Never miss a game sale: What’s the best tool to track wishlisted game discounts?

The thrill of discovering a new game is often matched only by the excitement of finding it on sale. But with countless digital storefronts and thousands of games, keeping tabs on price drops for your most anticipated titles can feel like an impossible quest. Missing out on a great discount for a game you’ve been eyeing is a common gamer’s lament. Fortunately, a variety of sophisticated tools exist to do the heavy lifting for you, ensuring your wallet stays happy and your game library keeps growing.

Why You Need a Game Discount Tracker

In today’s dynamic gaming market, prices fluctuate constantly. Publishers run sales events, individual stores offer limited-time deals, and prices can even vary by region. Manually checking every storefront (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, Nintendo eShop, Humble Bundle, etc.) for every game on your wishlist is simply not feasible. A dedicated tracking tool automates this process, providing several key benefits:

• Save Money: The most obvious benefit. Get games at the best possible price.
• Save Time: No more endless browsing; get alerts directly to you.
• Informed Decisions: Access price history to see if a “sale” is truly a good deal.
• Discover New Deals: Often, these tools highlight other great sales you might not have known about.

Top Tools for Tracking Game Sales

Let’s explore some of the most popular and effective platforms designed to help you snag those coveted game discounts.

IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)

Widely regarded as the gold standard for PC game price tracking, IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD) aggregates prices from over 50 digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Green Man Gaming, Humble Store, and many more. It allows you to import your Steam wishlist (and other platforms), create custom watchlists, and set up email alerts for price drops. ITAD also offers detailed price history graphs, showing you how low a game has gone in the past, which is invaluable for identifying truly great deals versus modest discounts.

• Pros: Comprehensive store coverage, detailed price history, robust alert system, platform agnostic for PC.
• Cons: Primarily focused on PC games, interface can be a bit overwhelming for new users.

Digital Store Wishlists (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Epic Games)

Almost every major digital storefront now includes its own wishlist feature, often with built-in email notification systems. Steam’s wishlist is particularly effective, sending you emails when games on your list go on sale. PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo eShop also offer similar functionality for console titles. While these are convenient, they are limited to their respective platforms and don’t provide a holistic view of deals across different stores or physical retailers.

• Pros: Built-in, easy to use, specific to your preferred platform.
• Cons: Limited to one storefront, no cross-store comparisons, often less granular alert options.

gg.deals

Similar to IsThereAnyDeal, gg.deals is another powerful aggregator for PC game deals. It boasts an intuitive interface, extensive store coverage, and robust filter options. You can link your Steam account to import your wishlist, track price history, and receive notifications. gg.deals often includes deals on keys from authorized resellers as well, giving you even more options to find the lowest price.

• Pros: Excellent UI, comprehensive PC store coverage, good filtering, includes authorized key resellers.
• Cons: Primarily PC-focused.

Console-Specific Trackers & Apps

While ITAD and gg.deals focus mainly on PC, console gamers aren’t left out. Websites like psprices.com cater specifically to PlayStation deals, xbdeals.com for Xbox, and eshop-prices.com for Nintendo Switch. These sites often track regional pricing, bundles, and provide detailed price history for their respective ecosystems. Many also offer mobile apps for on-the-go notifications.

Choosing the Right Tool for You

The “best” tool depends on your gaming habits:

• PC Gamers: IsThereAnyDeal or gg.deals are indispensable for comprehensive coverage across digital storefronts.
• Console Gamers: Utilize the specific platform’s wishlist (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo) complemented by dedicated third-party sites like psprices.com or xbdeals.com.
• Multi-Platform Gamers: A combination is usually best. Use ITAD or gg.deals for PC, and then rely on native wishlists or console-specific trackers for your console titles.

Pro Tips for Savvy Shoppers

• Set Price Thresholds: Don’t just track sales; set alerts for when a game hits a specific price point you’re comfortable with.
• Check Price History: Always look at a game’s price history to ensure the current sale is genuinely good, not just a minor discount.
• Bundle Awareness: Some of the best deals come from bundles (e.g., Humble Bundle). Keep an eye on aggregators that include these.
• Regional Pricing: If comfortable with VPNs or different accounts, some tools can help you identify regional price differences.
• Patience is Key: Almost every game goes on a significant sale eventually. Don’t feel pressured to buy at the first discount.

Never again will you miss that dream game at an unbeatable price. By leveraging the power of game discount tracking tools, you can build your library smarter, save money, and always be ready to dive into your next adventure without buyer’s remorse.