Harry Potter fans that like it. I know there are non-Harry Potter fans that like it," Falcon says. "I think at under 10 bucks, you really can't argue with it. It's a good game."

Alan Wake 2 ?" $11.74

Remedy Entertainment's atmospheric, meta-textual sequel is one of the most visually and narratively ambitious games of recent years ?" a surreal, cinematic experience that rewards patient, attentive players. It's available through Fanatical for $11.74, with regular sales putting it around the $15 mark. The Epic Games Store exclusivity may give some players pause, but Falcon is pragmatic about it.

"You're not stuck playing it through the Epic Store launcher ?" you just have to play it through the launcher, which is still kind of annoying. But a lot of games also have a launcher anyway. No matter how you get it, it's absolutely worth the price."

The Hidden Gems and Cult Classics

Some of the most compelling entries on this list aren't the blockbusters ?" they're the games that slipped beneath the mainstream radar and quietly became beloved by the players who found them.

CrossCode ?" $4.99

Radical Fish Games' CrossCode is one of those rare indie titles that earns the "hidden gem" label without qualification. A dense, inventive action RPG with brilliant dungeon design and a surprising amount of narrative depth, it's currently $4.99 on Steam ?" its standard $20 price already representing excellent value before the discount.

"You cannot go wrong with this," Falcon says flatly. He also teases Radical Fish's upcoming Alabaster Dawn, currently in early access, as "masterful and beautiful" ?" making CrossCode an excellent primer for what that studio does best.

Hell Is Us ?" $15.49

One of the more surprising entries, Hell Is Us is already heavily discounted despite being less than a year old. Available for $15.49 at Fanatical ?" 70% off its $50 retail price ?" it's a distinctly unconventional take on the Soulslike formula that Falcon believes deserves far more attention than it received.

"It's one of the strangest takes on a Souls-like out there, but it did not get the attention it deserves. And at this price, it is a freaking steal."

Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered ?" $3.99

The remaster's punny name may be groan-worthy, but the game itself remains one of the most mechanically distinctive open-world titles ever made ?" its physics-based destruction system so unique that nothing has fully replicated it in the fifteen-plus years since. Currently $3.99 on GOG, it regularly dips below five dollars.

"One of the all-time greats. Another perfect seven game with a mechanic that just no one has ever been able to replicate entirely," Falcon says with genuine affection.

Mad Max ?" $2.36

Avalanche Studios' Mad Max arrived in 2015 to a somewhat indifferent reception, overshadowed by its simultaneous release alongside The Witcher 3 and Metal Gear Solid V. But time has been kind to it. Currently $2.36 ?" down from its $20 standard price ?" it's an open-world game with a genuinely distinctive personality and Arkham-style combat that Falcon holds in obvious affection.

"I would prefer it to many games that are technically better than it is," he admits. "To say it is worth it is a vast understatement."

The Franchise Stalwarts Worth Every Cent

Several entries on the list represent exactly the kind of long-tail value that defines smart gaming spending ?" beloved series entries that have settled into their permanent price ranges and deliver exceptional experiences at a fraction of their original cost.

Hollow Knight and Silksong ?" From $7.50

Team Cherry's Hollow Knight remains one of the finest examples of the Metroidvania genre, and its current sale price of $7.50 ?" half its already-modest $15 standard price ?" makes it essentially obligatory for any fan of atmospheric, challenging exploration games. The long-awaited sequel, Silksong, is available for $14.99 at 25% off its $19.99 retail price.

"Both of these games are just high quality and massive games. You can easily get 30 hours or more from either. And I love them both."

Batman: Arkham Knight ?" $3.16

Rocksteady's conclusion to its landmark Arkham trilogy is available for just $3.16 ?" a price that seems impossible for a game that still looks better than many modern releases and delivers some of the finest superhero game design ever committed to code. The entire Arkham trilogy carries a baseline $20 price tag, but sales push these numbers down dramatically and often.

"Incredibly impressive for being more than 10 years old," Falcon notes. "Looks better than a lot of modern games, and you can buy it for $3."

Fallout 4 ?" From $7

Bethesda's post-apocalyptic open-world RPG has been a reliable presence on sale charts for years, and its current price of $7 on Greenman Gaming ?" with an all-time low of $4.23 ?" makes it one of the more effortless recommendations on the list. Falcon acknowledges its narrative shortcomings relative to New Vegas with refreshing honesty, then dismisses them with equal speed.

"Even if the story for Fallout 4 isn't as good as New Vegas, it's a hell of a game."

Metro Exodus ?" $2.99

4A Games' post-apocalyptic shooter remains one of the most visually stunning and atmospherically dense open-world experiences available, and its current Steam price of $2.99 is genuinely difficult to process. Metro Exodus combines tense, methodical gunplay with a haunting, beautifully realized world that rewards slow, careful exploration.

"The idea that this game is absolutely anything other than extremely worth that is the wrong idea," Falcon says. "$2.99 is just crazy."

Near-Misses and Bonus Picks Worth Knowing About

A handful of titles hovered just above the $20 threshold but earned inclusion for their sheer quality-to-price ratio. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 ?" the surprise co-op hit of 2024 ?" is currently $17.99 on Steam, a significant discount from its $60 standard price and an easy recommendation for anyone with friends and a taste for gloriously violent science fiction.

And then there's Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, technically a bonus mention at $21 ?" just above the list's cutoff ?" but one that Falcon couldn't bring himself to omit entirely.

"I genuinely couldn't recommend that game enough if it looks like something even vaguely tolerable to you. It will exceed your expectations no matter what ?" especially if you played the first, which is a great game, but has problems. The second solves those problems."

The Bigger Picture: Gaming Value Has Never Been Better

What this list ultimately illustrates is a quiet truth about the modern gaming landscape: the sticker price of a new release and the actual cost of experiencing the medium's best work are increasingly disconnected. The games on this list include some of the most critically acclaimed, beloved, and technically impressive titles of the past two decades ?" and the total cost of buying all 25 of them at their current sale prices would likely not exceed the retail price of two new releases.

The calculus is straightforward. New games carry the premium of novelty ?" day-one access, the ability to participate in cultural conversations as they happen, the satisfaction of rewarding developers at launch. Those are real and legitimate reasons to pay full price. But for players who are willing to wait, or who have a backlog to work through, the discount market on PC is nothing short of extraordinary.

Patience, as it turns out, is one of the most powerful tools in a gamer's arsenal. The library described here ?" survival horror, open-world RPGs, action epics, atmospheric shooters, beloved JRPGs ?" is waiting, almost all of it, for under $20. Some of it for under $5. The only question is where to start.