Video games have never been more popular, but that doesn’t make them any easier to enjoy.

With Sony raising the prices of their first party titles to $70, more and more developers are following suit.

That’s not even including the hardware for these games, which can cost you a month’s rent just to get it  – and that’s without any games or extra peripherals. 

But it doesn’t have to be so expensive.

Many classic titles are available at discounted prices, the same for independently developed titles that have been the backbone of the industry for years.

Here are five games available on Steam that you can run on something with as little processing power as a school-issued laptop, and can buy for less than $20.

1. Webbed ($9.99): No man, just spider

Developed by Australian studio Sbug Games, Webbed is a cute platformer about a spider trying to save her boyfriend from a big nasty bowerbird. Much of the game is spent gathering materials from the local wildlife to build a rocket to chase down the bowerbird (who also shoots lasers from its eyes) and save the day.

The game is short, but full of fun, web-slinging from corner to corner as you befriend ants, dung beetles and more. There’s also a fair bit of puzzle solving, as you use websites to tug and pull objects to their correct spot while avoiding fires, making it perfect for those seeking something light-hearted.

2. Blood Fresh Supply ($9.99): Raw 90s action

Originally released in 1997, Blood is so old that you need to use MS-DOS to play the original version, making it unplayable for most. Thankfully, Nightdive Studios has blessed us with Blood Fresh Supply, a remaster of the game ported to their proprietary KEX engine, allowing it to run on modern systems.

Originally built on the Build engine, Blood is a singleplayer, first-person shooter known for its detailed environments, strong leading character in Caleb, and brutal difficulty. Much of it holds up today, and what hasn’t held up has been given a modern coat of paint, such as replacing 2D sprite objects with 3D voxels. 

Not interested in Blood? Nightdive has remastered countless first-person shooters, all for low prices.

3. Your Only Move Is HUSTLE ($4.99): stick-figure fighting game 

Released earlier this year, Your Only Move Is HUSTLE (YOMIH) is a multi-player fighting game with a twist: what if you could control every action down to the pixel? 

YOMIH offered turn-based multiplayer combat with a fully functioning lobby system, making it easy to find matches at any time of the day. While the realization of YOMIH not being real-time might be off-putting for some, those who stick around find themselves enthralled by a complex, stylized game of chess, based on probability and outwitting your opponent.

Because it’s turn-based, you don’t really need a consistent connection to play online either.

Think there’s too little on offer? YOMIH also sports Steam Workshop support, allowing users to create custom characters, backgrounds, and features to enhance the experience. 

4.VVVVVV ($4.99): Yes, that’s six V’s

A cult classic, VVVVVV sees you take control of a spaceship when everything goes wrong. Stuck in an unknown dimension with your crew stranded, VVVVVV is a platformer where instead of jumping, you swap the direction of gravity.

It was developed by Terry Cavanagh and released in 2010, maintaining an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam after all those years.

5. The Messenger ($19.99): Bleeding wit from its ears

Devolver Digital is a publisher with an amazing track record for a reason – they consistently find and promote excellent titles with great gameplay. The Messenger is no different.

A Metroidvania inspired by the original Ninja Gaiden games, The Messenger blends excellent platforming with great story and writing, with a coat of old-school NES/SNES graphics. 

It also received an expansion, which added additional levels for free, making this an absolute steal despite being the highest-priced game on this list.