Cheap game recommendations for old gamer

GhostWKD · 26 Mar 2014 at 11:18

Hi Guys,

Recently started getting parts to build my Dad a budget gaming pc as he spends all of his time stuck at home and pretty much sleeps all the time. Convinced that getting him back into PC gaming will help him get back to a more normal sleeping pattern really

He's not played many games since the old days back in early 2000's really. He used to play C&C style games, Doom, Monkey Island (of course

) and the original XCom games and stuff like that really. Oh and we were both huge fans of Master of Orion 2

Really don't know what he's going to want to play so I had the idea of getting a load of cheap (couple of £ each or so) games from the last x years for him to have a go with. On the basis of if he doesn't like a game I've not wasted loads of money on them.

Will probably pick up Civ V for him but beyond that was just after some suggestions of non-latest games you can now get for a few £ really

Cheers,
Alex

MonkeyBasher · 26 Mar 2014 at 11:29

There are 3 easy ways to do this.

Wait a few weeks for the Easter steam sale. You will be able to pick up some quality stuff for cheap as chips prices.
XCom (the new one), Skyrim Legendary edition plus FO3 and FO3NV, ME1+2 will all be around the £5-7 mark and will fill up lots of time.

Steam again. Browse the free to play section. Most of these are likely to be crappy MMOs with cash shops though. WoT (non steam) can also help kill a few hours, a few days a week.

Go to GoG.com / Humble Bundle and pick up some classics.
You can grab MOO1+2 for a few quid on GoG, or do some research and getter a newer (better?) 4X space game from Steam.

arc@css · 26 Mar 2014 at 12:31

Waiting for the sales is a good idea. It sounds like he has a wide appreciation of many genres, so when the sales arrive I'd pick up some of the older titles / classics which are still popular today - Deus Ex / F.E.A.R. + expansions / System Shock 2 / Hard Reset / Doom 3 / Half Life 2 / Shadow Warrior / Legend of Grimrock / S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

GhostWKD · 26 Mar 2014 at 13:12

Didn't even think about the steam sale to be honest, good shout

Building his comp over the next few days so will check out humble bundle and such (may even have some unused codes kicking about actually) and hope they tide him over until the cheap sales start

Cheers for the ideas & suggestions guys

Skeksis · 26 Mar 2014 at 13:24

War Thunder is not too bad for free.

Checked out GoG? Might be some cheap classics on there that he's played before and could get back into?

Got my dad a GoG account for old school RTS games and he's enjoyed it a fair bit.

Flapduckquack · 26 Mar 2014 at 13:38

Warlock is a kind of mythical strategy, seen on sale at steam for £3 or so. It's simpler than some, but good fun. Revenge of the titans is also a strategy/rts-ey kinda game too (you should check out puppy dog games, they are cool) GOG would be a good one and often have sales, oh and being DRM free is great as you own it and can save the install file onto a back up hdd forever. Ftl can be a lot of fun too! (also seen cheap on both GOG and Steam)

scorza · 26 Mar 2014 at 13:46

So sad to hear the early 2000s described as the "old days"

I'd have thought Portal 1 & 2 should be on the list for any old gamer. Keep the mind active to prevent Alzheimer's setting in.

Flapduckquack · 26 Mar 2014 at 13:50

my bad, i was just mentioning a few newer games that might have been of interest

Oh you can get Monkey island on steam (Wait for sale!) Baldurs gates up on GOG aswell and such great games as that.

Newbie007 · 26 Mar 2014 at 14:04

Batman Arkham games
Hitman Absolution
Tomb Raider
Walking Dead
Max Payne 3
Skyrim
Portal/Portal2
Fallout 3/New Vegas

ci_newman · 26 Mar 2014 at 14:56

C&C, RA2, Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2. All available to play on Win7 for some nostalgic pleasure.

Kippered · 26 Mar 2014 at 15:12

Deffo check out GoG. They often give out games for free to people registered.

Got Dungeon Keeper & expo a few weeks back. Such a satisfying game.

Deadbeat · 26 Mar 2014 at 15:14

Kippered said:
Deffo check out GoG. They often give out games for free to people registered.

Got Dungeon Keeper & expo a few weeks back. Such a satisfying game.

I've never had any free games from GoG

. Bought loads of stuff from them too.

Flapduckquack · 26 Mar 2014 at 15:16

Deadbeat said:
I've never had any free games from GoG . Bought loads of stuff from them too.

They tend to give some games away on certain dates/anniversaries, i got torchlight 1, fallout 1,2 and tactics and dungeonkeeper that past 3 event things.

GhostWKD · 26 Mar 2014 at 16:32

scorza said:
So sad to hear the early 2000s described as the "old days"

I'd have thought Portal 1 & 2 should be on the list for any old gamer. Keep the mind active to prevent Alzheimer's setting in.

Apologies, actually meant the old days of him playing computer games - If we wanted to go really retro would've playing with him on my Amiga with games rented/taken-out from the library

He's actually undergoing 4-5 days of hospital appointments this week so pretty much anything he gets into will help i'd imagine. Hoping to build this week ready for the weekend and can always add more games at a later date if required

Can't get on GoG from work but will check it out later.

Krisali · 26 Mar 2014 at 18:55

Sid Meier's Pirates!

Kosmiche · 26 Mar 2014 at 19:00

Weird, I got some games for free on GOG just for signing up.

Jasseh · 26 Mar 2014 at 19:03

Some nice bundles available from various different sites, I use this site to check for new bundles:
http://www.epicbundle.com/game-bundle

Hopefully some of the games in the bundles will appeal to your dad. Most of the bundles are priced around £2-5.

Some good deals here too on Square Enix games: https://www.humblebundle.com/store

Flapduckquack · 26 Mar 2014 at 21:45

Eames said:
Weird, I got some games for free on GOG just for signing up.

Oh yea, i forgot about them. Beneath a steel sky and that! :cool:

smelly_legend · 26 Mar 2014 at 21:59

papers please

sgavan · 27 Mar 2014 at 06:07

I find pinball fx 2 to be a easily picked up game but can spend quite a bit of time on it.