7 Cheaper Alternatives For Popular Games

The Crew 2 (Forza Horizon)

Forza Horizon opened up the world of simulation racing to a whole new audience by injecting a healthy dose of arcade flavor into the mix. In the years since, it has become one of Xbox’s most popular franchises both on and off its consoles. If you’ve been wanting to jump into the series with Forza Horizon 6, but don’t want to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Edition or shell out $70, you should take a look at The Crew 2, which now retails for only $30.

While cars are front and center in The Crew 2, the game features a ton of other vehicles to explore and compete with in its open world with, such as boats, bikes, and planes. This offers something entirely new even for those who have already had a taste of Forza Horizon. Additionally, when in free roam or specific match types, the game also allows you to switch to a different vehicle type in an instant, making it unlike any other racing game you can play. These quality-of-life changes set The Crew 2 apart, but its core gameplay still adheres to a familiar, popular formula that is sure to appeal to Forza fans.

RoboCop: Rogue City (FPS Campaigns)

Sadly, not a lot of first-person shooters nowadays launch with a strong emphasis on their single-player experience. Instead, many opt to center these games around multiplayer experiences to various degrees of success. However, those looking for a meaty story campaign with great FPS gameplay are not entirely out of luck thanks to Robocop: Rogue City, which retails for $40.

The game authentically captures the dystopian world featured in the movies and fills it with interesting side stories that you can undertake in a contained, open-world Detroit. It also sets itself apart from most other modern FPS games, which tend to err on the side of speed and agility, by taking a more methodical approach to the genre. RoboCop is a meticulously moving, nigh-unstoppable machine, and the game perfectly adapts that trait into satisfying gameplay. And did I mention actor Peter Weller returns to voice the titular character?

If you’re hungry for more mechanical mayhem after completing Rogue City, there’s the standalone expansion Unfinished Business, which costs even less.

Neon White (Doom)

One of the few FPS series that does release games with a focus on single player is Doom, which delights with its frenetic, aggressive gameplay. Anyone who’s enjoyed a Doom game, or been interested in the series, would love Neon White, which features a comfortable starting price of $25.

As with Doom, Neon White sees you face off against the hordes of hell, but this time, you’re doing so in the sunlit, angelic spires of heaven, which have become infested with demons. The game features similarly energetic gameplay to what you experience in a Doom title, but with a delightful twist: Soul Cards. Each Soul Card you collect gives you a different weapon to use in your demonic slaughter, but sacrificing those cards also provides specific movement mechanics depending on the card being discarded, resulting in a bespoke tactical approach for every run. It’s a unique FPS experience, while costing much less than many other titles in the genre.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Action Adventure)

In a sea of modern action adventure games, Kena: Bridge of Spirits stands out for its aesthetic and its $40 price tag. Studio Ember Labs brought its years of film animation know-how to the world of game development, and with it made Bridge of Spirits, an impressive debut that is able to stand toe-to-toe with other, higher-priced games in the genre.

Its familiar combat can be deceptively difficult while not being overly punishing, and when mixed in with the use of the Rot, little Ghibli-esque creatures Kena can command to help solve puzzles, Bridge of Spirits has a satisfying mechanical depth to it that is matched in quality by its engaging, emotional story. Plus, Ember Labs has announced an upcoming sequel, Scars of Kosmora, so it’s a great time to explore this studio’s inaugural title.

The Ascent (Cyberpunk 2077)

While cyberpunk is a popular aesthetic, there are only a handful of titles in the genre that deliver a satisfying gameplay fantasy in that world. Fortunately, The Ascent is one of them, and retails at $30.

It offers everything players have come to expect from a cyberpunk game: a neon-soaked megacity, augmentations and implants for their character, and multiple elements within the world that are open to hacking. Featuring twin-stick shooter gameplay, The Ascent includes a critical feature that is missing from the marquee title in the genre, Cyberpunk 2077: multiplayer, both local and online. For anyone that is looking to jump into a mechanical dystopia with deep gameplay at a discounted price–and potentially bring along their friends for the ride–The Ascent is the game for you.

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