What tools help track wishlist game price drops across PC & console stores?

Never Miss a Deal: Tracking Game Price Drops

The world of video games is vast and exciting, but new releases and even older gems can come with a hefty price tag. For savvy gamers, catching a desired title on sale is the ultimate win. Building a wishlist is just the first step; the real challenge lies in tracking those games across multiple digital storefronts on PC and consoles to snag them at their lowest prices. Fortunately, a host of dedicated tools and platforms exist to make this process seamless.

Whether you’re eyeing a PC blockbuster on Steam, an indie darling on the Nintendo eShop, or an exclusive for your PlayStation or Xbox, these tools can be your best friends.

PC Gaming Price Trackers

PC gaming offers a highly fragmented marketplace with numerous storefronts, making price tracking even more crucial. Here are some top contenders:

• IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)

  ITAD is a gold standard for PC gamers. It aggregates prices from over 100 official and authorized storefronts (like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, etc.). You can import your Steam, Epic, or GOG wishlists, set price alerts, and even see historical low prices, ensuring you’re getting the best possible deal. It also offers a browser extension for quick price comparisons.

• SteamDB / Enhanced Steam

  While primarily focused on Steam, SteamDB provides incredibly detailed data, including historical prices, package information, and regional pricing. The ‘Enhanced Steam’ browser extension further integrates this data directly into your Steam browsing experience, showing price histories, lowest recorded prices, and even highlighting if a game has been cheaper elsewhere.

• Epic Games Store Wishlist

  The Epic Games Store has a native wishlist system that will send you email notifications when games on your list go on sale. While not as comprehensive as ITAD for cross-store tracking, it’s effective for Epic-specific deals.

Console Gaming Price Trackers

Console digital storefronts (PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop) also have their own ecosystems for deals. While they often have native wishlist features, third-party trackers offer more historical data and cross-region insights.

• PSDeals (for PlayStation Store)

  PSDeals.com is a fan-favorite for PlayStation gamers. It tracks deals across all PlayStation Store regions, allowing you to filter by platform (PS4, PS5, PSVR), genre, and even see current and historical prices. You can add games to a watchlist and receive email alerts.

• XboxDeals (for Xbox Store)

  Similar to PSDeals, XboxDeals.net (and other regional variants like TrueAchievements for tracking) focuses on the Xbox ecosystem. It monitors price drops for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games, bundles, and DLC, offering historical price data and a robust alert system.

• DekuDeals (for Nintendo eShop)

  DekuDeals is the go-to resource for Nintendo Switch and other Nintendo console games. It meticulously tracks prices from the Nintendo eShop across various regions, bundles, and even physical game prices from major retailers. Its robust wishlist and email alert system are indispensable for Switch owners.

Cross-Platform & Aggregator Tools

Some tools cast an even wider net, attempting to cover multiple platforms or acting as general deal aggregators:

• CheapShark

  CheapShark aggregates PC game deals from various stores and often links to console deals too, though its PC coverage is more extensive. It’s known for its fast updates and ability to show price history for many titles. Its API is also used by many other deal sites.

• Browser Extensions & Mobile Apps

  Many of the services mentioned above offer browser extensions (e.g., for Chrome, Firefox) that integrate price history and comparisons directly into storefront pages. Additionally, dedicated mobile apps from deal sites or community-driven platforms can push instant notifications directly to your phone.

Tips for Effective Price Tracking

• Utilize Wishlists: Always add games you’re interested in to the native wishlists of the stores (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, eShop) as a primary layer of notification.
• Set Price Alerts: Use the advanced features of third-party trackers like ITAD, PSDeals, XboxDeals, and DekuDeals to set a specific target price or a percentage discount for your desired games.
• Check Price History: Before buying, always glance at the price history. A ‘sale’ might not be the ‘lowest ever’ price. Patiently waiting for a historical low can save you even more.
• Consider Bundles & Subscriptions: Sometimes, the best ‘deal’ isn’t a direct price drop but finding the game in a bundle (e.g., Humble Bundle) or discovering it’s included in a subscription service (e.g., Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium).
• Follow Deal Communities: Subreddits like r/gamedeals, r/consoledeals, or specialized forums often highlight flash sales and obscure discounts that might be missed by automated trackers.

Conclusion

Gone are the days of manually checking every storefront. With a combination of robust PC aggregators like IsThereAnyDeal, console-specific trackers like DekuDeals, and the power of official wishlists, you can transform your game purchasing strategy. By leveraging these tools, you’ll not only save money but also ensure that your favorite games join your library at the perfect price, leaving more cash in your wallet for future gaming adventures.