Steam just launched one of the most unique sales of the year, and it’s not another seasonal discount event. The Games From Vancouver Steam sale went live November 21, 2025, running through December 1 and spotlighting over 100 games created by studios in the Greater Vancouver area. From beloved indie darlings to venerated franchise hits, this sale celebrates one of the world’s most productive gaming hubs while offering discounts up to 90 percent off.
Vancouver’s game development scene punches far above its weight class. The region hosts industry titans like Klei Entertainment, creators of Don’t Starve and Oxygen Not Included. Relic Entertainment, the studio behind Company of Heroes and Homeworld. Hinterland Studio, developers of The Long Dark. Red Hook Games, the team that brought Darkest Dungeon to life. These aren’t obscure indie projects. These are some of the most acclaimed games of the past decade, all made within a few dozen miles of each other.
The Major Studios and Their Games
Klei Entertainment stands as one of Vancouver’s most successful indie studios. Founded in 2005 by Jamie Cheng while he was still working nights at Relic Entertainment, Klei has delivered hit after hit. Don’t Starve sold millions and spawned Don’t Starve Together, the multiplayer expansion that maintains an active community years after release. Oxygen Not Included moved over 2 million copies, establishing Klei as masters of survival simulation with personality.
The studio’s catalog during the sale includes Mark of the Ninja, Invisible Inc, Griftlands, and the early access title Rotwood currently at 20 percent off its lowest price ever. Tencent [finance:Tencent Holdings Limited] acquired Klei in 2021, but the studio maintained creative independence and continues operating from Vancouver. Their games represent the perfect blend of challenging mechanics, distinctive art styles, and dark humor that defines quality indie development.
Relic Entertainment represents Vancouver’s AAA pedigree. The studio launched in 1997 and became legendary for pioneering 3D real-time strategy with Homeworld. Their Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War series revolutionized RTS combat, while Company of Heroes established a new standard for World War 2 strategy games. Current discounts include Company of Heroes 2 at 75 percent off, Dawn of War Definitive Edition at 20 percent off, and the more recent Company of Heroes 3 with various DLC bundles on sale.
The Long Dark and Hinterland
Hinterland Studio might be the most distinctly Canadian developer in the sale. Founded by Raphael van Lierop after leaving Relic Entertainment where he directed Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine, Hinterland created The Long Dark as a deliberate rejection of homogenized AAA games. Van Lierop wanted a game with Canadian identity that explored post-apocalypse from the wilderness rather than urban environments filled with zombies.
The Long Dark launched through Kickstarter in 2013 before releasing in early access in 2014 and hitting full release in 2017. The survival game tasks players with navigating the frozen Canadian wilderness after a geomagnetic storm, scavenging supplies and managing hunger, thirst, warmth, and wildlife threats. The WINTERMUTE story DLC is currently 50 percent off at its lowest historical price, while the base game sees regular discounts.
What makes The Long Dark special is its commitment to realism and atmosphere over action. There are no zombies. No mutants. Just you, the cold, and your ability to make smart decisions about resource management. The game sold over 5 million copies, proving that distinctly Canadian stories resonate globally when executed with vision and quality.
The Indie Gems
Beyond the major studios, the Vancouver sale showcases dozens of smaller developers creating innovative experiences. Red Hook Games brought Darkest Dungeon and Darkest Dungeon II to life, gothic roguelikes where managing your party’s mental health matters as much as their physical wounds. The psychological horror of watching heroes succumb to stress and affliction creates tension no other dungeon crawler matches.
Generation Exile from Sonderlust Studios participates in their first Games From Vancouver sale despite not all team members residing in the city. The studio held their first in-person retreat in Vancouver, cementing the connection to the region’s development community. This highlights how Vancouver’s scene extends beyond physical presence to include the collaborative networks and relationships that define the ecosystem.
Community recommendations in Reddit discussions praise lesser-known titles like Wandersong, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, and Ikenfell. These narrative-focused indie games demonstrate Vancouver’s range beyond survival sims and strategy games. The region produces everything from cozy adventures to brutal challenges, united by polish and heart rather than genre conventions.
MechWarrior Franchise Presence
Piranha Games represents Vancouver’s connection to beloved franchises through MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries and MechWarrior Online. The studio keeps the BattleTech universe alive for PC gamers with massive robot combat that rewards tactical thinking and loadout optimization. MechWarrior 5 Clans launched October 2024 and hits 30 percent off during the sale, while Mercenaries and various mech packs for Online see deep discounts.
The MechWarrior community remains passionate years after the franchise peaked in the 1990s. Piranha’s commitment to supporting these games with expansions, updates, and new content demonstrates Vancouver studios’ tendency toward long-term player relationships over hit-and-run releases. This philosophy of sustained engagement rather than quick cash-ins defines much of the region’s output.
EA Sports Vancouver Representation
Not all Vancouver development happens in indie studios. EA Sports’ Vancouver office contributes to major franchises including FIFA, now rebranded as EA Sports FC. EA Sports FC 26 appears in the sale at 50 percent off, representing the first time EA’s soccer series launched without the FIFA license after nearly three decades. The Vancouver team works alongside EA offices globally but maintains significant presence in the region.
Similarly, the sale includes various sports titles and AAA productions with Vancouver studio involvement, demonstrating the region’s capability at every scale from solo developers to massive corporate operations. This diversity creates mentorship opportunities as developers move between indie passion projects and stable corporate positions, cross-pollinating ideas and techniques across the ecosystem.
Recent Releases and Early Access
Several newly released or early access titles populate the sale, giving players chances to support emerging Vancouver studios. Generation Exile launched November 2025, making this its debut major sale. Terrorbytes and various other 2025 releases offer 50 percent discounts despite launching recently, suggesting developers prioritize building audiences over maximizing individual sale revenues.
This aggressive discounting of new releases reflects confidence that quality will generate word-of-mouth and long-term sales rather than relying solely on launch windows. It’s a strategy that works when your game deserves attention, and Vancouver’s track record suggests most titles in this sale earned their places through merit rather than marketing budgets.
Why Vancouver Became a Gaming Hub
Vancouver’s emergence as a world-class game development center didn’t happen accidentally. The region offers quality of life that attracts creative talent, with mountain skiing and Pacific Ocean beaches accessible within the same day. The Canadian government provides tax incentives for digital media production, reducing costs for studios. Vancouver hosts excellent universities producing computer science and art graduates ready to enter game development.
More importantly, the community cultivates collaboration over competition. Studios share talent, resources, and knowledge. When Jamie Cheng started Klei while working at Relic, that exemplified the culture where companies support employees pursuing creative dreams. When Raphael van Lierop left Relic to form Hinterland, he took lessons and relationships that informed The Long Dark’s development. These connections strengthen the entire ecosystem.
The Vancouver Game Expo happening November 29, 2025 at the Roundhouse Community Centre demonstrates this community spirit. Local studios gather to showcase projects, network, and celebrate the region’s accomplishments. Events like this combined with sales like Games From Vancouver create visibility that attracts investment, talent, and opportunities that perpetuate growth cycles.
Canadian Gaming Identity
The sale follows successful Canadian Games Steam sales organized in July 2025 by Montreal studio Breaking Walls. Those sales highlighted games from across Canada, but Vancouver’s concentration of studios justified its own dedicated event. The distinction between Canadian and Vancouver-specific sales recognizes that while developers share national identity, regional scenes develop unique characteristics worth celebrating individually.
Canadian games often explore themes of wilderness survival, harsh environments, and isolation that reflect the nation’s geography and culture. The Long Dark exemplifies this distinctly Canadian perspective. These aren’t accidental choices but deliberate decisions by creators drawing from lived experiences and surroundings. The result is games that feel different from American or European productions, offering perspectives underrepresented in global gaming.
Notable Omissions
Some discussion noted surprising absences from the sale. Towerfall and Celeste, both created by Matt Thorson who has Vancouver connections, don’t appear despite being beloved classics. The Darkest Dungeon series is present, but some expected more Red Hook representation. These omissions likely stem from developers currently residing elsewhere or choosing not to participate rather than oversight.
The flexible nature of game development makes geographic association complicated. Studios start in one city, relocate, or operate as distributed teams across multiple regions. Developers move between cities throughout careers. Defining what makes a game Vancouver-made requires judgment calls about studio locations during development, founder residency, or team composition thresholds.
Despite any omissions, over 100 games represents substantial catalog demonstrating Vancouver’s productivity and range. From AAA strategy to indie survival sims to narrative adventures, the sale captures the breadth of what the region produces. Future iterations will presumably expand as more studios emerge and developers clarify participation criteria.
FAQs
When does the Games From Vancouver Steam sale end?
The Games From Vancouver Steam sale runs from November 21 through December 1, 2025, giving players 10 days to browse and purchase games at discounted prices up to 90 percent off.
How many games are in the Vancouver Steam sale?
The sale features over 100 games made by studios in the Greater Vancouver area, spanning indie titles, AAA franchises, early access projects, and classic releases from the past two decades.
What are the biggest Vancouver game studios?
Major Vancouver studios include Klei Entertainment (Don’t Starve, Oxygen Not Included), Relic Entertainment (Company of Heroes, Homeworld), Hinterland Studio (The Long Dark), Red Hook Games (Darkest Dungeon), and Piranha Games (MechWarrior 5).
Are Towerfall and Celeste in the Vancouver sale?
No, neither Towerfall nor Celeste appear in the Games From Vancouver sale despite creator Matt Thorson’s connections to the region. The reasons for their absence aren’t publicly stated but may relate to current studio locations or participation decisions.
Does Vancouver have other gaming events?
Yes, the Vancouver Game Expo is scheduled for November 29, 2025 at the Roundhouse Community Centre, featuring local studios showcasing projects and celebrating the region’s development community.
What makes Vancouver a major gaming hub?
Vancouver offers quality of life, Canadian tax incentives for digital media production, excellent universities producing talent, and a collaborative community culture where studios support employees pursuing creative projects and share knowledge across the ecosystem.
Is this the first Games From Vancouver sale?
Yes, this appears to be the first dedicated Games From Vancouver Steam sale, though Canada-wide gaming sales have occurred previously organized by other developers highlighting Canadian-made games broadly.
Conclusion
The Games From Vancouver Steam sale celebrates one of the world’s most productive and innovative gaming regions while offering fantastic deals on over 100 quality titles. Whether you’re interested in survival sims like The Long Dark, strategy masterpieces from Relic Entertainment, roguelikes from Red Hook Games, or the diverse indie catalog from Klei and countless smaller studios, this sale delivers genuine value alongside geographic celebration. Running through December 1, the event provides 10 days to explore games you might have missed while supporting developers who chose Vancouver as their creative home. The region’s track record speaks for itself. These studios consistently deliver polished, innovative experiences that resonate globally while maintaining distinctly Canadian perspectives. From brutal wilderness survival to turn-based espionage to darkest dungeon crawling, Vancouver produces games with heart, challenge, and personality that generic AAA productions rarely match. If you’ve never explored Vancouver’s gaming output, this sale removes every barrier. Discounts reach 90 percent off. The catalog spans every genre. Quality is proven through millions of sales and overwhelmingly positive reviews. There’s literally no excuse not to find something that matches your tastes. Just visit the Games From Vancouver sale page on Steam, browse the catalog, and prepare to discover your next favorite game made within dozens of miles of snow-capped mountains, Pacific coastline, and some of the kindest, most passionate developers in the industry.