XCOM 2 is $2.99, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is under $11, and significant discounts on a number of Atlus’s best RPGs.
It’s Sunday and rather mysteriously I actually ended up with a bit of free time and so I decided to spend it in front of a PC screen. Hunted around for some good value today and this time I was very specific: only AAA RPGs and strategy games.
I was looking for some good value on a few of the bigger turn-based games and the interesting finds this time are across both PC and PS. The tactical games at the lower end of the price range are the ones I’m most interested in, though the JRPGs are making a very good case for me just to ignore my existing backlog.
The obvious place to start is XCOM 2 on GOG (base game 85% off at $2.99). Should i really explain what XCOM is all about!? I will keep it short, promised. You’re in charge of a resistance fighting an alien invasion, with squad missions augmented by research, recruitment and upgrades on the Avenger.
Concealment is your tool for setting up ambushes, and class skills and equipment will dictate how you go about each mission. It’s a very attractive entry point if you’re looking for a fairly relaxing evening and are prepared to become emotionally attached to a number of soldiers whose workplace safety is in doubt.
At that price you’d also pick up War of the Chosen on GOG (80% off at $3.99). That brings the total cost of the base game and expansion to $6.98. You get all the extra resistance factions, hero classes, soldier bonds and the various Chosen enemies that you can use both in missions and when putting together your campaign.
On PS the XCOM 2 Collection is 75% off at $9.99 (the game, War of the Chosen and four DLC packs). It’s the PS4 version, playable on PS5 via backward compatibility.
Sticking with Firaxis, the Marvel’s Midnight Suns Digital+ Edition on Steam is 80% off at $15.99. You get each hero a deck of ability cards and then you’re asked to make the most of the cards in your hand, the enemy positions and the objects in the battlefield. The heroes you choose to bring will alter the combinations you have available so there’s a huge amount of scope for experimentation with your squad.
Between missions you get the chance to explore and spend some time with the cast. The mix will appeal most to the type of player who likes the character moments as much as the tactical combat.
The edition details are worth a moment. The Steam Digital+ edition includes the base game and 11 premium skins, the Season Pass is an additional cost. On the PS Store the PS5 Enhanced Edition is $10.49 (85% off) and the Legendary Edition is $19.99 (80% off) in both PS4 and PS5 versions.
Legendary includes the Season Pass with additional playable heroes and missions so that’s the version I’d go for on console. The PS4 standard edition is also on sale at $8.99 (85% off).
For a far longer detour into the world of Ichiban Kasuga, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is 75% off at $17.49 on PS4 and PS5. The job system gives the party different fighting styles and the ability to reposition the characters within a limited radius adds another decision prior to selecting an attack.
You can line up knockbacks, move in close to a bonded ally for a combo or make use of a bicycle that’s conveniently parked. I like the way that gives you all sorts of reasons to be looking at the street. The bike was designed for transport really, but Ichiban’s friends have clearly found other uses for it.
From improvised street weapons to fantasy politics, Metaphor: ReFantazio is 60% off at $27.99 on PS4 and PS5. Archetypes allow you to develop your party members along various class paths and the calendar will have you juggling your time between travel, dungeon runs, relationships and all the other things you can do.
Weaker foes can be dispatched in the field (i.e. in real time), tougher ones will go into turn-based combat. For anyone who likes the process of working out what their party should develop into this is one of the first discounts I’d point out. The actual process of working out what each character should become is part of the fun and there’s a certain rhythm to the journey that comes from taking the time to develop those plans.
Atlus has another big discount on Persona 3 Reload (65% off at $20.99 on PS4/PS5). Your day is split up between normal life, getting on with your friends and making the trips into Tartarus. The battles themselves are about taking advantage of the enemy’s weaknesses and coordinating your party.
Shift allows you to pass an extra action to an ally which in turn enables the group to follow up on an opening. Theurgy adds in some very powerful character-specific techniques. That’s a very good fit if you want the cast to be a primary reason to keep playing. Time spent in the dorm with friends can also unlock passive combat traits so those downtime hours aren’t quite so pointless.
For those of you with a bit of a gap in your Persona collection The Persona Collection is 70% off at $26.99. It’s Persona 5 Royal (PS5), Persona 4 Golden (PS4) and Persona 3 Portable (PS4).
The Persona 3 in this bundle is the Portable version and the PS4 version of Persona 5 Royal is not included. For PS5 owners who are missing all three games, this is a very attractive way to catch up with the series, from the Phantom Thieves’ adventures in Tokyo through to the murder mystery in Inaba and the bizarre events of the Dark Hour.
My top pick for players who’re keen to get their hands dirty with a party would be Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (70% off at $17.99 on PS4/PS5). The whole process of recruiting demons, fusing them into new allies and tweaking their skills feeds directly into the Press Turn system where exploiting an enemy’s weakness nets you extra actions.
That gives preparation an instant payoff when the fight actually starts. You have a much wider range of useful abilities to work with to create those openings and the innate demon skills give you further justification for thinking about who you want in your active party.
The most expensive option is the Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Deluxe Edition on Steam (50% off to $49.99).
This is the one to look at if you’re after a large empire-building campaign with separate leader and civilization choices, research, diplomacy, and military expansion all vying for your attention. The Deluxe edition contains the base game, the Tecumseh and Shawnee pack, the Crossroads of the World Collection and the Deluxe Content Pack.
At nearly $50 I’d be treating this as a purchase for a strategy itch you already have. The cheaper games above make impulse buying a whole lot easier.
There’s still a bit of time to make your decision. The PlayStation Store listings end October 22 at 6.59am UTC. The Midnight Suns Digital+ and Civilization VII Deluxe promotions on Steam also end October 22. GOG’s XCOM 2 and War of the Chosen are both available until October 27.
I’d start with XCOM 2 and its expansion for the smallest investment, then pick one of the longer RPGs depending on how much time is left in the calendar. It’s easy to buy several. The evenings to actually get them finished are the part that’s less generously offered. Anyway, it’s your money, so spend it however the hell you want. Have a great Sunday. Ciao
Prices and discounts were checked on 17th October 2026 via the US storefront listings. Availability and prices will vary by region.
