If you’re not familiar with Stray, it’s a PS4/PS5 game where you play as a cat. It’s a very short game; the main story can be beaten in an afternoon. However, it’s available on PS+ (although going away soon), and can be purchased outright for <$30.
It’s the first time in a long time where I felt totally delighted by how innovative and different a video game was. First of all, playing as a cat isn’t just a cute gimmick. The level designs are all about navigating around slums using your size and acrobatic abilities of a cat.
Second, the world that the devs have created is so cool. It’s like some sort of cyberpunk version of Kowloon Walled City.
This game is not Elden Ring. But for an afternoon, it’s absolutely worth your time. I can’t recommend it enough. Especially if you are finding yourself burned out by the usual types of games. I hope the devs follow up with something else adjacent to this game!
My guess is people probably find it easier to gauge the worth of a game considering most games have a higher price point than those you mentioned. You could look at it the same way for a subscription service like Netflix. If you’re spending $10 a month over the course of a year and have invested $120 into the service but have only watched a couple of movies or barely use it, it may not seem like its worth it. I don’t think this sentiment is really expressed with things outside of gaming.
Stray is a great example for me of a game that was pretty short but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt satisfied when I finished it.