Published , by Chris Jarrard
Published , by Chris Jarrard
Like clockwork, the good folks over at Steam have a big sale for PC gamers ready for the holiday break. The 2018 Steam Winter Sale begins today and will be running until January 3 at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT). All of the sale prices are valid throughout the duration of the event, so no need to worry about refreshing the store page for limited-time offers. Each day at 1:00 ET (10:00 AM PT), the front page of Steam will be repopulated with a fresh collection of feature offers, but those offers are also valid right now.
Which games should you look for? Let your friends at Shacknews sift through the mountain of deals and lead you to the true gems of the 2018 Steam Winter Sale. Also, don’t forget to check your Steam Wishlist to see if any games your previously saved received a discount.
Dying Light - $15.99 (or $19.79 for the Enhanced Edition)
One of the greatest zombie games of all time, Dying Light offers a unique take on the genre that blends horror, survival, and open-world exploration. The Enhanced Edition includes the amazing The Following expansion which takes the experience to another level. Grab some friends and crack some zombie heads over the holiday break!
Jurassic World Evolution - $13.74
Frontier Developments, the creators of Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 and Planet Coaster, offer up the ultimate dino theme park management sim with Jurassic World Evolution. Live the dream and see if you can be a better John Hammond (or set things up where your guests get eaten on purpose). Features voice work from Jeff Goldblum!
XCOM 2 - $14.99
When you think of tactical turn-based action, XCOM is what comes to mind. Lead your carefully selected team of soldiers against a horde of otherworldly foes. We strongly recommend looking into the XCOM 2 Collection bundle to get a great deal on the War of the Chosen expansion.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice - $14.99
Easily one of the best games of 2017, Hellblade mixes an engaging story, state of the art graphics, and wildly innovative sound design into a knockout package. VR users will also want to try out the VR update the game received this year. Our own Charles Singletary heaped praise on the game in his review and Microsoft thought so highly of developer Ninja Theory that they scooped them up to become a first party studio.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience - $20.09
Metal Gear Solid V spent its 2015 holiday season sitting atop multiple game of the year lists. The PC port is the definitive version of the game and runs like a dream on a variety of hardware, including laptops. This one is a must-play for any action and stealth buffs, as well as those who like their video game stories to fall on the wild side.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition - $29.24
To say that we liked Divinity: Original Sin 2 would be an understatement. The original release of the game received our awards for the Best RPG of 2017 as well as Best PC Game. The devs over at Lorian were not happy with simply being the best, so they continued to work on the game through 2018 and now offer it as The Definitive Edition. It is improved in nearly every way and will be crack for CRPG nuts.
Grand Theft Auto V - $14.99
Not much else needs to be said about one of the best-selling games of all time. GTA V has it all and its online mode continues to receive support and new content five years after if first launched. The PC port is the definitive version of the game, looking better and running smoother than any of its console counterparts. Today is a good day to begin your life of crime.
Stardock Legends Pack - $19.99
There are lots of things you can spend a $20 bill on, but none of them will offer as much fun as the Stardock Legends pack. 4X strategy fans will be in heaven with the first two Galactic Civilization games, as well as Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity. Even MOBA nuts will get a kick out of Demigod. If you already have these classics, look for big discounts on current Stardock hits like Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion and Star Control: Origins.
Just Shapes & Beats - $14.99
Arguably the best rhythm game of 2018, Just Shape & Beats looks simple at first glance, but is hiding a monster of a good time under its outer layers. The game won hearts here at Shacknews and it one of the best indie games you’ll find during the Steam sale.
Overcooked Bundle - $20.69
If you are fortunate enough to have a couple of controllers hooked up to your PC and a spare friend, you should be running to Steam right now to grab the Overcooked! Collection. These game represent the current high-water mark for couch co-op and to get both games for around $20 is a real spicy meatball.
Hitman GOTY: Edition - $20.08
It is Agent 47’s finest hour and countless hours of fun. Hitman revitalized the assassination simulator series and provides a wealth of open-ended scenarios that can be experienced in multiple ways. You haven’t lived until you murder someone with a can of sauce.
Rise of the Tomb Raider - $11.99
If exploring tombs and hunting for treasure sounds like a good time, then boy do we have the game for you. Rise of the Tomb Raider builds on the success of its predecessor and adds a big helping of challenge tombs and puzzles. It doesn’t hurt that the game is still jaw-droppingly gorgeous and a great way to test out that new gaming PC you got for Christmas.
If you know of some other great choices in the 2018 Steam Winter Sale that we missed or if you know of hidden gems that may not make it to the front page, let us know in the comments below. Have a great holiday full of cheap games!