Where to find 1 dollar games on Steam
- Search with a price cap: in Steam search, drag the price slider to "Under US$1" (or your local equivalent) and sort by user reviews.
- Seasonal sales: older indie games often drop to a dollar or less in the big sales.
- Your wishlist: Steam emails you when a wishlisted game goes on sale.
- Curators who specialise in cheap games.
How to spot the best $1 game on Steam
| Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|
| "Very Positive" with hundreds of reviews | A handful of reviews, all on launch day |
| A developer with other released games | Store art that does not match the screenshots |
| Recent updates | Many near-identical games from one developer |
| Short trailer showing real gameplay | Trailer with no gameplay |
What a dollar buys you best
At this price, the games that deliver are usually small and focused: arcade games, puzzle games and short narrative games built around one strong idea. Do not expect a 40-hour epic; do expect something you will replay.
Steam's refund safety net
Steam generally lets you request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you have played for less than two hours. Check Steam's refund policy for the details, and use it if a cheap game is not what it claimed.
Captain Star's price
Captain Star is a one-off US$0.99 on the Mac App Store. On Steam for Windows, pricing varies by region, so check the store page for yours. It is a small, focused arcade shooter: pilot a UFO, reach the star, survive the next wave, beat your score.
Captain Star is our top-down space shooter: you pilot a UFO through escalating alien waves, reach the star to clear each wave, and chase a high score. One pointer both moves and aims the ship. It is US$0.99 on the Mac App Store, on Steam for Windows, and on Apple TV and iPad.