If shoe-string budget online gamers are careful, cunning, patient and resourceful, they can game just as much as anyone with unlimited funds. By finding and taking full advantage of discounts, subscription services and special free-play bonuses, it’s possible to enjoy all the perks affluent virtual adventurers enjoy on a daily basis.
Unless you only play the daily Wordle or free-to-play phone games, gaming online can get pretty expensive pretty quickly. With the way the costs of living are going, less and less of us can afford to shell out a big chunk of our pocket money, or monthly income, every time a new game comes out.
Before giving in to despair and resigning yourself to a life without premium daily gaming pleasures, take a minute to read this guide. It explores some of the best ways average Joes without mountains of cash are managing to get their gaming fix without taking out hefty loans or selling their souls.
Pre-owned games: markets of savings
People all over are starting to really warm up to the idea of recycling. When done with a game, or even an old classic console like an old Nintendo DS or PlayStation 2, many happily sell their old treasures on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. This has made the second-hand gaming economy a bit of a big deal and offered up a nice, novel way for gamers to revisit their childhoods and pick up overlooked gaming gems at a fraction of their digital value.
Free-play bonuses: Limited entry to gaming entertainment with an edge
For many readers, it might not make a lot of sense for gamers with next to no money to even consider stepping foot into the glittering online casino scene. But gamers with an appetite for risk can sometimes play for free on lots of today’s leading platforms. This is because of a little something the industry likes to call a no-deposit bonus. With one of these, a resourceful gambler can bypass that initial barrier to entry and access stacks of casino games for a few tantalizing minutes. Not every shiny platform will allow you to play without first handing over a little money, but ones without a deposit requirement do exist.
Now, it’s important to never forget that these businesses have to make a living, too. If you accept a no-deposit bonus without skimming over the fine print, you might be in for a shock when that bonus doesn’t open up every possible game a platform has to offer. Pick with care and make sure you know what’s in store for you before accepting one.
Discounts: budget-stretchers for hard times
News flash: games are at their most expensive when they are released officially to the world. If the price tag is too steep right off the bat, lots of people have found that waiting lifts the load on their wallets quite a bit. Seasonal Steam sales and big console showcases offer people chances to play exactly what they want to at a discount.
Very recently, the PlayStation Days of Play 2024 showcase handed out some very welcome discounts for super big titles. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which scored a very good 90% on Metacritic, had a 20% off tag while the event was going on. It wasn’t the only PS hit on offer for less, either. The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Rise of the Ronin and MLB The Show 24 were also 20% more affordable for a limited time.
Demos and free weekends: chances to try before you buy
If everyone bought every new game the day of its release, they likely wouldn’t have much funds left over for rent or food. So, it’s common now for people to pick and choose only the games that they’re most excited about and confident they’ll love. One way to make absolutely sure, without a single shadow of a doubt, that a game is worth its price tag involves trying it out for a few minutes — or a whole weekend.
Free access to games that don’t need a deposit or a subscription is similar to demos in some ways. The difference lies in when and where gamers can get their hands on one. Instead of keeping tabs on upcoming demo dates, some are floating around at all times, giving you extra freedom to test out a game or an entire platform on your own terms. When money is tight, demos are a reasonable way to test the waters and give you a more hands-on feel for a game. If you end up having less fun with it than you thought you might, there’s no harm done.
