PS2 Classics and Inspired Indies Hit Steam Autumn Sale

Ever feel like the PS2 era was lightning in a bottle? You're not alone. The Steam Autumn Sale is here, and it's packed with games that either defined the sixth generation or were inspired by it. A former PS2 magazine writer shared their top picks, and we've got the rundown.

The list includes six modern games that wear their PS2 influences on their sleeves. Promise Mascot Agency is an open-world management sim where you send Japanese mascots to events on a possibly cursed island. It's 40% off at $15/£13, and its director cites Disaster Report and Persona 4 as inspirations. Then there's Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-action hack-and-slash with cel-shaded visuals, 55% off at £12.14/$13.49. It blends Devil May Cry-style combat with music-video flair, drawing from director Edgar Wright's films.

Denshattack! is a speedrunning stunt game inspired by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Dreamcast classics like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio. It's 25% off at $15/£12, and you use a train to battle giant robots and smash baseballs at bosses. Sifu, a brutal hand-to-hand brawler from Sloclap, is 75% off at $10/£8. The devs specifically cited Capcom's God Hand as an influence, and it shows in the satisfying combat.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a hybrid of action and strategy where you recruit villagers to defend a maiden from demons. It's 25% off at £30/£25, and it feels like a lost PS2 Capcom gem. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is 20% off at $40/£34, and it wears its Final Fantasy 10 love proudly, especially in its world-building and story about a cycle of erasure.

But wait, there are actual PS2 games too. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is available in the Master Collection Vol. 1, 50% off at $30/£25. The remake, Delta, is also 30% off. So you have two ways to experience this classic on PC.

All these deals are live during the Steam Autumn Sale. Whether you're nostalgic for the sixth generation or curious about what inspired today's indies, there's something here for you. So, will you be picking up any of these? Let us know in the comments!