What are the best tools to track genuine game deal price history across all platforms?

In the vast and ever-expanding world of video games, snagging a great deal can feel like a game in itself. With new titles constantly releasing and digital storefronts offering frequent sales, it’s easy to get caught in a whirlwind of price fluctuations. But how do you truly know if that “limited-time offer” is genuinely a good deal or just a fleeting discount that will reappear next month? The key lies in understanding price history across all platforms, ensuring you make informed purchases and save your hard-earned cash.

The Essential Tools for Multi-Platform Price Tracking

Gone are the days of manually checking every storefront. A handful of dedicated services have emerged as indispensable resources for tracking game prices, offering historical data, price alerts, and comprehensive coverage across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms.

IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)

Often considered the gold standard for PC game deal tracking, IsThereAnyDeal aggregates prices from dozens of authorized PC storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, and many more. Its strengths lie in its robust historical price charts, custom email alerts for desired price drops, and detailed information about DRM. While primarily focused on PC, ITAD also links out to console store deals, making it a good starting point for a broader search.

GG.deals

GG.deals offers a sleek interface and powerful features for tracking PC game deals. It provides comprehensive price history, including all-time low prices, and covers a vast array of legitimate digital retailers. Beyond just prices, GG.deals often includes information on game bundles, subscription services (like Xbox Game Pass or Humble Choice), and user reviews, making it a holistic platform for game discovery and deal hunting. It also features a growing console deal section.

CheapShark

For quick price comparisons and deal aggregation, CheapShark is an excellent resource. It focuses on presenting current deals and their historical lows in a straightforward manner. While its historical charts might not be as detailed as ITAD or GG.deals, it’s fantastic for a quick glance at the best ongoing discounts and setting up basic price alerts across multiple platforms, including consoles.

Platform-Specific Trackers & Databases

While the above tools offer broad coverage, some platform-specific resources provide even deeper insights:

• SteamDB: For PC gamers, SteamDB is invaluable. It not only tracks Steam store prices but also offers detailed sales history, regional pricing, package information, and even predicts upcoming sales events.
• Deku Deals: Nintendo Switch owners will find Deku Deals indispensable. It tracks eShop prices, physical game deals, and price history, allowing you to set wishlists and receive notifications for both digital and physical titles.
• PSDeals.net / Xbox-Now.com: These sites specialize in PlayStation Store and Xbox Store deals, respectively. They offer historical data, region switching for finding the cheapest price globally, and alert features.

Maximizing Your Savings: Tips for Using Price Trackers

Having the tools is only half the battle. Here’s how to effectively use them to maximize your savings:

• Create Wishlists: Populate your wishlists on these tracking sites with games you’re interested in. This is the easiest way to get automated alerts when prices drop.
• Be Patient: Most games, especially popular ones, will eventually go on sale. Don’t feel pressured to buy at launch unless you can’t wait.
• Understand “All-Time Low”: Pay attention to the “all-time low” price. This gives you a benchmark for what constitutes a truly exceptional deal.
• Check Reputable Retailers: Stick to the authorized retailers listed on sites like ITAD or GG.deals to avoid grey market key sellers, which can carry risks.
• Consider Bundles and Subscriptions: Many games are offered in bundles or included in subscription services. Price trackers often highlight when a game is part of such an offer.

Conclusion

Tracking game deal price history is a savvy strategy for any gamer looking to expand their library without breaking the bank. By leveraging tools like IsThereAnyDeal, GG.deals, CheapShark, and platform-specific resources, you can confidently identify genuine discounts, set up alerts for your most anticipated titles, and ensure you’re always getting the best value. Happy hunting, and may your backlog grow responsibly!