How to maximize savings on Steam/Epic seasonal sales with extra codes?

Seasonal sales on digital storefronts like Steam and the Epic Games Store are a golden opportunity for PC gamers to expand their libraries without breaking the bank. However, simply waiting for a sale isn’t always enough to secure the absolute best deal. By employing a few smart strategies, leveraging additional codes, and understanding the ecosystem, you can maximize your savings and grab those coveted titles at rock-bottom prices.

Mastering the Seasonal Sale Schedule

The first step to maximizing savings is knowing when the major sales typically occur. Both Steam and Epic Games Store follow predictable patterns, allowing you to plan your purchases.

Steam Sales

Steam hosts several major sales throughout the year. The most prominent are:

• Summer Sale: Usually runs from late June to early July.
• Halloween Sale: Typically late October to early November, focusing on horror games.
• Autumn Sale (Black Friday/Cyber Monday): Late November.
• Winter Sale (Holiday Sale): From late December into early January.

Beyond these, smaller themed sales (e.g., publisher sales, genre sales) pop up regularly, often announced with less fanfare.

Epic Games Store Sales

Epic Games Store also has a strong sales calendar, often overlapping with or preceding Steam’s major events. Key sales include:

• Mega Sale: Often in May, known for its significant discounts and recurring coupons.
• Holiday Sale: Similar to Steam’s Winter Sale, from mid-December into January.
• Smaller sales and weekly free games are constant features, providing consistent opportunities.

Being aware of these schedules allows you to wishlist games and hold off on purchases until the expected sale window.

Beyond Base Discounts – Stacking Savings

The real art of maximizing savings comes from combining the announced sale prices with additional layers of discounts.

Epic Games Store Coupons

Epic Games Store is renowned for its generous coupons, especially during its Mega Sales and Holiday Sales. These coupons are often automatically applied at checkout for eligible games above a certain price threshold (e.g., $10-$15 USD). The beauty of these coupons is that they stack on top of existing sale discounts, frequently dropping prices to unprecedented lows. Keep an eye on your email and the Epic Games Launcher for announcements regarding these coupons.

External Payment & Gift Card Discounts

Sometimes, the discount isn’t on the game itself, but on the method you use to pay. Look out for:

• Gift Card Sales: Retailers (online and physical) occasionally offer discounts on Steam or Epic Games Store gift cards. Buying a $50 gift card for $40 is an instant 20% saving before you even browse for games.
• Payment Provider Promotions: Services like PayPal, certain credit cards, or regional payment systems sometimes run promotions that offer cashback or discounts when you use their service to purchase games on these platforms.

Smart Shopper Tools and Strategies

To ensure you’re getting the best deal, savvy shoppers employ a range of tools and strategies.

Price Tracking Websites

Websites like IsThereAnyDeal.com and SteamDB.info are invaluable. They track prices across various storefronts and key resellers, showing you historical low prices. This allows you to verify if the current sale price is truly a good deal or if the game has been cheaper before. You can also set up alerts for specific games to be notified when they drop below a certain price.

Utilizing Your Wishlist

Both Steam and Epic Games Store allow you to wishlist games. This isn’t just for organization; it’s a powerful notification tool. When a game on your wishlist goes on sale, you’ll receive an email notification, ensuring you don’t miss out on a potential saving. Curate your wishlist carefully, adding games you genuinely want but are willing to wait for a discount.

Exploring Alternative Avenues (with caution)

Sometimes, the best deals aren’t directly on Steam or Epic, but from authorized third-party sellers or bundle sites.

Reputable Third-Party Key Retailers

Sites like Fanatical, Humble Bundle, and Green Man Gaming are authorized sellers that often have their own sales and offer keys redeemable on Steam or Epic. They sometimes have even better deals than the main storefronts, especially when combined with their own promotional codes or loyalty programs. Always stick to reputable sites to avoid issues with invalid keys.

Game Bundles

Humble Bundle and Fanatical regularly offer bundles of games centered around a publisher, genre, or theme. These bundles can provide incredible value, often letting you pay what you want (or tiered prices) for a collection of games, some of which you might have on your wishlist. Even if you only want one or two games in a bundle, the overall saving can be significant.

The Long Game – Patience and Planning

Ultimately, maximizing savings often comes down to patience and strategic planning.

Strategic Purchases

Don’t buy a game just because it’s on sale if you won’t play it immediately. The ‘backlog’ phenomenon is real, and games often go on sale again. Waiting for a truly irresistible price, especially for games that have been out for a while, is a smart move. Newer games typically see their steepest discounts a few months or a year after release.

Loyalty Programs

Epic Games Store, for example, has an ‘Epic Rewards’ program where a percentage of your purchase is returned as a credit for future purchases. While not an ‘extra code,’ it’s a built-in saving mechanism that adds up over time, effectively reducing the net cost of your games.

Conclusion

Maximizing your savings on Steam and Epic seasonal sales isn’t just about catching the initial discount. It involves a multi-faceted approach: understanding sale cycles, actively seeking out and stacking additional coupons or payment method discounts, utilizing price tracking tools, and being patient. By integrating these strategies into your game purchasing habits, you’ll be able to build an impressive game library while keeping your wallet happy.