Here's Why You Don't Have To Pay For A Game, Full-Price, Ever Again
Purchasing a video game at full price can be the best means of supporting its developers. Sometimes, you’re more than willing to purchase the day-one asking price with no questions because you trust the developer that much. Moreover, this is very important when it comes to buying from indie developers, whose hard work and razor-thin margins will often define their product as a passion project, compared to anything else.
But if you’re on a budget, or you just prefer to enjoy a good deal, then in 2024 and beyond, you rarely need to pay full price for a game unless you really wish to. In this post, we’ll discuss how to secure some of the best deals going forward, and enjoy extra money in your pocket despite your love for this hobby.
CD Key Sale Sites
Digital game stores often sell activation keys at lower prices than official stores. This might sound questionable on the surface, but don’t worry, these aren’t operating beyond the law. Sites like Green Man Gaming and Fanatical partner directly with publishers, offering legitimate keys with good discounts. Just stick to well-known sellers to avoid any issues with fake codes, sites like G2A are known for using stolen accounts and keys that may or may not lead to your account being restricted, but it’s never worth taking that chance.
We’d also recommend to sign up for email alerts from these sites. They’ll let you know when games on your wishlist go on sale. Black Friday and summer sales bring especially good deals, with some newer games dropping 20-30% off regular prices. As of the time of this writing, the Steam winter sale is currently ongoing, so that’s a good place to start if you’re on PC!
Preowned Copies
Local game shops still offer great value with used games if you’re on console, even if they’re disappearing. Physical copies often drop in price faster than digital versions, especially for console games. Check the disc condition before buying, and keep the receipt just in case – but don’t forget you can also buy them online on sites like eBay quite comfortably, and benefit thanks to that! You may even find a “job lot” of old console games if you prefer that.
If you have gaming friends in daily life, trading games with them or using local buy-and-sell groups can save even more money. Many gamers finish a game within weeks and are happy to trade or sell it on. You might find someone looking to swap a game you want for one you’ve finished, so why not give it a go?
Online Free Games
For those who grew up in the 2000s, the idea of so many gaming options being freely available to young people now is incredible. Free-to-play games have come a long way, as games like Fortnite and Warframe offer dozens of hours of fun without spending anything. Many include optional cosmetic purchases, but you can enjoy the full game without paying anything and you might even unlock those.
Keep an eye on the Epic Games Store too. They give away free games every week, including some surprisingly big titles. Once you claim them, they’re yours to keep forever. Steam also runs free weekends for many games, letting you try before you buy. So does GOG if you’re on PC. Sometimes this happens on PlayStation from time to time. Of course, some game types are so common you can access them on any time, such as word search, solitaire or chess, classics everyone loves.
Game Pass Subscriptions
Services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus have changed how we buy games and follow more of a subscription model depending on how you like to play games. For a monthly fee, you get access to hundreds of titles for the consoles and they regularly cycle, because new games often join these services on day one, making them incredible value if you play regularly.
Watch for special offers on these subscriptions or even free trials. You can often find deals for multiple months at reduced prices if you look hard enough, even from those key selling sites we discussed above. Some services even include extra perks like online gaming and free monthly games to keep, like Game Pass Ultimate.
With this advice, we hope you can find a means to play games more cheaply, perhaps saving your money for when you really want to support a developer, or even just save up for the next PC unit or console you have in place.
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