Steam Winter Sale: 3 enticing action-adventure games for under US$5

Hob is for fans of 3D action-adventure platformers who enjoy rewarding puzzles and have a knack for exploration. The game drops players into the wordless story of a dying world and asks them to save it as a character with an upgradeable mechanical arm. In order to save the world, you must unravel its mysteries, befriend the sprites that inhabit it, and banish the evil that threatens it. Hob‘s occasional sword-based combat is fun and satisfying, but the game’s main attractions are its striking, stylised visuals, fun problem solving, and unique storytelling.

Hob is on sale for US$4.99 during the Steam Winter Sale, which lasts until January 5, 2023.

Unravel Two is a puzzle platformer with action-adventure elements, much like its predecessor, except this latest iteration takes steps towards a more multiplayer-centric experience and puts more work into its puzzle and problem-solving mechanics. The game sees two Yarnys — adorable characters made of bundled-up yarn — on an adventure through some stunning scenery to find their way home. Local co-op, a focus on creative problem solving, and a family-friendly story that centres around forming bonds make this an excellent game to play with younger kids or your significant other, although it is perfectly pleasant as a single-player experience as well. 

Unravel Two is on sale for US$1.99 during the Steam Winter Sale until January 5, 2023.

A controller is strongly recommended for some games on this list — particularly Hob and Unravel Two — and if you’re on the hunt for one, the 8BitDo Pro 2 Wired Controller has some great retro appeal and is available on Amazon.

Whether you’re a newly-minted Star Wars fan or one of the old guard, there’s almost certainly something you’ll enjoy about Respawn Entertainment’s Jedi action-adventure game. Players step into the shoes of Jedi Padawan, Cal Kestis, as he tries to complete his Jedi training while on the run from Inquisitors sent by the Galactic Empire. The game’s Force-enhanced lightsaber combat takes inspiration from the likes of the Dark Souls franchise, meaning encounters with all but the most basic units can present a serious challenge. The detailed and varied level design, character mobility, and traversal mechanics give players a surprising amount of freedom, considering the game lacks an open world, while a solid performance delivered by a stellar cast rounds out an overall excellent Star Wars story.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available for US$4.79 during the Steam Winter Sale

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Julian van der Merwe – Magazine Writer – 65 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022

My interest in tech started in high school, rooting and flashing my Motorola Defy, but I really fell down the rabbit hole when I realised I could overclock the i7 930 in my Gigabyte pre-built PC. This tinkering addiction eventually lead me to study product design in university. I think tech should improve the lives of the people using it, no matter the field. I like to read and write about laptops, smartphones, software and trends in technology.