Intro
Gaming can be a fun but expensive hobby depending on how you go about it and what your goals are. Some opt to shell out thousands of dollars on a PC to create a high end experience to suit their needs. Others prefer to play on a console such as the Nintendo Switch for a fluid and more economically friendly gaming for gaming.
The ever-increasing price tags of newer games tend to compound this issue. Causing many gamers to sit in a corner crying while their wallets shake in constant fear of being emptied. Regardless, it can be difficult to obtain new games while also trying to stay within reasonable boundaries of a budget.
This article is here to relieve some of that burden by focusing on cheaper, safer, and legal ways for you to get games. The content here will mainly pertain to PC gamers. However, if you are a Switch user go ahead and scroll down to where it says “Humble Bundle”. You won’t be disappointed. Let’s talk about how to get your hands on some cheap games.
Links to all these resources will be at the bottom of the post so be sure to check them all out for all your thrifty gaming needs.
Where to Start?
A few ways you can save money are through (safe) software resell sites, Steam sales, and deal comparison websites. Most of the resources that will be highlighted in this article will be online but don’t discount physical locations. Every so often you might stumble across a deal from an unexpected source.
For example, a big warehouse retailer was selling $100 Nintendo eShop gift cards for $70 dollars a few years back. Essentially, that’s like buying one game and getting half off on a second one of your choosing. This wasn’t a deal that came from a traditional retailer and was a perk for many members of the store chain. Be sure to shop around and research other ways to get a deal on your next most anticipated game.
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through one of these links, I may receive monetary compensation. This will in no way alter the opinions that I share on this website as they are all mine unless otherwise stated. Please see my full blog disclosure for more information regarding this matter here.
Steam Sale
One way to ensure getting a lower price for games is by shopping the seasonal Steam sale. This massive sale is one of the best ways to get a game for a cheaper price. Even some more recent releases will sometimes receive a small discount and it’s not unusual for games that have been out for a few years to go down to half off in price or more.
These sales happen every 3 to 4 months and can last from a week to two weeks. While Steam does quite a few sales the seasonal sales tend to offer the biggest discounts on the widest variety of games. Steam will release the sales dates in advance so researching to see when the next sale will be is a good way to stay abreast of the next major game sale. If you’re a PC gamer mark your calendar for these special events to keep your wallet heavy.
Is There Any Deal?
Grey market game sellers have garnered a bad rap for selling stolen or bogus game keys for lower prices on their market platforms. Though you CAN purchase a completely legitimate game key for a reduced price from these retailers it’s recommended that you exercise caution. Understand that when purchasing from these sites the software could damage your computer, steal your card information, or be a stolen from the original game developers.
While purchasing from grey market retailers can be dicey there are ways around this issue. Is There Any Deal? is a website that will collect all the legit game key deals from across the many online retailers of the internet and consolidate them onto one website. Is There Any Deal? brings together grey market retailers as well as larger online gaming retailers such as Steam, Battle.net, and Square Enix.
Another handy feature is that that you can import your Steam wish list to Is There Any Deal’s website. This feature allows you to compare prices across the internet on all your desired games. If you’re looking for a way to compare prices on the internet to find the best deal give Is There Any Deal? a try.
Humble Bundle
Ok, this next one’s gonna make me look like a bit of a hypocrite. While it’s advised that you exercise caution when purchasing from grey market game retailers there is one exception to this rule. Humble Bundle is a legit digital wares site that puts an emphasis on giving back. With every purchase that you make the retailer will donate a portion to a charity of your choosing. While Humble Bundle does sell individual games their main way of marketing digital products is through selling bundled content.
You can purchase bundles of varying prices that fit a certain niche, genre, or even gaming franchise. This website also sells eBooks, manga, and software. Humble Bundle also sells keys for PC and Switch, so this is a good resource both many types of gamers. Humble Bundle is a great option for fans of books, video games, and miscellaneous software. Give Humble Bundle a try if you for all your digital content needs.
GOG.com
GOG is another digital wares site that is also a safe bet for purchasing games. GOG is the sister company to CD Projekt RED which is the company that developed games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk. Since they were created by game developers other game developers trust them as well. GOG works directly with other game developers such as Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate), Epic Games (Fortnite), EA (The Sims) to deliver their content to their customers.
GOG is a good site to check out as, just like Humble Bundle, they sell game keys that are sometimes at a discounted price. If you know you want a specific title you can do a combination of checking Steam, Humble Bundle, and GOG to see if one of them has the game you want on sale. By checking all areas your sure to find a discount on your desired game soon enough.
Conclusion
When it comes to gaming, finding ways to lighten your wallet can be difficult. However, it doesn’t have to be if you go through the proper channels. Understanding your options and what to look out for can be a huge way to minimize spending. Looking at the opportunities around you is a good place to start. Stay cautious about deals that seem too good to be true but also don’t discount any unlikely places for game deals. Have fun exploring and happy gaming.
Woah this is so awesome!!! 🤩
Thank you 🙂