I mean, adjusting for inflation, prices going up isn't that surprising considering how expensive AAA game development is, though it still sucks shit since wages haven't kept pace and that money isn't going towards making working conditions better for those making them...
Another interesting thing is just how quickly games depreciate, not just with use but even with time. I ordered a AAA game from 3 years ago new for $7 this morning. that one XKCD comic about how staying a few years behind the curve makes gaming much cheaper really does hold true
I think the last game I paid full price for was DMC5. And probably MGS5 before that.
Almost all of my time is spent in indie roguelikes or free games from Epic.
Quadrilateral cowboy is a very fun puzzle game. Haven't played much of it yet but Pyre is also interesting and I've heard nothing but praise for it.
Fun fact, I talked to the dev over email a few times. He even played some shitty Scratch games I made when I was a teenager
side note, is anybody else unable to read the phrase "AAA" without hearing it in Jim Sterling's voice
favorite retro and indie games?
Starcraft: Brood War (is free on competitive sites)
Cave Story (is free, paid version is deeply exploitative so don't)
Brogue (is free)
Master Of Orion 1 & 2 (a couple bucks on GoG)
Dicey Dungeons ($15 on itch, most expensive thing on this list)
SMW Kaizo hacks (yar har) (SMW itself still holds up too)
Desktop Dungeons (prototype version is free and better than the finished one)
Oh Jeez Oh No My Rabbits Are Gone!!! is an adorable little puzzle platformer and my favorite game in the bundle, although I have a huge soft spot for rabbits and am incredibly biased.
Pyre is great, I already owned it because after playing Bastion I eat up everything from that publisher.
Flashpoint: Fire Rescue is an interesting twist on turn-based tactics which is my favorite genre
Signs of the Sojourner had a kinda cool aesthetic and you build a deck of cards to navigate conversations, lots of endings.
Airships is a game where you can design steampunk vehicles and ram blimps into things and watch everything explode.
Hellenica is a turn-based tactics game set in steampunk ancient Greece with bishounen Plato and shit, weird concept but I will play anything that has tactics in its name
Long Gone Days is an rpg set in the modern day with like a war going on and stuff, didn't get all the way though but it was kinda fun and different. I enjoyed that as you go to different countries, NPC dialogue is in the native language, until you find a translator, cool little bilingual bonus and makes it more immersive imo.
Honorable mentions: Tonight We Riot, Night in the Woods, Secret Little Haven, Orion Trail
From the games i liked that are in the bundle:
Night in the Woods :a really charming and oftentimes emotional adventure game.
Celeste : a really well done traditional platformer
Glittermitten Grove: a lot of fun if you dig deeper...
The White Door: part of a larger escape the room franchise (Rusty Lake), but you don't need to play those to enjoy this one (most of them are free). Has some ARG elements towards the end if you like those.
Starseed Pilgrim: I don't want to spoil this one, if you like puzzles, you will probably like it.
GNOG: really chill puzzle game. Was designed with VR in mind but can be enjoyed without it.
Nuclear Throne: better than enter the gungeon (fight me).
A Mortician's Tale: A short game about how people deal with death. Make sure to read everything or else it can feel like it ends abruptly.
There's also stuff from the bundle I haven't played yet but i heard good things about:
Pyre, Secret Little Haven, Tonight We Riot, Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor, The Space Between, Dujanah, Fortune-499, One Shot, Milkmaid of the milky way, Peak Bleak Blues, Butterfly Soup, Night of the Consumers
Hope this list helps you find something to play!
I think the Smart Delivery feature is something that 3rd party studios have to opt in to with each particular game.
