Steam Sale 2018: top winter discounts on retro classics

It's pretty much the same thing every year. A new Steam Sale goes live while the Internet goes crazy for discounts on AAA games you most likely own anyway. That's why I decided to talk about something a bit different. I'm here to list games of yore that are still very much enjoyable and worthy of your attention. Especially now that you can get them for dirt cheap.

Steam Sale 2018 - Top retro discounts

Thief™ Gold - $0.97 (86% off)

All those expensive stealth games you play nowadays owe a lot to this one. Released back in 1998, it's safe to say it single-handedly popularized the 1st person sneaking genre. If you can look past the outdated graphics (and you should), you're in for the stealth treat of your life! And if that's not enough, you can add additional 97 pennies and get the sequel - it's equally great.

Total Annihilation - $1.49 (70% off)

An action-packed RTS game released in 1997. It uses false 3D, but again, don't let that fool you. The sheer amount of units and tactics you can employ is incredible and overshadows many (if not most) modern RTS games.

Serious Sam 2 - $1.99 (80% off)

I'm not gonna list The First Encounter and The Second Encounter separately since they are much more popular than this one. You can say it's the black sheep in the series that many people (undeservedly) hate. But if you're not one of them, you can still expect to enjoy a Sam "Serious" Stone mayhem peppered with ridiculous monsters, over-the-top weapons and humor... lots and lots of terrible humor. By the way, you can save 87% on the complete Serious Sam franchise. Just saying.

SpellForce - Platinum Edition - $2.49 (75% off)

It's not just another RTS. It's a real time strategy mixed with some cool role-playing elements. Even better, the platinum edition includes the base game and its 2 expansion packs. Again, you're getting a ton of content for little to no money.

STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy™ - $3.49 (65% off)

A lot of SW fans will fight you if you don't agree it's the best game set in the Star Wars universe (better than KOTOR?). The reason for this is simple: you get to fight using a lightsaber and the Force, and it feels right. So what are you gonna be, a Jedi Knight or a Sith Lord? Which brings us to...

STAR WARS™ - Knights of the Old Republic™ - $3.49 (65% off)

A lot of SW fans will fight you if you don't agree it's the best game set in the Star Wars universe (better than Jedi Academy?). The reason for this is simple: you get to explore some of the most famous (and not so famous) SW locations, while unraveling a story that gives you the freedom of deciding your own destiny, all the while you influence your companions as well. The amount of lore in this game is insane! There's a sequel that's also great, even though it was clearly rushed. Luckily, there's a mod that restores a good portion of the missing stuff.

The Last Express Gold Edition - $3.49 (50% off)

A point & click adventure that's different from pretty much everything else in the same genre. Set on the Orient Express train, what you get is a fantastic atmosphere, a plethora of interesting characters and exploration in real time, meaning everything around you is alive and minding its / their own business. A unique experience to this day.

Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition - $3.74 (75% off)

It may not be as popular as the other Stronghold games due to its aggressive fantasy flavor, but it's still a great castle sim. Most importantly, it's another strategy game that gives you lots to do without spending a fortune.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy - $4.94 (67% off)

Sphinx was released on consoles 15 years ago. But last year, it appeared on Steam as well. It's a fine 3D action-adventure game with puzzle elements, similar to other such titles from the PS2 era. All in all, a fun blast from the past and a title you may not have heard of until now. So give it a go!

Turok - $4.99 (75% off)

An enhanced version of an FPS classic. Fast gameplay, fun weapons, cool monsters and traps... This game has it all. If games like Doom, Quake and Serious Sam come to mind when people talk about first person shooters, Turok should definitely be the next addition to your classic collection.

Of course I missed a lot of great games that deserve a spot on the list. It's a huge Steam Sale, after all. But these titles are great, too. They will undoubtedly keep you busy for months... and the most expensive one is 4.99 bucks!