Two video games, “Dishonored” and “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” released last week. I want to play both of them. I mean, I really want to play both of them. I want to buy both of them. The thing is, my pockets aren’t exactly overflowing with cash. And while I would love to spend what I do have entirely on games, I’m attending college and just can’t.
Luckily, cheap or free games do exist, and some of them are really good – sometimes even great. Just the other day I completed “The Walking Dead: Episode Four, Around Every Corner.” It only costs 400 Microsoft points – that amounts to about $5 – on Xbox Live and is in my opinion a worthwhile experience. I’ve invested about $20 in “The Walking Dead” games so far, and as a whole they’ve been some of the best gaming experiences I’ve had all year. It’s a very choice-driven game, and I think it nails what it sets out to accomplish.
Cheaper still is a great Xbox Live indie game called “Gateways.” It only costs 80 Microsoft points – about $1 – and it’s a wonderful tribute to the 8-bit era of gaming and Portal. It’s filled with brilliant gam*e design and clever puzzles. It’s not the longest game ever or anything, but it’s certainly worth more than a dollar; it’s a much better game than “Resident Evil 6,” which I foolishly paid $60 for and was immensely disappointed by. I would recommend Gateways to anyone.
Kongregate.com offers several free titles for gamers to sink their teeth into. Last week I completed a charming game called “Super Adventure Pals,” which fans of the Mario or Zelda games should enjoy. I recently played through “Deep Sleep,” a horror game about a person attempting to wake up from what they assume to be a nightmare. It’s inventive and, more importantly, scary.
The point I’m trying to make is there is an alternative for people who love playing games but can’t afford every Triple-A title that hits shelves. Gaming should not be defined by price, but by how much enjoyment a gamer gets out of it. Some of the best games I’ve ever played have been low-cost or even free. While I’ll definitely continue to buy and play $60 games, I’ll always be on the lookout for fun, cheap experiences.
