On the gaming platform Steam, there is a game called ‘Spooky Men’ that costs 999,999.99 euros and represents the worst deal in the history of Steam.
The reputation of games in Early Access on Steam is not the best. Developers give players access to a version of their game that is not fully developed yet.
Often, you save a little compared to the price at full release, but it’s also a mixed bag: Do developers leave the project at some point? Are there bugs in the game that take the entire game down the drain?
Many players on Steam have experienced how such questions were answered with ‘Yes.’ For example, in my case, it was ‘Pixel Piracy’ (via Steam). However, I just saw that the developer posted patch notes after 7 years and several updates already came this year. Crazy.
I fancy that over time, you develop an eye for ‘Red Flags’ in such games – signals indicating a scam. However, with the game ‘Spooky Men,’ I didn’t need my calibrated scam radar. Anyone can recognize that at first glance on the price tag.
And the trailer:
What kind of game is this? An outrageously overpriced version of an asymmetrical multiplayer game with a touch of Phasmophobia. With up to 8 players, you are supposed to free a house from a demon, solve randomly distributed puzzles in the house, and prepare for an exorcism.
However, one player controls the ghost: ‘With supernatural abilities and stealth tactics, the ghost can manipulate the environment and track its prey.’
Why does the game cost so much? It’s hard to say for sure, just as there’s no way to contact the developer.
‘Spooky Men’ is obviously a small one-person project; the person behind the project probably wanted to draw attention to the game – which was definitely successful.
It can hardly be due to high quality and massive content. This is evident from some players’ reviews. Moreover, according to SteamDB, the game has completely different prices in other regions, which are significantly below the million euros demanded in Germany.
The cheapest offer is at 9,999,999 Indonesian Rupiah, which according to SteamDB is exactly 583.53 euros (via steamdb.com). The most expensive is in Kuwait. Here, you have to lay down 2,949,200.84 euros on the digital table.
What do players say about ‘Spooky Men’? Since the release, there have been a total of 16 reviews, and the game has a balanced rating. 62% have rated the game positively.
However, these players probably acted before July 17, 2023. According to SteamDB, the price went up to a million on that day – previously it was 5.99 euros. During a sale, Spooky Men was even available for 0.59 euros.
The reviews cover a wide spectrum. It seems that the game is really enjoyable with friends. One player, who also streamed the game, is thrilled because the developer was in his stream and reacted live to the feedback.
The negative reviews warn against the game and say that it doesn’t deserve a chance in its current state. Even though there is potential.
If you want to read more about expensive games on Steam, check this out: 5 of the most expensive games on Steam – You can pay up to €10,000 for virtual train rides
