These are all games that are (in my opinion) great games that you can buy today for less than 5 dollars. If you think I missed a game, or want to share your own list, feel free to comment below.
10.
SummonerReleased: April 6, 2001
Platforms: Playstation 2, Windows & Macintosh
Developer: Volition
Price: $1.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Being a summoner is not easy. Something young Joseph found out the hard way when he summoned a demon in the middle of his village. The demon destroyed everything and everyone he cared for, and life kinda went downhill from there. As Joseph you try to come to peace with the past, and to fulfill an ancient prophecy in order to save his homeland. While the voice acting does leave a lot more to be desired, the rest of the game is solid rpg-ing fun. It has randomly spawned monsters, solid battle mechanics and intuitive controls. Summoner also played one of the (at the time) funniest 4th wall breaking videos after the end-credits rolled.
9.
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken LandReleased: October 4, 2002
Platforms: Playstation 2
Developer: Atlus
Price: $4.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land takes you to the desolate kingdom of Duhan in search of great treasures. You create your own character from a selection of 5 races and 8 different classes, each one letting you play the game in a different style. The game focuses on the player befriending other characters in the game and setting up powerful teams. As the members of your team learn to trust each other, they will learn new attacks known as Allied Actions. This allows you to take advantage of their full potential and release devastating attacks to the enemies. Just be prepared to do a lot of grinding as you make your way slowly down the labyrinth. As with most dungeon-crawlers there is going to be a lot of back-tracking and redoing a lot of previous areas, but this just makes the feeling of discovering new areas that much better.
8.
Trauma Center: Second OpinionReleased: November 19, 2006
Platforms: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Atlus
Price: $2.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Bringing the nail-biting tension of the emergency room to the gaming scene, while at the same time putting the Wii's nunchuck to good use is no easy task, but this is exactly what Trauma Center: Second Opinion manage to pull off. You will have to re-set broken bones, remove foreign objects, stitch up wounds and other tasks, all while trying to save the patient's lives. However, things take a turn for the worse, when it becomes clear that there is definitely more to this than meets the eye. This game can be extremely hectic from time to time, so make sure that you have a cleared area to play in, as your arms are going to flail about wildly.
7.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor LegacyReleased: December 7, 2001
Platforms: Playstation 2
Developer: Naughty Dog
Price: $1.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Naughty Dog is probably best known today for the Uncharted series starring Nathan Drake, however they have been making great games for a long time. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is no exception. It is a thrilling action-packed platformer with tons of humor thrown into the mix. The game stars two mischievous friends who sneak off to a forbidden island, only for Daxter to be transformed into a small furry mammal. It is now up to Jak to find a way to get Daxter back to his old self again. At the same time a sinister plot grows in the shadows.
6.
Destroy All Humans!Released: June 24, 2005
Platforms: Playstation 2
Developer: Pandemic Studios
Price: $4.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
In this hillariously addictive game you play as Cryptosporidium 137 (or Crypto among friends), a Furon who is sent to Earth to assimilate humans for the greater glory and continued existence of the Furon empire. This is simple mindless fun that will keep you entertained over and over. With clever writing, over-the-top weaponry and mass mayhem, destroying humankind has never been more exhilarating.
5.
Majin and the Forsaken KingdomReleased: November 23, 2010
Platforms: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
Developer: Game Republic
Price: $2.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is a great puzzle oriented game, with beautiful landscapes and a wonderful storyline. You play as Tepeu, a thief who is determined to get to the bottom of the sudden darkness that has swallowed the land. He discovers the Majin, the ancient protector of the kingdom, and together they set out to bring the light back. The dynamic between the two characters is superb, and you'd be hard pressed not to fall in love with the Majin's personality. This game has scored really well by those who have played it, the only real negative feedback has usually been the voice acting and having to backtrack through previous areas. There are elements of Puzzle-solving, Strategic Planning, Combat and Stealth all wrapped up in a very enjoyable game.
4.
Stranglehold (Collector's Edition)Released: September 5, 2007
Platforms: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
Developer: Midway Chicago
Price: $4.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
Before John Woo got western recognition by directing The Matrix, he was writing and creating cinematographic masterpieces in Hong Kong. One such movie was Hard Boiled, where viewers are introduced to Inspector Tequila, a drunken tough as nails cop, who does whatever necessary in order to bring criminals to justice. In Stranglehold you continue as Tequila and take on the underworld with guns blazing. While the story is somewhat predictable, it is the action that sets this game apart. Using Tequila Time to slow down time (similar to Max Payne's Bullet Time, which was actually inspired by John Woo's film technique) the player is able to accurately take out multiple targets in a split second. This ability is used throughout the game, and extra points are given for spectacular kill-shots, or by using the environment to your advantage.
3.
Hitman 2: Silent AssassinReleased: October 4, 2002
Platforms: Playstation 2
Developer IO Interactive
Price: $1.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
As Agent 47, a genetically-engineered assassin, you take out your targets using stealth and finesse. The Hitman series has always focused on getting in and out without raising an alarm and only eliminating the key target, and Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is no exception. For extra points and bragging rights you can also set up elaborate traps making any deaths look like tragic accidents. Definitely a must have for any stealth loving gamer.
2.
DishonoredReleased: October 8, 2013
Platforms: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
Developer: Arkane Studios
Price: $4.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
In this epic stealth game you play as Corvo Attano, who is framed for the death of the Empress. In order to clear your name, you must become just as skilled as the assassin responsible for the murder. Dishonored focuses on letting you complete the game in the style you prefer the most. You can be as stealthy as a ghost, leaving no trace of ever being there, or you can go ballistic and leave corpses strewn in the street. This opens up the game for several playthroughs, where you will discover new strategies and paths every time. The only real problem in this game is the story, which is extremely predictable. However, the story is just the backdrop. The real value of this game lies in it's focus on letting the player control the cause of the game. If you like stealth based action games, then this is a deal you can't turn down.
1.
X-Com: UFO DefenseReleased: Summer 1994
Platforms: PC
Developer: MicroProse Software
Price: $4.99 (GameStop pricing as of August 17, 2015)
One of the best action strategy games from the late classic era of gaming, X-COM: UFO Defense places you in charge of obliterating an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth. The game focuses on researching alien technology in order to adapt the technology to your own. As the game progresses, tougher aliens will appear, constantly pushing your abilities and weaponry. You will have to make political decisions in order to gain the support of different nations, and you will also need to protect these sponsors. While the graphics might be outdated by today's standards, they are still very good for the time it was made. The only negative aspect to this game are "magic bullets", where occasionally an enemy bullet will clip straight through structures. However, this can also happen to your guys, so it kinda levels the playingfield somewhat. While it is really annoying to have one of your soldiers die from a bullet that just went through three buildings, remember that there is a good reason why re-makes and re-imaginings of this game are still being made to this day.