Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #80

Hey Blerdy Tribe! It’s Thrifty Thursday!! In a world where it’s all about the almighty dollar, sometimes it’s a little tough to make our pennies stretch enough to accommodate our hobbies. But, there are plenty of ways to balance your budget while still enjoying the things you love, you just have to be a little thrifty about it. So, I created Thrifty Gaming in order to spotlight some lesser known indie titles that are both entertaining an affordable.

If you’re a new follower or someone who has been following since my Nice Job Breaking It Hero days and have been gone for awhile, here’s a refresher… Thrifty Gaming, is a weekly post series where I spotlight three games/visual novels that are under $10.00. These can be mobile games, PC games, and a few times I have found some nice indie console titles too. The list used to focus on just otome games and romance visual novels, but after requests from a few readers I have since expanded to other gaming genres. I don’t include sales or limited time offers, each title has to be consistently priced at $10.00 or less without any promotions to be included in this line up.

Note, these are not reviews, rather recommendations so your mileage may vary with some of these titles. This week’s post will include a brief synopsis and links to each game so you can add them to your gaming library! You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy your hobbies, so save a little bread and check this week’s thrifty gaming picks!

My 3rd Date with my Cyber Girlfriend (2021) – Bus Arrows Studios

Cost: Free

Windows and Mac

Roy Carpenter, a tech genius in the 23rd century where humans and robotic technology work together as one. He got his (first ever) girlfriend called Ulima, a young woman android with an intelligent word of choices.

This is his third date with her, and you know what that means! It means (he heard it from his outcast techy nerd buddies) that if he shoots and scores… he’ll score, in the bedroom of passion.

Ulima may be the most intelligent girl you’ve ever seen, but there’s more, she’ll show to you that haunts her since the “incident.”

-Synopsis

My 3rd Date With My Cyber Girlfriend is a short BxG visual novel developed by Bus Arrow Studios for the Valentine’s VN Game Jam 2021. The game takes roughly 15 – 30 minutes to complete and takes you through the protagonists 3rd date with Ulima, a pretty android woman. If things go well, maybe our hopelessly nerdy protagonist will get lucky~ The game is rated 13+ and does deal with past trauma and some light sexual undertones.

Amplitude (2017) – Ceylon Entertainment

Cost: $10.00 ($10.99 on Steam)

Windows, Linux, and Mac | Steam

The game’s story begins in the year 2121, in a world where the majority of human populace exhibit mutated abilities. This is a harsh environment for those who have no power whatsoever, with tragedy arising in their lives for the simple fact that they are not ‘special’. Death sometimes seems like mercy.

To restore balance and protect citizens, those under twenty are obliged to wear P.E.T. s (Personal Electronic Trackers) which monitor their activities at all times. This is how laws and morals are taught and enforced. While binding, the friendly personality of these devices ensures that they their permanent presence feels more like having a caring companion than a jailor.

It is in this world that you are born, raised… and killed. But your determination to live and finish your life’s mission is too strong to diminish even after death, and it is with the aid of a mysterious otherworldly girl that you managed to return in the body of a dead teenager. To continue on, to unravel the secrets too dangerous to be learned. To avenge. If only this body was just yours to share.

-Synopsis

AMPLITUDE is a sci-fi romance visual novel developed by Ceylon Entertainment and incorporates a wide range of gameplay styles. Choose between playing as a male or female protagonist, whichever you choose will greatly impact the course of your story—especially the relationships you build and how the other characters interact with you. Develop your character’s skills by performing a wide range of tasks and quests around town to build up combat, deception, bravery, knowledge, and charisma stats. Also navigate a town, complete quests, and interact with characters via a point and click map! And last, but not least, romance some of the games unique characters.

Lockdown (2021) – Pryzmat

Cost: Free

Windows and Mac

Our lives are not like before. Everyone must get used to new way of living.
You’re stuck within four walls but it doesn’t mean you can’t creatively spend your free time!

-Synopsis

Lockdown is a short visual novel developed by Pryzmat, a game-making Students’ Club at the Szczecin Academy of Art. The game is fairly short, at least 15 minutes long and has 32 selectable actions. Perform actions to help your character navigate being stuck at home, how you spend your time is ultimately up to you!

That’s it for this week’s thrifty buys, but, don’t worry I’ll have more titles for in next week’s post, so be on the look out for that next Thursday! But, if all that extra money you saved is burning a hole in your pocket and you just can’t wait for next week’s list, definitely check out some of my previous Thrifty Gaming posts, there are tons of games for gamers who like me are ballin’ on a budget!

Thank you for reading and Supporting Blerdy Otome! If you like what you see be sure to drop a like or a comment to let me know your thoughts on this week’s Thrifty Picks!!