10 Proven Ways to Score Budget-Friendly Games for PS5, Xbox, PC, and Switch

Games can be expensive, but gaming can still be a budget-friendly hobby. Here are some tips for saving money wherever you play, whether you're a console, PC, or portable gamer.

Where Possible, Buy Physical Not Digital

Console gamers with an optical drive are advised to consider a disc-based system whenever feasible. Physical copies of games are often cheaper than their digital versions, making it a more cost-effective choice despite the manufacturing costs.

Retailers constantly vie with one another to offer the most affordable game prices. While the number of retailers selling physical copies may have decreased, they still remain a highly competitive alternative to Sony or Microsoft's official stores. As each console has only one digital storefront, the options for purchasing games are more limited. Even Nintendo Switch games, known for their premium pricing, can often be found at lower prices in stores, without taking up precious memory card space.

Online retailers, being more competitive than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, frequently go the extra mile by shipping pre-ordered games a day or two prior to release,

thus ensuring timely delivery.

You can sell physical discs as second-hand to reclaim some of your money or save on initial expenses. Pre-owned titles should function just as effectively as new ones, and if not, you can return them to the retailer for a refund (just make sure to keep your proof of purchase). Retailers often have end-of-year or end-of-season sales to clear out older stock at discounted prices and make room for newer releases.

Furthermore, purchasing discs allows you to sell, gift, or trade in unwanted titles. While physical media may not be as prevalent in the age of day-one patches, there is still value in physically owning the game rather than navigating through a digital menu.

Use Subscription Services Wisely

If you want to make the most out of Xbox Game Pass, it's important to consider your gaming habits. While it offers incredible value, it may not be the smartest choice to keep your subscription active throughout the entire year, especially if you prefer playing games on your Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 5 during the summer months.

To save money with streaming services, a smart approach is to cancel and subscribe as needed. By doing so, you can catch up on any missed games during periods of inactivity. Avoid wasting money by canceling your subscription when you are occupied with other things.

Despite the fear of missing out that streaming services often try to create, it is important to resist the temptation. It is not practical to keep subscriptions active in case something you want to play comes along. Companies like Microsoft and Sony make it simple to re-subscribe if you decide to hop back in, as they are eager for your money.

Xbox

Splitting your time based on the "gaming season" can often be beneficial. The year-end is known for the release of several major games. In 2023, Xbox gamers were treated to Bethesda's RPG Starfield and the first Forza Motorsport installment in six years, both launching within a few weeks of each other. Subscribing to Game Pass during this period could result in significant savings, and if you prefer to own these titles outright in the future, you can always purchase them on disc during a sale.

Load Up on Games During the Sales

Sales events present an excellent chance to stock up on games that you may have missed or are willing to try at a discounted price. By saving up your funds to make bulk purchases during these events, you can acquire a sufficient number of games that can keep you entertained for months, all at a considerably lower expense.

These sales occur regularly, with two key events: a summer sale and a winter sale during the holiday season. You can take advantage of discounts both online and at physical stores during these sales, covering a diverse selection of games.

Make Wishlists and Deal Trackers Work for You

There are also numerous other sales throughout the year, such as Black Friday and publisher showcases. However, in general, you can count on these two events to stock up on exciting games for the upcoming months. Steam sales, in particular, offer tremendous savings, especially for games that have been released a year or more ago.

Outside of scheduled sales events, you can find numerous other games on sale during the year. Occasionally, a substantial discount is prompted by the release of a new sequel or DLC, while other times these price drops seem to occur randomly. However, it can be tiring to manually check various storefronts and sift through countless reductions to discover these deals. This is where wishlists and trackers come in handy.

DekuDeals

Steam and the PlayStation store offer highly valuable wishlists that provide notifications when games from your wishlist go on sale. Sony frequently sends push notifications through their mobile app, while Steam prefers to notify users via email. Additionally, websites like DekuDeals allow you to set personalized alerts for price drops on Nintendo Switch games.

In addition to Nintendo Switch, DekuDeals has now introduced beta versions for both PlayStation and Xbox, enabling users to utilize the tool across multiple storefronts to maximize time and money savings. It is important to ensure that you configure your email preferences accurately to receive the desired notifications.

And don't forget to spend some time adding all the games you're interested in to your wishlist in the first place.

Grab a Bargain With an Early Access Game

Supporting indie game developers can be done by purchasing games before their official release, often at a significant discount. This opportunity is primarily available to PC gamers on platforms like Steam, but it does require a leap of faith. While some early access titles turn out to be great, others may never progress beyond the early access phase.

Additionally, you don't even have to play the game in its unfinished state to benefit from this approach. If you already know that you will want to try out a particular game upon its release (and if you have confidence in its current quality), you can buy it early, hold onto it until the official release, and then enjoy the fully polished version of the game.

Some runaway successes that were first available as early access titles include Baldur's Gate 3, Vampire Survivors, Valheim, Factorio, and the behemoth that is Minecraft.

Be Selective and Avoid Pre-Ordering

Although participating in early access games involves some risk (with the bonus of that satisfying feeling you get from contributing to the development of a game), it is not advisable to pre-order a full-priced title that will be released regardless. This decision may not be the most prudent use of your financial resources.

Pre-ordering games offers minimal advantages apart from the option to pre-load them before their release (although Xbox allows pre-loading without purchase). You may receive a bonus skin or an extra quest, but there is also a chance of getting an incomplete game that you'll regret buying. Avoid pre-ordering games to gauge whether they are actually worth purchasing.

Nevertheless, it is still essential to conduct thorough research when selecting reliable reviewers and informative message boards. Certain gaming communities can be highly toxic, whereas others play a crucial role in determining the game's playability. This is especially relevant for PC gamers, who often face challenges with performance and optimization.

Playing a recently launched game can be an enjoyable experience, making you feel involved in discussions. However, this contradicts the idea of saving money. By being patient or dedicating your time to other games, even "new" releases can often witness price drops within a few weeks or months.

We're not saying that you should never buy games on release, but rather that you should only buy the ones that offer great value to you.

Try Before You Buy

Game demos are becoming increasingly popular, with a larger selection of titles now available for try-before-you-buy options. This can take the form of weekend-long multiplayer beta tests, or the ability to start the game and retain your progress if you decide to make a purchase. In some cases, players are even offered a limited number of hours to play the game for free before needing to pay.

PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online provide free game trials, and other game publishers can also participate in this trend. In addition to these subscription services, live service games like Battlefield and Call of Duty often offer free weekend events followed by substantial discounts, which aim to attract more players.

Utilizing the opportunity to try out a game for free can potentially save you a significant amount of money, especially if you find that the game isn't as enjoyable as it initially seemed. Furthermore, if you're content with not completing games, you can effortlessly occupy your time by playing demos that you have no intention of purchasing.

Choose Your Platform Wisely

The amount you spend on games for your game console or PC will also depend on the device you choose. Consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are more budget-friendly compared to high-end PCs. However, if you already need a PC for other tasks, you could potentially save money by opting for a gaming PC instead of buying a console. This is particularly advantageous because you can upgrade a PC to meet the hardware requirements over time, while a console remains static throughout its lifespan.

Despite its hardware limitations, the budget-friendly Nintendo Switch has surpassed all other current-generation consoles in sales. This success can be attributed, in part, to its affordable price point, eliminating the need for extravagant high-performance memory cards.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic gamer, I am always looking for ways to save money on games. I have a few favorite strategies that have helped me build a large collection of games without spending a lot of money.

First, I always buy physical copies of games whenever possible. Physical copies are often cheaper than digital copies, and they can be resold or traded in for cash. I also keep an eye out for sales and discounts, and I often buy games during the off-season when they are cheaper. Finally, I take advantage of free trials and demos to try out games before I buy them.