Gaming

i'm sure you all have heard of Outer Wilds (which i highly recommend and is 40% off right now) but a lesser-known game is Rain World. it's an absolutely brutal survival platformer where you play as a little slugcat trying to find their way home in a dying world. it's not for everyone, but if you like exploration, ancient mysteries, action, a bleak atmosphere, and you don't mind dying a hundred times, absolutely give it a go

SpiderHeck!

It's sorta like Stick Fight but you're Spiders that can shoot web, shoot guns and swing lightsabers. It's so much fun running through wave survival with a friend. Once you get used to the controls you will find yourself doing some of the craziest shit in it. Clutching waves is super satisfying. I think I've gotten to wave 82 so far.

Inscryption is REALLY GOOD. If you enjoyed MTG / strategy / board games. DO NOT READ ABOUT IT. Spoilers will ruin it. tl;dr it's a horror-based card game.

Bayonetta I am also really really enjoying. I actually feel betrayed that no one recommended this to me before. It's perfect so far. Super fun fast paced skill based combat with a badass chick. It's just 11/10 over the top all the time.

I'm going to come in with some actual more hidden gems:

• Megabyte Punch

• Dorfromantik

• Hatchwell

• Imposter Factory (and the whole series)

EXAPUNK - 50% - 96% Positive

If you like old time puzzle games, and have a pinch for programming, then you will love this. In this game you control bots by creating algorithms to extract data and other challenges. The cool part is you must study the game language and learn the lore from manuals and magazines that the game provides.

SHENZHEN I/O - 50% - 93% Positive

From the same creator of EXAPUNK, only the thematic here is electronics.

Road 96 - 50% 91% Positive

Summer 1996, Today is the day! You hit the road. Adventure. Freedom. Escape. Run. Flee the Regime. Try to survive.

On this risky road trip to the border, you’ll meet incredible characters, and discover their intertwined stories and secrets in an ever-evolving adventure. But every mile opens up a choice to make. Your decisions will change your adventure, change the people you meet, maybe even change the world.

APICO, a nice little beekeeping simulator with bee-breeding mechanics and building.

Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator, an incredibly cheap God-game/nation simulator. Not comparable to WorldBox, though. Just a little game for making nations fight and painting maps

Slipways. Very well made space puzzle game. This game really surprised me.

Also, hidden gems thread... feels just like home :)

A few to add in:

Solasta: Crown of the Magister - Old school D&D and tactics RPG. It’s indie so has rough edges here and there, but it’s so fun, and there aren’t a ton of games that fill the void.

Dungeon of the Endless - It’s a tower defense / tactical game with great pixel art and one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Excellent RPG that will remind you of old school Final Fantasy.

Tower of Time - Excellent tactical RPG

Detroit: Become Human - Cinematic narrative game about androids becoming self aware.

The Dark Anthology: Man of Medan - Cinematic narrative horror game, the first in a series of several, therefore if you enjoy there’s a lot more where that came from. (Made by the same studio that created Until Dawn.)

Here are a few that I really enjoy (though their level of "unknown-ness" is debatable):

Mini Metro: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1127500/?snr=1_5_9__205

Demeo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1484280/?snr=1_5_9__205

Evoland: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1020470/?snr=1_5_9__205

I suppose it depends on what a person considers a hidden gem because everyone's tastes are different. I'll list a few categories and at least 1-2 of my favorites in those categories that I've found on Steam and are currently on sale:

Exploration/Base-Building:

• Grounded
• Raft
• Rimworld
• Subnautica/Subnautica: Below Zero

Story based/Farming/Romance:

• My Time at Portia*
• My Time at Sandrock

Visual Novels:

• Basically anything made by PixelFade (Ace Academy, Ethereal Enigma, Crystalline). One of the few English-based VNs that are fully voiced in English and have a pretty decent plot/story. Interactive with different choices affecting different outcomes and even some minigames at least in EE.
• Nekop-er, Hush Hush. Ok, listen. I'll admit there IS an 18+ DLC for this but it's not necessary to enjoy the game. It honestly has a pretty interesting story/premise and I did get pretty heavily emotionally invested in the characters.

*Note that MTAP has been fraught with issues. Although these issues don't necessarily make the game unplayable, and it's still enjoyable, be aware that it is was Pathea's (the studio) first such attempt and as such they were still learning. Their second game Sandrock has solved a lot of the issues and it's not necessary to play the first one

I've already got a Steam Deck and I really enjoy it, but I've been eyeing the Dock for a while too. It's on sale now for even less than the alternative I was considering so I'm probably going to grab one very soon

Just bought Injustice 2 for myself and my wife. We loved the first one, and $12 for both of us to get the ultimate edition is awesome.

It is not hugely discounted, but Dave the Diver has been fantastic. Exploration with chill music mixed with running a sushi restaurant