Best Cheap PS5 Games

PlayStation users have a huge selection of games to pick from, be it native PS5 titles or PS4 releases that have been out for a while. As tempting as the latest AAA game can be, spending $69.99 is not required to have a good time with a PlayStation console.

From kid-friendly classics to indie darlings, there are plenty of options for every type of gamer looking to save a few bucks. The PlayStation Store is always running some sort of sale, especially during a year’s final stretch, but there are also some games that are always priced below $9.99.

What are some of the best PlayStation games under $10?

If a game is playable on PS5, it will be considered. That said, native PS5 games will be prioritized.

Among Us

$4.99

Among Us has been borderline inescapable for a number of years, and its low price is at least partially responsible for the title’s popularity and accessibility. The social deduction game casts players as astronauts trying to complete certain responsibilities within a spaceship; however, some of the Crewmates are secretly Impostors whose goals are to murder and sabotage their way to victory. Everyone else has to complete their tasks or signal out the betrayers.

Easy to grasp but consistently unpredictable, Among Us delivers hilarity and suspense in equal measure. Naturally, as this game is intended for multiplayer, the quality of matches varies depending on the people involved. Still, Among Us can be relied upon for a good time.

SteamWorld Dig

$9.99

At the behest of his uncle, Rusty heads to Tumbleton to excavate a mine. Unfortunately, his relative passes away before he can reveal anything, forcing Rusty to dig into the mine to collect materials, fight off some creepy crawlies, and figure out why Tumbleton has fallen on such hard times.

SteamWorld Dig is a confident indie game that accomplishes a lot in its relatively short length. As Rusty trades materials for coins, he can upgrade himself and his equipment, providing the game with a constant sense of progression.

The Legend Of Dragoon

$9.99

For the most part, the best cheap PlayStation games tend to be short indie titles that can be completed within a few hours. However, there are exceptions. The Legend of Dragoon is a lengthy PS1 JRPG that debuted toward the end of the console’s lifespan, which somewhat limited its commercial potential. Despite its release window, Japan Studio’s game was more than good enough to attract attention and garner a cult following.

Over the years, The Legend of Dragoon has steadily become rare, with copies being hard to find and Sony opting to avoid re-releases or remasters. At least, that was the case until 2023 when the decorated JRPG finally made its way to modern consoles in the form of a port. Even though the launch was hardly flawless, the game’s newfound accessibility should be celebrated. PS Plus Premium subscribers can give this classic a spin without spending any more cash as well.

Echoshift

$9.99

Echochrome is one of the PSP’s better games, and the title is available on the PS5 thanks to PS Plus Premium; however, while the main title is great, an argument could be made that its spin-off, Echoshift, has aged more gracefully. This largely comes down to the game’s decision to change perspective to 2D, a graphical alteration that improved the title’s timelessness. The core gameplay loop is not all that different from Echochrome, in that players find themselves leading a stick figure through a series of puzzles, each one filled with a variety of obstacles.

Echoshift‘s main concept is the idea that players create clones of themselves whenever they complete a cycle, and the solution to the puzzles involves interacting with these remnants from the past in order to find the right solution. Although it is not perfect, Echoshift delivers a puzzle experience unlike anything else on the PS5 or PS4, except for obviously Echochrome.

Ape Escape 2

$9.99

A lovable classic, Ape Escape 2 made its way to the 2013 console as part of Sony’s underutilized PS2 to PS4 project. Only a small percentage of the PS2’s library made the cut, and Ape Escape 2 is one of the best games to be featured.

The whole point of Ape Escape 2 is to catch monkeys, with Hikaru having access to an arsenal of gadgets designed to make the process as straightforward as possible. On the surface, this might sound like it should get repetitive quickly, but Ape Escape 2 has such an overabundance of personality that the gameplay doesn’t become dull.

Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon

$9.99

Released alongside Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Curse of the Moon has a convincing case for being the superior game of the two. Inspired by Castlevania‘s 8-bit era, Curse of the Moon is a short but sweet Metroidvania that pays homage to the classics while modernizing enough elements to qualify as more than just a nostalgia kick.

With four playable characters, a robust selection of difficulty options, and detailed retro visuals, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon will impress even those people who never played Simon’s Quest or Dracula’s Curse.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2
is even better but costs $14.99.

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

$9.99

A prequel to the originalShovel Knight, Specter of Torment chronicles Specter Knight’s quest to form the Order of No Quarter, the Enchantress’ powerful knights. Primarily split into stages, Specter of Torment is not a rethread of Shovel Knight, and that goes for both the game and the protagonist.

Specter Knight is a joy to control since his whole stick is executing accurate movement, giving battles a frantic but controlled pace. Fans of Shovel Knight should have a blast with Specter of Torment, while the uninitiated can dip their toes into the franchise with a cheap PS4 game.

One Finger Death Punch 2

$8.99

An action blockbuster starring stick figures, One Finger Death Punch 2 is unapologetically simple and also gloriously outrageous. Revolving around two directional inputs, the gameplay revolves entirely around quick reflexes as players must eliminate enemies as quickly as feasible. This premise lends itself to an intense adventure that is surprisingly long and varied, and Silver Dollar went out of its way to make sure that players get their money’s worth with this project.

One Finger Death Punch 2 is an absolute blast that, while rather silly at times, takes its action very seriously. The combat loop works well, and the visuals are quite good for a small indie game that does not believe in graphical access.

Flower

$6.99

Flower is still as mesmerizing nowadays as it was in 2009. The game casts players as the wind, asking them to guide petal/s throughout a series of levels. Along the way, the world blossoms around them, creating a gorgeous tapestry that highlights the beauty of life and humanity’s potential to create. A unique experience that holds up well, Flower is simple but rewarding, and its effortless gameplay has a therapeutic quality to it.

Similar to other art games like Journey, Flower can be completed in less than two hours, and it feels designed for one-sit playthroughs. That said, the game is fairly replayable since there is essentially no story.

The Forest Quartet

$9.99

The Forest Quartet tackles weighty themes in its two-hour runtime, delivering a touching experience that is maybe slightly let down by average gameplay. Following the death of their singer, the band is planning a memorial; however, the remaining members are struggling to come to terms with what happened. As the frontwoman’s ghost, players visit each living member to try and help them find peace.

Telling a moving story about grief and music, The Forest Quartet shines in its characterization, writing, and soundtrack. The gameplay largely consists of puzzles, and while not bad, they are not particularly memorable either. Still, the overall package is good.

Blaster Master Zero 1 & 2

$9.99

Blaster Master is an old-school run and gun series that had some success in the ’90s, before fizzling out somewhat in the following decade. In 2017, the IP made a roaring comeback with the Zero reboot, which has gone on to produce three solid games. While the third entry costs $14.99, the first two are both $9.99, making them viable options for anyone seeking a retro shooter with platforming elements.

In terms of quality, there is not too much separating the two entries, although the sequel improves upon its predecessor in a handful of ways, to the point of essentially delivering the enhanced versions of the first game’s ideas. Still, Blaster Master Zero is fun as well and a good entry point into the series since the trilogy tells a continuous story.

Retro City Rampage DX

$9.99

Available across a wide array of Native PlayStation Platforms, Retro City Rampage DX is an over-the-top parody of old-school gaming and ’80s movies. In the main city, the game plays out like the top-down Grand Theft Auto entries, and Retro City Rampage DX matches Rockstar’s projects in terms of pure chaos and violence. The map is littered with stages that present a short gameplay diversion, and they often take inspiration from classic genres and franchises.

Retro City Rampage DX is a love letter to gaming’s past that also manages to be a fun time for those who did not grow up with the NES or Genesis. As variety is the name of the game, levels fluctuate in terms of quality, but they rarely completely miss the mark. When they land, they hit a bullseye.

Hotline Miami

$9.99

In the early 2010s, Dennaton Games’ Hotline Miami played a part in igniting the indie boom that is still going strong today. Like so many non-AAA masterpieces from the previous decade, the top-down shooter has aged fairly well since its visual style is basically timeless. The story’s themes and ideas also still hit hard, and they are arguably even more poignant and uncomfortable in this day and age than they were in 2012.

Players are given general instructions from an undisclosed person that generally amount to “go somewhere and kill everyone.” Hotline Miami is a constant bloodbath, forcing players to wipe out everything that moves while knowing that a single hit will bring their mission to an end.

Bahnsen Knights

$9.99

LCB has crafted a slew of pixel-pulp games that are not directly connected but have similar motifs. Mothmen 1966 is a cool horror throwback, while Varney Lake is ambitious and utilizes an effective art style. Toward the end of 2023, the developer published the third entry in this series: Bahnsen Knights.

This project has more in common with Mothmen 1966 than Varney Lake, although it still largely does its own thing. A visual novel with sprinkles of gameplay courtesy of a few dialogue options, the game tells a gripping tale about a detective who is looking for his missing partner. A cult might be involved. All of these games merit recommendation, although they certainly cater to a niche audience. They are inspired by cult classic horror movies, and they are solely driven by their stories.

Ikaruga

$9.99

Regarded as one of the best shmups to ever grace gaming, 2001’s Ikaruga has aged like a fine glass of wine. In a genre notoriously known for being unforgivably difficult, Ikaruga makes most of its contemporaries look like walks in the park. Despite its high challenge, the shoot ‘em up’s tight gameplay means that it rarely feels unfair.

Shmups, in general, are not easy games to recommend to people who are not already fans of the genre. That said, if there is one 2D shooter that can convert a nonbeliever, it is Ikaruga. For $9.99, this game is a steal.

A Short Hike

$7.99

Claire, a bird, arrives at a park where she will be spending the day. As she is waiting for an important call, she decides to climb up to the top of the trail in order to get a signal. Along the way, Claire can interact with other travelers who are just going about their day.

A Short Hike is a short and sweet game that encourages players to explore Hawk Peak Provincial Park and seek out NPCs. Claire’s journey lasts as long as someone wants it to, and the trip is generally relaxing and introspective. Technically, A Short Hike takes place in a sandbox that can be freely explored, even if it is fairly small and self-contained. While not offering too much replayvalue, a single playthrough is more than worth it.

Quake

$9.99

One of 2021’s most random surprises, Quake was suddenly released on previous and current generation consoles. The original game helped cement the FPS genre as a staple of gaming, and the remaster goes out of its way to not only do justice to Quake‘s legacy but also enhance the experience.

This version of Quake is the nicest the game has ever looked, and it comes packaged with a ridiculous amount of content. Along with the base campaign and its mission packs, the remaster includes MachineGames’ “Dimension of the Past” and a whole new episode called “Dimension of the Machine.”

Post Void

$5.99

A stylized first-person shooter that harbors back to games of yesteryear, Post Void is a shot of adrenaline that refuses to have anything resembling a slow moment. Right from the start, players are flung into a dream-like hellscape filled with surreal imagery and entities that really need to be shot in the face. It is a simple concept that works beautifully, provided someone is fond of classic run-and-gun shooters.

The game is relatively short, although a basic run packs more than enough content for the price tag. However, Post Void also uses procedurally generated technology, making it fairly replayable. As such, this title offers a lot of bang for someone’s buck.

Limbo

$9.99

Limbo is impeccable. Playdead’s puzzle-platformer revolves around a child who is trying to find his missing sister, and the indie game makes this intense adventure one to remember. Boasting a stylish aesthetic that complements the grim storyline, Limbo looks great, plays splendidly, and features some truly unforgettable imagery.

This is one of those games that almost everyone should try to play at one point or another. While typically costing $9.99, Limbo is often on sale and can be picked up for much cheaper.