Filed under: Fun, Games, Windows, Commercial, Holiday Gift Guide
5 Fun, casual Steam games you can give for under $20
by Lee Mathews Nov 25th 2008 at 2:00PM
Steam has tons of casual, fun games in its library - here's my list of five titles under $20 that are sure to provide some maddeningly addictive fun. Hardware requirements for these are fairly light, so they should run on just about anyone's desktop or laptop (provided they're running Windows).
World of Goo ($19.99). Sure, its cartoonish 2d graphics are cute, but this is one seriously smart physics puzzle game. Stack the little goo balls to build structures and reach the goal - it sounds easy, but World of Goo is as challenging as it is whimsical. Finessing your structures into doing what you want takes patience and requires some serious thinking at times. This one's a great choice for anyone who enjoys a good challenge.
Audiosurf ($9.99). This is one ridiculously cool racing game. Audiosurf dynamically creates courses based upon the music you're listening to while you're playing. There's definite cool factor in seeing your favorite tracks rendered as, well, tracks. Race to your favorite song, then see how your score measures up to other players online. The game includes the Orange Box soundtrack - which features Companion Cube's stirring rendition of Still Alive.
Eets ($9.99). An oldie but a goodie, this one gets referred to as a sort of Lemmings/Incredible Machine hybrid. Lead your Eets on the correct path to win levels and alter his mood (and reactions) by feeding him marshmallows. Like World of Goo, don't be deceived by the cuteness - Eets' puzzles get complex and can be extremely challenging. There are also 200 additional player-created levels to download to extend gameplay.
Mr. Robot ($9.99). HEL-9000, the computer brain in charge of the starship Eidolon, has gone evil, and it's up to Asimov to save the day. The game combines puzzle and RPG elements into a enjoyable but not frustratingly difficult package. Mr. Robot has received tons of praise for providing a simple, vintage-style gaming experience (think C64 and Atari) and stunning visuals. While it might not be overly complicated, it's 200-plus levels will provide plenty of game play.
Bookworm Adventures Deluxe ($9.99). Almost two years old, Bookworm is still a killer word game. In this edition, Lex is on a mythical journey and he can earn power ups to boost his word-powered attacks. It's a little bit of strategy and a lot of Boggle/Scrabble word building skill. Coping with time limits and still coming up with high-powered words can actually get very intense. There are three mini games and a survival mode to play as well.
Have another recomendation I missed? Share it with our readers in the comments!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian said 2:37PM on 11-25-2008
I think "Trackmania Nations Forever" deserves a mention. It's free on steam and its definitely a game that any casual player can enjoy.
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edward said 3:13PM on 11-25-2008
AudioSurf FTW
I actually am acquainted with the dev.
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novettam said 4:16PM on 11-25-2008
lol, i don't believe it.
The other day i was looking for the full version of World of Goo on steam and i couldn't find it.
I had tried the demo version some time ago, and recently i had read somewhere the it was being 'pirated' a lot, so i headed to the steam stored thinking that it had launched, but i couldn't find it. That left me confused.
Now i follow that direct link and find why!
"Sorry!
An error was encountered while processing your request:
This item is currently unavailable in your region"
Lovely. I so much hate this kind of 'licensing' bs. Why only license it for sale in the USA (my guess) when the steam store is accessible worldwide?
Same bs with Youtube, Saturday i watched the full "Youtube Live!" event from 1am to 3am my time (GMT). Now if i want to see the replay of some artist performances like Akon, Will.i.am, Esmeé or any of the others that have contracts with labels, except for Perry and Satriani i get a lovely "Not available in your country" msg.
ffs so much for www
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Eric said 5:43PM on 11-25-2008
Peggle? Peggle Nights?
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hazard said 10:55PM on 11-25-2008
how could forget to mention Portal and Garry's Mod ..
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mvp said 12:01AM on 11-26-2008
Where's the Team Fortress 2!?
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Mark said 8:56AM on 11-26-2008
Team Fortress 2? Why would that be included in a list of cheap casual games.
mvp said 1:45PM on 11-27-2008
Team Fortress 2 is only $20 and any game can be considered casual. The pc requirements are pretty much nothing.
Adam said 9:21AM on 11-26-2008
The blog definitely hit some of the high points of casual gaming on Steam. Others I would include would be:
Trackmania - as mentioned above it's completely free. I've wasted countless hours on it going for the gold.
Trials 2 - a fun motorcycle stunt/puzzle game. well worth the price.
Peggle - also mentioned above in the comments. It's one of those you play and accidentally find yourself playing for hours.
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CreepersCreek said 11:53AM on 11-26-2008
I was surprised, but very pleased to find Bookworm Adventures Deluxe on the list. I highly recommend this game!
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nickita said 11:19PM on 12-02-2008
the favourite online games for students is still warcraft so why not get 2 sets of World of Warcraft the Board Game? It is pretty much a social bonding game. moneet!!!Its available at comics connection and also herewww.vistafeel.com
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mike said 5:35PM on 12-21-2008
i hate steam. and how dare those people notmention garrys mod 11or even half like 2 death match
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