Forget the Steam Summer Sale — The best PC game deals are somewhere else

Elden Ring | was $63.99 now $39.69 at CDKeys (Steam) (37% off)

You are Tarnished, a being tasked with growing stronger, defeating powerful enemies, and uniting the shattered pieces of the Elden Ring. This is a very challenging game developed by FromSoftware that will test your gaming skills. Since there are various ways to play, it's one that you can revisit many times. It is Steam Deck Verified.

✅Great for: People who love a challenge and enjoy difficult battles. 

❌ Avoid if: You don't like Soulslike games.

💰Price check: $41.99 at Steam | $41.99 at Humble Bundle

👀 Alternative deal: Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition $90.89 at CDKeys ($99.99 at Steam)

🔎Our Expertise: Elden Ring review | Shadow of the Erdtree DLC review | Elden Ring guides

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: HEART OF CHORNOBYL | was $63.99 now $39.69 at CDKeys (Steam) (37% off)

STALKER 2 releases on Sep. 5, 2024, but even so, preorders for the game are already heavily discounted at CDKeys. This entry takes you to the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone where you'll have to keep your wits about you and have plenty of ammo to survive the horrors that reside within this area. We currently don't know how well this will play on Steam Deck. 

✅Great for: People who enjoy creepy creatures and first-person shooter combat. 

❌ Avoid if: You're not a fan of the survival horror genre.

💰Price check: $59.99 at Steam | $59.99 at GMG | $59.99 at GOG

👀 Alternative deal: Deluxe Edition $50.79 at CDKeys ($79.99 at Steam)

🔎Our Expertise: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: HEART OF CHORNOBYL hands-on preview

Hogwarts Legacy | was $63.99 now $19.79 at CDKeys (Steam) (69% off)

You're a new fifth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in an era before Harry Potter is born. You'll be able to attend classes, develop various spells, explore the castle, and go flying on a broom while looking for magical creatures and dungeons. There are evil forces afoot and it's up to you to quash their efforts. It is Steam Deck Verified.

✅Great for: Anyone who's wanted to live in the world of Harry Potter and those who like fantasy action RPGs.

❌ Avoid if: You don't like long open-world games.

💰Price check: $23.99 at Steam | $24.00 at GMG | $23.99 at Humble Bundle

👀 Alternative deal: Deluxe Edition $22.99 at CDKeys ($27.99 at Steam)

🔎Our Expertise: Hogwarts Legacy review | Hogwarts Legacy guides

Fallout 4 | was $59.99 now $5.79 at CDKeys (Steam) (90% off)

You happened to purchase a place in a fallout shelter just before the bombs fell. However, your child gets taken from you while your in a cryo chamber and when you wake up many many years later, you're desperate to find them. Many people argue that this is the best Fallout entry in the series. This game is Steam Deck Verified. 

✅Great for: People who like dark humor and the ability to make decisions in games.

❌ Avoid if: You're not interested in another open-world game.

💰Price check: $7.99 at Steam

👀 Alternative deal: Game of the Year Edition $9.69 at  CDKeys ($15.99 at Steam)

🔎Our Expertise: Fallout 4 review

Fallout 76 | was $44.79 now $8.99 at CDKeys (Steam) (79% off)

Fallout 76 shakes things up quite a bit compared to other games in Bethesda's acclaimed series. It's only been 25 years since the bombs fell and you need to stay vigilant to survive in the wasteland or horrors that the bombs left behind. Rather than being a linear experience, this is more of a PVP co-op adventure. It's listed as Steam Deck Playable. 

✅Great for: People who want to play Fallout games with friends.

❌ Avoid if: You're not into the whole PVP focus of the game. 

💰Price check: $9.99 at Steam

🔎Our Expertise: Fallout 76 review

Sea of Stars | was $46.09 now $18.89 at CDKeys (Steam) (64% off)

This beautifully nostalgic RPG pulls from classic titles like Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger with its gorgeous 16-bit visuals and turn-based combat. It's a fantastic game that we highly recommend to everyone. It's been rather popular since its release having sold over four million copies early on (which is a lot for an indie game). Speaking of, it also won Best Indie Game at the Game Awards 2023. This game is Steam Deck Verified.

✅Great for: Fans of classic pixel-art, turn-based RPGs like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG.

❌ Avoid if: You'd rather play a 3D action game.

💰Price check: $24.49 at Steam | $27.99 at Microsoft

🔎Our Expertise: Sea of Stars review

Starfield | was $69.99 now $43.49 at CDKeys (Steam) (43% off)

Bethesda's big space adventure released last year for PC and Xbox Series X|S. So, it's nice to see that it has already dropped a decent amount. You play as a space miner who uncovers a strange rock that gives you ethereal flashes. From there, it's a journey to unravel the possible alien mystery surrounding this material and explore the stars as you see fit. Unfortunately, this game is not supported on Steam Deck.

✅Great for: People who love the idea of space travel and want a game that offers different outcomes. 

❌ Avoid if: You think exploring empty planets will be boring.

💰Price check: $46.89 at Steam | $69.99 at Microsoft

🔎Our Expertise: Starfield review | Starfield guides

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | was $69.99 now $24.29 at CDKeys (Steam) (68% off)

Kal Kestis continues his journey as one of the last remaining Jedi in existence after the evil Emperor activated Order 66. You'll fight stormtroopers, challenge foes, and explore familiar locations within the Star Wars universe. This is yet another game that is unsupported on Steam Deck. 

✅Great for: Anyone interested in playing a Star Wars game that's more challenging than most others.

❌ Avoid if: You don't like difficult battles. 

💰Price check: $31.49 at Steam | $69.99 at Epic Games

🔎Our Expertise: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review

Horizon Zero Dawn | was $51.19 now $10.19 at CDKeys (Steam) (80% off)

Far into the distant future, humankind is struggling to survive against powerful machines that walk the Earth. A young woman named Aloy must journey across the land and learn what happened to the "ancient ones" while taking down enormous mechanical monsters with just a bow and arrow. It's extremely satisfying to play and offers an incredible plot. Not to mention, Horizon Zero Dawn personally helped me make a big life change. It is also Steam Deck Verified. 

✅Great for: People who like the option of using stealth or straightforward attacks. 

❌ Avoid if: You don't want a lengthy game. 

💰Price check: $12.49 at Steam | $12.49 at GOG | $49.99 at Humble Bundle

🔎Our Expertise: Horizon Zero Dawn review

Horizon Forbidden West | was $63.99 now $37.79 at CDKeys (Steam) (40% off)

After the events of the first game, Aloy finds herself traveling west to what we'd call the North American west coast and discovers a whole bunch of powerful new machines and enemies. Equipped with just a bow and arrow (and a few other gadgets), she's tasked with taking down powerful foes and uncovering a plot that threatens the world. Unlike the first game, this sequel is currently unsupported on Steam Deck. 

✅Great for: Fans of the first game who want even more challenges and mechanical foes.

❌ Avoid if: You'd rather not get into a long open-world game right now.

💰Price check: $47.99 at Steam | $47.99 at Humble Bundle

God of War | was $51.19 now $21.79 at CDKeys (Steam) (61% off)

Kratos and his son, Atreus, set out in the Viking world to spread the ashes of Atreus' mother. However, the boy has no idea his father is a Greek god with a bloody background that the local Norse gods are warry of. It's an emotional tale that explores the relationship between father and son while dealing with leaving the past behind. In our God of War review, we referred to this game as a pillar of its era and cannot recommend it enough to those who haven't experienced it yet. It is Steam Deck Verified.

✅Great for: People who like action games with a strong narrative and fun combat. 

❌ Avoid if: You don't have time for one of the best games right now. 

💰Price check: $24.99 at Steam | $24.99 at GOG | $49.99 at Humble Bundle

🔎Our Expertise: God of War review