Games are expensive. A new release can easily cost $100, and if I’m being honest with myself, it’s way too easy to get caught up in launch day hype and impulse buy something just because everyone’s talking about it. That’s a fast track to an empty wallet.
I’ve been thinking about how I handle game purchases, and I’ve realized there are actually several strategies I could use to avoid mindless spending. Some of them work for me, some don’t, but they’re all worth considering.
The Strategies I’ve Considered
Waiting for Sales The patient approach. Wait for Black Friday, Christmas sales, or PSN store discounts. Buy games at $20-30 instead of full price. Most games drop significantly within their first year anyway.
Playing Older Games There’s a massive library of older titles still available at low prices. These aren’t just “old” games – they’re proven titles that have been patched and often available as complete editions.
Platform Switching Moving to PC for Steam sales and cheaper indie games, or subscribing to something like Xbox Game Pass for $12/month. Building a budget PC that can last for years.
Alternative Acquisition Borrowing from libraries, buying used copies, trading with other players, or sticking to free-to-play games.
Being Selective Only buying 1-2 full-price games per year. Not chasing day-one releases. Prioritizing what actually matters.
Emulation Playing retro games for free on PC with a basic setup.
What Actually Works For Me
I’ll be straight about this – only three of these strategies align with how I actually game.
Waiting for sales is obvious. Why pay full price when I can wait a few months? Games don’t disappear after launch, and they’re often in better shape after patches anyway. I’ve saved money just by being patient and tracking PSN sales.
Playing older games is something I already do. I have a backlog. Those games don’t lose value just because they’re not brand new. There are incredible titles I haven’t touched yet, available at a fraction of launch price.
Being selective is probably the most important one. I only play games I genuinely like and intend to finish. I don’t abandon games partway through, which means I need to be careful about what I commit to. This naturally controls spending because I’m not impulse-buying games I’ll never complete.
What Doesn’t Work For Me
Platform switching isn’t happening. I’m on PlayStation for specific reasons – the games I want to play, the trophies I’m pursuing. PC gaming might be cheaper, but that’s not where my gaming is.
Alternative acquisition like libraries, trading, or free-to-play isn’t my thing. I prefer owning the games I play, and free-to-play doesn’t align with the experiences I’m after.
Emulation doesn’t fit my current focus. Nothing against it, but it’s not part of how I engage with games right now.
Be Intentional
Here’s what it comes down to: think before you buy. Gaming is expensive if you approach it mindlessly, but it doesn’t have to break the bank if you’re strategic.
I ask myself: Am I buying this because I genuinely want to play it and finish it, or because of hype? Will I actually play this at launch? Is this a game I’ll remember in a year?
Let’s say I set a budget of $400 per year for games. How would that work with these strategies?
If I’m being selective and buying full-price standard editions at $70, that’s about 5-6 new releases per year. I’d need to be absolutely certain those games are worth it.
If I’m waiting for sales, that same $400 could get me 13-20 games at $20-30 each. More games, significantly less money per title.
Or I could mix both approaches: 3 must-play games at launch ($210) plus 6-9 sale games with the remaining $190. This gives me the day-one experiences I actually care about while filling the rest of my year with discounted titles.
The point is having a plan. Knowing what I want from my gaming time and spending accordingly. Recognizing that I don’t need every game on day one.
Factoring in Subscriptions
Now, if I’m subscribed to PlayStation Plus at $10 per month, that’s $120 per year. That needs to come out of my total gaming budget.
$400 total budget – $120 for PS+ = $280 left for actually buying games.
With that $280, here’s what I can get:
Being selective with full-price games: 4 new releases at $70 each.
Waiting for sales: 9-14 games at $20-30 each.
Mix both approaches: 2 launch games ($140) plus 4-7 sale games with the remaining $140. Total of 6-9 games per year.
The subscription takes a chunk of the budget, but it also provides value through monthly games and online access. It’s part of the calculation.
Budget Category: $337.29 Annually
Let’s look at a slightly tighter budget. With $337.29 per year, here’s how the numbers break down.
Without PS+ subscription ($337.29 available for games):
Being selective with full-price games: 4 new releases at $70 each ($280), with $57.29 left over.
Waiting for sales: 11-16 games at $20-30 each.
Mix both approaches: 2 launch games ($140) plus 6-9 sale games with the remaining $197.29. Total of 8-11 games per year.
With PS+ subscription:
$337.29 total budget – $120 for PS+ = $217.29 left for actually buying games.
Being selective with full-price games: 3 new releases at $70 each ($210), with $7.29 left over.
Waiting for sales: 7-10 games at $20-30 each.
Mix both approaches: 1 launch game ($70) plus 4-7 sale games with the remaining $147.29. Total of 5-8 games per year.
Budget Category: $170 Annually
This is a much tighter budget. At $170 per year, the PS+ subscription becomes a significant chunk of the total spending.
Without PS+ subscription ($170 available for games):
Being selective with full-price games: 2 new releases at $70 each ($140), with $30 left over.
Waiting for sales: 5-8 games at $20-30 each.
Mix both approaches: 1 launch game ($70) plus 3-5 sale games with the remaining $100. Total of 4-6 games per year.
With PS+ subscription:
$170 total budget – $120 for PS+ = $50 left for actually buying games.
Being selective with full-price games: 0 new releases (can’t afford even one $70 game).
Waiting for sales: 1-2 games at $20-30 each.
Mix both approaches: Not really feasible with only $50. Best option is 1-2 sale games.
At this budget level, there’s a real trade-off to consider. Without PS+, I can buy 5-8 sale games throughout the year. With PS+, I’m left with only $50 for maybe 1-2 games, relying almost entirely on the monthly PS+ games for content. The subscription essentially kills the purchasing budget. I’d have to decide: do I want the PS+ monthly games and online access, or do I want the flexibility to choose my own 5-8 games on sale?
Final Thought
I can maintain my gaming habit without constantly draining my wallet. The key is being deliberate about what I buy and when. Wait for sales, focus on the backlog, be selective about new releases. Game smarter, not just spend more.
The games will still be there. The experiences won’t disappear. And my wallet will thank me for thinking it through.
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