So you received a gift card for Steam during the holidays. Owning a gaming PC or a Steam Deck is like being given the key to the city. There are so many great games on Valve's PC gaming platform, and you can potentially get a lot of bang for your buck (did you know Steam gift cards can also be used to purchase hardware like the Steam Deck OLED?). So how can you decide what to buy?
That's where this post comes in, giving you a handful of titles that are getting some well-deserved attention on Steam, and informing you about the best deals on the best games of 2023 taking place during the Steam Winter Sale that lasts through January 4 2024.
Fun fact: Almost all of the games below are included in Polygon's ranking of the best games of 2023.
Deadly company
If you have some friends you like to play games with, consider it Deadly companyWhat costs $9.99 (remark: it's in early access). It's a survival horror multiplayer game that can deliver compelling screams and laughs, often at the same time. You work together to collect scraps and loot from creepy locations, at least for as long as you can, until monsters or environmental hazards wreak havoc on you in the most unpredictable ways. While the game is scary at times, the proximity-based voice chat enhances the humor of losing your friends or narrowly escaping death. Polygon's video crew is streaming Deadly company on Twitch from time to time, and you can get a previous stream here.
Baldur's Gate 3
Image: Larian Studios via Polygon
Whether you play games alone or with a crew, Baldur's Gate 3 is a must play game on PC. This RPG is heavily steeped in Dungeons & Dragons in terms of universe and ruleset. That said, you never need to have played D&D to quickly become immersed in this title. Each battle is turn-based and you command a team of four characters, complete with their own weapons and spells. The fights are always exciting, but what happens outside of the fistfights is just as – if not more – riveting. You make decisions that change your path through the game, as well as your relationships with key characters. If you're smart, you can even talk your way out of the fight. There are so many possibilities at every turn that it's impossible to see everything Baldur's Gate 3 has to offer in one playthrough. During the Steam Winter Sale, Baldur's Gate 3 cost $53.99 (regularly $59.99).
No one's heaven
Image: Hello Games
Hello Games' first-person space exploration game No one's heaven is the oldest title on this list, launching in 2016 to an average reception. Since then, the developer has released update after game-changing update, continually raising the bar to give gamers near-total freedom in space. Easy said, No one's heaven is a treat for how much it currently sells for ($29.99), and the experience is what you make of it. It can be a relaxing space exploration game where you collect resources to upgrade your ship to the best of your ability. You can focus solely on building outposts. Or you can become a space pirate and fight other players to conquer their treasures.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
Image: Mimimi Games
Most of us have played tactical spy games, but… Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew puts a twist on the concept – one that only the developer, Mimimi Games, could have pulled off. The swan song for the studio is its best work, building on previous games Shadow tactics And Desperadoes 3. Visually, it walks the plank and dives headlong into a pirate aesthetic, with characters and settings that my colleague Alice Newcome-Beill described as “Monkey Island-esque” in her review. This game will be available during Steam's Winter Sale $31.99 (regularly $39.99).
Cocoon
Image: Geometric interactive/Annapurna interactive via polygon
Cocoon is a puzzle game that goes out of its way to explain itself to the player. But like the best of its genre, it's designed to tap into our curiosity and encourage us to think outside the box (er, atmosphere). The dialogue-free title was directed by Jeppe Carlsen, who also helped design other minimalist puzzle games, including Limbo And Inside. Just to experience the ingenious puzzle mechanic for traversing the planet is worth the price of admission. This title is $5 off during the Steam Winter Sale $19.99.
Hitman world of murder
Image: IO Interactive
IO Interactive got many Polygon employees obsessed again in 2023 with the introduction of a new mode in Hitman world of murder. Freelancer mode puts a roguelike spin on the game, allowing you to become even more of a super agent as you go about killing targets. Your success will earn you items, weapons, and information that can make it easier to complete more difficult levels that you will face later in Freelancer mode. However, if you die, you go back to the bottom step and are left with only some of those collectibles. It sounds punishing, but I promise it's a good time. It's also a great way to feel more comfortable inside Hitmanand to master its mechanics and equipment.
IO Interactive's $69.99 Grand Bundle, which includes every card from the Modern series, costs just $27.99 during Steam's Winter Sale.
Dave the diver
Image: Coin rocket via Polygoon
In Dave the diver, you do much more than just diving. In addition to spearing fish and collecting materials, you help run a sushi stand at night. As you repeat this cycle during the game's day and night cycle, you'll earn more customers, allowing you to expand your restaurant's capabilities to serve new types of meals and foods. There's plenty to obsess over, and that's before the game introduces hook after hook in the form of mini-games, a fun story, and a list of objectives that never becomes too overwhelming. Dave the diver is very healthy, and it's one of the best games of 2023 (even though it debuted in early access in 2022). During Steam's Winter Sale the game costs $15.99 (regularly $19.99).
Octopath traveler 2
Image: Square Enix
One of Square Enix's best games of 2023 doesn't have “final” or “fantasy” in the title, but it still deserves a similar level of attention. Octopath traveler 2 has the necessary ingredients to be revered by the target group of RPG fans who are nostalgic for SNES classics such as Chrono trigger. It has excellent tunes and a fun combat system, and each of its character's stories is compelling. We called it “quintessential gaming comfort food,” so make sure you consider it if you have a spot in your gaming library for an adventure that will take dozens of hours to complete. This game is $41.99 during Steam's Winter Sale.
Songs by Sennaar
Image: Rundisc/Focus Entertainment
Not many games ask you to essentially learn a new language. Songs by Sennaar does, but don't mistake this inventive indie title (one of Polygon's favorite games of 2023, and one of the year's best-looking titles) for a new twist on Duolingo. The game begins shrouded in mystery, as the player awakens from a sarcophagus. You're given the simple task of moving through the environment, which is conveniently littered with puzzles, the solutions of which are made easier once you learn the basic pillars of the local language. And not only that, your knowledge is also used to understand the culture you have ended up in. The sense of discovery that comes from piecing together the mystery is something that many gamers will enjoy. It's easily worth it $15.99 selling price.
Diablo 4
Everyone's Steam library needs a big, deep RPG to sink into during the winter. Diablo 4 is a fantastic one. Months after debuting on Blizzard's own PC client (which left many Steam Deck owners jumping through hoops to get it working), it's now available on Steam. This entry hardly needs an introduction, but it certainly deserves one. The latest installment in Blizzard's respected Diablo series lived up to its name by delivering a polished, rewarding experience at launch. And it's only gotten better since then, whether you play alone, with random players, or with friends. Plus, more content is coming in 2024. And with the Steam Winter Sale price of $41.99it's never been more affordable on PC.