What are the Top 5 Best PSN Games Under $10?

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Psst. I'm going to tell you a secret: You were right. There is an overmind lording over games journalism from behind the curtains. It's big, brainy and loaded with feature ideas. One of them, obviously, had something to do with cheap PSN games. The USgamer overmind wanted to discuss PSN games under $5 but I was too rebellious to fully comply. As such, here's a list of 10 great PSN games you can get for under $10. Now, enjoy while I make my escape.

Hotline Miami

Bleeding neon and gritty pixels, Hotline Miami kind of reminds me of top-down, 2D Manhunt. It's a brutal, blistering ride that may well have your skin crawling even as you attempt to skulk onwards the next kill. The raw, angry colors perfectly complement the kind of mayhem you'll be wrecking throughout the game. Every enemy is a potentially fatal encounter but also a reason for exultation. Kill the right people, and you'll benefit from the weapons they had clutched in their hands. Fail to do so and, well, expect to die and come right back. Discretion? What's that? Now's the time for bloody murder.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Final Fantasy Tactics is, for many, a fixture in the annals of strategy role-playing game history. And also evil. Because if you've played Final Fantasy Tactics, chances are you'll be comparing every other strategy RPG you play to it. The passage of time may have caused Final Fantasy Tactics to age somewhat but it's a graceful decline. If you're willing to forgo the fact it lacks high-definition graphics or photorealistic pores, it remains an absolutely captivating experience. Expect to get buried into the intricacies of its job-system and the twisting, complicated narrative.

Flower

Before Journey, there was Flower (and a bunch of other games that followed the same narrative feel.) Flower, which has been described as the spiritual successor to Flow, puts players in control of the wind. Your objective? To experience Flower in its totality, really. Most of your time will be spent navigating a single flower petal through six main levels and, well. I won't spoil it. Flower will probably not appeal for those aiming to snag a heart-thumping action game from ye olde bargain basket. However, if you're shooting for something quieter and more meditative, this will sail right up your alley.

Legend of Mana

Legend of Mana is a beautiful game. At least, that's what rose-tinted memories tell me. I remember it being one of my best co-op experiences of all time: it was the only one that didn't terrify the snot out of my younger sibling. Of course, there's more to that than just sweet nostalgia. Legend of Mana was an action-RPG that was vibrant, gorgeous and equipped with non-linear gameplay - a rarity back in those olden days. You could help shape the game world and work on trying to figure any of the three existing plots. Not that you actually had to. Which was kind of neat. Also? Pets. Cutesy, fluffy rabbit-like things which can fight for you. How can you say no to that?

Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark

Stealth Inc: A Clone in The Dark is a beautiful, forbidding stealth-based puzzle-platformer that has you guiding a bald-headed, be-goggled clone through the game's imposing labyrinth of physical conundrums. To make matters even more unnerving, Stealth Inc even has a faceless observer which writes its thoughts on the walls. Brr. The game isn't shy about murdering you. Make a mistake, and you're dead. But it is equally, glibly pleased to see you survive. But can you? Sixty-four levels await your sneaky ingenuity.

Bonus Games:

Limbo: Limbo is creepy. The monochromatic, moody platformer is set in a world of shadows, fog, mysteries and things that just want you dead. Little is really explained here, but that's okay. You won't have time to claw for detailed exposition. Not when massive spiders and deadly traps are waiting for your white-eyed protagonist. (P.S: There's a reason as to why Limbo seems so universally beloved.)

Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game : The biggest problem with Scott Pilgrim versus the World is probably the fact it's short. Too short. The side-scrolling brawler, which was apparently modelled after classic beat-em-ups of yore, allows for up to four players to join hands in local, co-op hilarity. Similar to the movie, the game will require you to mow through seven levels in order to defeat Ramona's seven evil exes.

Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers: It goes without saying that I'm one of the countless people who are hopelessly ensnared with Magic the Gathering. While I try my best not to get sucked into it again these days, the collectible card game holds a special place in my heart. That said, it can be intimidating to learn. If you're new to Magic or just need access to the game while on the road, Duels of the Planeswalkers is probably your best bet. It's a simpler, more streamlined version of the game that, nonetheless, doesn't skimp on quality.