Best Games Under $20: More Game Per Dollar Than Anything at Full Price
The best games under $20, indie masterpieces and discounted classics that deliver more hours and more quality than most $70 releases.
The best value in gaming is indie games priced at $5-20. These studios price their games fairly because they don't have $100 million marketing budgets to recoup. As an indie studio ourselves, we know firsthand that price doesn't correlate with quality, some of gaming's greatest achievements cost less than a meal.
What are the best games under $5?
The best games under $5 include Vampire Survivors, Balatro (on sale), Brotato, and Papers, Please. Each of these titles delivers dozens to hundreds of hours of gameplay for less than the price of a coffee, proving that budget gaming does not mean sacrificing quality or depth.
Vampire Survivors ($5), the game that created the bullet heaven genre. 100+ hours of content for the price of a coffee. The vampire survivors best builds post has more.
Balatro ($15 at launch, often on sale under $5), poker roguelike that sold millions. One of 2024's best games.
Brotato ($5), arena survivors with deep build variety. 50+ hours easily.
Papers, Please ($5 on sale), immigration inspector simulation. Moral complexity through bureaucracy.
What are the best games for $5 to $10?
The best games in the $5 to $10 range are Hollow Knight, Celeste, Undertale, Hades, Terraria, Enter the Gungeon, and Stardew Valley. This price tier is the sweet spot for indie gaming, where you can find genre-defining masterpieces that rival or outclass most $60 releases in content and quality.
Hollow Knight ($15, frequently $7.50 on sale), 40-60 hours of metroidvania perfection for less than a movie ticket. The single best value proposition in gaming. The games like Hollow Knight post has more.
Celeste ($10 on sale), precision platformer with one of gaming's best stories. The games like Celeste post has more.
Undertale ($10), three completely different routes in a game that remembers your choices across playthroughs. The games like Undertale post has more.
Hades ($10 on sale), Game of the Year winner for the price of a sandwich. The hades best builds post has more.
Terraria ($10), 500+ weapons, 15+ bosses, 15 years of free updates. Hundreds of hours for $10. The terraria tips post has more.
Enter the Gungeon ($7.50 on sale), bullet-hell roguelike with hundreds of guns.
Stardew Valley ($15, often $10 on sale), the farming sim with 100+ hours of content made by one person. The stardew valley tips post has more.
What are the best games for $10 to $15?
The best games in the $10 to $15 range include Dead Cells, Slay the Spire, Outer Wilds, the Portal Bundle, and Katana ZERO. These titles represent some of the highest-rated games of all time, spanning roguelikes, puzzle games, and action platformers, all available for less than a fast food combo.
Dead Cells ($12.50 on sale), roguelike metroidvania with the best pixel animation in gaming. The games like Dead Cells post has more.
Slay the Spire ($12.50 on sale), the deckbuilder roguelike that defined the genre. The slay the spire best cards post has more.
Outer Wilds ($12.50 on sale), space exploration mystery. Unrepeatable experience.
Portal + Portal 2 Bundle (under $5 on sale), two of the best games ever made for the price of a latte.
Katana ZERO ($10 on sale), samurai action with time manipulation.
What are the best games for $15 to $20?
The best games in the $15 to $20 range are Disco Elysium, Cuphead, Return of the Obra Dinn, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, and Inscryption. At this price point you get some of the most acclaimed indie games ever made, from the best-written RPG to hand-drawn boss rushes and genre-bending card games.
Disco Elysium ($20, often $10 on sale), the best-written game ever made.
Cuphead ($15 on sale), hand-drawn boss-rush perfection.
Return of the Obra Dinn ($15 on sale), deduction masterpiece.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove ($20), four complete campaigns in one package.
Inscryption ($10 on sale), horror card game that goes places you don't expect.
What we make at Choost
Choost Games titles like Granny's Rampage and Granny's Gambit are indie-priced because we believe great games should be accessible. Our own releases follow the same philosophy as every game on this list: deliver massive value without the $70 price tag.
Granny's Rampage and Granny's Gambit are indie-priced because we believe great games don't need to cost $70. Our games join the tradition of indie studios delivering disproportionate value. For more value-focused recommendations, the best short games, best free games steam, and most replayable games posts have more.
The shortest version
Here is a quick-reference table showing the single best game to buy at each price point, so you can get the most quality per dollar no matter your budget.
| Budget | Best Pick | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | Vampire Survivors or Terraria | 100+ hours of content for the price of a coffee |
| $10 | Hollow Knight or Hades | Genre-defining masterpieces, dozens of hours each |
| $15 | Disco Elysium or Outer Wilds | Best writing and best exploration in gaming |
| Under $5 (bundle) | Portal 1+2 | Two of the best games ever made for less than a latte |
Every game on this list delivers more quality per dollar than any AAA release at full price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best games under $20 on Steam?
The best games under $20 on Steam include Vampire Survivors ($5), Hollow Knight ($7.50 on sale), Hades ($10 on sale), Dead Cells ($12.50 on sale), Slay the Spire ($12.50 on sale), and Disco Elysium ($10 on sale). Each delivers dozens to hundreds of hours of gameplay at a fraction of AAA pricing.
What is the best cheap game with the most hours of content?
Terraria at $10 offers hundreds of hours with 500+ weapons, 15+ bosses, and 15 years of free updates. Hollow Knight at $7.50 on sale provides 40-60 hours of metroidvania content. Vampire Survivors at $5 delivers 100+ hours of bullet heaven gameplay.
What are the best indie games under $10?
The best indie games under $10 include Vampire Survivors ($5), Brotato ($5), Hollow Knight ($7.50 on sale), Enter the Gungeon ($7.50 on sale), Hades ($10 on sale), Celeste ($10 on sale), and Undertale ($10). All are critically acclaimed titles with deep replayability.
Is Hollow Knight worth buying on sale?
Hollow Knight is widely considered the single best value proposition in gaming. At $7.50 on sale, you get 40-60 hours of metroidvania perfection with tight combat, deep exploration, and stunning art. It regularly appears on best-of lists and costs less than a movie ticket.
