Fanatical’s RimWorld Sale: Rare, Deeper-Than-Usual Discounts on Base Game and DLC

I pay attention when a game that almost never goes on sale actually does – and RimWorld is one of those. This Fanatical deal is worth a shout because the base game and two of its usually price-stable DLC packs are discounted more than you typically see.

RimWorld: Why Fanatical’s limited sale is a rare chance to grab the base game and DLC

• Base game down to $25.54 / £20.79 on Fanatical – a deeper cut than RimWorld normally sees.
• Odyssey and Royalty DLC also discounted (13% and 23% off respectively) – DLC rarely moves in price.
• Sale ends Sunday, February 22, 2026 — it’s a short window, so act if you’ve been curious.
• Try the base game first: RimWorld’s emergent storytelling rewards learning the core systems before adding extras.

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Publisher|Ludeon Studios
Release Date|2018-10-17
Category|Indie / Colony simulation / Story generator
Platform|PC (Steam), Fanatical
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RimWorld wears “colony sim” as a label but behaves like a cranky, imaginative storyteller. You drop a handful of colonists onto a hostile planet, build shelter, feed people, and manage interpersonal drama — and then the game’s storyteller AI throws in the curveball that makes the session memorable. That emergent chaos is why people keep playing for hundreds of hours; every run produces moments you’ll tell friends about.

This caught my attention because RimWorld rarely discounts its base price or DLC. Historically, if you waited for a sale you might catch 10-20% off on a rare occasion; full-price purchases are more common. Fanatical’s current listing — base game for $25.54/£20.79 with Odyssey and Royalty at 13% and 23% off — is unusually generous for this title, and the time-limited nature of the sale makes it an easy recommendation for anyone on the fence.

Not just cheaper — a good time to evaluate the core experience

If you’ve been curious about RimWorld but put off by the learning curve, this sale is a practical opportunity rather than a directive to buy every add-on immediately. The base game contains the full core systems that create its emergent stories: colonist skills, mood management, base building, raids, weather and terrain effects, and the storyteller AI that doles out disasters and drama. That’s the foundation you want to understand before layering in DLC systems, which typically deepen and prolong the experience.

Royalty has become one of the more-discussed expansions historically because it adds long-form systems that change how you play; Odyssey (listed in the sale) is priced and discounted here too. Given the depth of the base game, my practical advice: buy the base game, play a few runs to see how the storyteller treats you, and then add DLC that matches the playstyle you enjoy — whether that’s political layers, advanced tech, or new late-game mechanics.

What this means for readers

• Value: RimWorld is extremely replayable — even a modest discount is good value because many players log hundreds of hours.
• Timing: The sale expires on Feb 22, 2026 — that deadline is the reason to act now if you’ve wanted to try it.
• Approach: Start with the base game to learn pacing and AI quirks, then buy DLC selectively.
• Caveat: RimWorld’s UI and systems feel dense at first. Expect a steep but rewarding learning curve.

In short: Fanatical’s sale is one of those rare market moments where an indie classic that very seldom moves in price becomes meaningfully cheaper. If you value emergent stories, improvisational problem-solving, and long-term replayability, this is a solid buy — especially if you pick up the base game now and decide on DLC after a few runs.

TL;DR: Fanatical has RimWorld for $25.54/£20.79 with Odyssey and Royalty discounted (13% and 23%). The sale ends Feb 22, 2026 — buy the base game first, learn it, then add DLC if you want deeper systems.