With modern games now setting you back $70 and console and hardware price tags on a constant upward trajectory, gaming can be an expensive hobby. But it doesn’t have to be. There are a few smart ways that can enable you to enjoy your favorite pastime while making the most of your hard-earnemoney. With these six easy tricks, you can save money on games.
1. Be patient
This can be quite a challenge for many gamers, but it can really pay off. Instead of buying new games on day one, it’s better to hold off. Almost all games go on sale sooner or later, and if you can wait a couple of months after a game is released, you’ll surely find it at a discount. The rule of thumb is that the longer you wait, the bigger the discounts. While game prices tend to drop within a few months in general, you’ll find the best savings if you wait for a big sale.
Valve’s Steam Store is renowned for its massive sales, which can see crazy discounts of up to 90% off. While newer titles will usually have more modest discounts, you’re always guaranteed to find great deals on big game titles. Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo also run regular seasonal sales. Some of the biggest ones take place around Black Friday and Christmastime, as well as in the summer and fall. Good deals come to those who wait!
2. Take advantage of deals and promotions
If there’s no big sale running currently, you can still find great deals, promotions, and bundles across the web that will let you save. You can find a lot of websites online that scan the web for new discount codes and deals to help you snag the best bargain. GG.deals is one of the go-to sites for gamers to find the newest deals, the best prices for new games on different sites, and track a game’s sales history. As one of the oldest aggregator sites for video game deals, IsThereAnyDeal.com is another place to check for ongoing promotions to get the most bang for your buck.
To help find the best promotions for traditional casino games, experts curate and rate platforms with the best welcome bonuses on CasinosBonusCA where players can find offers such as free credits and free spins. This allows you to start playing without having to place real money. For anyone looking to get a bundle of games and support a charity, Humble Bumble is the place to go. Here, you can get large collections of games and pay however much you want (although there is always a minimum). Part of the money will be donated, so you can save and support a cause.
3. Use gaming subscriptions
You may have heard of a subscription service called Xbox Game Pass, a service that oftentimes gets compared to a kind of “Netflix for games”. At a monthly fee of around $10, you can access hundreds of Xbox games without paying for them individually. Over the course of a year, this will only cost you as much as roughly two AAA games. Depending on your play style, these subscription services can help you save.
If you like switching between different games and trying new titles, you’ll easily get your money’s worth. With first-party games releasing on Xbox Game Pass day-and-date, you won’t have to wait to play the newest hits. Sony offers a similar service, PlayStation Plus, that boasts tons of games for a monthly subscription fee. If you choose one of the lower membership plans, namely PS Plus Essential or Xbox Live Gold, you’ll get around three free games per month. These oftentimes include great titles, so make sure to check them out and claim them before the end of each month.
4. Buy used games (and sell them again)
If you own a console that plays physical disks, buying pre-owned games can get you a great bargain. Via this route, you can find both recently released titles and older games at great discounts from gamers who have already played them. While game shops like GameStop sell used games, you’ll usually find the best deals on online platforms such as eBay, Craigslist, or even Facebook Marketplace. Then, after you have finished the game yourself, you can simply sell it again on the same platform where you bought it. This way, you won’t just get some of your money back, you can also help other gamers save money.
5. Swap games
An old-school alternative to buying second-hand and selling again is to set up a game swap network. You can trade the games you own for another game with others, so you can both benefit without having to pay any money. If you have friends with the same console as you, you can come up with your own system. You can both buy a game and then trade once you’re done, so you’ll get to play two games for the price of one. There are also a lot of online communities and services to find people to swap games with. Sites like Play ‘N’ Swap or Gameswap on Reddit are great places to check out if you’re looking for a good trade.
6. Play free games
Last, but definitely not least: one of the best and easiest ways to save money on games is by playing free games. With the emergence of free-to-play games, it has become easier than ever to play games without paying a cent. While you can find an endless repertoire of free games on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to play on your phone, you’ll also find a ton of free games for PC and consoles.
The respective storefronts have their own section for free games, where you’ll find some gems that won’t ask you to spend your hard-earned money. Some of the biggest AAA games, such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and many more, can be played completely for free – just watch out for those microtransactions such as battle passes and skins, as these might tempt you to spend money in-game after all.
Gaming can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. By taking these simple steps, you can enjoy gaming to the fullest while making the most of your limited budget.
