Just got a $20 steam card no clue what to spend it on so I'm open to recommendations with just two rules
   -No horror ( not that I think they are bad I just cant handle creepy things )
   -No visual novels

What kind of games do you already have on your library, or what would you be more interested in over others? I can hand out rec's all day long but it's always nice  to make it something i think you'd actually like.

I agree with what Cap'n said. There's so many games on Steam to play, it's hard to give an accurate recommendation without knowing what kind of genres you prefer. I mean they have everything from a clicking based game, to tower defense, to a puzzle based 2D side scroller. It's hard to really know if we'd be throwing something out there you'd enjoy without having at least a little info to go on

What kind of games do you like? Maybe you can get shooters CS:GO, Borderlands, or Valkyria Chronicles. Or maybe you can try an RPG like Final Fantasy.
Why don't you like visual novels? There are some amazing ones like Danganropa.

This should be in a different forum by the way. Maybe the steam forum.

Braid, it's a puzzle platformer known for being awesome and involves creative ways of manipulating time. It's great, has a great soundtrack, the graphics are great, and the story is deep.

yoshirulez! : I know it's awesome have it on Ps4 
  
 Cap'n: 
 Mynamescox44: 
 earthwarrior: 
 don't really have any preference with genres but if you want to see what I have my steam account Lucas the archaneer

I'm terrible with steam names, tried looking you up but couldn't find you.

Anyway if you don't have a specific prefernece then i'll just try to give some under $20 games that I personally enjoy.
Stardew Valley, if you like Harvest Moon any you'll love this game, if not then it's still a fun game imo.
I don't know if you already have in since I can't see your account, but Battleblock theater is awesome if you like platformers and also it's just a hilarious game all around.
Bastion's on sale right now it's also a super game.
Fallout: New Vegas is fantastic and you'll spend so many hours in it.
The Long Dark is a really neat survival game, it's in beta still and they add on a bunch of content all the time.
There's a ton of great games on steam and if something sounds interesting to you and you're able to get it I totally recommend getting it.

My shortlist for games under 20$ are as follows:
Devils Daggers (a bullet hell sans bullets);
Turbo Pug (endless runner);
Squishy the Suicidal Pig (platformer);
Armello (boardgame-like);
Audiosurf (music based game, unique in that it uses your own files to generate a level);
Defense Grid: The Awakening (quintessential tower defense game);
Savant Ascent (arcade shooter with an endless mode);
Undertale (8-bit RPG);
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition (quinessential FPS);
and, Rivals of Aether (bros-like).

For a platformer with a little bit of a rhythm feel to it, 140 is a good game, if not a little short. It's $4.99.

For a rather unique and challenging arcade shooter, Savant: Ascent doesn't disappoint, especially at the price of only $1.99.

For bullet-hell shooters, Star Saviors is decent and costs only $1.99, but is on sale for the next 32 hours for $0.49.

Gundemonium Recollection and it's sequel, GundeadliGne, are VERY difficult shooters, and are $3.99 each. There's also a free demo for each of them.

Chindogu : I was of the opinion that Squishy was more of a puzzle game, but maybe that's just me.

m0ssb3rg935 : It's a puzzle platformer. You guys are both right.

I'd also like to suggest Lovely Planet if you like colorful fast paced cartoony shooters and japan and stuff

It's not hard to run and it has a really catchy soundtrack