This category doesn’t include just the deals on games themselves; the resident deal experts here at DealNews are always on the hunt for a good deal on consoles and accessories, as well. We’ve compiled a list of advice and resources to help you dive into the world of gaming:
First, you have to decide just where you want to spend your gaming hours. One of the biggest debates among gamers often comes back to whether consoles or gaming computers are the superior choice.
Your answer depends on many different factors, including price, comfort, available titles, and more. For instance, gaming PCs often will pack a better graphical punch and offer smoother game performance — but at the cost of a heftier price tag. One also should consider whether a keyboard and mouse setup or a controller offers you a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. It’s also worth considering the types of games you’re interested in, as well as any specific franchises, since many titles are console-exclusive . If Mario Kart is your jam, then you probably shouldn’t be looking at a PlayStation or Xbox console.
Ultimately, your gaming platform choice comes down to personal taste, and what you can reasonably manage financially (no matter what passionate fans on the internet might insist). But no matter what your choice, you can often score cheap video game deals right here at DealNews.com.
How much space do you have to dedicate to gaming? If you have a permanent desk or home office set up, then a desktop might be the way to go. But if portability and/or travel is a concern, then you may lean towards a laptop . Keep in mind that desktop PCs will often come with better specs, such as more RAM, better audio, and more heavy-duty graphics cards.
The currently available major gaming consoles consist of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro; Xbox One and Xbox One S; and the Nintendo Switch. However, the next iteration of Sony and Microsoft’s consoles have been announced with release dates set for holiday 2020. Here’s what we know so far:
PlayStation 5
Release Date
Preorders Open
Price
Specs
Xbox Series X (formerly Project Scarlett)
Xbox Series S (Digital Only)
The gaming accessories you’ll be interested in will depend on your platform of choice. We’ve compiled tons of gaming essentials in our video game accessories category , but here’s a more general list to get you started:
A good keyboard is highly recommended for PC gamers. Not only can a good keyboard save your wrists some pain, but many often come with programmable buttons that help make things like QTEs (quick time events) and voice chat easier to navigate in-game.
Speaking of saving your wrists, a good mouse can be just as essential. Wired or wireless may be somewhat of a personal preference, but it can also mean the difference in a perfect shot or a slight miss, thanks to glide quality, sensor type, DPI, and tracking speed. You may also want to look for a mouse that also has programmable buttons and customizable software, if you want to get very specific about your shortcuts.
A good pair of headphones is crucial, whether you’re playing on PC or console (most controllers have a headphone jack, if you’re worried about playing at a distance from your machine). Not only do most games come with a killer soundtrack, but headphones can make or break stealth-based gameplay. Plus, if you’re interested in co-op gameplay with friends or family members, a good pair of headphones with a built-in microphone are a must have for voice chat.
Usually purchased on a monthly or yearly basis, membership cards often net players free and discounted games, plus online gameplay benefits. These can be a great way to pad your game library out, test new game demos, and bag even more cloud storage space, just to name a few perks.
Crysis Remastered
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: September 18, 2020
Watch Dogs Legion
Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release date: October 29, 2020
Dirt 5
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Tetris Effect: Connected
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X (Timed exclusive)
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: November 10, 2020 for Xbox Series S/X; November 12, 2020 for PS5
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Platforms: Google Stadia, PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Release Date: November 10, 2020 for Xbox Series S/X; November 13, 2020 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4
Demon’s Souls
Platforms: PS5
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Cyberpunk 2077
Release Date: November 19, 2020
What is Google Stadia?
Affordable Gaming Laptops
When is the Steam Sale?
Why It’s Important to Avoid Buying Game Keys from Sketchy Resellers
Game Developers Were Caught Inflating Prices for Steam’s Summer Sale
AAA Video Games Can Drop From $60 to $30 in Just 1 Month
While professional gaming is indeed a thing, there are also a myriad of organizations out there for the professionals who develop, test, and rate games before they reach the general public. Here are some links to a few groups that may be of interest to you:
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences
The Entertainment Software Association
The Entertainment Software Rating Board
Pan European Game Information
The Independent Game Developers Association
The Association for UK Interactive Interactive Entertainment
The International Game Developers Association
Searching for video game deals now? Here are some links to our favorite game store pages. Check back often to see which stores are running gaming sales on consoles, games, and accessories.
Steam
Origin
Walmart
Microsoft Store
Nintendo eShop
GameStop
Green Man Gaming
GOG
Amazon
We all know gaming is a growing industry, but just how big is it? We were curious as well, so we dug around a bit to see what we could learn:
Digital game downloads often come with midnight releases, the ability to pre-load titles before they release, and the added benefit of not being able to break or get lost. Digital games can, at times, make transferring saves between consoles a hassle. But with the increasing popularity of cloud saves, this is becoming less of a problem. Physical game copies come with case art for collectors, and they sometimes include pre-order bonuses. It’s worth checking into on a case-by-case basis.
Brittany has been working at DealNews since 2013; she started out on the coupons team, and now navigates the waters of deal writing. As a member of the Content team, she spends most of her time sussing out whether stores are actually offering a good sale, as well as being a stickler for all things grammar and formatting. She spends most of her free time at home entertaining her small shih tzu puppy, testing new recipes, and traveling other worlds via video games and novels.
Save on over 130 titles with discounts upwards of 67% off, including first-party games, indie games, and even multipacks. Pictured is Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope for Nintendo Switch for $20 ($40 off) Shop Now at Amazon
Pictured is the ASRock Intel Arc A770 Graphics Phantom Gaming Card for $239.99 ($300 at Amazon) Shop Now at Woot! An Amazon Company
This replica is over half off. It's $2 more at Target. Buy Now at Amazon
It's A-me-zon, Mario! With discounts on downloads of nine Nintendo games, including the pictured Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Switch for $39.99 ($20 off). Shop Now at Amazon
Save on a huge variety of gaming computers, components, gaming accessories, and more. We've pictured the Ipason S7 Ryzen 5 Gaming Desktop PC with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD for $489 ($361 off). Select items have a special discount code on the product page or are eligible for a gift card with purchase. Select items are also available for 10% off if you pay with Affirm via "AFFIRMMAD" (up to $100). Finally, items eligible for free shipping are marked. See individual product pages for this info. Shop Now at Newegg
You'll find retro and modern consoles, video games, accessories, and game-related merch in this sale. Shop Now at eBay
It's the best price we could find by $10. Buy Now at Walmart
It's $180 under list price. Buy Now at Walmart
That's $41 off and the lowest price we've seen. Buy Now at Amazon
Shop thousands of titles from around $2. We've pictured NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition for PS4 for $11.99 (low by $8). Shop Now at PlayStation Store
Assuming you'll use the gift card, it's the best price we've seen, and $100 less than what most stores are charging. Buy Now at Walmart
That's the best deal we could find by $80. This Android-powered gaming tablet got high marks from PCMag, who said it "shines as a top Android-based gaming handheld thanks to its strong local and cloud performance". Buy Now at Amazon
While these models are list price, you'll score a $25 Best Buy Gift Card with purchase, so most are the best price we could currently find by at least $20. We've pictured the Nintendo Switch Lite 32GB Console in Turquoise for $199.99 w/ $25 Best Buy Gift Card. ($20 low) Shop Now at Best Buy
A lot of stores are charging this price for MAR10, but it's currently the best deal available by $20. Buy Now at Amazon
Spider-Man 2 was one of the most popular titles of last year and is still going strong at around $70 elsewhere. This bundle of course involves the console too. Buy Now at Amazon
Save $10 off list price. Opt for in-store pickup where available to dodge the $3.99 shipping fee. My Best Buy members get free shipping. (It's free to join. Shipping is free for everyone over $35.) Buy Now at Best Buy
Save on select Mario-themed controllers and cases. Pictured is the PowerA Enhanced Nintendo Switch Wired Controller in Mushroom Kingdom Friends for $19.49 (low by $9). Shop Now at Amazon
That's the best price we could find by $32. Buy Now at Best Buy
You'll get a free acrylic display when you preorder with Best Buy. This game will release on March 22nd. Buy Now at Best Buy
Game Pass members get early access to this sale, with discounts on games including Assassin's Creed Mirage ($29.99, $20 off; pictured), EA Sports FC ($13.99, low by $16), and Mortal Kombat 1 ($34.99, low by $15). Shop Now at Xbox Store