If you’re gaming without a lot of money, you might need to compromise a little on how good a game looks to get more games overall. You can often find surprisingly complex and lengthy RPGs for a low price if you’re willing to skip the newest graphics and features. That’s the joy of bargain hunting – you can discover hidden gems that others missed.
There’s a huge range of RPGs out there if you search for them, from short, easy-to-play games to incredibly complex ones. You might even discover a new RPG you become completely obsessed with – which is great, but also a little lonely since it’ll likely be a game no one else has experienced.
All of the following games are available now on Steam for less than $15 USD, sales notwithstanding.
8. Half-Minute Hero
You’d Be Surprised What Can Happen in 30 Seconds
You know how sometimes you think ‘I’ll just do this quick thing,’ and it takes way longer than you expect? I realized the other day that 30 seconds is ages. I can literally walk to the fridge, get a drink, pour it, and sit back down before 30 seconds is even up! So when I heard about Half-Minute Hero, a game where you save the world in 30 seconds, I thought, ‘Okay, that’s actually doable!’ It’s a crazy concept, but it kinda makes sense when you think about it.
In Half-Minute Hero, you’re playing a fast-paced RPG where the world ends in just 30 seconds! Your goal is to quickly gain enough strength to defeat the villain before time runs out. You’ll race through areas, battle enemies to earn experience and money, and then return to town – where time stops – to upgrade your character. You can buy extra time, but it gets pricier each time, so you still need to work quickly!
The main game features 30 fast-paced levels. Beyond that, you can choose from different ways to play, like a strategic ‘Evil Lord’ mode, an action-packed ‘Princess’ mode, or challenge modes with unique time limits – ranging from a full 300 seconds with no continues to a super-quick 3-second run.
7. Underhero
Anyone Can Be A Hero
Many independent game developers have been inspired by the Paper Mario series, especially since Nintendo hasn’t released a new game like those in a long time. Underhero is one example of a game that openly acknowledges its inspiration from the Paper Mario style.
Okay, so I just finished playing Underhero, and it’s a really cool mix of things! It’s a platformer RPG, and honestly, it feels a lot like Super Paper Mario in how you explore the world. But the battles are different – it’s not turn-based. Instead, there’s this action bar that fills up, and you time your attacks and dodges in real-time. You gotta watch out for enemy attacks and move to avoid them, and if you can dodge to the beat of the music, you get extra rewards! The story’s pretty unique too – you’re not the chosen one, you’re basically a minion who has to step up when the actual hero gets taken out. It’s a fun twist!
A cool feature of Underhero is that, because you play as a ‘bad guy’ yourself, you can talk to enemies during the game. They’ll still fight you, but they’re polite enough to exchange a few words – you might get helpful tips, learn more about the game’s story, or even hear a joke!
6. Knights Of Pen And Paper
Tabletop Gaming Without The Socialization
I’ve played tabletop games a little bit here and there, and while I think the idea is cool, I struggle with staying focused during long explanations from the game master. If you’re looking for a similar experience you can play at your own speed, without waiting for others, check out Knights of Pen and Paper.
Knights of Pen and Paper puts you in a unique position: you control everything! You’re not just the player, you’re also the Dungeon Master, guiding your party through a fantasy quest. This means you decide how challenging the monsters are, how much treasure they drop, and where the story goes. Whether your adventure is a blast and your party grows strong will depend on how daring you are and how much risk you’re willing to take.
Creating a strong team isn’t just about choosing character classes – it’s also about the personalities of the players themselves. For example, if your energetic little brother joins, he might act faster in the game, while a physically fit friend could be a stronger attacker. This adds a unique layer to character building, connecting player traits to in-game abilities.
5. Cthulhu Saves The World
Someone Will Go Mad… With Fun!
Many role-playing games with a Lovecraftian theme feature the ancient Elder Gods, like Cthulhu, as villains. However, in the game Cthulhu Save the World, Cthulhu can actually be convinced to help the heroes if offered the right motivation.
In the game Cthulhu Saves the World, the ancient evil Cthulhu was preparing to drive everyone insane when a wizard weakened his powers. Now, the only way for Cthulhu to regain his strength is to become a hero – something he’s not thrilled about! The game is a clear spoof of classic RPGs, where Cthulhu openly tells his quirky, oblivious companions that he only intends to destroy the world after saving it.
Battles are generally simple, but there’s a key element to remember: Cthulhu’s powers can shatter the minds of his enemies. This can change how they behave and their strengths and weaknesses. Using these mind-breaking abilities wisely can turn a seemingly unbeatable enemy into an easy one.
4. Costume Quest
Everyone Likes Free Candy
Growing up, Halloween was always a huge deal for me! Even though we still had school, the promise of tons of free candy totally made up for it. Seriously, some of us kids really took it seriously, and it’s a good thing too, because in Costume Quest, you never know when actual monsters might show up at your door!
Costume Quest, first launched in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, is a charming RPG developed by Double Fine. You take on the role of one of two Halloween-obsessed twins when one of them is mistakenly snatched by monsters who think they’re a giant candy corn. To rescue your sibling, you’ll go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, collecting candy and using the special powers of your costumes to overcome puzzles and challenges.
When monsters appear, you become a giant hero in a costume, and battle them using turn-based combat. The game focuses on quick timing and matching button presses to deal the most damage. Costume Quest isn’t a very long or challenging game, which makes it perfect to play all at once – especially on Halloween, or any time you’re not focused on collecting candy!
3. Fretless – The Wrath Of Riffson
Now That’s A Slam Jam
Music has a unique power to bring people together, and that makes it a perfect fit for all sorts of games. It’s almost like a hidden force that connects us all, which is a really amazing idea. Music creates its own world, and that’s exactly why the RPG, Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, feels so right at home within it.
Fretless tells the story of Rob, an indie guitarist chasing his rockstar dreams while also trying to protect the world’s musical balance. The game is visually and aurally stunning – everything, from the swaying grass to the environment itself, feels connected to music and sound.
Fretless features turn-based battles where you play ‘riffs’ like cards to create strong attacks. Timing your moves to the music’s beat is key to dealing lots of damage and avoiding getting hit. My colleague Ethan Krieger really loved it in his review, even calling it a surprise favorite of his for 2025 – and that’s high praise considering all the great games that came out that year.
2. Epic Battle Fantasy 4
A Flash RPG, Fully Realized
| Developer | Matt Roszak |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC |
| Release Date | February 2014 |
Newgrounds and similar websites used to be surprisingly good sources for free online games – everything from quick diversions to longer, more involved experiences. While those Flash game days are mostly over, many popular titles have been expanded into complete, polished games, and they’re still just as fun to play. Epic Battle Fantasy 4 is a great example of this.
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Epic Battle Fantasy 4, a Flash RPG from the late 2000s on Newgrounds, looks simple and charming, but it’s actually a very deep game. As you play, each character collects a huge amount of weapons, armor, spells, and abilities. By the end of the game, the damage numbers get incredibly high!
This game is playfully self-aware and packed with references to classic games, anime, and popular memes from the early 2010s. It’s enjoyable on its own, but it also serves as a fun reminder of what was popular online over a decade ago – which is making me realize just how much time has passed!
1. Chroma Squad
Make Your Own Sentai Show
With a little imagination, you can build a role-playing game around almost any idea. At their core, RPGs are simply story-driven adventures using numbers to track progress, so this same approach can work for other concepts – like creating your own version of Power Rangers. In fact, that’s precisely what the game Chroma Squad does.
Okay, so I’m totally hooked on this game, Chroma Squad. You play as a bunch of actors who just got canned from their action show, but they’re not giving up! They decide to form their own superhero team and make their own TV show. Before each episode, I have to negotiate deals with advertisers to earn money and get more viewers. Then, the fun part – I get to scavenge for parts at the hardware store to build awesome props and costumes for our heroes. It’s like being a director and a strategist all in one!
While filming, your team of rebellious teens needs to cooperate, pull off daring stunts, and use their unique skills to defeat monsters – but with style! This RPG isn’t about simply defeating enemies; it challenges you to be creative, plan exciting moments, and create a spectacle to earn rewards.
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2025-12-29 22:42