The games I’m finally buying this Summer Steam Sale (off my wishlist of over 800 games)

It’s a bit of a meme that my Steam wishlist has become a little, shall we say diplomatically, notoriously unwieldy. Every Cozy Showcase that’s broadcast on IGN, and every dev who crosses my path on social media in passing, I’ll wishlist their game, thinking I’ll get to it later, or that the least I can do is give their game a little attaboy in the rankings. Since I’m paid a game journalist’s salary, it’s probably unsurprising that I can’t always actually make those purchases when they come around at full price, and many games end up languishing for years. And that’s why I have 829 games just waiting for me to purchase them.

Here is the list of games that are finally hitting the sweet spot of deep discount and low price and my brain worms’ interest to make it off my wishlist to the big leagues this Steam Summer Sale. As such, note that games I’ve already purchased that have great discounts — Pacific Drive at 40% off, for instance — won’t make the cut, even if I adore and recommend them.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

• Current Price: $3.99 MSRP: $39.99 Discount: 90%

This is one of the most buzzed about discounts this Sale, and I’m not surprised given the reverent tone in which Disco Elysium is usually spoken about. Even just from the preview page, the art direction is phenomenal, and the concept itself is novel. Frankly the core surprise here is that I’ve waited this long. It’s a little shameful.

Minami Lane

• Current Price: $3.47 MSRP: $4.99 Discount: 25%

Minami Lane released relatively recently, so the discount isn’t great, but the sticker price is. I could truly use a cozy little city builder to help me get through the rest of the summer. I just can’t resist giving a two-person dev team, named Doot and Blibloop, a couple bucks.

Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

• Current Price: $3.74 MSRP: $14.99 Discount: 75%

It does feel a little strange to sing the praises of one of the most well-known franchises in gaming in the middle of an indie lovefest, but come on, it’s $4. This is the second time I’m purchasing Oblivion, which was the last game I purchased a physical copy of, solely because I wanted the physical map. My inability to then add it to my Steam account is one of the reasons I haven’t purchased another physical edition (ie, mostly spite). Speaking of spite and The Elder Scrolls, there are several editions of Oblivion with varying subsets of DLC and addons. I wound up springing for the $5 Ultimate Deluxe edition (I think?) which is somehow different from the Game of the Year Complete edition (I think???).

Salamander County Public Television

• Current Price: $2.99 MSRP: $9.99 Discount: 70%

Salamander County Public Television seems deranged and weird and campy and maybe a little pointless, so naturally I’m completely on board. And at $3? sold.

FloraMancer: Seeds and Spells

• Current Price: $3.89 MSRP: $5.99 Discount: 35%

This is another which is just less expensive at baseline, so though the discount isn’t stellar, FloraMancer: Seeds and Spells caught my attention, and enough to purchase for under $4. There’s a strong reasoning behind both the farming hook and the combat hook, and the two are very tied together. I’m really excited to dive into this one.

Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition

• Current Price: $7.49 MSRP: $22.99 Discount: 75%

I’ve heard this described as “Cozy Grove, but even more depressing” and girl, say less, I’m already in. And hey, if you like Spiritfarer and haven’t tried Cozy Grove yet, that’s also at a steep discount for the Summer Steam Sale ($5.99, 60%), so it might be time for you to pick that one up.

Prey

• Current Price: $5.99 MSRP: $29.99 Discount: 80%

Speaking of untimely demises, many of the articles discussing the achievements of the recently-shuttered Arkane Studios discussed how innovative and downright scary Prey is. Though it may feel a little mistimed to seek a deep discount on a studio closed for “financial reasons,” they’d just published a final update for Redfall as the closure was announced, so I don’t think my not purchasing a seven year old game at full price was the reason here. I’d pour one out, but I need my wits about me if I’m going to play this one. RIP, Arkane.

So, by my count — and feel free to double check that because again, I’m a games journalist — that’s seven games, and my estimated total before taxes and fees is currently $33.08. And that’s why my Steam wishlist numbers will just keep going brrrr while I wait for the next big sale.