Black Friday offers get messy quick, particularly in the video games world. Retailers like to hurl half-baked gives round in the run-up to what I wish to name “Black Friday correct,” the day after Thanksgiving.
Whereas there are some genuinely good offers already accessible, it will possibly nonetheless get a little bit difficult to work out what is definitely value your time, particularly in case you’re on a restricted funds.
That is the place I am right here to assist. Positive, there are many sturdy 2025 releases on provide, with massive PS5 and Nintendo Swap titles in the combine, however the actual gold proper now’s the slew of video games sitting at 20 {dollars} or much less at retailers like Amazon.
That slice of the sale is stacked with some real heavy hitters from throughout the present technology’s nearly five-year life cycle. In order for you precise bargains, that is the bin value digging by.
Elden Ring
Horizon Forbidden West
8
As soon as once more, barely overshadowed by Elden Ring (sorry, Guerilla Games). Horizon Forbidden West is one other 100-hour plus game that’s an absolute cut price for $19.99 on PS5. Sure, it is also on PlayStation Plus in case you’re signed up. However do you keep in mind the feeling of proudly owning video games? Like precise bodily copies?
My recommendation? Pick this up for 20 bucks, and by no means have to fret about your PS Plus sub lapsing if you wish to replay it, or maybe spend greater than a month getting by it (which is probably going, this one is massive). If you happen to can stretch to $30, the complete edition is also on sale, and consists of the video games total DLC assortment as properly.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws
7
Okay, this is one that may take a little bit extra convicing. However, belief me, even a 7/10 recreation may be value $20.
It is one other pretty sizable entry into this record as properly, and I truely assume there’s numerous enjoyable available with Outlaws. Positive, it is acquired a foul rep, however for 20 massive ones, you are really getting so a lot genuinely nice Star Wars content material, it is no joke.
If something, I actually assume it is value a go for anybody who was ever on the fence about shopping for it. Dropping this down to only $20 for each PS5 and Xbox is a superb deal, and it is also $39.99 for the complete Gold Edition on Switch 2 proper now as properly (however once more I am breaking the guidelines by mentioning that, woops).
Resident Evil 2 + 3 + 7
Resident Evil 2
3
Hey, take a look at me, dishonest at my very own recreation once more. Yeah it is supposed to only be 10 video games in this record, however I am having some enjoyable with it, sue me.
This is our first picks which might be hitting the “or much less” a part of the article, and no $19.99 does not depend, that is simply $20, so do not begin on me.
Three sensible Resident Evil video games for simply $14.99 every, now that is arduous to argue with. In my view, Resident Evil 2’s remake on PS5 is the better of the bunch, however there’s nonetheless loads of enjoyable available with the RE3 remake, and Resi 7 as properly.
Armored Core 6
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
4
Okay this is the place I’ve acquired to begin admitting once I have not performed some video games. Armored Core 6: Fires of My Rubix Dice seems mighty cool, and it is simply $19.99 on PS5, PS4, and Xbox proper now.
To assist me promote it a bit, I will confer with our helpful IGN reviewer, Mitchell Saltzman, who awarded AC6 an 8, stating in his evaluate: “Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon’s stellar customization choices feed into its wonderful mecha fight, and the result’s difficult fight puzzles that saved my consideration all the manner by its 15-hour marketing campaign and past. It’s let down by a uninteresting story, however lands direct hits the place it counts.”
Closing Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade + Closing Fantasy 16
Closing Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
4
Oh no, I have never performed these both. Once more, dishonest with the entry double ups, however it’s Closing Fantasy! What, am I simply gonna dedicate three slots of Resident Evil, and two extra to Closing Fantasy, that is half the article? … and I have never even performed these two both.
Look, look, look, put the pitch forks away. I’ve by no means been a Closing Fantasy sort of man, and that is okay, I can nonetheless belief in the many, many buddies and collegues who inform me these video games rock. For $20 every for FF7 and FF16, I undoubtedly assume it is value it, even for how little I do know.
Crimson Useless Redemption 2 for $14.99
Crimson Useless Redemption 2
4
Hey, I’ve performed this one! It is nice, all of us love Crimson Useless Redemption 2, even whether it is nonetheless caught at 30fps. One other banger from Rockstar, and one other recreation you possibly can drop over 100 hours in, no questions requested.
If you happen to’re trying for one other sensible recreation to sink your enamel into whereas we wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 (which simply acquired delayed once more, ouch), then it is a fairly strong decide for simply $15. It is discounted at GameStop for a bodily copy, or each PlayStation and Xbox have it for the similar worth digitally.
I beloved my time with it, and was even contemplating a cheeky replay over the holidays as properly. IGN’s Luke Reilly additionally awarded it a 10 in his evaluate from 2018… seven years in the past! Oh no, I am getting outdated.
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1
4
Okay, so I’ve performed some Mortal Kombat 1, I did not end it, however I loved my time with it.
Not as a lot as the earlier two video games, if I am being trustworthy, however it’s nonetheless a great time, particularly when you have a couple of mates you possibly can crack a couple of beers with and simply fiddle with occasionally. At $20, that sounds fairly nice to me.
Look, not each recreation in this text must be licensed 10/10 banger like RDR2 or Elden Ring, generally it is also good to spend an inexpensive low amount of cash on video games which might be simply plain, easy, enjoyable. And Mortal Kombat 1 is precisely that: enjoyable!
Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei V
3
I actually ought to’ve put extra video games in that I’ve really performed. What’s that, like 4 now? Yeesh, that is kinda tough. Okay, so a minimum of ign.com’s 7/10 evaluate staff can again me up once more with this one.
Leana Hafer reviewed this one, and awarded it a really respectable 8 in her evaluate again in 2022, stating: “Shin Megami Tensei V’s wonderful JRPG fight and deeply rewarding customization shine vivid, even when it generally seems like Persona with out the coronary heart.”
Sounds fairly good to me, perhaps I ought to really begin testing some extra JRPGs. In any case, that is down to only $17.99 at Amazon for PS5, Xbox, and Swap, and that is a certifiably nice deal.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8
1
Closing recreation that is value choosing up for $20 or much less! It is Tekken 8! No, I have never performed this one, both! Sure, I’ve heard it’s totally, superb! Hear, I spend manner an excessive amount of time simply taking part in Darkest Dungeon on my Steam Deck, and perhaps I ought to discover extra time to play combating video games. Okay look, I promise I will purchase it and provides it a go over Christmas. Glad?
Ronny Barrier reviewed this one for IGN, awarding it a improbable 9/10, and said: “Tekken 8 is an unbelievable evolution for the sequence, with tons of single participant content material, a superb suite of coaching instruments, an amazing on-line expertise, and thrilling new mechanics that make Tekken extra dynamic than ever.”
Honorable Mentions
Some fast honorable mentions for beneath $20 bangers earlier than I begin badgering on about some extra spenny video games: LEGO 2K Drive is just $15, and so is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the Mario + Rabbids Dual Pack for Switch.
However, anyway, like I stated close to the begin of the article, there’s really masses extra nice video games in the gross sales, and lots I could not embody (even with me already breaking the guidelines a couple of occasions).
If you happen to’re funds is extra in the $30-$40 vary, then I can suggest loads of different high titles, like one among my favorites of the yr, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 for $30, or 2024’s Sport of the Yr winner, Astro Bot, for $39.99.
One among my different high picks from 2024 can also be simply $25 in the gross sales, for each PS5 and Swap 2, Sonic X Shadow Generations. That is properly value it merely for the new Shadow ranges alone.
In any other case, a few of the greatest Nintendo Swap video games are additionally down to only $30 proper now as properly, comparable to the all time nice, Tremendous Mario Odyssey.
That is all she wrote! Effectively, aside from this bit. After which this bit as properly… and the remainder of all the pieces I will write now.
Good job attending to the finish of this text and my non-sensicle ramblings about 13 low cost video games I could or might not have performed (additionally in an article that is meant to be restricted to only 10).
Proper, that is me really finished now, in case you decide up something good over Black Friday, or simply need to inform me how a lot of a idiot I’m, let me know in the feedback ASAP. Have an amazing Thanksgiving, and see you subsequent time.
Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor and IGN’s resident offers knowledgeable on video games, collectibles, buying and selling card video games, and extra. You can observe him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.