Here are the recommended games for the 2021 Steam Winter Sale!

Winter is hotter than summer. That's the Steam Winter Sale.
2021 was also a bumper year for games, from blockbusters to great indie games.

・Personally highly recommended works
・Highly discounted masterpieces
- Released after the summer sale, with low discount rates
We will introduce recommended games, focusing on the titles mentioned above.

↓Click here for recommended articles for the 2021 Summer Sale

https://akihabara-bc.jp/2021steam_summer/

↓Click here for recommended articles for the 2020 Winter Sale

https://akihabara-bc.jp/2020_steam_wintersale/

Steam Winter Sale 2021 Period (Japan time)

2021年12月23日3:00～2022年1月6日3：00(見込み)
Starting this year, Steam has officially announced the sale period.
No end time has been announced, but if it is the same as in previous years, it is expected to end at 3 a.m.

We will be updating the recommended games one after another during the sale period!!

Recommended games for the 2021 Steam Winter Sale

Below are some recommended games.
The information on recommended games is current as of December 23, 2021.

rule!
・Things that are actually purchased!
・Play for more than 2 hours! (No refunds available)
・Speak honestly without any reservations!
- Be respectful to the creators!
　　over!

Recommended RPGs on Steam

SCARLET NEXUS [List price ¥9,620 → ¥5,863 (-35%)]

▲Please forgive any comments like, "How many times have we introduced this?"

This is one of the games we introduced as a recommended game for the first half of the year.
"Is it really that recommended?'
You might say that, but it's actually the best action RPG of recent times.
Super"brain"As advertised as a battle of power, this game involves taking on the role of a special forces unit that fights day and night against monster-like creatures known as "kaii" in a world where special powers are commonplace.
The characters featured are a diverse range, from a cheerful childhood friend, an older shota, a muscular macho man, and characters from Namikawa Daisuke to Horie Yui.
Most of the characters belong to upper-class families and the worldview is so original that it's hard to empathize with them, but I guess that's within the acceptable range...?

▲My favorite character is Kyoka, who has the power of duplication and is full of maternal love.

There are some minor details that bother me, but overall it's a well-made piece.
The game features two protagonists of different genders, so you can enjoy it for at least two weeks, and it is designed to allow you to play it over and over again, so you can get into it thoroughly.

▲You can start playing either Yuito's (male) or Kasane's (female)!

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (590)
All reviews: Very Positive (6,658)

RESONANCE OF FATE™/END OF ETERNITY™ 4K/HD EDITION [¥3,996→¥2,397]

The title is long!!
END OF ETERNITY, a famous PS3 title known only to those in the know, is now available on Steam in 4K.
tri-Ace's RPGs are known for always being highly rated, and this latest title is no exception, as it is a thoroughly enjoyable RPG despite its complex system.
The combat is simply stylish.
The main characters fly, bounce, spin and fire their guns.

▲Leanbell, everyone who plays this game falls in love with her...

The combat and story are great, but the combat is a bit quirky.
Scratch...? Direct...? What is that? That's a lot of technical jargon.
In short
・No matter how much scratch damage (blue damage) you hit, you won't be able to defeat the enemy. Let's hit them with direct damage (orange (red) damage)
- Machine guns deal a lot of scratch damage. Handguns deal direct damage but the damage is low.
Use these to rain down bullets and shells!

And what makes it stand out is that the characters are very strong.
Not only the three main characters, but most of the voiced NPCs have such an impact that you will never forget them once you see them.
The story is basically serious and dark, but there are some humorous elements thrown in here and there, so overall it has a light-hearted feel.
Although various optimizations have been made, there are still many areas that need improvement. However, even with that in mind, it is a blessing that EOE can be played on PC.

(As of June 2021, 12)
All reviews: Very Positive (601)

Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers [¥8,489 → ¥4,664 (-45%)]

Judging from the PV, it looks like a Musou-style action game, but it's actually more of an RPG-style action game.
Also, since it is a complete sequel to Persona 5, which was released on PS4, the story progresses under the assumption that you have already played the game.
I've played up to R myself, so it didn't feel strange at all, and I was excited just to be able to see the sequel to the main story.
It's like P4U to Persona 4.
If you've played Persona 5, you'll feel incredibly emotional from the start of the game.

▲The story begins with the protagonist visiting Leblanc. An emotional illustration.

▲So, Sojiro... you're so emotional

▲This is what we mean when we say "flashy battles with simple controls!"

▲All characters are available to play, bringing tears to the eyes of fans! This is amazing!

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (311)
All reviews: Very Positive (6,939)

Recommended Shooters on Steam (Including FPS)

Back 4 Blood【￥8,580→￥5,148(-40%)】

This is also one of the games introduced in "Recommended games to buy during the Steam Winter Sale 2021."
Although it is a new product released in October, the discount rate is quite high at 40%.
A cooperative FPS zombie survival game in the style of L4D, blah blah blah.
Hordes of creatures will surge forward with beautiful graphics at or above L4D.

▲The old man is also drawn with beautiful graphics, making him twice as cool!

Perhaps because the previous work was so popular, there was very high expectations even before its release.
It seems like everyone in the world has been waiting for a game like this.
I am one of them.
Competitive games are fun, but I prefer cooperative play, so I recommend it!

▲ Even if you don't have any friends, a bot will join you! (Lonely)

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Moderately Positive (5,583)
All reviews: Mixed (22,386)

Deathsmiles【￥2,016→￥705(-65%)】

CAVE is a production company that is well known in the shooting game world.
He is also the pioneer who popularized bullet hell games.
This title is aimed more at shooter beginners, and has a slightly different feel to previous CAVE titles.

▲Change your ship from a fighter jet to a friendly female character!

This game is a side-scrolling shooter, and there are no power-ups for your character.
There is no self-destruction from hitting the ground, and the hit detection for your ship is the size of a grain of rice, and you can even see it.

▲If you don't hit the heart mark in the center of the character, it won't be a miss.

Normal mode isn't that difficult, so if you play while continuing you should be able to clear it in one coin.
The barrage of bullets is also fairly modest, making this a good title for those new to shooting games.
The system may be a little difficult to distinguish between shooting left and right, but I think you'll quickly get used to it as you play, so if possible, I would recommend bringing an arcade stick and enjoying the game like you're at an arcade.

(As of June 2021, 12)
All reviews: Very Positive (387)

Titanfall®2 [¥3,000→¥480(-84%)]

I've played both the PS4 and Origin versions, and I also bought the Steam version.
This is the Steam version of Titanfall®2. Although you purchase and download it on Steam, you will need an Origin account to play.
If you play APEX or something similar, you can use your existing account.
By the way, APEX is set in the world that follows Titanfall, so when you play both games you'll come across a lot of things that make you think, "I've seen this before!"

▲The story of rookie pilot Cooper and Titan (Robo) is a must-see.

▲In the campaign, you will run through the battlefield alongside a Titan called BT.

▲The conversation will change slightly depending on how you respond to BT.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (3,534)
All reviews: Very Positive (80,367)

Steam Recommended Actions

AKIBA'S TRIP First Memory [¥3,960 → ¥2,574 (-35%)]

The setting is Akihabara in 2011. It is a remaster of AKIBA'S TRIP, which was released for the PSP.
Akihabara exactly 10 years ago. Compared to Akihabara in 2021, it looks quite different.
It has been simplified to some extent for the game, but it still has the important parts.
"Ah, that's right, it was like this'
I feel a sense of nostalgia.

▲There was no Shin Radio Kaikan or Volks Building... it was a different time.

Now, this AKIBA'S TRIP is commonly known as "Otaku Ga Gotoku" (probably)
Set in the well-known Akihabara, the story follows the protagonist as he fights against vampire-like creatures known as the Kageyashi alongside Japan's special organizations and the Akihabara Incident Group.
The key point is that it's Akihabara, not Kabukicho (Kamurocho)!
To defeat the enemy, you need to strip them of their clothes so that they can be exposed to sunlight, which is Kageyashi's weakness.
Yes, it's a stupid game.

▲If you had your mind, you wouldn't place an NPC named Eurian.

Unfortunately, the illustrations are beautiful, the voice acting is super luxurious, and it seems like a lot of effort has been put into the game.
Between loads, there are introductions to famous places in Akihabara, which makes the app seem surprisingly well-made.

▲After reading this introduction, you too will become an Akihabara expert!!

While you can feel the creators' attention to detail, it's a bit confusing as the NPCs all have the same modeling and voices.
It has a slight hint of the SIMPLE series.

▲The three headphone brothers who appear at the beginning of the game. They are not real brothers.

Despite what I've written, this game is positioned as a lovable, silly game.
No, AKIBA'S TRIP First Memory is a fun game disguised as a silly game, and at this price for its 2021 release, it's definitely worth buying.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (10)
All reviews: Very Positive (68)

GRIS [¥1730→¥432(-75%)]

One day, a girl wakes up in the sky and falls to the earth.
In a fantastical world with background music, you will guide the girl forward against the backdrop of various scenes.
It is a puzzle-based action game in which you first explore the map in search of glowing balls.

▲The ball you obtain will fly along with the girl. First, find this ball.

The world is just beautiful.
You will overcome various gimmicks while gazing at a world of colors that blend together like a watercolor painting.
Players will be hooked on this game when they see the camera zoom out as they slide down a long slope early in the story.

▲A scene that effectively expresses the world and the girl by emphasizing contrast.

I guess the term "GRIS" is used to describe the transformation of art into a game.
I feel frustrated that I don't have the words to describe the atmosphere and greatness of this game.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Unreal Life, which I previously introduced.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (1,947)
All reviews: Overwhelmingly positive (42,304)

KAMIKO [¥520→¥312(-40%)]

Something like Zelda, with top-down pixel art.
This is an action game in which you use sacred artifacts given to you by God to defeat demons that stand in your way and solve the gimmicks on each stage.
There are three characters available from the start.
The weapons and attack methods are different, so the strategy will change depending on the character you choose.
*The puzzle itself does not change.

▲I'm definitely Yamato-chan, who appears in the title!!

▲ Simple operation yet timeless design

(As of June 2021, 12)
All reviews: Very Positive (108)

Fight'N Rage [¥1,980→¥594(-70%)]

A belt-scrolling action game in which a girl with bouncy breasts drawn in pixel art fights in the final battle!
*There are other playable characters besides Oppai-chan.




See for yourself how bouncy it is!!

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (30)
All reviews: Very Positive (1,664)

Steam's recommended roguelike games

Metallic Child [¥2,980 → ¥2,533 (-15%)]

SMASHING THE BATTLEDeveloped by "STUDIO HG” The latest work is Metallic Child.
This is a roguelike action game that can be played on multiple platforms including PS4 and Switch.
What's especially noteworthy is how cute the characters are, starting with Rona. This alone makes it worth the full price!

▲A tiny girl with a huge weapon. What other comparison could there be other than the strongest?!

Battles are played from a quarter-view, diagonal top-down perspective, and visibility has improved considerably, perhaps because the camera is farther away than in SMASHING THE BATTLE or because the characters are smaller.
The characters move quickly and when you use skills, flashy effects appear, so it's a great action game to play.

▲There are many systems you can use, but for now, just avoid and hit the enemy to defeat them!

Is the explanation in the tutorial too long? Are there too many systems right from the start?
I sometimes think that, but isn't it a godsend game just because you can move the incredibly cute Rona?

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (59)
All Reviews: Very Positive (835)

Vivid Night [¥1,520 → ¥1,216 (-20%)]

Roguelike + deck building is a genre that is growing rapidly in the Steam world.
If both roguelikes and card games are suitable for repeated play, then why not combine them?
I don't think they're making them with that in mind, but the number of games is increasing quite a bit, and it's a genre that looks set to become even more popular in the future.
This is a roguelike deck building genre, and Vivid Knight is a Japanese title.
Cute little characters move around on the screen with smartphone game-like graphics!
Of course, voice recording is also included!

▲Battles proceed automatically. Only one skill at the bottom of the screen can be used per turn.

You will gather your friends who have turned into jewels, form a party, and proceed underground to conquer the dungeon.
The equipment and gems you can obtain are random, so rather than conquering the dungeon with a specific person or equipment, the strategy you should adopt will change each time you enter the dungeon.
Additionally, by using gemstones obtained in or after clearing a dungeon, you can make even new gems appear by playing gacha!

▲Equipment, allies, and skills appear from the gacha. It's hard to decide what to choose!

Each playthrough isn't that long, but you'll often have to think about party composition, stamina, and keen (money), so it's definitely worth playing.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (55)
All reviews: Very Positive (1,115)

Blade Evolution【￥1,849→￥1,380(-25%)】

There are variations in the spelling of the title of this work!
Is the official name Blade Evolution? Or Blade ASSALT?
That aside, this game is a 2D side-scrolling action + roguelike game, which is not uncommon these days.
It does not follow the Metroidvania style, but rather is a one-area strategy game where you progress by defeating enemies in each area and selecting the door to the next stage that appears.

▲Kick away the approaching enemies, strengthen yourself, and defeat even more enemies!

▲A character in its base state is quite weak. First, you need to steadily develop your character.

▲ A cool, black-haired sword girl. Add more attributes!

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (31)
All reviews: Very Positive (648)

Hades【￥2,570→￥1,670(-35%)】

Now that we've introduced a game with a Hades-like system, we naturally have to introduce Hades itself.
It has received overwhelmingly positive reviews across all reviews.
It doesn't include any strangely unexpected systems, weapons, skills, etc., and gives the impression of being a well-rounded, well-made game.
As is typical of roguelikes, death is a common occurrence at the beginning, which makes for a high level of replayability.

▲The game is excellent for the price, and the graphics are impressive.

▲Even characters that are relatively popular with Japanese people look like this. They're quite strong.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (4,526)
All reviews: Overwhelmingly positive (159,239)

Steam Recommended Adventures

Timelie [¥1,840→¥920(-50%)]

Looking at the Steam page, the tags include "adventure" and "strategy," so perhaps it's an adventure with a strong puzzle element?
That's what I felt.
A girl wakes up in a mysterious room with mysterious powers.
It was the ability to manipulate time.

A girl wakes up in a bottomless abyss and an inorganic room.

By moving the seek bar like a video or music player, you can get a glimpse of the future, and by solving the gimmicks set up in each area, you will try to escape from the room without being caught by the guard-like machine.
◇As the shape point moves to the right, time advances across the entire screen, allowing you to predict the guards' actions.
You can click on the floor to move the girl to that spot, but her movement speed is not fast.
If you are caught by a guard, it will be a mistake, but you can rewind time so it will not result in death.

▲The guard's field of vision is visible in light format.

The guards' movement speed is fairly fast, so if you are spotted, it's best to assume that you made a mistake in your strategy.
It's a game that seems easy once you understand how to play, but since the movement distances and other things are set quite tight, it will be difficult to complete on your first try unless you observe carefully.
I'm not good at puzzles, so it took me quite a while just to clear one area.
The overall atmosphere is mysterious and fantastical. The background music is a loop that sounds like ambient sound or soothing music, and if you let your guard down, you might get a little sleepy.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (42)
All reviews: Overwhelmingly positive (1,277)

Maze Detective Pierre: Labyrinth City [¥1,220 → ¥915 (-25%)]

This game may not be familiar to people of our generation, but it is based on a work called "Maze Picture Book."
It's a genre similar to the old Where's Waldo?, where you have to search for someone among pages filled with backgrounds and characters.

▲ Ultimately, it's OK if you can reach the most important person in that stage.

The objective of the game is very simple: find the characters set for each stage in a maze-like city (Labyrinth City).
You control Pierre and explore areas of the map where you can advance.
Basically, the collision detection is as depicted on the screen, and you cannot pass through people or objects.

▲People, people, people, things, things, things

▲The world of Maze Detective Pierre is expressed from various perspectives!

This title expresses the world of Pierre the Maze Detective just like the world of the picture book.
The only controls are movement and confirmation, making it a title that can be enjoyed by people who don't usually play games, as well as the whole family.
It's fun just watching the people going about their daily lives!

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (196)
All reviews: Overwhelmingly positive (1,057)

Steam Recommended Simulation

Timberborn【￥2,570→￥2,056(-20%)】

Beavers chopping down trees!
Beavers draw water!
Beavers harvest blueberries!?
This is a beaver colony simulation that combines city building and breeding.

▲At the start of the game, you can only choose one type of beaver. It has a very foreign look.

Why would beavers build a city in the first place?
Why do beavers mostly live on land?
It's nonsense to ask.
Gather materials, store water, cultivate the fields and prepare housing.
Making various preparations in preparation for drought.
It is a work with a concept that has never been seen before.

▲A complete tutorial is also provided, so even those new to the founding system can feel at ease!

However, the tutorial is not perfect, and the game itself is a bit slow, so it's not something you can play quickly in a short amount of time.
It's fun to sit back and watch the beavers bustling about, thinking, "Hey Beaver! You're working hard again today!"

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (1,926)
All reviews: Overwhelmingly positive (7,609)

Idol Manager [¥1,980 → ¥1,584 (-20%)]

Akihabara Produce's SUPER KAWAII project has begun!
Become an idol producer and liven up your agency!
There are many games like this, but this one is relatively realistic.
They have to hold auditions, give dance and vocal lessons, make CDs, promote, and still make a profit.
It's like we're doing idol training and management together.

▲Establish various facilities on the floors of the building and strengthen your talent agency.

Without funds, nothing can be done, so we must be conscious of fundraising, but in order to do that, we must increase the popularity of our idols so that they can get work done.
However, when people work all the time, they accumulate fatigue and stress, so it is important to take care of these areas.
Of course, you also have to pay salaries to the people you employ, so in the beginning you'll probably become very materialistic.
But in reality, we need someone who can clear that kind of hurdle...
The future of our idol unit, SUPER KAWAII, will depend on my skills.

▲If idols who have been raised with hardship both physically and mentally become popular...

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin [¥5,478 → ¥3,286 (-40%)]

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, which was extremely popular in the RTA in Japan, is also on sale.
This game is a great combination of rice farming and action, but it also has a much more sophisticated system than you would imagine from its cute appearance, to the point that it has been said that the strategy wiki is like the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' website.

▲This single image alone shows the dedication to rice farming.

▲ Stylish action is exhilarating, whether on the ground or in the air!

▲It's strangely realistic that when ingredients are scarce, you can only make simple meals.

(As of June 2021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (95)
All reviews: Very Positive (2,915)

Unfortunately, it's not included in the sale. Looking forward to it in the future!

Zero ~Wet Crow Shrine Maiden~ [¥5,280]

▲I've been waiting for this for ages...thanks! (It's a horror game)

As a long-time fan of the series, this is a work that will make you a troublesome otaku.
I also introduced this in my previous article, "Recommended games to buy during the Steam Winter Sale 2021."
However, I really love this series so I'd like to recommend it again!
Although the rights were transferred to Nintendo, the game miraculously managed to be sold on Steam.
In this work, the expression of "water" is excellent, as can be seen from the inclusion of the character "wet."

▲The clothes sticking to my skin are just... just...

The original is the Wii U version.
I was playing by swinging the WiiU tablet around, holding it vertically and horizontally, and of course it was the Steam version.
Both horizontal and vertical shooting have been properly changed from the Wii U.

▲ Vertical shooting with the projector is also possible with just one button! God-like support! (Buddha)

Above all, the graphics have been improved by Zero coming to Steam.
From the creepy forest walkways to the dimly lit interiors and the water as mentioned above, it's all beautiful.
In addition, the rendering speed has been increased from 30fps in the original version to 60fps.
With beautiful characters, more expressive horror scenes, and a smooth-moving game screen, this is the Zero I've been looking for...

▲It's no exaggeration to say that this is the perfection of the Zero style: Nura no Miko!

(As of June 021, 12)
Recent Reviews: Very Positive (520)
All reviews: Moderately positive (3,119)

Transiruby【￥1,500】

Transiruby was the product I was most looking forward to releasing this year, but unfortunately it is no longer included in the winter sale.
It can't be helped given the timing of its release, but of course I bought it too.
Fans of this title will know just by looking at it that it was created by the same creator as the Kami Miko introduced above.
As always, the pixel art of the characters, backgrounds, and enemy characters (especially the standing images) is what really hits home.

▲All the characters that appear in the game are attractive.

▲ Has both short-range and long-range attacks from the start

(As of June 2021, 12)
All reviews: Positive (49)

Let's pile up Steam games like Babel!

First, a little experiment.
We've introduced ABC's recommended games just over 12 hours after the start of the Winter Sale.
For those who have already acquired it, and those who don't have it yet or haven't played it yet.
Why not check out the titles we posted today?