Looking for recommendations... I'm a little out of touch with the games of the last generation but I have an open mind.

As of this past year I've stopped buying PC games with online-DRM pretty much altogether. If a PC game doesn't have a GOG release I'll get it on console or not at all. That said, I have about $12 leftover from a Steam gift card someone gave me a few years ago and I figured I might as well use it up. I would be willing to add an extra $2-3 bucks to the order just to have nothing left over.

As I've been scanning through woefully bloated store pages of Steam my rules have been:

-- If there ever was a retail release without internet DRM (usually games pre-2010) I won't buy it on Steam.

- If it's on GOG I won't buy it on Steam (a good example is Bioshock Infinite, which I have never played. It is $7.50 or $15 for the complete edition but I would rather wait for a good sale on GOG or even pay more than to get it on Steam)

- Could I play it with a controller? (For me personally, if it's an FPS definitely not, TPS yes but not preferred, hack n' slash definitely) If so I'd be happier with a disc/case console version.

For the last reason I'm kind of leaning more towards shooters. Here are some of the games I'm currently considering:

Rise of the Tomb Raider Complete - $8.99
Rage - $6.63
Sniper Ghost Warrior Complete Pack (1/2/3) - $12.30
Hitman 2016 Complete - $14.71
Wolfenstein: Old Blood/New Order - $14.99 for both
Mad Max - $4.99
Zombie Army Trilogy - $8.99
Call of Juarez Gunslinger (Arcade-y) $5.99
Ryse: Son of Rome $5.99
Dead Island Definitive/Riptide Complete - $11.10
Just Cause 3 Complete - $7.49
Talos Principle - $9.15
Prey Mooncrash - $13.39 (Feels silly to spend it all on a DLC but I did really, really enjoy Prey as well as all of Arkhane's games)

I have both Rage and Mad Max.
Rage is all around a bigger better game but Mad Max is great for fans of the movies. The thing I didn't like about Max was the little "mini games" for lack of a better term, that typically involve scavenging for stuff. It kind of kills the flow, and if you are a completionist can be rage inducing because you'll insist on finding EVERYTHING.

Portal 2 is 0.81 euros, that would be my recomendation :D

I definitely have completionist OCD. Both these games are open-world? I thought only Mad Max was. I was under the impression Rage was more of a typical ID software shooter blended with a Borderlands style of 'open'. Oh, right -- the games I already own https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969042178/games/?tab=all

Both Portal games were indeed fantastic.

Borderlands is a good parallel.
I consider anything not called Doom to be open world. :P

And Dark_art_ makes a better rec than either of those, though I would try Portal 1 first.

This thread may help you whittle down things a wee bit:
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/steam_games_you_can_play_without_the_steam_client/post1

Postal 2 is $1, this is mine. ;)

My logic would be - If you enjoy Arkane Studios games then it's easy, buy Pray Mooncrash :)
Out of listed games I have enjoyed Call of Juarez the most, simple, short game with solid gunplay and atypical story.
Wolfenstein games are great fun, robust and focused.
Mad Max was cool for the first dozen hours, then it got repetitive with its gameplay loop and I never finished it..
Rise of the Tomb Raider I didn't like as much as the first one, don't know, something was just off.

All of the Pajama Sam games are 80% off. :D

The adventures are 60% off (comparable to GOG's deals) but yeah the arcade games are 80% off so only a buck each. (But the adventures are the ones I prefer, at least PS 1-3)

Yeah Call of Juarez 1 is on GOG, so I would never buy it on Steam but Gunslinger is only for sale over there or digital console. Are the Wolfenstein games classic health-pack FPS games or new-age auto-regen? I haven't played anything since RTC but the 2009 Wolfenstein did have a retail no-DRM version so I'll get that at some point.

Again, any games that are available retail (no client) or on GOG are a no-go for me no matter how good the deal.

Thanks for your input.

Have you heard of this great open-world game called Just Cause 2? A completionist like yourself might complete it in a weekend. I promise. *insert evil maniacal laugh*

Don't get Hitman (2016) get Hitman 2 instead and the Hitman 1 DLC for it. It'll cost more but is still cheaper then buying both games separately.

Thanks, I will check this out right now. However, as I mentioned I am only buying anything from Steam because I already have leftover wallet funds. Therefore the only relevant historical prices would be the lowest prices offered by Steam itself. I also misnamed some of the versions in my list, for instance Sniper Ghost Warrior is actually Complete Pack and not Trilogy. It includes all DLCs and the 3rd game, as opposed to Trilogy which includes "Art of Victory" which can be obtained DRM-free/retail while the other 3 cannot.'

I've never owned any of these games (except Prey which would just be Mooncrash I'm missing) to clarify with regards to Dead Island. These games seem like... a child between Borderlands and Left 4 Dead? Or is that no accurate?