5 Free Games Worth Checking Out
With my curiosity and boredom at an all-time high, one night I decided to browse through the "Free to Play" section on the Steam storefront, to fulfil my need to play video games and decompress. While I knew there would be a lot of free games, I didn't anticipate there to be as many as I saw, all of which promised something new and worthwhile. To take a break from regular reviews, I wanted to share some of my findings, all free on Steam, most of which have low PC hardware requirements.
The Saviour From Above
Released 6th December 2021
Developed by kóborfotonok
One game that stood out the most for me and ended up being my first experience out of the bunch: 'The Saviour From Above'. This game is the most ideal bite-sized title out there, clocking in about 20 minutes to complete. This sidescroller adventure game was beautiful all throughout, with some strong, engaging visuals along the way, and a presence that exuded that same artistic value that I found with 'Inside'. The premise is that you're an unnamed astronaut who has crash-landed onto this random planet, and throughout your short journey, elements of science fiction and fantasy will come to fruition. It borders on simply being a portfolio showcase, but it's a great one at that.
If you want to check out this game, click here for its Steam page.
UNDEFEATED
Released 2nd August 2019
Developed by UNDEFEATED Games
For the next game, I didn't technically randomly stumble across it like the others instead I explicitly looked for it because I remember it as a must-play free game, with it being 'UNDEFEATED'. This is exactly how I would want a new superhero game to turn out, whether based on Superman, The Flash or some new IP like 'inFamous' or 'Prototype'. You have the flying, the invulnerability, the speed, the strength and the most fun you can have crammed into a sandbox filled with repeated events and a 30-minute long "narrative" (if you can even call it that). The joy of flying past buildings at supersonic speed and seeing glass shatter, or ground pounding from the sky limit onto some terrorists while the badass theme is playing in the background gave me the most entertainment I had out of the 5 games I'm discussing here. It's simple yet effective in what it tries to be and that's why I love it so much.
If you want to check out this game, click here for its Steam page.
The Supper
Released 28th January 2020
Developed by Octavi Navarro
With the plethora of horror games that can be found on Steam, I decided to tap into the world a little bit more and went for a creepy-looking game. The one that caught my attention first was 'The Supper' and while calling it a horror game is reaching, it does hone that aesthetic no differently than other point'n'click adventure games like 'Fran Bow'. 'The Supper' follows Ms Applegate as she's persuaded by a voice in her head to prepare the "special" food for the guests coming to her restaurant. Although lasting only 20 minutes, this game is executed incredibly well, with fantastically unique and uncanny pixelated visuals, solid puzzle design and a mini-story that surprisingly packs more intrigue than I expected it to. It is developed by Octavi Navarro who has previously made pixelated, eerie-focused short games like the 'Midnight Scenes' series or the 'Librarian', and is even working on a sequel of sorts to 'The Supper'.
If you want to check out this game, click here for its Steam page.
Keep the Lights On
Released 30th June 2023
Developed by Light the Lantern Studios
To fully satisfy my want for a horror experience, the next title I installed was 'Keep the Lights On' as its cover image, gameplay screenshots and description led me to believe that this was a horror game that would thrive; and I wasn't wrong. While it didn't provide that terror factor that I was looking for, its wonderful blend of pixel art with the unsettlingness that comes with the unholy, and its high-quality design of the puzzles that are interlinked to the game's narrative and mystery, all proved to make for a good time. Its morbid story was greatly intriguing and its conclusion was splendid in finalising the mystery that took 30 minutes to uncover. However, I would be lying if this game was all perfect because the combat in this game is such a tonal whiplash and not implemented well enough to warrant a stay. Fortunately, this short-lived experience makes it so that it's not a persistent issue that ruins your time with the game.
If you want to check out this game, click here for its Steam page.
Owlone in the Woods
Released 6th June 2022
Developed by Kasper TC
Having my horror thirst quenched, I figured a more soothing game would be a nice way to round out the session and I came across 'Owlone in the Woods', a 2D adventure platformer with pixelated visuals. The premise is that you play as a mother owl who ends up losing her 4 baby owls to a storm, and as such, you aim to retrieve them back to your nest. After each level, your movement options increase as you'll be able to double jump, air dash and inevitably, fly. Along the way, you'll have to avoid foxes while you time your jumps and it is a pleasant experience with collectables scattered throughout for the completionists out there.
If you want to check out this game, click here for its Steam page.
With all that said, I'm going to keep looking for free games to scratch my itch, who knows what I'll find?
