Steam's Autumn Sale has arrived for 2026, bringing a sprawling list of discounts across PC games and downloadable content. Valve launched the event on October 1, and it is scheduled to run until October 8. With Steam's store filters indicating that more than 25,000 games and DLC packages are included, there is no realistic way to browse every offer before the promotion ends.
That makes a focused budget helpful. For players looking to add excellent games without spending more than $15 apiece, the sale has an unusually broad mix: landmark co-op shooters, giant open-world adventures, dense strategy games, survival sandboxes, horror classics, and newer releases are all represented. Many of the strongest cuts are below $10, too, making this a particularly good opportunity to fill gaps in a PC library or pick up a game for a co-op group.
Prices can be subject to regional differences and may change during a promotion, but the deals below were listed during the sale period. Here are the standouts, organized by the kinds of games players may be searching for.
Big-budget worlds and action games
Red Dead Redemption II is available for $15, down from $60. Rockstar's large-scale Western remains an enormous single-player undertaking, whether the appeal is its story-driven campaign, its detailed world, or simply the chance to wander the frontier at a slower pace than most open-world games allow.
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There is also a strong selection of Ubisoft open-world games at notably low prices. Watch Dogs 2 is just $3, discounted from $50, while Assassin's Creed Origins is $9, down from $60, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey is $12, also reduced from $60. Far Cry 5 rounds out that category at $9, down from $60. Each offers a substantial map and lengthy campaign, so these are especially useful options for anyone wanting a lot of game time from a modest purchase.
Grand Theft Auto also has two entries. GTA IV Complete Edition costs $5, reduced from $20, while GTA V Enhanced is $15, down from $30. The former is the more compact and older game, while GTA V Enhanced offers the newer version of Rockstar's Los Santos adventure at the top end of this budget.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is another prominent $15 deal, cut from $60. Its presence at that price gives action fans a newer, high-profile option alongside much older catalog favorites. For a more mechanically unusual story-focused experience, Quantum Break is reduced to $10 from $40.
Essential shooters, stealth, and co-op picks
For a low-cost shooter bundle, it is difficult to ignore how far $20 can go in this sale. Left 4 Dead is $2, down from $10; Portal 2 is also $2, down from $10; and Titanfall 2 is $5, cut from $30. That is a remarkable trio of Valve and Respawn-era favorites spanning cooperative zombie survival, inventive puzzle solving, and a campaign-centered first-person shooter.
Deep Rock Galactic is available for $9, down from $30. Its team-based missions and emphasis on cooperative play make it a natural consideration for groups seeking a game to return to regularly. Borderlands 2 is $5, discounted from $20, and Borderlands 3 is $6, down from $60, providing two more loot-driven co-op options at very low entry prices.
Stealth fans can grab Hitman World of Assassination for just $3, reduced from $30. That price makes it one of the sale's most striking value picks, particularly for players who enjoy replaying intricate levels and experimenting with different approaches. Meanwhile, Metro Exodus is only $3, down from $30, offering a more tense, atmospheric shooter experience.
For players with virtual reality hardware, Half-Life: Alyx is discounted to $15 from $60. It is explicitly a VR-only game, so it is not a general PC purchase for every Steam user, but the 75% cut is significant for those equipped to play it.
RPGs, survival, and games built for long sessions
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has fallen to $4 from $40, an easy entry point for anyone who has somehow not yet explored Bethesda's long-running fantasy RPG. It is a familiar choice, but the price leaves plenty of room in a $15 budget for another game or two.
Grim Dawn is similarly inexpensive at $4, down from $25. Players interested in action RPG systems and character-building can pair it with Skyrim while remaining well under the cost of one full-priced release. Remnant 2, a more action-heavy option, is listed at $10, reduced from $50.
Two underwater survival games are included at the same price: Subnautica is $8, down from $30, and Subnautica: Below Zero is $8, also reduced from $30. Those games are worth considering for players who prefer exploration, gathering, base-building, and a more isolated sense of discovery over straightforward combat campaigns.
Raft is another survival-oriented pick at $14, down from $20. It fits just below the $15 ceiling and is particularly suited to players who want a cooperative survival project. Minecraft Dungeons is available for $10, reduced from $20, providing a more approachable action-adventure option with a familiar Minecraft setting.
Strategy games and simulations at deep discounts
The sale is also generous to strategy players. XCOM 2 costs only $3, down from $20, making its turn-based tactical battles one of the most affordable recommendations in the entire event. At the grand-strategy end, Crusader Kings III is $15, reduced from $50, and Hearts of Iron IV is also $15, down from $50.
Total War: Warhammer III stands out even more sharply at $9, reduced from $60. It is a major discount for players after large-scale fantasy strategy, combining campaign-map management with real-time battles. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is listed at $8, down from $30, giving mech fans a different form of tactical and combat-focused play.
For something less war-focused, American Truck Simulator is $5, discounted from $20. Simulation games are not for everyone, but this is a low-risk price for anyone interested in a calmer, route-based experience. Thronefall is $8, reduced from $13, offering another strategy-flavored choice at a compact price point.
Horror, puzzles, and smaller-scale favorites
Capcom's Resident Evil catalog is well represented. Resident Evil 2 costs $8, down from $40; Resident Evil 7 is $8, reduced from $20; Resident Evil Village is $10, down from $40; and Resident Evil 4 is $10, cut from $40. That gives horror fans several distinct places to start, from the remake of Resident Evil 2 to the first-person perspective of Resident Evil 7 and Village.
Players after thoughtful puzzles can find The Talos Principle 2 for $3, discounted from $30. That is among the deepest percentage reductions in the sale. Balatro is available for $12, down from $15, while Retro Rewind is $14, reduced from $20.
Making the most of the week-long sale
The best approach is not necessarily to buy the most games, but to choose the ones that fit how and with whom you play. A solo player who wants a sprawling narrative could prioritize Red Dead Redemption II, Skyrim, or one of the Assassin's Creed games. A group can get substantial mileage from Deep Rock Galactic, Left 4 Dead, Raft, Borderlands, or Minecraft Dungeons. Strategy devotees have unusually strong options between XCOM 2, Crusader Kings III, Hearts of Iron IV, and Total War: Warhammer III.
There are also some especially efficient combinations. Hitman World of Assassination, XCOM 2, Portal 2, Titanfall 2, and Metro Exodus add up to only $16 based on the listed sale prices, although buying fewer titles may be wiser than creating an even larger backlog. For horror fans, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7 together cost $16. For an open-world pairing, Watch Dogs 2 and Far Cry 5 come to $12.
Steam's Autumn Sale ends October 8, so players interested in any of these prices should check the relevant store listings before the event concludes. With thousands of promotions running simultaneously, these $15-and-under selections provide a practical starting point rather than an attempt to tackle the entire catalog.
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