[Part 1] Three Awesome Budget Games for $10 or Less

Great games don't have to be expensive! I have three fantastic titles for you that only cost around $10.

Jan 22, 2025

Hey, Gamers!

Sometimes, there are brilliant games that only cost a few bucks. Today, I would like to show you the first of three budget titles that I love.

As you might know, I usually try to cover games that are available on most platforms. This time, however, only the third title is available on all current systems.

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Keep in mind, this is just the first of three budget-friendly gems I’m sharing. Soon, I’ll send you games #2 and #3 in a separate newsletter. So, be sure to check your inbox (or Gmail’s Promotions folder).

Bleak Sword DX (this newsletter)
Lethal ??? (next newsletter)
Ba????? (next newsletter)

I’m only dropping hints for #2 and #3; that’s just to keep the suspense alive! 😎

So, let’s dive into my first budget tip:

1. Bleak Sword DX

📅 First Released: June 8, 2023 (iOS: 2019)

🎮 Platforms: PC/Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS Apple Arcade

🏷️ Price: $9.99

🗨️ Metacritic Score: 78

🔗 Steam: Very Positive (Overall)

📖 Publisher: Devolver Digital

✌️I played it on my Steam Deck

… and my Asus Rog Ally.

You might have never heard of this game. I discovered it by accident during an Apple Arcade trial period on my iPhone (the first edition was an Apple Apple Arcade-only title). After playing it for about 10 minutes, I immediately bought the Steam version.

One of the 12 different areas (called chapters)

Before you check the recent Steam reviews of Bleak Sword that might say ‘mostly negative’ (as of early 2025), please don’t be discouraged by these. This game definitely ranks very high on my list of budget titles and it deserves a lot more love 😊

‘Discover and destroy increasingly horrifying creatures across an oppressive lofi world, wielding fierce weaponry and powerful magic in this pocket-sized action adventure.'

Bleak Sword DX is a dark, arena-based action game combining pixel art with modern effects, featuring varied diorama-style battlefields, fluid combat mechanics, and a soundtrack that immerses you in the quest to lift a sinister curse.

Before sharing my reasons for loving this game, here is a great video review of the Nintendo switch version I found on YouTube:

I am aware that this title is not for everyone, especially because of its unique visual 8-bit style.

Personally, I love it, and I think I've never played anything before that matches the aesthetic of Bleak Sword. It mixes retro pixel art with fantastic, moody effects that create a haunting atmosphere.

While you ‘only’ fight in diorama arenas, the particle effects, foliage, and many different areas create a unique atmosphere and immersion.

You're tasked with lifting the Curse of the Bleak Sword that's corrupted Prince Rail and brought darkness to the land.

Although the game relies on those old-school, minimalistic visuals, it has a wide range of environments that I loved while playing:

Eerie forests
Deserted towns
Murky swamps
Snowy peaks
Bloody realms
… and more

In addition to the diverse areas, the variety of enemies keeps things interesting throughout, and I loved referencing the bestiary for that extra bit of lore.

The combat is simple but also satisfying, with attack, roll, and parry mechanics, plus a stamina bar that forces you to be strategic.

Just keep in mind that its difficulty level is often soulslike. However, even for me, who doesn’t like extremely challenging combat, it was manageable. The great thing about it is that you can pick it up for a 5-minute gaming session, which makes it a perfect game for handhelds.