© Steam Scream IV promotional image
© Inkshade gameplay screenshot
© Sons of the Forest gameplay screenshot
© Loop Hero gameplay screenshot
© Death’s Gambit: Afterlife gameplay screenshot
© The Last Spell gameplay screenshot
© Songs of Conquest gameplay screenshot
© Blasphemous 2 gameplay screenshot
© Ravenswatch gameplay screenshot
© XCOM 2 gameplay screenshot
© Dredge gameplay screenshot
© Cult of the Lamb gameplay screenshot
© Bloons TD6 gameplay screenshot
© Dying Light 2 gameplay screenshot
© Hollow Knight gameplay screenshot
© Hunt: Showdown 1896 gameplay screenshot
Great Deals to Grab on Steam This Week
We’re smack dab in the middle between two major Steam sales, with the Autumn Sale for 2025 well behind us and the Winter Sale fast approaching. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any other great deals to grab on Steam in the meantime. As is typically the case, Steam has some weekly promotions currently running, with the fourth edition of the Steam Scream event set to end on November 3 and featuring some killer games available at a hefty discount. There are hundreds of games either at new, historically low prices or back down to their previous lows that players can grab this week before the Steam Scream IV Sale ends, many of them perfect for some horror gaming ahead of Halloween.
Inkshade
- Release Date — August 14, 2025
- Developer — Studio Vezelle
- Publisher — Studio Vezelle
- Genre — Turn-Based Tactics, Roguelike
- Steam User Score — 88% (Very Positive)
- Price — $16.99 (Normally $19.99, 15% off)
With how much of a splash Inscryption made when it came out, it’s surprising that we haven’t gotten more games that tap into its aesthetic and premise. Thankfully, Studio Vezelle stepped up to the plate with this year’s Inkshade, which is getting its first-ever discount this week as part of the Steam Scream IV event. Inkshade is a turn-based tactics game set within a diabolical board game, boasting an eye-catching visual style that evokes the experience of playing with real-world miniatures and chessboards. Much like Inscryption, though, the layers gradually peel off Inkshade‘s board game setup to reveal something much more sinister lurking underneath. It’s hard to think of a better turn-based tactics game to play with Halloween just around the corner.
Sons of the Forest
- Release Date — February 22, 2024
- Developer — Endnight Games
- Publisher — Newnight
- Genre — Survival
- Steam User Score — 88% (Very Positive)
- Price — $9.59 (Normally $29.99, 68% off)
If The Forest was an excellent proof-of-concept for an open-world survival game, then Sons of the Forest is where that formula really takes off. This sequel, which finally launched out of early access last year, improves just about every aspect of its predecessor, from its expanded combat sandbox to its more user-friendly base-building and crafting mechanics. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of survival games, there’s a lot to love about Sons of the Forest, especially its oddball characters and heavy emphasis on storytelling — something not all that common for the survival genre. And at just under $10, it might be worth taking the plunge to see if Sons of the Forest‘s survival-heavy survival horror gameplay clicks with you.
Loop Hero
- Release Date — March 4, 2021
- Developer — Four Quarters
- Publisher — Devolver Digital
- Genre — Roguelike, Deckbuilder, Auto-Battler
- Steam User Score — 91% (Very Positive)
- Price — $2.99 (Normally $14.99, 80% off)
Any time Loop Hero goes on sale on Steam, you can almost guarantee I’ll make it a point to give it a shout-out as an essential pick-up. This 2021 roguelike deckbuilder is arguably responsible for the rash of excellent high fantasy roguelikes that we’ve gotten in the intervening years (Luck & Loot, He Is Coming, etc.), thanks to its old-school Dungeons & Dragons-inspired aesthetic and addictive gameplay loop. With how many runs it’ll likely take you to fully “complete” Loop Hero, you’re looking at upwards of 50-70 hours of content to do absolutely everything. To get that much quality gameplay for just $3 is an absolute steal, and easily one of the best deals you can grab on Steam this week.
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife
- Release Date — August 14, 2018
- Developer — White Rabbit
- Publisher — Serenity Forge
- Genre — Metroidvania, Soulslike
- Steam User Score — 80% (Very Positive)
- Price — $9.99 (Normally $19.99, 50% off)
When Death’s Gambit originally launched, it was a heavily flawed modern Metroidvania that gave off the impression it could have been so much more. Thankfully, developer White Rabbit had the chance to go back to the drawing board and completely revamp the game, re-releasing it as Death’s Gambit: Afterlife. The release of Afterlife is one of gaming’s great Cinderella stories, as Death’s Gambit did a complete 180 to become one of the better games in the Metroidvania genre, complete with an overhauled set of RPG systems, better build variety, and a ton of new content that fleshes out the experience. It’s definitely worth grabbing for $10, because if it clicks with you, it might rank among your favorite games in the genre.
The Last Spell
- Release Date — March 9, 2023
- Developer — Ishtar Games
- Publisher — Nacon, The Arcade Crew, Gamera Games, Dangen Entertainment
- Genre — Turn-Based Tactics, Strategy, Tower Defense
- Steam User Score — 92% (Very Positive)
- Price — $9.99 (Normally $24.99, 60% off)
What makes The Last Spell special is how well it pulls off all of its disparate elements. Part turn-based tactical RPG, part tower defense game, and part roguelike, The Last Spell pulls from a lot of different directions but is somehow able to merge them all into an incredibly addictive and enjoyable gameplay loop with rewarding progression. It’s also worth mentioning that The Last Spell‘s visuals and audio are absolutely spectacular. If you’re even remotely interested in any one of its gameplay components, it’s definitely worth picking up The Last Spell while it’s on sale for just $10, as you’re likely to get a ton of enjoyment out of its tactical battling and strategic base-building.
Songs of Conquest
- Release Date — May 20, 2024
- Developer — Lavapotion
- Publisher — Coffee Stain Publishing
- Genre — Turn-Based Tactics, Strategy
- Steam User Score — 85% (Very Positive)
- Price — $7.49 (Normally $29.99, 75% off)
With Heroes of Might and Magic: The Olden Era arriving early next year, you might be in the mood for something to ease the wait for the next game in that legendary series, and Songs of Conquest is arguably your best option. The legendary status of the HoMM games has led to plenty of developers trying their hand at the “turn-based tactics meets grand strategy” formula the series is known for, but few have come as close to nailing that mix as well as Lavapotion has with Songs of Conquest. You can currently grab this excellent HoMM-like for less than $8, which frees up some Steam Wallet funds to pick up either or both of the excellent DLC campaigns for Songs of Conquest that add plenty of excellent new content.
Blasphemous 2
- Release Date — August 24, 2023
- Developer — The Game Kitchen
- Publisher — Team17
- Genre — Metroidvania
- Steam User Score — 90% (Very Positive)
- Price — $11.99 (Normally $29.99, 60% off)
There are actually quite a few very great Metroidvania games on sale right now (including a handful on this very list), and Blasphemous II is arguably one of the best of the bunch. The sequel to 2019’s Blasphemous, Blasphemous II leans more fully into its Metroidvania elements than its predecessor, giving players an early game choice that shakes up the routing they’ll take through the game’s world to make each playthrough unique. Otherwise, though, Blasphemous II carries over all the best elements of the first game in the series, including some high-spectacle boss fights that feature some truly outlandish designs and push players’ skills to their limit.
Ravenswatch
- Release Date — September 26, 2024
- Developer — Passtech Games
- Publisher — Nacon
- Genre — Action Roguelike
- Steam User Score — 86% (Very Positive)
- Price — $12.49 (Normally $24.99, 50% off)
The success of Hades paved the way for a whole host of similarly minded isometric action roguelikes, and one that never seems to get enough love is Ravenswatch. Ravenswatch is actually developer Passtech Games’ second attempt at a Hades-like (the first being the also underrated Curse of the Dead Gods), and its fairy tale-inspired setting and cosmic horror lean give it a unique premise that helps it stand out among its many contemporaries. In the months since its release, Ravenswatch has only continued to get better thanks to some free content updates and new playable characters, and its current $12 sale price makes right now a perfect time to dive in if you’ve already made your way through Hades II, Sworn, and the like.
XCOM 2
- Release Date — February 5, 2016
- Developer — Firaxis Games
- Publisher — 2K
- Genre — Turn-Based Tactics
- Steam User Score — 85% (Very Positive)
- Price — $2.99 (Normally $59.99, 95% off)
Firaxis Games’ XCOM 2 is hands-down one of the best turn-based tactical RPGs ever made, so of course it’s going to get a mention when it has a sale this good. You can currently get XCOM 2 and all its DLC for 90% off, but if you’ve yet to play the main game, just start there and enjoy the ride. The main campaign will give you at least 40-50 hours of gameplay, and there’s another 40 hours or so of side content and challenges to track down in replays if you’re inclined. XCOM 2 is practically an essential game in any Steam library, whether you’re a fan of TRPGs or not, and it’s currently a great deal cheaper than the many, many games that have followed in its footsteps over the last 10 years.
Dredge
- Release Date — March 30, 2023
- Developer — Black Salt Games
- Publisher — Team17
- Genre — Survival Horror, Simulation
- Steam User Score — 96% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
- Price — $9.99 (Normally $24.99, 60% off)
You wouldn’t think that a Lovecraftian survival horror game and a fishing simulator would mesh well, but Dredge is here to prove that sentiment false. Both halves of Dredge‘s gameplay are incredibly addictive and hard to put down, with the survival horror elements incredibly effective at getting under the player’s skin and the fishing simulation aspects being way better than they have any right to be. Dredge is more than worth grabbing at full price, so being able to snag it for a massive 60% discount (a new historical low for the game) is practically a no-brainer. Just make sure to play with the lights on.
Cult of the Lamb
- Release Date — August 11, 2022
- Developer — Massive Monster
- Publisher — Devolver Digital
- Genre — Action Roguelike, Colony Simulation
- Steam User Score — 96% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
- Price — $12.49 (Normally $24.99, 50% off)
Devolver Digital has most of the games it’s published on sale this week as part of a special promotion within the Steam Scream IV event, and Cult of the Lamb is right up there with Loop Hero as one of the best deals to take advantage of. Part colony simulator/god game and part action roguelike, Cult of the Lamb has you amass a legion of followers in service of an eldritch deity for part of the gameplay loop, only to descend into increasingly dangerous dungeons and engage in some spectacular action-adventure gameplay in the other half. It’s a compelling and addictive mix that delivers routinely rewarding progression, and few games have so absolutely nailed dark gallows humor quite like Cult of the Lamb.
Bloons TD6
- Release Date — December 17, 2018
- Developer — Ninja Kiwi
- Publisher — Ninja Kiwi
- Genre — Tower Defense
- Steam User Score — 97% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
- Price — $1.39 (Normally $13.99, 90% off)
That’s right: one of the best tower defense games ever made is currently on sale on Steam for a massive 90% off discount. You can currently grab the now-legendary Bloons TD6 for just over $1, which is a small price to pay for a game that’s sure to deliver dozens (if not hundreds) of hours of gameplay once it’s installed. Bloons TD6 is simple enough when it starts, but the wide range of options it gives players (more of which continue to be added with impressive regularity) really opens up the different strategic approaches players can take to the game’s increasingly challenging tower defense levels. Just be forewarned — Bloons TD6 may consume all your available free time.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
- Release Date — February 3, 2022
- Developer — Techland
- Publisher — Techland
- Genre — Survival Horror
- Steam User Score — 78% (Mostly Positive)
- Price — $19.79 (Normally $59.99, 67% off)
Both Dying Light and Dying Light 2 are currently on sale over on Steam. But since we normally highlight the first game in the series, we felt it was time to shine the spotlight on the also-great sequel. Dying Light 2 takes players out of Harran and into a new city altogether, and it’s impressive to see how Techland adapts the very different architecture and layout of Villedor to the series’ gameplay loop of parkour movement, first-person zombie slaying, and scavenging for supplies. While Dying Light 2 does lose some of the more engaging survival aspects of the first game in the series, its combat and progression are still top-notch, and it’s arguably one of the more fun survival horror games out there.
Hollow Knight
- Release Date — February 24, 2017
- Developer — Team Cherry
- Publisher — Team Cherry
- Genre — Metroidvania, Soulslike
- Steam User Score — 97% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
- Price — $7.49 (Normally $14.99, 50% off)
Even with Hollow Knight: Silksong now officially out in the world, the original Hollow Knight is still a one-of-a-kind experience that sits definitively atop the pile of modern Metroidvania games. And for as difficult as Hollow Knight is, it’s still a good bit easier than Silksong (which is saying a lot). You could argue that the modern Metroidvania landscape (and, really, the modern indie game landscape) wouldn’t look the same without Hollow Knight‘s success, and it’s obvious that Team Cherry poured a ton of passion and energy into crafting its incredible campaign. If you’ve somehow missed out on playing Hollow Knight until now, it’s down to its historical low of just $7 and absolutely worth adding to your Steam library.
Hunt: Showdown 1896
- Release Date — August 27, 2019
- Developer — Crytek
- Publisher — Crytek
- Genre — Extraction Shooter
- Steam User Score — 76% (Mostly Positive)
- Price — $17.99 (Normally $39.99, 55% off)
With ARC Raiders releasing tomorrow and Escape From Tarkov‘s Steam release just a few weeks away, there’s never been a better time to get into the world of extraction shooters, and Hunt: Showdown 1896 is perhaps one of the best games to get you acclimated to the genre. Even better, Hunt: Showdown has a surprisingly strong horror influence and uses sound design to drive player awareness, making it one of the more immersive and tense extraction shooters on the market and a perfect game to check out with Halloween approaching this weekend. Crytek is currently offering Hunt for its lowest-ever price of just $18, so what are you waiting for?
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Steam Scream IV promotional image / Original