Howdy Goons, I’m Nimzy and games are ‘spensive super spensive. This is probably one of the most expensive hobbies out there and it’s not getting any cheaper. I’m here with some tips to help make it cheaper for you whether you’re looking to save for a bigger title or just want a bunch of different stuff. Let’s get started.
Don’t Buy Games At Launch
For the most part you can’t really control the price of games. Whatever they ask for you have to pay. But a lot of games come out at the industry standard price, this used to be $60 now it’s $70, and for Nintendo it’s $80. They don’t realize that more people are struggling than ever and this is resulting in less sales for them. Maybe if enough of us refuse to preorder or buy at launch then they might drop the price. Doubt it though, a lot of these companies are out of touch with the actual market. It’s why Ubisoft keeps making open world slop and Randy Pitchford calls us fake fans because we dare say $80 is too much for Borderlands 27.
A lot of these companies quickly drop the price of their games if you’re patient enough. Capcom once said “If you don’t like the price of our games wait 3 months”, and it’s so true for them. A game from Capcom will ALWAYS go on sale just a few months later. The same is true of the Borderlands game, I used to buy them all at launch. But I’ve been given most of the games for free or less than 20 bucks on PC. I got Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands on Sale, it also was free on Epic, I got 1-3 for free on Epic as well. They also all went on steep sales. Randy likes to say we aren’t real fans or that his game is worth the $80 but this is likely just to please the shareholders. Everyone knows the majority of people who play Borderlands did so through steep sales.
Just never pay full price for anything, if you can wait a year or until the holiday season there will be a sale. I say sometimes that you shouldn’t always go by reviews. That a person’s taste will be different than yours. IGN for example only reviews the most well known games, that’s why they have so many positive scores. But I find that a lot of what they enjoy sucks, and I’ve found myself enjoying games they’ve given a 6. In the case of Breath of the Wild I’ve seen it given a 7/10 and still enjoyed it quite a bit despite not being a Zelda Fan. A review can help if there are many major issues but keep in mind that many large networks have tons of people and each review is being done by someone else. Each one having different tastes than the last, some might even be taking games that they have no interest in. You know your taste best, wait for reviews to come out first and check a few but don’t take their word as law.
Another problem with buying at launch is whether you’re even going to play the game. I’ve bought Monster Hunter World, Rise, and The Witcher 3 all at launch and didn’t end up playing them until years later. Some of these I even bought a second time on different systems for their sales because the PC version runs better. I didn’t finish Monster Hunter World until 7 years later, did it really make sense for me to buy that at launch for 60 bucks, heck no! Even more so with The Witcher 3 which I still haven’t played a decade later.
Buy Indie Games
Some of you out there might be rolling your eyes. You only buy AAA games from big developers with hyper realistic graphics and gameplay that is simplified so only the most milquetoast of gamers can enjoy it. That might be your problem. You’ve played primarily first party or major games and so you’re used to these experiences that are incredibly bland. They might look great or play great but you have indie games out there taking chances and making something unique. If you’re ancient like me you might remember when games were more adventurous. Not every shooter played like Call of Duty, not every shooter was a battle royale, they took chance back then.
It’s because the formula hadn’t been figured out yet. No one knew how to mass produce games like they do now. Some of the best games from the past 30 years all came from that first 15 and it’s because they experimented and tried things no one else was. But nowadays experimentation for a major company is career suicide. What if I only sell 5 million copies instead of 5.5 million? How will I ever afford that 3rd solid gold swimming pool now?! Games haven’t been about the artistry of design and pushing limits for a long time now. Everything is made as bland and homogeneous as possible and made the least offensive possible so that it sells the most copies.
That weirdness never left the indie scene though. These little weirdos are still out there making amazing, fun, weird, challenging, and cool games that push the boundaries of design and their budget. Some of the best games ever are indie titles and that also means the indie price. You’ll never see an indie game selling for $80, $70, or even $60 unless it comes with a bunch of DLC. I’m telling you now, you want to save big and still play great games then go check out what Devolver Digital publishes. They publishes some of the best indie games on the planet and they do frequent sales.
You want a game that combines colony management with rogue lite dungeoning but as cute little animals doing horrible demented things, play Cult of the Lamb it’s only 25 bucks but it goes on sale a lot. I don’t think you’ll ever see something this out of pocket from Activision. You want to see what happens when you combine a brick breaker with a base building survival rogue lite, try out Ball X Pit. If you want to play a mystery horror game that’s also a rogue like card game that breaks the fourth wall then check out Inscryption! Everything Devolver publishes is the perfect example of the indie spirit, they break the rules of gaming while still being very cheap. Who knows, your next favorite game could be an indie game!
Lower Your Expectations
If you’re looking for games on a budget then you might need to lower your expectations. You might have to be willing to take a chance or risk. This can end in disappointment but the only way you’re going to find hidden gems is by buying games no one else talks about. These games often go on sale too because it’s hard to get your game sold without money to promote it. So lots of indie devs can create amazing games forever and never get noticed. My video “Bargain Bin Bangers” is an example of this, I went to the great deals section of the Switch eShop then set it low to high. There is a lot of garbage here but it’s also where some great games go on a very steep sale. I have some other tips for finding the good ones.
I went in with this video knowing that there was a good chance I’d end up buying at least one stinker. But considering they’re all 2 dollars I can afford to take a loss now and then. For example, Ruin Raiders was just ok and if you lowered your expectations a little you might find this to be a decent enough game to kill some time. It’s a rogue lite so there is plenty of gameplay here if you can look past the lack of polish. I’d consider this one an L for me, but I did find 3 good games that I’ll keep playing. I spent about 11 dollars after taxes, so a couple busts isn’t so bad. The others I got would be satisfying enough for me to last me plenty of time.
I’m just saying that if you’re scrounging through the bargain bin be willing to take a chance. If you hate it, well you didn’t spend that much on it. If you love it then you spent very little for something great. Sword of the Vagrant isn’t the best game ever but it’s plenty good when I lower my expectations a bit. Sword of Ditto is great without having to lower my expectations. With Grapple Dog I tried a genre I normally hate, platforming, and found a game that I really enjoy in spite of that. I know it can be hard to take a risk on your enjoyment but remember that you’re spending much less here so the stakes are much lower than buying a random $60 game.
Finish What You Have
Do you really need a new game? Really? We both know you have a big backlog that could use some play time. You’re probably sitting on at least 5 games you haven’t finished, sitting there halfway through a quest waiting for their hero to return. When I was a kid about 33,990 years ago my Mom wouldn’t buy me a new game until I beat my current one. As you can imagine, I got very good at beating games quickly. I don’t do that so much anymore as an adult because I can buy a new game whenever I feel like it. Also there are more games coming out than ever before. Maybe the best way for you to save money is to stop spending it on new games and finish what you already have.
It’s hard to resist that new and shiny game, but I believe in you. You can start with those really old games that can be emulated for free. Maybe start on those long RPGs or those remasters, if you keep putting them off because they’re long then you’ll never finish them.
Game Passes
A Struggle Gamer’s wet dream. These are services that for one low monthly price you get hundreds of games to play. These services frequently add new games too. They’re such a good deal that a Struggle Gamer could never pay for a new game ever again and be satisfied. If you’re on Xbox or PC then check out the gamepass, not only do you get all of Microsoft’s first party games but you’re getting lots of new games as they launch. A lot of the are even multiplayer or co-op. Just playing the Yakuza series on here would keep you busy for the next 2 years.
If you’re on Playstation you can use their service. Like Microsoft they have lots of first party titles but you get the benefit of getting access to Sony’s massive gaming history. Play all the Ratchet and Clank games for me while you’re there, one of my favorite series. If you’re a Swooby or Switch gamer then check out the Switch Online service. For just $50 a year you can play hundreds of NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis, N64, and Gamecube games. Sure you could easily emulate all of these but Nintendo conveniently puts them all in one place for you and let’s you access them in an instant.
These aren’t the only gamepass like services either! Your phone has these services too. Like on android you can use Google’s Play Pass. For 5 bucks a month you can play your favorite mobile games without ads. If you’re also the type to play gachas, first stop that you’re on a budget here, second they frequently have sales on microtransactions and even rebates where they give you some extra cheddar. I’ve used this service before and there are a lot of good games that are normally a one time purchase, so there are plenty of games without microtransactions.
If you’re an Arcade Gamer and have a decent connection you can play Antstream Arcade. Every month they add new arcade games and what’s even cooler is they have achievements, and custom challenges and competitions. You can play in tournaments too. It takes the best aspects of the arcade and brings it home. Only downside is these games are streamed to you and they don’t have the same quality servers as Nintendo does for their retro games. But if you have a good connection there is unlimited replay value here.
Know How To Find Good Games In Sales
It’s very easy to find games that are on sale. Every store front let’s you organize from low prices to high. On systems where it’s a little harder to get your game on them like PS5 or Xbox it’s pretty easy to find at least decent games on sale. But on storefronts like Steam and Nintendo’s eShop it’s very easy to accidentally buy into scams or buy games that use manipulative sales tactics. So each storefront has different approaches to how to find the good games that are on sale.
I did a video where I played 5 games for $2 on the eShop and my first tip is to not use Nintendo’s sort by low to high filter. The lowest games are all mobile slop, scams, or otherwise sus games. Instead use the best sellers sort on the great deals page, this shows the most popular ones up top. You’ll see a lot of the most popular games you’ve probably already played here. But there are a lot of games that you haven’t played and much cheaper here that you might not have noticed. You’ll have to dig a bit, but if you use the low to high you’re going to be doing a lot of digging.
Avoid any games that are on sale all the time. These usually suck and are trying to get you to waste money. Make sure these games are also on other platforms. Sword of the Vagrant for example was only 2 bucks but it was also on the PS4 for much more. It’s not the best game but it’s definitely better than the scams, slop, or the hentai games that don’t even show a single boob. You can check for reviews of course, but also check what other games the dev or publisher has made. Pay attention at what others have to say, and you’ll have to google to check that out since Nintendo still doesn’t have reviews.
For Steam stick to your algorithm. Steam does a very good job of recommending you games people actually like. But you won’t find hidden gems like this. On both platforms pay attention to bundles and what’s being included in them. If there are a lot of cheap games and one normal priced one these are also likely scams. Watch out for bundles that charge for DLC that’s free elsewhere too. Don’t always pay attention to reviews on Steam though, every day more and more people are reviewing bombing games for things they don’t agree with that have no actual bearing on the gameplay.
Pay Attention To Clearance Shelves
When buying physical the best thing to do is to always been on the look out for deals. Even if you’re not shopping for new games and you’re just grocery shopping you should still check out the gaming section. Things are constantly going on sale because of clearance. Stores like Walmart, Bestbuy, and Target have very limited shelf space and so they might be forced to sell some games for much cheaper than the going price. This is in order to make room for new stock. For example, a new Nintendo first party game comes out, then Walmart might reduce the price of third party games in order to make room. They might get put on the clearance shelf or just be put on a sale. This is a good way to get physical, which is normally expensive, on the very cheap and still new.
Specialized games shops like Gamestop are much less likely to do clearance sales like this because they have the space for all these games. Gamestop also doesn’t do much in the way of sales, instead they do more deals for what you’re selling to them. That’s because they make more money on their merch than games. But make sure to check their online store every now and then. Since a Gamestop’s stock varies day to day the best way to take advantage of their sales is through their online store where there is more stock of everything. Just remember that shopping low to high isn’t always going to be fruitful, you’re going to find a lot of accessories or merch before you get to any games. Also don’t bother getting a membership, the discount is practically nothing.
Buy Physical (Used)
I just talked about how Gamestop rarely has worthwhile sales. Most of their sales require large purchases or a trade in. You’re trying to get more games, not get rid of them. If you’re primarily a Nintendo gamer you have pretty much no reason to go in because the used price on first party games is hardly any different. Like even 8 years later they’re still selling Breath of the Wild for $45. But if the games are old enough and third party you can find some good deals.
There is also a neat trick you can do with Gamestop. If you know that a game has both a physical version and a key in a box then you can look up that game and select used. If they have used versions then you know you’re getting an actual card. After all a key can’t be reused. This is great for something like Mario + Rabbids which does have a physical first release and later more keys in boxes releases later.
The real used deals are going to come from local game shops. If you’re lucky they don’t use Gamestop’s site or price charting for their prices. Then you might get a good deal. But you can also buy using the facebook marketplaces. Everyday there is some kid who pissed their parent off and got their system and games sold off. These parents don’t want a good deal on the games, they just want them gone as fast as possible along with cash in hand. If you’re wanting a good deal on games though use the correct terminology, and by that I mean the wrong terminology.
The majority of people selling games on here are old people who want fast cash. Collectors use the correct terminology like exact titles and system names and will often charge what the games are actually worth or much more. But a less knowledgeable reseller will use the wrong terminology and often undervalue the games. For example, when looking for an NES, search Nintendo instead. Get spicy, even Sony Gameboy will show results with a PSP or Vita. You’ll have to dig more but you’ll find better deals. Old people wanting quick cash is how I got my Atari 2600, 40 games, and a Game Gear for just $60. Buying lots like this is also a good idea but comfortable with the idea of getting duplicates.
Become A YouTuber Or Games Journalist
This might sound like a joke but you have no idea how many games I get sent or offered to me for free. A lot of these games aren’t going to be the best especially when you’re just starting out. But every now and then a dev or publisher will take a chance on you and give you something good. This is also the best way to find hidden gems, this is how I found Ninjin Clash of Carrots. I probably wouldn’t have bought it myself but it’s a pretty fun and weird game that I’ve never seen anyone but me talk about.
Getting into games journalism is hard and most of the time it’s a scam. You’ll write a few articles, maybe make a blog. Then call yourself a freelance journalist. You’ll apply to write at one of the millions of small news sites and they’ll either want you to do free work for games or pay you five bucks an article. Despite being freelance they’ll then expect you to constantly be on the lookout for new stories for them. In my case when writing for New Normative, I was in a chat where they would frequently assign articles to people. That doesn’t sound like freelance does it? That sounds like employment. But you’ll do it anyway, because no one else is wanting your work.
Even if you’re a good writer that’s what you have to look forward to. I even had some series that I wrote that were good and creative but they weren’t trendy so I never got to do them. Well, I never got paid to do them at least. My point is, don’t do games journalism unless you’re willing to buy your own site and run ads. I do value the experience it gave me and I made good relationships with several publishers that still send me keys like Konami and D3. Konami is a hard one to please and even if you’re on their good side they mostly send you their remakes or lesser known series. But yeah those relationships are super valuable. In the end though you’re better off on YouTube.
Youtube gaming might be oversaturated but once you’re monetized you’d make the same amount of money as a free lance journalist but at least you’ll get to choose what you make. Also I imagine being a games journalist is even harder with AI being around now. But for YouTube gaming just make videos on what you like then get on Keymailer and apply for keys or hassle some devs in a polite way for keys. People are always wanting to see early gameplay or just gameplay of these games at all before they buy them. So it can be a fast track to monetization.
Play Retro
This one is huge for me. When I’m having the big strugs I turn on my Retroid Pocket 3+ and play one of the many GBA, GBC, SNES, or systems that still have plenty of games I haven’t finished. If you want the most playtime possible for as little as possible then pick up a retro gaming handheld on the cheap. Even the cheapest one will still play GBA and PS1 flawlessly. GBA in particular is the best bang for you buck because it has so many RPGs and these are a guaranteed 30-50 hours of gameplay time. It also has some of the best games to ever be released and the library is so big that I’m still finding new things to play 2 decades later.
If there is an old console you’ve never played then emulating it opens up an entirely new world of options. I’ve completely skipped Sega’s consoles and checking out the Saturn and Game Gear has been a blast. I also never played PS1 and there are so many PS2 games that I’ve never played. Playing Retro really is the way to go if you’re not worried about playing with friends. There are also services like Retro Achievements where you can earn achievements in old games and Backloggd where you can review games. That means you can review Nintendo games even though they don’t have a review system built into the eShop.
That’s ten though, thanks for watching, reading, and being you, I’ll catch you next time. Bye!
