What’s the best tool for tracking indie & AAA game price drops?
Never Miss a Discount: Your Guide to Game Price Tracking
For budget-conscious gamers, snagging a coveted title at a discount is as thrilling as the game itself. Whether you’re eyeing a critically acclaimed AAA blockbuster or a hidden indie gem, knowing when and where prices drop can save you a significant amount of money. But with countless storefronts and constant sales, how do you keep up? This guide will explore the best tools available to help you track game price drops efficiently across PC and console platforms.
Wishlists: Your First Line of Defense
Most major digital storefronts offer built-in wishlist features that provide basic price tracking. Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, and even Epic Games Store allow you to add games to a list and often send email notifications when those games go on sale. While convenient, these are usually limited to their respective platforms and might not catch deals from third-party resellers or bundle sites.
- Steam Wishlist: Excellent for PC games, notifies via email for sales.
- Console Store Wishlists: Good for platform-specific titles, though notification reliability can vary.
- Epic Games Store Wishlist: Newer feature, but effective for Epic’s offerings.
Dedicated Price Tracking Websites: The Powerhouses
For a comprehensive overview of deals across multiple platforms and retailers, dedicated price tracking websites are indispensable. These sites aggregate data from numerous stores, allowing you to compare prices and set alerts.
IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)
Often considered the gold standard for PC game deals. ITAD tracks prices from dozens of reputable PC game stores (Steam, GOG, Humble Store, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, etc.). You can create a synchronized wishlist, receive email alerts for desired discounts, and even import your Steam library to see if games you own are cheaper elsewhere or if games on your wishlist go on sale.
GG.deals
Similar to ITAD, GG.deals offers a clean interface and robust tracking for PC games, including both digital keys and physical copies in some regions. It also highlights historical low prices, allowing you to gauge whether a current deal is truly exceptional. Its integration with Twitch and other platforms can also show you if a game is part of a bundle or available through a subscription service.
PSPrices / DekuDeals / CheapShark
For console gamers, specific sites cater to their needs: PSPrices for PlayStation, DekuDeals for Nintendo Switch, and CheapShark for a broader, though sometimes less detailed, console and PC overview. These sites track digital sales on their respective storefronts and can be invaluable for console-exclusive titles.
Browser Extensions: Deals at Your Fingertips
Integrate price tracking directly into your browsing experience with extensions. These often work in conjunction with the dedicated websites mentioned above or offer their own features.
- Augmented Steam: While not a dedicated price tracker, this excellent browser extension (for Chrome/Firefox) enhances your Steam experience with price history charts and links to ITAD, helping you make informed purchasing decisions.
- Enhanced Steam: Another powerful extension providing similar features, including price comparisons and historical data on Steam store pages.
Mobile Apps: Price Alerts on the Go
If you prefer to track deals from your smartphone, several mobile apps consolidate information and send push notifications.
- Gamedeals (iOS/Android): This app often pulls from Reddit’s r/gamedeals, providing a constant stream of new discounts across all platforms.
- IsThereAnyDeal App (unofficial): While not an official app, several third-party developers have created apps that interface with ITAD’s data, offering mobile alerts. Searching your app store for “game deals” or “price tracker” will yield several options, but always check reviews.
Community-Driven Platforms: The Human Touch
Sometimes, the best deals are discovered and shared by fellow gamers. Online communities are a treasure trove of information, often highlighting flash sales, bundle deals, and even regional discounts that automated trackers might miss.
- Reddit’s r/GameDeals: An incredibly active subreddit where users post and discuss game deals from all sources. It’s often the first place to find out about new sales. Filters and flair make it easy to sort by platform or type of deal.
- Discord Servers: Many gaming communities and specific deal-hunting servers will have channels dedicated to price drops.
Choosing Your Best Tool
The “best” tool ultimately depends on your gaming habits. For most PC gamers, a combination of IsThereAnyDeal or GG.deals for comprehensive tracking, augmented by a browser extension like Augmented Steam, and supplemented by Reddit’s r/GameDeals for community alerts, offers the most robust solution. Console gamers will find PSPrices, DekuDeals, and dedicated mobile apps invaluable. By leveraging these tools, you can ensure that your next gaming purchase is always at the best possible price, leaving more money in your pocket for more games!
