4 entertaining open-world games for less than US$15 thanks to Steam's Winter Sale
1. Subnautica - 66% off
If you've ever played Minecraft, but thought "This should take place underwater on an alien planet," you might like Subnautica. In Subnautica, players delve into the depths of an alien ocean world in an effort to find resources and survive after your ship crash lands. While the survival-craft genre is quite niche, Subnautica appeals to a wider audience thanks to the expertly-designed environment and the narrative that's sprinkled throughout the world.
As you explore your surroundings, you discover just how dangerous the depths are, find clues about the former inhabitants of the world you find yourself on, and learn how to use the environment and wildlife to your advantage while expanding and developing your underwater habitat.
You can grab Subnautica on Steam for US$10.19 until January 5, 2023.
2. Darksiders 3 - 75% off
Darksiders 3 picks up the Darksiders story with the third rider, Fury, as she returns to Earth after the apocalypse to set things right by defeating the Seven Deadly Sins. Like Death and War that came before her, Fury has a unique set of magical abilities, weapons, and transformations that make her play style unique, although character progression and diverse weapon choices do give players a large degree of flexibility.
The usual Darksiders environmental puzzles are also present to test your mental fortitude, while the hack-and-slash combat is as satisfying as ever, and the versatile traversal adds an extra layer to the game.
Darksiders 3 is discounted to US$9.99 — or US$12.49 for the Deluxe Edition — during the Steam Winter Sale until January 5.
3. Monster Hunter: World - 50% off
Although part of the immense Monster Hunter franchise, World is different from its predecessors in ways that make it more accessible to a wider audience. This title was incredibly successful and led Monster Hunter: World to become Capcom's best-selling game by quite a wide margin. The premise of the game is fairly basic — go on an expedition to kill monsters, collect the resources they drop, and use the resources to expand your kit so that you can kill bigger, stronger monsters.
The game's basic structure and shallow plot are not the main attractions, though. You play Monster Hunter: World for its polished combat, gratifying progression and crafting, detailed and meaningful monster design, and exploration of a visually stunning environment. The giant swords and power trip also help. If you've yet to experience a Monster Hunter game, World is an excellent place to start, and the game being on sale is just the cherry on top.
Monster Hunter: World is US$14.99 during the Steam Winter Sale.
4. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot - 75% off
Fans of the Dragon Ball games and anime won't want to miss out on Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Kakarot is equal parts action-adventure RPG, arena fighter, and nostalgia trip. The game features rewarding hand-to-hand battles that you might expect from a Dragon Ball Z game, without sacrificing the quality of the story or the exploration of the semi-open world.
You can tell the developers have a lot of love for the source material, and the team delivered a well-balanced game that is sure to thrill any Dragon Ball Z fan. The cheerful art style and enthusiastic voice acting are both endearing and serve to round out the game that mostly revisits some of Dragon Ball Z's best moments in a different medium.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is down to US$14.99 during the Steam Winter Sale until January 5 2023.
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