How to track PC game prices & always get the best deal on Steam/Epic?

Never Miss a Discount: Your Guide to Smarter PC Game Shopping

In the vast and ever-expanding world of PC gaming, new titles are released constantly, and established favorites frequently go on sale. For the savvy gamer, paying full price can often feel like a missed opportunity. Platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store are known for their generous sales events, but keeping track of every price drop across countless games can be overwhelming. This guide will equip you with the tools and strategies to track PC game prices effectively and ensure you always snag the best deal.

Leveraging Platform Wishlists for Instant Alerts

The first line of defense in your quest for savings is surprisingly simple: the wishlist feature built into Steam and the Epic Games Store. Both platforms allow you to add games you’re interested in to a personalized list.

• Steam Wishlist: This is arguably the most robust. When a game on your Steam wishlist goes on sale, you’ll receive an email notification. You can also see a quick overview of wishlist items on sale directly on your Steam client or website. It’s an essential tool for passive price tracking.
• Epic Games Store Wishlist: While perhaps not as feature-rich as Steam’s, Epic also notifies you via email when games on your wishlist drop in price or become available for free. Given Epic’s frequent free game giveaways, this can be particularly valuable.

Make a habit of wishlisting any game that catches your eye, even if you’re not ready to buy immediately. It’s the simplest way to get automatic alerts.

Dedicated Price Tracking Websites & Aggregators

For a more comprehensive and proactive approach, third-party price tracking websites are indispensable. These sites aggregate deals from various digital storefronts (not just Steam and Epic, but also GOG, Humble Store, Fanatical, etc.) and provide historical price data.

IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)

IsThereAnyDeal is widely considered the gold standard. It allows you to create a personalized watchlist, import your Steam wishlist, and receive email alerts when games reach a desired price point or hit an all-time low. It also shows a clear historical price chart for each game, letting you know if a current sale is truly a good deal.

GG.deals

Similar to ITAD, GG.deals offers a clean interface, price history, deal alerts, and comparison across multiple stores. It’s particularly good for quickly seeing the best current price across different retailers and often includes information about bundles or subscription service inclusions.

CheapShark

CheapShark focuses primarily on displaying the lowest current prices from major digital storefronts. While it might not have the same depth of features as ITAD or GG.deals, it’s excellent for a quick check on the absolute cheapest current price for a specific game.

These aggregators are crucial for seeing beyond Steam or Epic and finding the absolute best price across the entire PC game ecosystem.

Enhance Your Browser with Extensions

Browser extensions can integrate price tracking directly into your shopping experience, saving you clicks and time. Many of the aforementioned price tracking sites offer their own extensions that overlay information directly onto Steam or Epic store pages.

• Enhanced Steam / SteamDB Browser Extension: While not purely a price tracker, the SteamDB extension adds a wealth of information to Steam store pages, including historical low prices, regional pricing data, and package details. It’s a must-have for serious Steam shoppers.
• Price Tracker Extensions: Some dedicated price tracker sites offer extensions that will show you a game’s price history right on its store page on Steam or Epic, making it instantly clear if the current sale is worth jumping on.

These extensions are invaluable for getting immediate context on a game’s pricing without leaving the store page.

Understanding Sale Cycles and Strategy

Knowing when to expect major sales can be as important as tracking individual game prices. Both Steam and Epic have predictable seasonal sales:

• Steam: Expect major sales during Summer, Autumn (Black Friday), Winter (Holiday), and Spring. Smaller themed sales (e.g., specific genres, publishers) occur throughout the year.
• Epic Games Store: Epic also runs large seasonal sales (e.g., Mega Sale in May/June, Holiday Sale) and often provides hefty discount coupons during these events, on top of game discounts.

Patience is a virtue in game shopping. Unless a game is brand new and you absolutely must play it on release, waiting for a sale is almost always rewarded. Most games will see their first significant discount within 3-6 months of launch.

Additional Tips for Maximizing Savings

• Check for Free Games: Epic Games Store famously gives away free games every week. Keep an eye on their store to claim them – they’re yours to keep forever.
• Consider Game Bundles: Sites like Humble Bundle and Fanatical regularly offer bundles of games at heavily discounted prices. These are fantastic for expanding your library cheaply.
• Utilize Coupons: Epic Games Store sometimes provides coupons during major sales, which can stack with existing discounts for even bigger savings.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Wait: The longer you wait, the cheaper a game often gets. Unless it’s a multiplayer game where early adoption is key, sitting tight can lead to massive savings down the line.

Conclusion

With a combination of in-platform wishlists, powerful third-party tracking websites like IsThereAnyDeal and GG.deals, browser extensions, and an understanding of sale cycles, you can become a master of PC game deals. No longer will you have to wonder if you’re getting the best price – you’ll know. Happy gaming and happy saving!