How to track PC game price drops and find active discount codes for Steam, Epic & GOG?

For PC gamers, the joy of a new title is often amplified by the thrill of a great deal. With a constantly evolving landscape of sales, bundles, and discount codes across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, staying on top of price drops can feel like a full-time job. Thankfully, a wealth of tools and strategies exists to help you snag your favorite games without breaking the bank. This guide will walk you through the most effective ways to track price reductions and unearth those elusive discount codes.

The Power of Price Tracking Websites

Dedicated price tracking websites are your best friends in the quest for cheaper games. These platforms aggregate data from various digital storefronts, allowing you to compare prices, view historical lows, and set up alerts for desired titles.

• IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD): Often considered the gold standard, ITAD tracks prices across dozens of stores, including Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble, Fanatical, and more. You can add games to your waitlist, receive email notifications for price drops, and even filter by specific DRM or regions. Its comprehensive price history charts are invaluable for determining if a “sale” is truly a good deal.
• GG.deals: Similar to ITAD, GG.deals offers price comparisons, historical data, and personalized alerts. It boasts a clean interface and often highlights current bundles and free games, making it a great all-in-one resource for deal hunters.
• PCGameBenchmark: While primarily known for benchmarking system requirements, this site also features a robust game deal tracker that scans various retailers and provides price history, helping you decide when to buy.

Leveraging Store-Specific Wishlists & Features

Don’t underestimate the native features offered by the game platforms themselves. Wishlists are not just for organizing your desired games; they are powerful notification tools.

• Steam Wishlist: Add any game to your Steam Wishlist, and you’ll receive an email notification the moment it goes on sale on Steam. This is particularly useful during major sales events like the Summer Sale, Winter Sale, or various seasonal promotions.
• Epic Games Store Wishlist: Much like Steam, Epic allows you to wishlist games and will email you when they are discounted. Given Epic’s frequent large-scale sales and generous coupon giveaways, keeping an eye on your wishlist is crucial.
• GOG Wishlist: GOG.com also provides a wishlist feature that notifies you of price drops via email. GOG is known for its DRM-free policy and curated sales, making its wishlist an essential tool for fans of classic and indie titles.

Finding Active Discount Codes and Coupons

Beyond direct price drops, many retailers offer additional discount codes that can be stacked for even greater savings, especially during major sales.

• Dedicated Coupon Websites: Sites like Honey, RetailMeNot, and Slickdeals often aggregate coupon codes from various online stores. While many focus on general retail, it’s worth checking them for game-specific or broader retailer codes (e.g., for Humble Store, Fanatical). Browser extensions like Honey can even automatically apply codes at checkout.
• Publisher Newsletters and Social Media: Sign up for newsletters from your favorite game publishers (e.g., Ubisoft, EA, CD Projekt Red) or follow their social media channels. They frequently announce flash sales, special promotions, and sometimes exclusive discount codes.
• Gaming Deal Aggregators & Forums: Websites and subreddits like r/GameDeals, HotUKDeals (and its regional equivalents), or specialized gaming news sites often share newly discovered discount codes or inform about ongoing promotions that might have hidden coupons.

Community-Driven Deal Hunting

The collective power of the gaming community is an invaluable resource for finding deals and discount codes. Many dedicated communities thrive on sharing savings.

• Reddit Communities:
  • r/GameDeals: This is perhaps the most active hub for PC game deals. Users constantly post new sales, bundles, and discount codes from various storefronts. It’s a great place to discover unexpected deals and get immediate feedback on a game’s quality or a deal’s value.
  • r/Steam, r/EpicGamesPC, r/GOG: These platform-specific subreddits also highlight major sales and sometimes unique promotions relevant to their respective stores.
• Discord Servers: Many gaming communities and deal aggregator sites run their own Discord servers where flash sales and discount codes are shared in real-time, often with instant notifications.
• Gaming News Sites & Blogs: Keep an eye on reputable gaming news outlets and blogs, as they often cover major sales events and sometimes have exclusive discount partnerships.

Setting Up Price Alerts for Maximum Savings

Proactive deal hunting is great, but automated alerts ensure you never miss a prime opportunity, even when you’re not actively browsing.

• On Price Tracking Websites: Both IsThereAnyDeal and GG.deals allow you to set very specific price alerts. You can choose to be notified when a game drops below a certain percentage, reaches an all-time low, or falls below a specific dollar amount. You can also filter by store or DRM.
• Browser Extensions: Some price tracking services offer browser extensions that can integrate directly with store pages, showing you price history and allowing you to set alerts right from Steam, Epic, or GOG.
• Email vs. Browser Notifications: Decide whether you prefer email alerts (for less urgent, broader notifications) or browser push notifications (for instant alerts on high-priority titles).

By integrating these tools and strategies into your gaming routine, you’ll transform from a passive shopper into a savvy deal hunter. Whether it’s through comprehensive price tracking sites, platform-specific wishlists, community insights, or dedicated coupon searches, there are countless ways to secure your next PC game at an unbeatable price. Happy gaming and happy saving!