We’ve put together a guide outlining five ways to save money on video games so that you can continue to enjoy your favourite pastime while the cost of living rises. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you save money on video games while still getting the most out of your gaming system.
Gaming is a great pastime, but it’s also not the most cost-effective. Due to the frenzy of system updates and new console debuts, as well as full retail charges on games and other things and peripherals, the cost of gaming may quickly rise. While inflation rates continue to rise, you shouldn’t let your favourite pastime bankrupt you. After all, gaming is supposed to be a way to unwind and escape, so it won’t be very helpful if it instead increases your stress levels.
The good news is that there are a few easy ways to save money on video games without losing quality. Finally, it makes no difference which gaming platform you use because there are lots of deals available, whether you use a PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or even your smartphone.
If you’re searching for something more specific, we’ve put together a list of the best Star Wars games and the best free virtual reality experiences.
- COMPLETELY COMPLETELY FREE TO PLAY GAMES
Avoiding paying any money at all is one of the simplest ways to save money on video games. In addition to AAA blockbusters like Fortnite, Dota 2, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty Warzone, there are other highly appreciated free-to-play games in various genres. Keep in mind that all of the games listed above are multiplayer, which means you’ll need a stable Internet connection to play them.
Also, games that are only partially free should be avoided. Most free games have optional microtransactions for things like cosmetics in order to make money. Certain free-to-play games, such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft, will only let you play up to a certain point before requiring you to pay for expansions or a subscription in order to continue.
- XBOX ONE GAME PASS
Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s premium gaming membership programme, has been termed the “Netflix of gaming.” For $9.99 (£7.99), you can receive unlimited access to hundreds of different titles, including some of the best space games like Halo, Alien Isolation, Mass Effect, and Dead Space. In the end, your gaming habits will determine whether or not the Xbox Game Pass is useful. If you’re the type of person who likes to switch between different games, this service will provide you a lot of bang for your dollars. However, if you want to immerse yourself in a single game at a time, it might not be the best offer.
- MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS OF PLAYSTATION GAMES PLUS
Many PS4 and PS5 owners are already familiar with the PlayStation Plus programme. While the premium service is primarily designed to give gamers access to online multiplayer features, it also includes three to five free games each month. The catch is that you’ll need to subscribe to PS Plus for $9.99 (£6.99) per month to get your hands on the free games. Star Wars: Squadrons, Mortal Kombat X, Hitman 2, and Battlefield V have all previously been on the list. It’s important to keep in mind that the game list is updated on a monthly basis. So, even if you don’t think you’ll play any of the free games right away, claim them nevertheless so you’ll have the opportunity to download and play them later.
- ON A REGULAR BASIS SALES AVAILABLE ON STEAM, XBOX LIVE, PLAYSTATION NETWORK, NINTENDO NETWORK, AND MORE
Many times a year, Valve’s Steam shop offers sales events where most of the titles on the site are discounted. While new game discounts are usually modest, you can always count on crazy discounts of up to 90% off on a few critically acclaimed PC games. Steam prefers to schedule its sales events around the same time of year, though the exact dates vary from year to year. It has a winter sale around Christmastime, as well as summer and autumn sales in June/July and October/November, respectively. If you own a console, you might be able to take advantage of seasonal discounts during major holidays. Both the Xbox and PlayStation digital shops give regular discounts on their titles, but they aren’t as significant as Steam’s. Even yet, there are still some good deals to be grabbed – for example, PlayStation previously offered a whopping 50% off for GOTY contender Deathloop as part of its Cyber Monday offers.
5. HUMBLE BUNDLE
The Humble Bundle is a lesser-known technique of getting a great gaming deal. The major benefit of the website is that it offers a large selection of games at a price that you choose. The catch is that you must pay a minimum amount, which is frequently insignificant in comparison to the value of the games you receive. The service’s package contained popular titles like as Dead by Daylight, PAYDAY 2, Little Nightmares, and Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons. To acquire all 13 games on sale, you’d merely need to spend more than $7.40 (£5.43), but you may pay more if you want. The Humble Bundle contributes all of its profits to charities for children and medical research. If you like, Humble Bundle also sends out digital book and software packages on a regular basis.
