shopping for video games online
If you’re a gamer, you know how hard it can be to find the perfect video game for yourself or as a gift for a friend or loved one. There are many options, from different genres and platforms to online stores and physical shops. How do you know which one to choose? How do you get the best deal? How do you avoid scams or paying too much?
In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and tricks on how to shop for video games online like a pro. We’ll cover everything from how to research and compare games, where to buy them online, how to save money, and more. Whether you’re looking for a new release or a classic title, we’ll help you find your next gaming adventure.
Research
With so many options where should you start? My best suggestion is to do your research. There are so many options for buying video games online you have to know what is safe and where you can find a good deal.
The first thing you need to figure out is what kind of game you want.
- Do you prefer action, adventure, role-playing, strategy, simulation, sports, or something else?
- What genre and style of game appeals to you?
- What platform do you want to play on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo?
- Will you have time to sit down and play on a console or would a handheld or mobile game be a better fit for you?
- Do you want to buy physical copies of games or digital copies?
Once you figure out the type of game you want to play the next thing is to check out reviews and ratings. There are literally thousands of websites that review and rate games. Most of them make it easy to sort and filter to the particular platform or genre you are considering purchasing.
Some of the more popular review websites:
You can also find user reviews from sites like Amazon, Microsoft, or Steam on their individual game page. You will want to look for games that have high scores and positive reviews from both players and critics.
Once you have done your research the next step is to find the best price.
Pricing
Getting the best deal for your video game purchase online means doing a little more research. There are two strategies to get the cheapest price depending on whether you want physical or digital copies of your games.
Physical Copy Pricing
If you are craving to have a physical copy of your game there are two main options. Buy it new and sealed or go with a second-hand used copy. Buying new and sealed copies provides you with a certain guarantee that there will be no issues playing the game. But when you buy new the pricing can be a lot higher than buying used.
If you want to go used make sure you understand the ins and outs of buying a used copy. Sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are great places to start. Even Amazon and GameStop will sell used copies on their sites. Check the various sites to find the best deal on used games. And always check to see if there is any guarantee that the copy will work and if you can return the item if it doesn’t.
Digital Pricing
Pricing digital games is a lot simpler. You are not just limited to one location to buy digital copies. For instance, if you want an Xbox game, you can buy copies from the Microsoft Store on your Xbox or go to Amazon and buy a digital key to redeem.
PC games are very similar you can buy them from Steam, GOG, or the Epic store. Even Amazon and other retailers offer PC games so make sure and check around if you want to play the game on PC.
Getting the best deal
To get the best deal always compare prices. You can use price comparison sites like CamelCamelCamel or Slickdeals to see historical prices and sales. You can also add games to your wishlist on most platforms and when the game goes on sale you will typically get an email.
Most big websites like Steam or the Microsoft Store run sales almost every other month. Eventually, the game you want will go on sale, just be patient and check often when you see a sale going on.
Also, one thing to consider is some of the big publishers give away games for free occasionally. The epic store gives away two free games a month, and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can get free games each month via GOG.
Subscription services
Another option is to consider signing up for a subscription service. PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are fantastic ways to save money by providing you access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee. Game Pass Ultimate adds new games each month and all first-party Microsoft games will come to the service the day they are released at no extra charge.
If you play a lot of games and like variety in the games you play, or just like trying new games then a subscription service might make sense for you. The only main drawback of these services is they typically require you to always be online. If your internet isn’t good or reliable then a subscription service might not work.
Where to find games online
Depending on what game you want and if you are wanting a physical or digital copy of your game you have a lot of options for finding games to buy online.
Most major consoles have their very own store built into the console. It is typically just another app that you can log in to and purchase games that will apply to your console.
For PC players you have several platforms to buy games on. Steam is currently the best location to buy games as its library is very extensive and its app to buy and launch games is very user-friendly.
But for PC Steam is definitely not the only option. Here are some other options to buy PC games.
Before buying a game on Steam make sure to check the other platforms for sales so you get the best deal available.
If you are looking for retro games such as NES, Sega Genesis, Gameboy, or Gamecube you have one main option. eBay.
But once again eBay is not the only option to find retro games. In fact, you might pay a higher premium buying retro games on eBay because the market is really high right now. Some of the other options to find retro games.
- Facebook Marketplace
- Offer Up
- Meracari
- WhatNot
- Amazon
Just make sure and do your research to make sure you are actually getting the game you want and it works. Be wary of listings that say untested as you might get stuck with a game that no longer works.
Shopping for video games online can be a convenient way to add to your collection or start a new one. Whether you want to buy new releases, pre-order upcoming titles, or purchase retro games for your collection, there are many options available for you.
No matter what kind of games you like, you can find them online with ease and convenience. Happy gaming!
Coming soon we will dive further and deeper into each topic above so if you have any questions be on the lookout for those detailed articles.