Games over the years have become more and more expensive as the entertainment medium has gained traction. Now, fans of the industry can see some projects debut with prices that closely hit $100, but luckily, there are still plenty of games out there that are not only low in cost but also very entertaining.
Unsurprisingly, seeing as multiplayer is one of the most desired features in modern games, there are many cheaper titles that allow players to play together. In some cases, these games allow friends to sit next to each other on a couch or play together on different consoles.
8 Ultimate Chicken Horse
Ultimate Chicken Horse was released to players way back in 2016, and since then, the game has flourished. Ultimate Chicken Horse is a multiplayer racing game with some unique mechanics that any group of friends will enjoy. The game, which can be played on the same TV and console, or online, has players choose between different animals like a chicken, a horse, or even a raccoon.
Then, players will select a level to play. There are starting and finish lines; however, in order for players to get to the latter, they must use different props and tools to build themselves a bridge to the other side. At the same time, players also need to set up traps for other people in order to stop them from finishing the race first.
7 Trine 1 & 2
Trine has been a staple of co-op scene since the original game's release in 2009. The platformers take players on puzzle-adventures in which they are able to choose one role out of three different roles: wizard, thief, and knight. Each role has its own abilities that allow them to complete different puzzles during their adventure. As of now, there are four different Trine games that players are able to play, and there is even a collection of games that players can purchase.
For starters, players should simply purchase the first Trine game, Trine Enchanted Edition, which goes for $14.99 on Steam. The sequel, Trine 2, is also cheaper than $20 and is generally regarded as the best entry in the franchise. For indie game lovers or for friends looking for a wonderful couch co-op game to play with one another, Trine is one of the best out there.
6 Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most popular games of all time. Minecraft was released in 2011, but players would almost not be able to recognize the initial game due to the amount of work and updates put into the modern version of the game.
Any time is a good time to get into Minecraft, and the survival open-world game introduces new features reasonably frequently. While usually $19.99, players can also download the game through Microsoft Game Pass.
5 Castle Crashers
When it comes to classics released during the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era, Castle Crashers takes a trophy indebted to nostalgia. The co-op game was released to the public in 2008 as part of the Xbox Live Arcade, and it features four different knights sporting various colors.
In this 2D hack-and-slash platformer, the knights go on wild adventures as friends come together to complete various levels in order to help a king resolve a major conflict. Yes, it involves kidnaped princesses.
4 Don't Starve Together
As far as survival games go, Don't Starve Together is one of the more unique experiences that one could achieve in the genre. Not only is the game's art style enthralling but Don't Starve Together is also quite a challenging game. This iteration essentially takes the single-player version, Don't Starve, and tweaks its mechanics to allow for co-op. It works surprisingly well, offering an experience that is accessible but still fairly deep.
Don't Starve Together can be purchased for, on average, about $14.99, but the game is commonly found to be on sale for less than $10.
3 Ark: Survival Evolved
Fans of the survival genre probably have heard of the dinosaur-themed ARK: Survival Evolved. The project dropped into player's hands in 2017, and to this day, the game still holds up as one of the most popular and active entries in this genre.
Set in a series of maps, the player is put up against the harsh reality of maintaining food and water and persevering in spite of the weather as they defend themselves against dinosaurs. A lot of fun with others, Ark is only $19.99 on Steam and other consoles.
2 Tribes Of Midgard
Tribes of Midgard, as the name implies, is themed on Norse mythology. The game is dominantly action role-playing, but there are some essences of survival in its gameplay, as players will need to persevere against the onslaughts of various enemies in the Viking-themed world.
Tribes of Midgard is available for players on any console for $19.99, which is a fairly attractive price considering the game is not lacking in content. Solo players can readily jump into the title without feeling like they are missing out, but friends can also form a tribe to take on the world's challenges as a unit.
1 Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG set within Bethesda's beloved franchise. However , The Elder Scrolls Online map is much larger than Skyrim's, as players are able to travel all around the fictional world and come across many unique quests to tackle.
Playing with friends who love to dump time into MMOs will make this journey an exciting one. Initially, The Elder Scrolls Online is $19.99 on Steam and consoles, though players can invest in different DLC expansions to continuously adventure in The Elder Scrolls Online.