The sun is out, forever burning my skin and making me wish for fall. Summer, in my humble opinion, kind of stinks--but if there’s anything that makes it better, it’s sale events like these. Not that I need an excuse to stay indoors, anyway. Steam’s Summer Sale may be long gone by this point, but the Fanatical Summer Sale has only just started, and many of these Steam keys are even cheaper than Valve’s own discounts. Sorry, Steam.

I’ve put together a list of essential additions to your Steam library, from monster-hunting adventures to hack-and-slash spectacles. These are some of my favorite titles of recent years, so now that they’re at their lowest price ever, there’s no excuse not to play them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOeL3Hgil1I Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds launched to both fanfare and disappointment. The improvements were impressive, but the performance wasn't. Fortunately, many of those issues have since been addressed, and patient players are now rewarded with a 63% discount.

For those unfamiliar, Monster Hunter Wilds takes you to an unexplored region of the world, where you work alone or with companions to hunt dangerous beasts, using their resources to strengthen your gear. Finishing the narrative is only the beginning, as the endgame keeps you playing by taking on stronger monsters and fine-tuning your skills with each hunt.

Monster Hunter Wilds is now $25.89 / £22.19 at Fanatical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9e-PlQbOo4 Metaphor: ReFantazio

If you loved the Persona series--or simply enjoy turn-based RPGs with strong narratives--Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the best RPGs I've ever played. Every character has an important role in the story as you attempt to awaken the prince from a deep slumber following the king’s assassination, hoping to save the Kingdom of Euchronia from the tyrannical Louis.

It’s a 100-hour journey that asks you to build the perfect party by using Archetypes to create the right boss-defeating squad. The ability to change each character’s Archetype, adjust their skills, and manage the protagonist’s kingly virtues makes the adventure consistently rewarding, which is why it was my personal Game of the Year in 2024.

Grab Metaphor: ReFantazio for just $25.24 / £21.89 at Fanatical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmWvxUdTXyo Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Reading the title alone, I have no doubt the iconic theme is already playing in your head. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn’t just a great adaptation of Harrison Ford’s archaeologist and adventurer; it’s one of the best interpretations of the character to date. Troy Baker delivers a performance that captures Ford’s voice remarkably well, while the gameplay blends immersive sim elements with Uncharted-style globe-trotting adventure, making it one of MachineGames’ finest releases.

It manages to tell a mystery that feels perfectly suited to Dr. Jones while stretching what would normally be a two-hour movie into a lengthy single-player adventure without losing the nonstop action the franchise is known for. If there’s one game you buy from this list, make it this one.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is now $37.39 / £32.39 at Fanatical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEmmnKzCJsE Nioh 3

Chances are, if you’re a soulslike fan, you enjoyed Elden Ring. Who didn’t? It was a massive hit when it launched back in 2022, bringing together many of FromSoftware’s best ideas in one open-world adventure. However, what if I told you I actually prefer Nioh 3?

Nioh 3 takes a faster, more hack-and-slash approach to the soulslike formula, making combat more fluid while remaining just as demanding. Bosses hit hard and fast, while the ability to switch between Ninja and Samurai stances makes every encounter feel tactical without becoming overwhelming. The open-world structure also gives you more breathing room between battles before, inevitably, another enemy jumps out to ruin your day.

Nioh 3 is currently just $39.89 / £37.04 at Fanatical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJxnAqgonzM Dynasty Warriors: Origins

As a big fan of musou games, Dynasty Warriors: Origins strikes the balance the long-running series has needed for years. It serves as both a prequel and a soft reboot, refocusing the franchise as more of an action RPG with challenging mini-bosses, larger-scale battles, and a stronger narrative while retaining the spectacle the series is known for.

It helps that the combat absolutely slaps. The variety of weapons keeps each mission feeling fresh, encouraging you to adapt your strategy as objectives change. In my eyes, it’s the best game in the series so far, and the thrill of defeating 100 soldiers in a single sweep remains at the heart of the experience.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is just $43.04 / £39.96 at Fanatical right now.

You can browse the full Fanatical Summer Sale to see what else catches your eye. There’s no shortage of deals, and every day brings three new Star Deals with even deeper discounts, making it worth checking back regularly.

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical's deals team.