TPS Fest: The Smartest Third-Person Shooter Buys on Steam This Week

Steam’s TPS Fest is live, and the discounts are worth your attention. This isn’t one of those seasonal mega sales where you scroll through 12,000 games and feel paralyzed. It’s laser-focused on third-person shooters, which makes the storefront cleaner and the deals sharper.

The event runs through Monday, September 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. That’s 1:00 p.m. Eastern for anyone on the other side of the country. And yes, that lands neatly on Labor Day — which means you could spend your long weekend actually playing instead of just wish-listing.

TPS Fest Headliners: Big Discounts That Actually Matter

Let’s start with the heavy hitters. These are the kind of discounts you remember, the ones that spark the “how is this that cheap?” conversation in your group chat.

Control Ultimate Edition: A No-Brainer at 90 Percent Off

Remedy’s supernatural shooter is sitting at a ridiculous 90 percent off. For four bucks, you get the base game and both expansions. It’s stylish, it’s strange, and it has one of the best sound designs in modern games.

Why it’s special: Control doesn’t just throw bullets around. It gives you telekinesis, levitation, and a brutal service weapon that feels like a character in its own right. And at this price, it’s basically cheaper than a coffee run.

Pro tip: If you’re playing on a controller, bump the aim assist one notch. Remedy built this for both PC mouse aim and couch play, but a tiny tweak makes it feel buttery smooth.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection: A Cinematic Bargain at 60 Percent Off

Sometimes you don’t want sprawling open worlds. Sometimes you want a tight, cinematic adventure where every chapter is a set-piece. That’s what Uncharted delivers. You get Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End plus The Lost Legacy, both optimized for PC and now sitting at 60 percent off.

Why it’s special: The climbing, the gunfights, the witty banter — it’s popcorn gaming in the best way. Think of it as a Hollywood blockbuster you actually get to control.

US nod: If you’ve got family in and out of the living room, this one’s a great spectator game. You’ll get questions like “wait, who’s Chloe?” but that’s half the fun.

The Last of Us Part I and Part II Remastered: Prestige Storytelling With Discounts

Few shooters carry the kind of cultural weight these do. The first game is 50 percent off, while Part II Remastered is getting its first real Steam discount at 20 percent off.

Why they’re special: They’re benchmarks for storytelling in games. If you’re new to the series, start with Part I. It’s lean, devastating, and still one of the most emotionally charged experiences you’ll find. If you’ve been waiting for the PC release of Part II Remastered, this is your moment to see it at a lower entry point.

Pro tip: Play with headphones. These games lean hard on sound — from hushed dialogue to sudden chaos — and tinny laptop speakers just won’t cut it.

Risk of Rain 2: Chaos With Friends at 67 Percent Off

This is the co-op pick. Four players, endless item combos, and a difficulty curve that keeps daring you to go “one more run.” It’s 67 percent off right now, and expansions are discounted too.

Why it’s special: Every session feels different. Sometimes you’re barely scraping through, other times you’re an unstoppable turret mowing down bosses. And it scales well with friends — whether you’ve got one partner or a full squad.

US nod: Perfect Friday night game. Throw it on Discord, grab a drink, and let it spiral.

No Man’s Sky: Endless Exploration in Third-Person at 60 Percent Off

This one’s back on sale — 60 percent off — and it deserves a spot in TPS Fest because it toggles cleanly between first- and third-person. If you’re in it for the shooting, third-person feels great. But the real hook is variety: explore planets, trade goods, build bases, or just take your ship out and see what trouble finds you.

Why it’s special: It’s the kind of game you can dip into casually or sink months into. Perfect for anyone who likes long-form projects.

Pro tip: Set a small goal each session — a new ship upgrade, a better multi-tool, or a specific resource hunt. Otherwise, the scale of the universe can swallow you whole.

Free-to-Play Picks Featured During TPS Fest

You don’t need a credit card for these, but they’re worth mentioning because they’re buzzing right now, and some have limited-time bonuses.

• PUBG: Battlegrounds — still the OG drop-in, loot-up battle royale. Current event runs through early September, which lines up neatly with TPS Fest.
• Warframe — the parkour-heavy, ability-driven shooter that’s been evolving for a decade. Premium bundles are discounted this week.
• Marvel Rivals — 6v6 superhero shootouts. A free install and an easy test run if you want something different after work.
• The First Descendant — looter shooter with boss fights big enough to feel like raids. It’s grindy, but free is free.

Why they matter: Sometimes you just want to see what clicks. If you bounce off, no harm done.

Small Things That Save You Headaches During TPS Fest

Not the glamorous part, but important.

• Timing: Discounts usually end at 10:00 a.m. Pacific on the final day. Some titles wrap earlier, so read the “offer ends” line carefully.
• Controllers: Most of these games feel better with a gamepad. If you’re on PC and don’t own one, consider grabbing a basic Xbox controller — it’s plug-and-play.
• Refunds: Valve’s policy is two hours of play or fourteen days after purchase. Don’t push past the two-hour mark if you’re testing performance on your rig.
• Storage space: The Last of Us and Uncharted are chunky downloads. If you’re on a data cap, maybe let them patch overnight.

Think of this as future-you sending a thank-you card to present-you.

Stretching Thirty Bucks: A Sample Loadout

Let’s say you don’t want to go wild. You just want a few solid picks to carry you through the long weekend. Here’s what I’d do with thirty bucks:

• Control Ultimate Edition — stylish single-player for four bucks.
• Risk of Rain 2 — co-op chaos for under ten.
• No Man’s Sky — the long-term project, half off.

That stack gives you variety: narrative, multiplayer, and open-ended exploration. You’ll get months out of it, easy.

TPS Fest FAQ: Quick Answers

• When does TPS Fest end?
  • September 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
• Which discounts are most time-sensitive?
  • Control ends on August 31, a day earlier than the main event.
• Do these games play well on Steam Deck or handheld PCs?
  • Yes, most of them are controller-first titles. Performance varies, so keep the refund policy in mind.
• Is No Man’s Sky good in third-person?
  • Absolutely. It’s smoother for combat and base-building.
• What’s the one game I shouldn’t miss?
  • If you’ve never touched it: The Last of Us Part I. If you want cheap thrills: Control Ultimate Edition.

TPS Fest is built for focus. No scrolling through strategy, no endless indie filler. Just third-person shooters — from prestige narratives to co-op grinds — lined up for a week. Pick your mood, grab your deal, and let Labor Day weekend double as game night.