Stardew Valley is the clearest argument that a game can be sold once and respected forever. There are no microtransactions, no battle pass and no energy timers. You buy it, you own it, and it works offline.
What works well
- Enormous content for a very low price.
- No monetisation of any kind after purchase.
- Plays excellently on a phone, a laptop or a console.
- Regular substantial free updates from a single developer.
What to watch out for
It is slow by design. Players looking for constant stimulation will find the opening hours quiet. That quiet is the point, but it is worth knowing in advance.
Verdict
The best value on this list by a wide margin. If you only buy one game this year, this is a defensible choice.