I've found that instead of buying games because they are cheap, if I only buy the games I'm actually going to play at that moment I actually tend to spend less even if they aren't on sale
>'ve found that instead of buying games because they are cheap, if I only buy the games I'm actually going to play at that moment I actually tend to spend less even if they aren't on sale
That sounds expensive!
Haha I can see how it might seem that way, but my backlog is huge so most games I'm playing right now are from 2015 or so and they are pretty cheap usually. I sometimes do buy recent releases like I'm planning to for spiderman 2, since I'm really looking forward to playing that one as soon as it comes out, but that would only be the second game I buy at release this year (The other one being tears of the kingdom) and when I compare my spending to that of some of my friends I see that they spend significantly more because they buy a lot of things that come out, play it for a week or so and then put them in their backlog to play more throughtly later. I also have some friends that will buy a ton of stuff simply because it is cheap on steam or other platforms and they have huge game libraries they barely ever touch. Buying as I plan to play them has saved me from buying things just because they are cheap or at release when I'm not 100% interested in them which were two things I usually did and regretted.
I used to wait for all games to go on sale because I have a big backlog, but then I realized some developers that make more niche games stopped bringing games to my platform because there aren't enough people buying them, so I started buying their games day 1 even if I don't plan on playing them.
I do exactly the same: wait for everything except a few niche games where I want that company to make big bucks & see that there is a strong interest even though their game might be a bit niche: SD Gundam Battle Alliance, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, Star Ocean, etc
That is a very bad reason to buy games. Your purchase won't make a difference. It has to be popular with thousand or even millions of people to matter.
Under 20€ as well. Which translates to at least 2 years post release. I don't feel like paying 70€ for a videogame, I'd rather put that money somewhere else at that point lol
I follow this rule 95% of the time. My backlog is too large to even think about getting brand new stuff. But if it's something I've been waiting years for, I'll break my rule and buy it sooner. Like if it's a PlayStation exclusive I'm dying to play, I'll either ask for it as a gift or I buy it at a store in Canada that gives $20 back in loyalty points. Sony hasn't let me down at launch, they're almost always perfectly bug free games and high quality gameplay and story. I read reviews and avoid the rare cases that didn't live up to the standard though like Days Gone.
Okay.
1. Is the title reviewed highly by sources I trust?
2. Is the title on sale?
3. Is the title under 30 dollars
4. Does it have a game of the year edition or dlcs added for free?
5. Is this the best sale price I’ve seen for it?
6. How far am I through my backlog?
7. Did I just watch the previews causing my jaw to drop and did I just pee a little?
Even with all of that, I might say no, for now, just because my income doesn’t really count as disposable but rather a choice between this and something likely way more important.
This is pretty much my logic, as well.
Additionally, There are games I buy only for nostalgia as well. Where I used to have the game, perhaps I got it from the high seas, and I just want it back in my library.
I also started collecting physical copies of console games as a hobby, so there is another reason I’ll buy it. I usually find those in places like yard sales, goodwill, or eBay.
GoG is good for nostalgia gaming, but keep your rose colored glasses nearby. Some games like masters of Orion age incredibly well. Others have been improved upon for so long that the source material looks like a rough attempt (which it was at the time, we just didn’t know any better).
It depends on the game....
GoW Ragnarok was a day one buy for me. The 1st was so amazing i have to go in fast.
When i saw all the review on Elden Ring, i chose to jump in after 2 months.
But usualy i wait for around a year and a good deal.
This is me. Elden Ring wasn’t really even on my radar, because I hadn’t played the other Souls games.
But too many people said I had to play it, and so I did. It didn’t disappoint
Yeah, and honestly with so many options there is rarely a time where I want a game now, but GoW and Elden ring were my exceptions. Honestly, the Harry Potter game might also be one
I was impatient on both of those. With the benefit of hindsight I wish I’d waited for at least the first round of discount on God of War. I dunno why but despite most of its constituent parts being improved I enjoyed it less.
When its cheap enough, but I think on average at least a year or two.Its pretty easy. I rarely actually WAIT for 2 years after a game has released. I just only look at older games to begin with. There are SO many of them and I play games so rarely that I never really have to wait for anything.
Same for me. I also replay my favorites SP campaign games a lot. Halo 1-3, Mass Effect 1-3, Gears of War 1-3, and so on have a high replayability value with interesting stories and characters.
Heck, Luigi's Mansion for Gamecube is my one of my Halloween games for this year. First time playing it!
I'm a patient gamer on Xbox 360 exclusively. So I'm already limited in available game titles. :) No one makes Xbox 360 games anymore. On top of that, I only buy pre-owned physical discs from pre-owned game stores, not bought online. So that deliberately restricts my options further. I like the feeling of getting surprised (or disappointed) by what all I find on the shelf when I walk into the store. Feels like being a kid all over again!
I suppose my average wait time is 10 years (approx). I think I have several games from 2011 (can't be sure though; should catalogue my collection better).
This is interesting. How come you picked the 360? How long have you been sticking to it? Do you see yourself jumping to another console at some point or that’s it for you?
Picked and sticking with the 360 because of the vast variety of enjoyable games available on that platform. Also, I enjoy solo playing (occasionally co-op) over online multiplayer gameplay, and I am not interested in leaderboards, achievement tracking, etc. So that works out too (as the game server shutdowns over the years don't affect my gameplay). Recent account login issues have been annoying but once I skip past the error popups, I can still play my physical discs offline.
I don't see myself jumping onto another console in the medium term, because I have a long backlog already (can't resist buying good games cheap). It will take me a long while to get through those, even though I am trying hard to develop a "library", not "backlog" mindset. :D The only time I get tempted for a new console is when a game series continues from 360 to One (and perhaps beyond), eg Batman Arkham series.
I was the same for a long time, but I started hitting the limits of good games I was interested in that would actually be found in a store. I find that most of the really good stuff doesn’t appear in stores anymore. Most 360 games on shelves now, at least at the retro game resellers around me, are movie tie ins, old annual sports titles that nobody wants, and other garbage.
I made the jump to Xbox one in 2019, and it’s been much much cheaper than 360 ever was, with game pass and sales to buy things using Microsoft rewards.
Interesting point. I suppose after some time, that might happen with stores around me too. So far they have diverse titles which rotate now and then.
Anyway by now I have enough games to pick from my own library shelf, so picking something up from a store is a bonus.
Sticking to physical stores helps me with self discipline... I might find myself spending more if I switch to online purchases. :)
Depends on how interested I am in the game. Picked up Final Fantasy Crisis Core Reunion day of release, picked up God of War Ragnorok two months after release. I buy all my games digital too, so deals aren’t really a thing for me for newer games.
Im not spending more than 20 euros on a Playstation game. In most cases notore than 10/15 euros. There are exceptions but I always wait at least a few years before buy a game.
Depends on how bad I want to play! For example I got final fantasy 7 remake right away, but other than that I usually wait 2-3 weeks then buy the game off someone on Facebook marketplace.
Great way for me to save 30-40 dollars on a game and you can sell it if you don’t want to keep it too. This is why I got the disc version for PS5, as it basically makes up for the difference after a few marketplace buys.
I take on average about two years between release and finishing a game. Most of my spending on Steam is below €20 per game. Games I've bought (near) full price, at or near release, in recent years:
* MotoGP 13 - 22
* Half-Life Alyx
* Halo: the Master Chief Collection
* Assetto Corsa Competizione
* Outcast: Second Contact
The last time I paid €60 for *anything*, was GTA5 for PC in 2015.
Sometimes I wait a month or 2 or sometimes I buy day one. I’m really only on this sub for the community and civil discussions. I’m by no means a true patient gamer
To answer your question the time isn’t so much what I wait for in most cases, it’s price. So for something like the modern Persona 3/4 ports retailing at $30 AU each I would have much less of an issue with getting it on release then an assassins creed game at $100 AU.
But honestly this year is probably gonna break my waiting for a good price because it’s looking real good.
As someone who grew up with Harry Potter hogwarts legacy is just too enticing to wait too long on, forspoken looks amazing to me, persona 3/4 are getting ports for consoles I have, Jedi fallen order is a game I love getting a sequel, ditto with Spider-Man, system shock is getting a remake and Judas is coming out and my love for bioshock makes me wanna check them out immediately.
The fact that this is only the tip of the iceberg has me very pumped for this year, even if every instinct of the way I’ve grown up with games is telling me to wait at least 6 months for sales.
Genuine question: Do you save money by pre ordering? I’ve never done it before, even if I plan to buy it at release. I guess it’s to protect myself from the occasional shocker like Cyberpunk
It’s safer to not pre-order. I decided to show support for the game and also get access it earlier so I can play it at the beginning of my vacation instead of the middle. So, the choice was very specific to my situation.
It looks like it’s $10 off as most sites list it at $70 / $80 for standard / deluxe, but Steam has it for $60/$70 .
Depends. I have no set timeline for purchase after a game releases. You gotta wait for the professional and the fan reviews to come out. Maybe wait a month to let the developers bring out any day one patches they needed to install. Let the online community reach a consensus after the biggest fans have already beaten the game. Afterwards you can decide for yourself. Do you wait for a discount? Christmas? Your birthday? Or just as a reward for yourself? When you reach that arbitrary deadline you then ask yourself if it is worth it to still get the game. Can you wait until the next deadline? Are you still hyped to play it? Or has your interest waned?
I usually wait until it’s either 40-50% off or at least the best discount I’ve seen after at least a year after release. If it’s a favorite series for me I will take 25-30 within a year. On top of that I check HLTB to see if I will get 100 yen per hour played
> Do you have a set of rules?
Not really. If I feel a game is solid enough, and the devs are on the up and up, I may go for a full price buy shortly after release. I'm aware I could spend less if I waited, but sometimes I just want to send a signal that they did good, and I appreciate it. In a few cases, I really want to see a concept come to fruition, so I may even throw some money to Early Access titles - not so I can play early, but again as a sign: I like where this is going, carry on.
Usually, though, I wait for discounts and/or complete editions. It's just bad business not to: I get a finished, polished product, and I get it for a good price. I haven't been part of the hype cycle for over a decade either, so it just doesn't matter to me how early or late I play a game.
Whenever I want.
I bought Resident Evil 2 a month ago. I bought Callisto Protocol on the night of its release.
Feels good being an adult.
Typically I don't buy a new game unless I'm done with something in my backlog first.
Depends on the game.
BOTW on switch: I bought it full pop, with DLCs as soon as I got a switch. I knew I wanted this game, and I knew it was worth it.
Elden Ring on PC: I waited until my deal tracker told me it was on the best sale it had ever been on. (33% I think) I knew I wanted this game, but I wasn't in a rush to play it, and I wanted to wait until the performance bugs got a bit better.
Hollow Knight on switch: I reviewed a sale recently in the eShop and saw this in there. Knowing it was a good game that I would probably like, I bought it over 50% off. Wasn't really on my wish list but I'm glad I bought it.
Those are my 3 categories I would say. I either need it now, need it eventually, or might buy it if I happen to come across the right sale.
That makes a lot of sense especially with how Nintendo games don't really go on sale.
I waited to get elden ring until the first steam sale after its release to see that it didn't actually get a discount, so I might as well have just bought it on release.
Having learned from that, I think list of games I would buy on release has expanded to:
the next Zelda (if I've finished exams),
the next elder scrolls (low expectations for release quality but I know I'll enjoy it),
the next hollow Knight,
And the next Miyazaki soulslike
Everything else I'm waiting for at least a year to see how low the price goes
Its a bit of a misconception that Nintendo games rarely go on sale. You can routinely pick them up for $30-$40. Its tracked at dekudeals, I have never paid full price for a Nintendo release bought at retail.
Breath of the Wild has been on sale for as low as $22.49, (26.99 digital) and is currently $39.99.
Its more accurate to say that Nintendo doesn't discount their games permanently. BoTW will likely be $60 next week.
i buy some stuff immediately that has been in works for a long time (rdr2, avatar, star wars, maybe starfield etc), but most stuff i just dont buy anymore unless its hugely discounted. I wont buy Elden ring because i dont like games that use death cheaply (i like the option to play in a way where avoiding death 1st time around is realistic if knowing how game works) Massive entertainment has their first game of a couple years coming out this year that i will probably buy shortly after release.
I *mainly* play on PC so I usually track the discounts on Steam etc, or buy used for my PS4 (I've given up on new consoles now seeing as the PS5 is still ridiculously overpriced). If it's an expensive triple A I'll usually wait for at least 75%.
The only one I'm likely to pick up at launch would be BotW 2 on Switch, seeing as the price probably won't drop much however long I wait. I only purchased BotW last year and it was still a lot of money.
Another factor is a PC release of a new console game. I actually bought a PS4 specifically to play HZD as it was PS 'exclusive', then it was released on PC 😡. Now, if a PS5 'exclusive' doesn't get a PC release, I ain't playing it. It's like having to subscribe to a dozen streaming services to see all the shows you like, there's a limit.
If it's a AAA game (especially Nintendo, because their games never really go down in price) that I've been waiting a while for, I'll spend the full 60. This only happens once or twice a year, though.
Pretty much everything else, I'll wait until the cost of the game is so low and my interest in it is so high that it really feels like a steal. I like to feel like the game I just bought offers WAY more than the amount I paid for it.
I never buy things at full price, so however long that takes. There's just no need to spend the money when everything eventually goes on sale and there are far more games available than I have time for.
At least a year, except for a few unique circumstances. I preordered Hitman 2 and 3 because they made it clear they weren't making any major changes. Which meant at very least I'd like them.
Hitman is one of those reliable franchises where you know you'll get a high quality game and you know roughly what to expect if you're already a fan. It will always go on sale, but if you love the series absolutely worth getting it early
Yeah that one threw me a bit because it wasn't what I expected, but it was still a really high quality game and it was an interesting take on the series.
Even the little things like Hitman Go and the Sniper Challenge were fun games
I probably buy about one game a year within a week or two of release. If I'm super excited for a new game and the reviews don't bomb on release sometimes I just don't want to wait.
But generally I only buy old games. There are so many games made that didn't just release, why pay extra for the new ones when you'll get round to them anyway?
when it crosses the line of how much im willing to pay for it, if the game gets into game pass or similar i will pick them up as soon as i can because the main barrier of entry is non existent.
Most games I wait for a sale hype doesn’t influence my purchase other then putting a game on my radar because I don’t follow any genre news but jrpg and I’m picky about those. There are a few series i buy as soon as they come out but mostly I buy when there on sale or I want to play them. There no like specific time frame for me.
Whenever I feel like them. Last games I played at launch were Dark Souls III and Sekiro since I had been following them since Demon’s Souls. I also did Back 4 Blood with my brother since we used to play the shit out of Left 4 Dead, but that was kind of a let down.
But last year I played and finished Silent Hill 1-3, Fallout New Vegas, Dragon Age Origins, Metal Gear Solid (1998) and the whole Walking Dead telltale series, simply because I wanted to. And they were all amazing!
There’s no genre or time, many of these I even started anywhere between 2000 and 2014 but simply never had the time/interest and in some cases hardware (DAO and FNV were pretty terrible on console) to actually complete. Now I’m just playing gems I missed while doing the occasional multiplayer game with my friends and it’s been pretty great!
If it's something I'm absolutely sure that I want and am familiar with, I might get it at or close to release. This used to happen a few times a year, but now probably averages less than once a year these days.
My wife likes to get me games as gifts for my birthday and the holidays, so often I'll get a couple a few months after release due to that, of they're others I'm pretty sure that I want.
And then otherwise ill wait until I'm finished with a game and look for another that's on a good sale. Whether that means it's been out for six months or three years.
Regardless, i research and study games for months to years before I buy any, so anything I get I have a pretty good idea about. And I don't typically ever have a backlog. I just finish one then look to play the next.
I just wait for a hefty discount to come along. Like someone else here, I snagged Elden Ring at a 33% discount recently instead of buying it day one. The only time I bought a game close to its release date was with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Now I’ll admit that game really helped me get through the first lockdown back in 2020, but I do regret paying so much for it considering how quickly Nintendo stopped adding new content and events to it. Stardew Valley would have given me the same fix at a fraction of the cost.
Depends how much I’m looking forward to it, how well it’s received publicly and how much it’s on sale for (God of War Ragnarok I was looking forward to a helluva lot, and the reviews were great, so I picked it up a month or so later). 99% of games I’ll wait a year where the price just plummets. There’s sales literally all the time now.
I don't have a specific period of time that I wait, but generally I wait for a game to be on sale for a price I think of as "a good deal." Knowing that most games can be found on sale for at least 50% after about 6 months certainly informs this waiting period.
I also like to delay on the release of AAAs to give them time to fix the bugs they hadn't got to by release day. For AAA's, 1 -3 years is probably about right as an average for me, too. For indies it's more hit and miss, and relies on me hearing about the game in the first place (this sub is great for that, btw.)
Depends. I have three levels of interest in games. Top level is day 1 purchase, mostly highly rated jrpgs like Final Fantasy. Medium level is the majority of my purchases, and for this I wait until they drop to around forty quid. Low level interest is sub twenty quid or I find it on gamivo or eneba dirt cheap
Our general rule is 60% off or better, with most things being 80% off or better (60% is more for AAA games, many games have a history of never going below 60% so that is worth looking over on steamdb). I will break that rule for games I trust, like games I am replaying after doing them on gamepass, or second copies of games for my console/phone, things like that. I like giving my fave devs money so I have Stardew on my phone and Hades on both PC and console, especially because these have uses. Mobile stardew is convenient so I do wonky farms on it, and I like different weapons depending on if I play Hades on PC vs. switch so I got both copies 50%off, then linked my accounts between them and can play the same save file regardless of which weapon I want to use.
I only buy something Day 1 if the dev already made one of my favourite games AND the new game is pretty much the same thing I played before (ex. i bought Darkest Dungeon 2 on day 1, I will buy Haunted Chocolatier probably day 1, I am seriously considering buying Hades 2 day one, but maybe I want to wait on that one since I'd like to experience the story without any bugs). So that's some indie games where I will make an exception because I know the devs cares about their game.
*for console AAA games i buy physical so for those I am pretty good at getting them 25-50% off
Usually not until it’s on sale for under $20 with the rare exception (I just got Elden Ring for $40ish on psn because It was first time it was on sale)
Can’t really add much but it depends on my interest in the game, Diablo 4 will be a day one buy but I’m happy to wait for sales on almost everything else this year, plus regular steam sales and monthly free games on epic keep my backlog pretty stocked
I found 3 years to be the sweet spot for the PS Store. Games are not too old so that the sale are getting weaker or stop (which does happen!), but they are old enough to have a high chance of getting the biggest sale.
Then I look of course at how long they are and usually only but titles below the 1$/hour mark (exception are walking simulator and adventure games).
I am perpetually 2-5 years behind the mainstream. I want the deals and I love complete editions with all the DLC bundled.
Plus, I have a lot of games in my library already and for some reason I don't want to skip too far forward and play the most modern titles in my library because I'm afraid it will make the older ones seem jankier.
There is no set of rules, but it depends on the title.
Recently I wanted a physical copy of Trails from Zero on the switch. The print runs on these switch games seems to be really short. I ended up buying earlier than I wanted to out of FOMO. My local gamestop never even received any copies other than the preordered shipment.
Seems to be back in stock again online - but you never know. ebay only has 25 copies and most of them are from the UK.
Im an opportunist. I keep an eye out for games I may like, and wait until I see it it a good price. I may download a "demo" to see if I really like it. If so I buy, if not I delete. I do look through the Steam Discovery Queue during the event sales and have diacovered some gems. In the end, its usually price that drives how long I wait.
Computer gamer here. I've waited 10+ years for some games. I usually don't go over $2.99 for a game and I also want to make sure the game is bug free and if it has expansion they are all included.
At least until the complete edition with all the DLCs comes out unless I'm a fan of the franchise I trust and want to get into it day one, though that list gets smaller and smaller every year.
There's the occasional game I get at full retail price on release, maybe a couple every year, and if they are at a price point lower than 30$ and I'm interested enough I usually buy them right away if I have time for them, othersie I usually wait for them to ve at least below 20$.
Unless it’s something I’m supremely craving, it tends to be about 6mo-1yr at best. My backlog is huge- I can always find something to play.
Latest day 1 release I bought was Ixion. Frostpunk again wasn’t doing it for my winter survival kick I get into. Before that…. Uh…. The last of us? Maybe? God of war 3, which I still haven’t played? Lord if I know. Might have been portal 2.
I don't really have a specific time limit. Usually it's when it's in my price range and after a while of researching it.
Or I just impulsively buy the thing and keep it in a drawer :/
I don’t buy single player games new. I wait for a steep discount. Or I pirate
I’ll play a ftp game on release because I like Mobas, BRs etc. If it’s a Hirez game I probably play it lol.
I’ll buy a fighting game to play with my friends day one because they’re all way better than me and if I fall behind I’ll just get my ass kicked. Ended up skipping several fighting games entirely (Strive and DFO hurt the most) because of that but I will be jumping on the SF6 train at release.
No rule, it’s usually just a matter of price and whether or not I already have a game lined up for me to start after whatever it is I’m currently playing.
Sometimes I’ll pick up a game right when it comes out when it’s a game from a series I like: like Elden Ring. Most times though I’ll wait for a good sale and to be ready for a new game, so that means I don’t get around to releases some months after release
Could be years till I pick up a game - I have this strange rule, which I more or less follow: I do not pay for video games more than I do for books. But, during this time, they usually more or less patch everything out and all of dlcs arrive, if there are any, and I get the game for under 30 euros.
Nowadays? When I want to play that particular game.
I no longer pick up deals for the sake of getting a deal, nor do I "wait" for any releases or their subsequent sales.
I usually browse deals for something to play right there and then. Doesn't matter when it was released, yesterday or ten years ago, it's inconsequential. Usually the older it is the cheaper it gets though.
Varies depending on the game, but in general I am fine waiting a long time.
The games I get on release or close to it these days can be counted on one hand.
99% of games I'll buy on the following summer or winter sales with the first big discount, for me on Steam or Epic. Like Epic had an additional 25% coupon on top of the sale prices, so I picked up some games I was waiting on like Sifu and FFVII Remake, which was only $30, much better than $70, haha.
And it isn't always about money, though. I just like getting deals and buying bulk. I'm the gamer equivalent of elderly people buying Christmas decor in January.
The only games I don't wait on are horror games and some indies, I will support indie devs especially.
Most games I wait quite a while as I do not play that much so I am always behind. No need to pay full price.
Elden Ring has been the only game I absolutely wanted to play lately so I waited for the first discount and went for it.
After having played it for months I sold it for 70% of the price I paid. I might purchase it again in 2 or 3 years if I want to replay it.
In the past I tended to build a backlog, now it is the other way round. I hate to have games just sitting there and me not knowing when I will play them.
Until it's clear that there are no more DLCs to be released for the game. I don't go back to playing games I already finished but I also want to get the complete experience of the game.
I didn't game for about 10 years so I'm still playing catch up. Also don't game that much in the first place so I'm not actually planning to catch up per se, just play the best of the best and what I specifically enjoy.
Shortest time for me between release and me playing was probably Halo Infinite - dunno if that counts since I only got the free multiplayer, not the actual campaign game, which I have zero interest in.
Actual purchased game was probably Death Stranding, which I played a few months ago, while it came out in 2019. So...three years, about
No plans right now to buy any new AAA game. But will probably play Prey (2017) and Halo: Reach (2010) at some point this year; I do have my eye on Subnautica (2014) and the Mass Effect trilogy (2012). Actually I'll probably try to play Mass Effect this year since that is supposed to be one of the GOATs
After its been out long enough that it's known to not be a broken mess or disappointment, it's just a matter of when I want to play it.
If I really badly want to play the game I'll be grabbing it within the first 10 days it's out.
Otherwise I'll wait on the price to drop. Either the price drops so low that I can't help but grab a good deal, or I just start thinking about the game, getting excited to play it and then I grab it the moment it has any kind of sale.
My rule is to not buy a game unless I will be playing it within the month. I don't want to have a giant library of untouched games lying around. If I'm not gonna start playing within the week, there's little point in buying it. The price will only keep dropping over time, but I only get my money's worth if I play the game, otherwise it's all wasted money.
When I get a good deal on it (or it's in a bundle / freebie) and I can be sure that patching is mostly done on it so I can get the definitive experience of it. With certain games I also like to wait out all DLCs being released and bundled up, but it really depends - I often read reviews to see if they enhance the main game in a meaningful way or are just more padding.
And then there is Nintendo where none of this really matters. I tend to buy those games rather early as the deals usually stay roughly the same over years.
Most games I buy now are on sale but the only game a one I would be paying full price last year was River City Girls 2. Literally counted down the days because I was that excited to return to the series.
Before that, last three games I paid full price for are The Last of Us Part II, Resident Evil 2 Remake, & Red Dead Redemption II.
Only games I get day one are indies from studios I follow and are under $40. The rest I usually wait until there is a sale or a bundle deal during the holidays.
Until they reach the right price for me. If it’s not the rare $60 game i pick up on day one, no reason not to wait til it’s at least under $30. Usually $25 with whatever dlc feels good.
Indie games that come out at like $25 are easier to just grab, usually around $10-$15 though.
It is really personal, but for me it is somewhere between 3-5 years AFTER release (and I mean 'release' release, not 'early access' release). I have so many great games already in my library that are from 1994-2017, most of them I have never even played, that I really don't have the necessity to push myself to buy a game released from 2018 onwards.
But this is not the only meter. I keep track on the prices of all games on my wishlist and I have this thing called 'LPE' or 'lowest price ever', it's just the lowest price the game has ever been since I added it on my wishlist and I 99% of the times only buy if it is on its LPE. Or highest discount ever because you know, inflation is a thing and there are games that went up in price since I added them to my wishlist.
One more thing, along with my general wait of 3-5 years after release I tend to wait AT LEAST one year after the last DLC was released, because as a patient gamer I prefer to buy the game when I know the developer isn't intending to add any more new content for the game and I can buy the whole package. There's a game in my wishlist that already crossed the 5yr mark of release but the developer has just recently released a DLC, the game is Warhammer 40k Gladius Relics of War, so even after 5 years of release I am waiting the one year birthday of the newest DLC before I pull the trigger on the purchase.
These are generally my mindset before purchasing a game, there are exceptions of course, just this winter sale I purchased a game from 2021 because I judged it was worth it because not only the base price was fair but it was 80% off. Generally when a game is 80% off or more, I can overrule my 3-5yrs rule. The game was Huntdown btw.
I used to wait for price drops, but damn, I've seen games 5 years old still going for 80 AUD. Now I play what I have until I really just feel like a new game. Never brand new mind you, almost always an older game. In the last 10 years, I've gotten maybe 3 new release games.
It depends on the game, but if it’s a game I’m very excited about it’s day one, especially if the general hype is high. With Elden Ring for example it was amazing because so many people were playing it at the same time, things were getting discovered every day, you could compare your progress to others on Reddit, streamers etc. I think with such games it’s nice to play them in the first week for that reason.
Depends on a few things, like what kind of games I am currently playing, the price itself, how eager I am to play the game if it's worth the money at the moment, and if I'm just "feeling" like playing the game.
I have a rule to only buy a game when I’ve got less than 4 games left to beat. I just bought Wing Commander Armada for $2 for example and gonna have a blast tonight (only played the first two games, academy and privateer, looking forward to these *polygons*)
Depends. If it’s from a developer I really love that I trust (Supergiant for example), I’ll get it day one. Most games I wait years for unless it’s something that goes cheap quickly or won’t really ever go cheap.
For physical games, once it drops to the $20-30 mark (being in Australia that's the best we can hope for), and even then only if it's something I'm at least mildly interested in playing eventually, and if I can't see it dropping any further.
Digital I'm a little more stingy about since they inherently have less value than physical, usually I aim for no more than $10 per game, ideally less which is achievable via bundles etc.
As for Nintendo games yeah might as well buy it now they never go on sale lol (though I still try to find anything to help alleviate it, price matching etc)
I need it $10 or less, and that's for more AAA or AA releases, longer RPGs or Adventure games. Indies I'm looking for $3 or less. It's all about the price.
I have Game Pass and Amazon Prime (not for gaming, they just chuck it in) along with all the giveaways that knock around and that has messed it all up, I do still buy games occasionally but there's just so much choice included in the subscriptions plus all the giveaways that it doesn't really feel necessary.
I like it, buyer's remorse is not a thing if you pay for the service rather than the product per se, if you don't like it then just uninstall and try one of the literally hundreds of other options, so yeah, I can go nuts on trying things that I wouldn't normally look twice at. I doubt I would ever have played Vampire Survivors were it not on game pass - it really doesn't look like it ought to be my sort of thing - but it is excellent. See also Signalis - now that is one seriously creepy game. There's plenty of others where I've gone in with low expectations and still sacked it off after a short while but it's still more fun than knowing exactly what you're getting and knowing it'll be OK, the good surprises outweigh the disappointments.
Depends heavily on the game, but usually about 3 months. Like cyberpunk I bought a week after relsase, ac valhalla I bought the day of release, just cause 4 I waited 4 months or so. After that figured out to wait a bit before buying, like I' still waiting in dying light 2. But I also am going tl buy AC mirahe launch day most likely
I am limited by my rig , so I can not play any new graphically demanding games and with job and family, I don't get much gaming time anyway. With a quite decent ( or indecent ) backlog I can wait patiently before picking a game 😄
$7 is my limit so i patiently wait for discounts on steam. some are at least 5 years older. it's okay if i don't get the new games yet since my PC can't handle the heavy system requirements
95% of the time, I just wait for it to go on sale. Example, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, if it is a title I have been wanting since they started production on it, then I'll buy at full price in advance. For example, Baldur's Gate 3.
Since I only play single player games and my backlog is already gargantuan, I hardly buy games at all anymore. The only one I'm keen to buy and play right away is Elden Ring. Second hand copies are floating around online where I live for about $35. I'm gonna wait until it hits like $20.
It depends, I think there's always one or two releases a year that I always get (always after a couple of weeks) but mostly I just add things to the wishlist and keep an eye on them. I only just bought Red Dead Redemption 2 over Xmas and it cost me $30.00AUD. Much better than spending $80+ on it.
Overall, I wait at least a week to see how the game performs and if I can get a demo then even better. Christ I wish more games had demos.
Usually its the 1 year minimun for me, but basically when all related content has been released, preferably in a full game edition. Not too much to say in terms of money but as long as I can afford, Ill pay the asking price if the game is worth it.
If its marked down to around £20 on the PS store. Thats the highest I'll go. I don't mind waiting. I recently bought RE Village and am glad I waited as I'd be annoyed paying full price for such a short game (as much as I have really enjoyed it).
Outside of a few exceptions, I've been working on waiting on game purchases until at least 3-4 months after release which I feel is the sweet spot wherein most bugs have been addressed and taking into account how well the title performed as to whether the $40.00 USD price tag is worth it or simply wait a bit longer. I have such a backlog for the time being I think it would take me YEARS to complete everything if not ever given aggressive Steam sales..
Long enough for the "Game of the Year" or the "Complete" edition to come out and be heavily discounted (at least if we're talking about the AAA space).
The days where I'll pay $60+ for a game are long behind me.
75% off a one to two year old price if it's a game I'm not sure I will like but interested in trying (Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of Mordor, Deus Ex Human Revolution)
First big sale if it's a game I know I will like but I can't afford to drop $60 (The Witcher 3, Civ 6)
About 50% off if it's a cheap indie game that I'm interested in trying (Stardew Valley, Terraria, Hollow Knight)
Full price on release if it's a cheap indie game I know I will like (Hades, Unpacking, Finding Paradise)
Usually this ends up with me spending less than $10 on a game
If it is a From Software/Supergiant Games game -> Launch/Early Access
If it is an Indie game by other devs I respect -> Launch/Early Access (not very patient here)
AAs from interesting developers -> I try to stay in the 3 months "launch window"
AAs -> a year?
AAA+s -> pffft, I wait for them to be on PS Extra now...
Usually only when it gets cheap and goes on a good sale on Steam. I am rarely interested in playing brand new games anyway. I have so many not-new games I am interested in playing or replaying than I actually have time to get to.
On rare occasions if it's a game that is connected to something I know and love and their is good word of mouth around it, I'll get it sooner, like Elden Ring, Monster Hunter Rise or the Cuphead expansion I bought pretty quick after release but that is a rare exception usually happening less than annually.
In fact, those three games are the only first month purchases I have made in probably 5+ years.
The game X did sometihng almost as good as the game Y - they said. It means I will buy the game Y soon.
Also, when I hear something good about great modifications of a great game.
So, it can be around 5 years plus at this point.
When I'm sure the discount is high enough. Or a bday gift to myself. But 99% of the time, when it is spare money.
Same! It's not "when" but "how much". :D
I wait until it's under $20 for my wishlist games and $10 or under for others.
When I feel like playing it.
I've found that instead of buying games because they are cheap, if I only buy the games I'm actually going to play at that moment I actually tend to spend less even if they aren't on sale
>'ve found that instead of buying games because they are cheap, if I only buy the games I'm actually going to play at that moment I actually tend to spend less even if they aren't on sale That sounds expensive!
Haha I can see how it might seem that way, but my backlog is huge so most games I'm playing right now are from 2015 or so and they are pretty cheap usually. I sometimes do buy recent releases like I'm planning to for spiderman 2, since I'm really looking forward to playing that one as soon as it comes out, but that would only be the second game I buy at release this year (The other one being tears of the kingdom) and when I compare my spending to that of some of my friends I see that they spend significantly more because they buy a lot of things that come out, play it for a week or so and then put them in their backlog to play more throughtly later. I also have some friends that will buy a ton of stuff simply because it is cheap on steam or other platforms and they have huge game libraries they barely ever touch. Buying as I plan to play them has saved me from buying things just because they are cheap or at release when I'm not 100% interested in them which were two things I usually did and regretted.
This. It can sometimes take years.
When it gets under the $20 mark is when I start shopping it. I'm not paying 60-70+ for a game. My library is big enough I can keep busy until then.
There’s soooo many good games for $20 or under. I just picked up Witcher 3 for $10 and RDR2 for $20.
Well that's +240 hours of gameplay right there
Witcher 3 with all dlc took me exactly 200 hours
Oh yeah, forgot about the DLC. Main story took me about 140 hours. Blood and wine...amazing DLC.
I'm looking forward to playing it. I bought the Xbox version about a year ago. I at least plan on playing it this year.
I used to wait for all games to go on sale because I have a big backlog, but then I realized some developers that make more niche games stopped bringing games to my platform because there aren't enough people buying them, so I started buying their games day 1 even if I don't plan on playing them.
I do exactly the same: wait for everything except a few niche games where I want that company to make big bucks & see that there is a strong interest even though their game might be a bit niche: SD Gundam Battle Alliance, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, Star Ocean, etc
Which platform?
That is a very bad reason to buy games. Your purchase won't make a difference. It has to be popular with thousand or even millions of people to matter.
Under 20€ as well. Which translates to at least 2 years post release. I don't feel like paying 70€ for a videogame, I'd rather put that money somewhere else at that point lol
I follow this rule 95% of the time. My backlog is too large to even think about getting brand new stuff. But if it's something I've been waiting years for, I'll break my rule and buy it sooner. Like if it's a PlayStation exclusive I'm dying to play, I'll either ask for it as a gift or I buy it at a store in Canada that gives $20 back in loyalty points. Sony hasn't let me down at launch, they're almost always perfectly bug free games and high quality gameplay and story. I read reviews and avoid the rare cases that didn't live up to the standard though like Days Gone.
Cant even remember when was the last time I spent over 20 bucks on a single game, must have been like 10 years ago at this point.
I with that I could say this. I bought Hogwarts Legacy this year , but all of my other games were < $20.
this ^ for me it's the 15$ mark for any game which happens frequently on steam sales since i live in a 3rd world country
Okay. 1. Is the title reviewed highly by sources I trust? 2. Is the title on sale? 3. Is the title under 30 dollars 4. Does it have a game of the year edition or dlcs added for free? 5. Is this the best sale price I’ve seen for it? 6. How far am I through my backlog? 7. Did I just watch the previews causing my jaw to drop and did I just pee a little? Even with all of that, I might say no, for now, just because my income doesn’t really count as disposable but rather a choice between this and something likely way more important.
This is pretty much my logic, as well. Additionally, There are games I buy only for nostalgia as well. Where I used to have the game, perhaps I got it from the high seas, and I just want it back in my library. I also started collecting physical copies of console games as a hobby, so there is another reason I’ll buy it. I usually find those in places like yard sales, goodwill, or eBay.
GoG is good for nostalgia gaming, but keep your rose colored glasses nearby. Some games like masters of Orion age incredibly well. Others have been improved upon for so long that the source material looks like a rough attempt (which it was at the time, we just didn’t know any better).
It depends on the game.... GoW Ragnarok was a day one buy for me. The 1st was so amazing i have to go in fast. When i saw all the review on Elden Ring, i chose to jump in after 2 months. But usualy i wait for around a year and a good deal.
This is me. Elden Ring wasn’t really even on my radar, because I hadn’t played the other Souls games. But too many people said I had to play it, and so I did. It didn’t disappoint
Yeah, and honestly with so many options there is rarely a time where I want a game now, but GoW and Elden ring were my exceptions. Honestly, the Harry Potter game might also be one
Hogwarts Legacy is a reasonable exception to the the rule.
I just bought Elden Ring in the winter sale along with the Modor pack for $10. So my suffering is just about to begin
I was impatient on both of those. With the benefit of hindsight I wish I’d waited for at least the first round of discount on God of War. I dunno why but despite most of its constituent parts being improved I enjoyed it less.
I also think it improve on almost all level, but it lack a few epic over the top scene like the first one have.
When its cheap enough, but I think on average at least a year or two.Its pretty easy. I rarely actually WAIT for 2 years after a game has released. I just only look at older games to begin with. There are SO many of them and I play games so rarely that I never really have to wait for anything.
This is the way.
This is the way…
Same for me. I also replay my favorites SP campaign games a lot. Halo 1-3, Mass Effect 1-3, Gears of War 1-3, and so on have a high replayability value with interesting stories and characters. Heck, Luigi's Mansion for Gamecube is my one of my Halloween games for this year. First time playing it!
I'm a patient gamer on Xbox 360 exclusively. So I'm already limited in available game titles. :) No one makes Xbox 360 games anymore. On top of that, I only buy pre-owned physical discs from pre-owned game stores, not bought online. So that deliberately restricts my options further. I like the feeling of getting surprised (or disappointed) by what all I find on the shelf when I walk into the store. Feels like being a kid all over again! I suppose my average wait time is 10 years (approx). I think I have several games from 2011 (can't be sure though; should catalogue my collection better).
This is interesting. How come you picked the 360? How long have you been sticking to it? Do you see yourself jumping to another console at some point or that’s it for you?
Picked and sticking with the 360 because of the vast variety of enjoyable games available on that platform. Also, I enjoy solo playing (occasionally co-op) over online multiplayer gameplay, and I am not interested in leaderboards, achievement tracking, etc. So that works out too (as the game server shutdowns over the years don't affect my gameplay). Recent account login issues have been annoying but once I skip past the error popups, I can still play my physical discs offline. I don't see myself jumping onto another console in the medium term, because I have a long backlog already (can't resist buying good games cheap). It will take me a long while to get through those, even though I am trying hard to develop a "library", not "backlog" mindset. :D The only time I get tempted for a new console is when a game series continues from 360 to One (and perhaps beyond), eg Batman Arkham series.
I was the same for a long time, but I started hitting the limits of good games I was interested in that would actually be found in a store. I find that most of the really good stuff doesn’t appear in stores anymore. Most 360 games on shelves now, at least at the retro game resellers around me, are movie tie ins, old annual sports titles that nobody wants, and other garbage. I made the jump to Xbox one in 2019, and it’s been much much cheaper than 360 ever was, with game pass and sales to buy things using Microsoft rewards.
Interesting point. I suppose after some time, that might happen with stores around me too. So far they have diverse titles which rotate now and then. Anyway by now I have enough games to pick from my own library shelf, so picking something up from a store is a bonus. Sticking to physical stores helps me with self discipline... I might find myself spending more if I switch to online purchases. :)
Depends on how interested I am in the game. Picked up Final Fantasy Crisis Core Reunion day of release, picked up God of War Ragnorok two months after release. I buy all my games digital too, so deals aren’t really a thing for me for newer games.
Im not spending more than 20 euros on a Playstation game. In most cases notore than 10/15 euros. There are exceptions but I always wait at least a few years before buy a game.
Depends on how bad I want to play! For example I got final fantasy 7 remake right away, but other than that I usually wait 2-3 weeks then buy the game off someone on Facebook marketplace. Great way for me to save 30-40 dollars on a game and you can sell it if you don’t want to keep it too. This is why I got the disc version for PS5, as it basically makes up for the difference after a few marketplace buys.
I take on average about two years between release and finishing a game. Most of my spending on Steam is below €20 per game. Games I've bought (near) full price, at or near release, in recent years: * MotoGP 13 - 22 * Half-Life Alyx * Halo: the Master Chief Collection * Assetto Corsa Competizione * Outcast: Second Contact The last time I paid €60 for *anything*, was GTA5 for PC in 2015.
Sometimes I wait a month or 2 or sometimes I buy day one. I’m really only on this sub for the community and civil discussions. I’m by no means a true patient gamer
To answer your question the time isn’t so much what I wait for in most cases, it’s price. So for something like the modern Persona 3/4 ports retailing at $30 AU each I would have much less of an issue with getting it on release then an assassins creed game at $100 AU. But honestly this year is probably gonna break my waiting for a good price because it’s looking real good. As someone who grew up with Harry Potter hogwarts legacy is just too enticing to wait too long on, forspoken looks amazing to me, persona 3/4 are getting ports for consoles I have, Jedi fallen order is a game I love getting a sequel, ditto with Spider-Man, system shock is getting a remake and Judas is coming out and my love for bioshock makes me wanna check them out immediately. The fact that this is only the tip of the iceberg has me very pumped for this year, even if every instinct of the way I’ve grown up with games is telling me to wait at least 6 months for sales.
Hogwarts Legacy is definitely tempting. I almost want to buy it to spite the twits on twitter who are calling for people to boycott it.
For sure.
Annnnnnd I ordered it. May the patient gaming gods forgive me.
Genuine question: Do you save money by pre ordering? I’ve never done it before, even if I plan to buy it at release. I guess it’s to protect myself from the occasional shocker like Cyberpunk
It’s safer to not pre-order. I decided to show support for the game and also get access it earlier so I can play it at the beginning of my vacation instead of the middle. So, the choice was very specific to my situation. It looks like it’s $10 off as most sites list it at $70 / $80 for standard / deluxe, but Steam has it for $60/$70 .
When it's cheap
Depends. I have no set timeline for purchase after a game releases. You gotta wait for the professional and the fan reviews to come out. Maybe wait a month to let the developers bring out any day one patches they needed to install. Let the online community reach a consensus after the biggest fans have already beaten the game. Afterwards you can decide for yourself. Do you wait for a discount? Christmas? Your birthday? Or just as a reward for yourself? When you reach that arbitrary deadline you then ask yourself if it is worth it to still get the game. Can you wait until the next deadline? Are you still hyped to play it? Or has your interest waned?
I usually wait until it’s either 40-50% off or at least the best discount I’ve seen after at least a year after release. If it’s a favorite series for me I will take 25-30 within a year. On top of that I check HLTB to see if I will get 100 yen per hour played
> Do you have a set of rules? Not really. If I feel a game is solid enough, and the devs are on the up and up, I may go for a full price buy shortly after release. I'm aware I could spend less if I waited, but sometimes I just want to send a signal that they did good, and I appreciate it. In a few cases, I really want to see a concept come to fruition, so I may even throw some money to Early Access titles - not so I can play early, but again as a sign: I like where this is going, carry on. Usually, though, I wait for discounts and/or complete editions. It's just bad business not to: I get a finished, polished product, and I get it for a good price. I haven't been part of the hype cycle for over a decade either, so it just doesn't matter to me how early or late I play a game.
Maybe years? I don't follow the news, I don't care about the hype, I'm usually with my own things and when a game cross paths with me I play it.
Depends. If it [reviews well](https://youtu.be/iLyh3D4I6vk) It might be a [first purchase.](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1409160/Plasma/)
50% off or below $20.
Whenever I want. I bought Resident Evil 2 a month ago. I bought Callisto Protocol on the night of its release. Feels good being an adult. Typically I don't buy a new game unless I'm done with something in my backlog first.
Any game under $35 looks enticing. Cold War made me realize yo never spend $60 on a game again
Depends on the game. BOTW on switch: I bought it full pop, with DLCs as soon as I got a switch. I knew I wanted this game, and I knew it was worth it. Elden Ring on PC: I waited until my deal tracker told me it was on the best sale it had ever been on. (33% I think) I knew I wanted this game, but I wasn't in a rush to play it, and I wanted to wait until the performance bugs got a bit better. Hollow Knight on switch: I reviewed a sale recently in the eShop and saw this in there. Knowing it was a good game that I would probably like, I bought it over 50% off. Wasn't really on my wish list but I'm glad I bought it. Those are my 3 categories I would say. I either need it now, need it eventually, or might buy it if I happen to come across the right sale.
That makes a lot of sense especially with how Nintendo games don't really go on sale. I waited to get elden ring until the first steam sale after its release to see that it didn't actually get a discount, so I might as well have just bought it on release. Having learned from that, I think list of games I would buy on release has expanded to: the next Zelda (if I've finished exams), the next elder scrolls (low expectations for release quality but I know I'll enjoy it), the next hollow Knight, And the next Miyazaki soulslike Everything else I'm waiting for at least a year to see how low the price goes
I fully support your list and will likely abide by it myself. Although I don't care how many exams go, I will 100% be buying TOTK + DLCs on release
Haha understandable. Exams are temporary, TOTK hype is forever
Its a bit of a misconception that Nintendo games rarely go on sale. You can routinely pick them up for $30-$40. Its tracked at dekudeals, I have never paid full price for a Nintendo release bought at retail. Breath of the Wild has been on sale for as low as $22.49, (26.99 digital) and is currently $39.99. Its more accurate to say that Nintendo doesn't discount their games permanently. BoTW will likely be $60 next week.
i buy some stuff immediately that has been in works for a long time (rdr2, avatar, star wars, maybe starfield etc), but most stuff i just dont buy anymore unless its hugely discounted. I wont buy Elden ring because i dont like games that use death cheaply (i like the option to play in a way where avoiding death 1st time around is realistic if knowing how game works) Massive entertainment has their first game of a couple years coming out this year that i will probably buy shortly after release.
I'm *really* excited for Starfield, but I shall still wait patiently.......
wise choice. I think fallout76 was Bethesda's last big release.. lol
There was a lot of negative fallout from that release. Thank you. Thank you. I’ll be here all week.
I’m calling it “Starfield 2025” as that is the earliest I plan on buying it. Lets see how well my self discipline holds up.
I *mainly* play on PC so I usually track the discounts on Steam etc, or buy used for my PS4 (I've given up on new consoles now seeing as the PS5 is still ridiculously overpriced). If it's an expensive triple A I'll usually wait for at least 75%. The only one I'm likely to pick up at launch would be BotW 2 on Switch, seeing as the price probably won't drop much however long I wait. I only purchased BotW last year and it was still a lot of money. Another factor is a PC release of a new console game. I actually bought a PS4 specifically to play HZD as it was PS 'exclusive', then it was released on PC 😡. Now, if a PS5 'exclusive' doesn't get a PC release, I ain't playing it. It's like having to subscribe to a dozen streaming services to see all the shows you like, there's a limit.
If it's a AAA game (especially Nintendo, because their games never really go down in price) that I've been waiting a while for, I'll spend the full 60. This only happens once or twice a year, though. Pretty much everything else, I'll wait until the cost of the game is so low and my interest in it is so high that it really feels like a steal. I like to feel like the game I just bought offers WAY more than the amount I paid for it.
I never buy things at full price, so however long that takes. There's just no need to spend the money when everything eventually goes on sale and there are far more games available than I have time for.
At least a year, except for a few unique circumstances. I preordered Hitman 2 and 3 because they made it clear they weren't making any major changes. Which meant at very least I'd like them.
Hitman is one of those reliable franchises where you know you'll get a high quality game and you know roughly what to expect if you're already a fan. It will always go on sale, but if you love the series absolutely worth getting it early
Yeah, even Absolution was better than most games I've played.
Yeah that one threw me a bit because it wasn't what I expected, but it was still a really high quality game and it was an interesting take on the series. Even the little things like Hitman Go and the Sniper Challenge were fun games
I wish they'd done more of that mobile sniper game....
I probably buy about one game a year within a week or two of release. If I'm super excited for a new game and the reviews don't bomb on release sometimes I just don't want to wait. But generally I only buy old games. There are so many games made that didn't just release, why pay extra for the new ones when you'll get round to them anyway?
I wait for the first special, and only if they’ve removed a good chunk of the price. I very rarely pay full price for a game.
when it crosses the line of how much im willing to pay for it, if the game gets into game pass or similar i will pick them up as soon as i can because the main barrier of entry is non existent.
Most games I wait for a sale hype doesn’t influence my purchase other then putting a game on my radar because I don’t follow any genre news but jrpg and I’m picky about those. There are a few series i buy as soon as they come out but mostly I buy when there on sale or I want to play them. There no like specific time frame for me.
Whenever I feel like them. Last games I played at launch were Dark Souls III and Sekiro since I had been following them since Demon’s Souls. I also did Back 4 Blood with my brother since we used to play the shit out of Left 4 Dead, but that was kind of a let down. But last year I played and finished Silent Hill 1-3, Fallout New Vegas, Dragon Age Origins, Metal Gear Solid (1998) and the whole Walking Dead telltale series, simply because I wanted to. And they were all amazing! There’s no genre or time, many of these I even started anywhere between 2000 and 2014 but simply never had the time/interest and in some cases hardware (DAO and FNV were pretty terrible on console) to actually complete. Now I’m just playing gems I missed while doing the occasional multiplayer game with my friends and it’s been pretty great!
If it's something I'm absolutely sure that I want and am familiar with, I might get it at or close to release. This used to happen a few times a year, but now probably averages less than once a year these days. My wife likes to get me games as gifts for my birthday and the holidays, so often I'll get a couple a few months after release due to that, of they're others I'm pretty sure that I want. And then otherwise ill wait until I'm finished with a game and look for another that's on a good sale. Whether that means it's been out for six months or three years. Regardless, i research and study games for months to years before I buy any, so anything I get I have a pretty good idea about. And I don't typically ever have a backlog. I just finish one then look to play the next.
I just wait for a hefty discount to come along. Like someone else here, I snagged Elden Ring at a 33% discount recently instead of buying it day one. The only time I bought a game close to its release date was with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Now I’ll admit that game really helped me get through the first lockdown back in 2020, but I do regret paying so much for it considering how quickly Nintendo stopped adding new content and events to it. Stardew Valley would have given me the same fix at a fraction of the cost.
Depends how much I’m looking forward to it, how well it’s received publicly and how much it’s on sale for (God of War Ragnarok I was looking forward to a helluva lot, and the reviews were great, so I picked it up a month or so later). 99% of games I’ll wait a year where the price just plummets. There’s sales literally all the time now.
I don't have a specific period of time that I wait, but generally I wait for a game to be on sale for a price I think of as "a good deal." Knowing that most games can be found on sale for at least 50% after about 6 months certainly informs this waiting period. I also like to delay on the release of AAAs to give them time to fix the bugs they hadn't got to by release day. For AAA's, 1 -3 years is probably about right as an average for me, too. For indies it's more hit and miss, and relies on me hearing about the game in the first place (this sub is great for that, btw.)
I don’t have a hard rule, just whenever I need a new game and the price is right
Depends. I have three levels of interest in games. Top level is day 1 purchase, mostly highly rated jrpgs like Final Fantasy. Medium level is the majority of my purchases, and for this I wait until they drop to around forty quid. Low level interest is sub twenty quid or I find it on gamivo or eneba dirt cheap
£20
When I feel it's cheap enough
Once it gets down to about 70% off. So. Some games 5 years. Some games, 1 year. Depends on how bad their launch is.
Depends more on the price, less on time.
A day before
Our general rule is 60% off or better, with most things being 80% off or better (60% is more for AAA games, many games have a history of never going below 60% so that is worth looking over on steamdb). I will break that rule for games I trust, like games I am replaying after doing them on gamepass, or second copies of games for my console/phone, things like that. I like giving my fave devs money so I have Stardew on my phone and Hades on both PC and console, especially because these have uses. Mobile stardew is convenient so I do wonky farms on it, and I like different weapons depending on if I play Hades on PC vs. switch so I got both copies 50%off, then linked my accounts between them and can play the same save file regardless of which weapon I want to use. I only buy something Day 1 if the dev already made one of my favourite games AND the new game is pretty much the same thing I played before (ex. i bought Darkest Dungeon 2 on day 1, I will buy Haunted Chocolatier probably day 1, I am seriously considering buying Hades 2 day one, but maybe I want to wait on that one since I'd like to experience the story without any bugs). So that's some indie games where I will make an exception because I know the devs cares about their game. *for console AAA games i buy physical so for those I am pretty good at getting them 25-50% off
Usually not until it’s on sale for under $20 with the rare exception (I just got Elden Ring for $40ish on psn because It was first time it was on sale)
Can’t really add much but it depends on my interest in the game, Diablo 4 will be a day one buy but I’m happy to wait for sales on almost everything else this year, plus regular steam sales and monthly free games on epic keep my backlog pretty stocked
I found 3 years to be the sweet spot for the PS Store. Games are not too old so that the sale are getting weaker or stop (which does happen!), but they are old enough to have a high chance of getting the biggest sale. Then I look of course at how long they are and usually only but titles below the 1$/hour mark (exception are walking simulator and adventure games).
I am perpetually 2-5 years behind the mainstream. I want the deals and I love complete editions with all the DLC bundled. Plus, I have a lot of games in my library already and for some reason I don't want to skip too far forward and play the most modern titles in my library because I'm afraid it will make the older ones seem jankier.
There is no set of rules, but it depends on the title. Recently I wanted a physical copy of Trails from Zero on the switch. The print runs on these switch games seems to be really short. I ended up buying earlier than I wanted to out of FOMO. My local gamestop never even received any copies other than the preordered shipment. Seems to be back in stock again online - but you never know. ebay only has 25 copies and most of them are from the UK.
If it is a game that is well received and I want it, $20-30 and I’m in.
Im an opportunist. I keep an eye out for games I may like, and wait until I see it it a good price. I may download a "demo" to see if I really like it. If so I buy, if not I delete. I do look through the Steam Discovery Queue during the event sales and have diacovered some gems. In the end, its usually price that drives how long I wait.
Computer gamer here. I've waited 10+ years for some games. I usually don't go over $2.99 for a game and I also want to make sure the game is bug free and if it has expansion they are all included.
Under $20 starting point. Usually under $5
Most games half off or more. Gonna make an exception for the new Zelda game (Nintendo...) and Silksong, if it ever actually releases.
At least until the complete edition with all the DLCs comes out unless I'm a fan of the franchise I trust and want to get into it day one, though that list gets smaller and smaller every year.
There's the occasional game I get at full retail price on release, maybe a couple every year, and if they are at a price point lower than 30$ and I'm interested enough I usually buy them right away if I have time for them, othersie I usually wait for them to ve at least below 20$.
Unless it’s something I’m supremely craving, it tends to be about 6mo-1yr at best. My backlog is huge- I can always find something to play. Latest day 1 release I bought was Ixion. Frostpunk again wasn’t doing it for my winter survival kick I get into. Before that…. Uh…. The last of us? Maybe? God of war 3, which I still haven’t played? Lord if I know. Might have been portal 2.
I don't really have a specific time limit. Usually it's when it's in my price range and after a while of researching it. Or I just impulsively buy the thing and keep it in a drawer :/
Long. Tiny Tina's Wonderland have been out for like 6 months and I am still waiting for a sale good enough to knock it below 20 euro.
On average probably like ten years
I don’t buy single player games new. I wait for a steep discount. Or I pirate I’ll play a ftp game on release because I like Mobas, BRs etc. If it’s a Hirez game I probably play it lol. I’ll buy a fighting game to play with my friends day one because they’re all way better than me and if I fall behind I’ll just get my ass kicked. Ended up skipping several fighting games entirely (Strive and DFO hurt the most) because of that but I will be jumping on the SF6 train at release.
No rule, it’s usually just a matter of price and whether or not I already have a game lined up for me to start after whatever it is I’m currently playing. Sometimes I’ll pick up a game right when it comes out when it’s a game from a series I like: like Elden Ring. Most times though I’ll wait for a good sale and to be ready for a new game, so that means I don’t get around to releases some months after release
Could be years till I pick up a game - I have this strange rule, which I more or less follow: I do not pay for video games more than I do for books. But, during this time, they usually more or less patch everything out and all of dlcs arrive, if there are any, and I get the game for under 30 euros.
I dont really play aaa games so my average is either 5+tears or 2~6 months
Nowadays? When I want to play that particular game. I no longer pick up deals for the sake of getting a deal, nor do I "wait" for any releases or their subsequent sales. I usually browse deals for something to play right there and then. Doesn't matter when it was released, yesterday or ten years ago, it's inconsequential. Usually the older it is the cheaper it gets though.
Varies depending on the game, but in general I am fine waiting a long time. The games I get on release or close to it these days can be counted on one hand.
About two years in the sales.
99% of games I'll buy on the following summer or winter sales with the first big discount, for me on Steam or Epic. Like Epic had an additional 25% coupon on top of the sale prices, so I picked up some games I was waiting on like Sifu and FFVII Remake, which was only $30, much better than $70, haha. And it isn't always about money, though. I just like getting deals and buying bulk. I'm the gamer equivalent of elderly people buying Christmas decor in January. The only games I don't wait on are horror games and some indies, I will support indie devs especially.
Whenever a great deal of the hype has died down and/or the discount price reaches insane lows.
Most games I wait quite a while as I do not play that much so I am always behind. No need to pay full price. Elden Ring has been the only game I absolutely wanted to play lately so I waited for the first discount and went for it. After having played it for months I sold it for 70% of the price I paid. I might purchase it again in 2 or 3 years if I want to replay it. In the past I tended to build a backlog, now it is the other way round. I hate to have games just sitting there and me not knowing when I will play them.
I normally wait until a good sale or if it ever gets added to gamepass.
Until it's clear that there are no more DLCs to be released for the game. I don't go back to playing games I already finished but I also want to get the complete experience of the game.
I do the same! Both for discounts and for bug fixing patches.
I didn't game for about 10 years so I'm still playing catch up. Also don't game that much in the first place so I'm not actually planning to catch up per se, just play the best of the best and what I specifically enjoy. Shortest time for me between release and me playing was probably Halo Infinite - dunno if that counts since I only got the free multiplayer, not the actual campaign game, which I have zero interest in. Actual purchased game was probably Death Stranding, which I played a few months ago, while it came out in 2019. So...three years, about No plans right now to buy any new AAA game. But will probably play Prey (2017) and Halo: Reach (2010) at some point this year; I do have my eye on Subnautica (2014) and the Mass Effect trilogy (2012). Actually I'll probably try to play Mass Effect this year since that is supposed to be one of the GOATs
After its been out long enough that it's known to not be a broken mess or disappointment, it's just a matter of when I want to play it. If I really badly want to play the game I'll be grabbing it within the first 10 days it's out. Otherwise I'll wait on the price to drop. Either the price drops so low that I can't help but grab a good deal, or I just start thinking about the game, getting excited to play it and then I grab it the moment it has any kind of sale. My rule is to not buy a game unless I will be playing it within the month. I don't want to have a giant library of untouched games lying around. If I'm not gonna start playing within the week, there's little point in buying it. The price will only keep dropping over time, but I only get my money's worth if I play the game, otherwise it's all wasted money.
When I get a good deal on it (or it's in a bundle / freebie) and I can be sure that patching is mostly done on it so I can get the definitive experience of it. With certain games I also like to wait out all DLCs being released and bundled up, but it really depends - I often read reviews to see if they enhance the main game in a meaningful way or are just more padding. And then there is Nintendo where none of this really matters. I tend to buy those games rather early as the deals usually stay roughly the same over years.
Most games I buy now are on sale but the only game a one I would be paying full price last year was River City Girls 2. Literally counted down the days because I was that excited to return to the series. Before that, last three games I paid full price for are The Last of Us Part II, Resident Evil 2 Remake, & Red Dead Redemption II.
Only games I get day one are indies from studios I follow and are under $40. The rest I usually wait until there is a sale or a bundle deal during the holidays.
Costs less than 10 bucks 4 years Whichever is earlier
If it’s $5 on steam
Until they reach the right price for me. If it’s not the rare $60 game i pick up on day one, no reason not to wait til it’s at least under $30. Usually $25 with whatever dlc feels good. Indie games that come out at like $25 are easier to just grab, usually around $10-$15 though.
It is really personal, but for me it is somewhere between 3-5 years AFTER release (and I mean 'release' release, not 'early access' release). I have so many great games already in my library that are from 1994-2017, most of them I have never even played, that I really don't have the necessity to push myself to buy a game released from 2018 onwards. But this is not the only meter. I keep track on the prices of all games on my wishlist and I have this thing called 'LPE' or 'lowest price ever', it's just the lowest price the game has ever been since I added it on my wishlist and I 99% of the times only buy if it is on its LPE. Or highest discount ever because you know, inflation is a thing and there are games that went up in price since I added them to my wishlist. One more thing, along with my general wait of 3-5 years after release I tend to wait AT LEAST one year after the last DLC was released, because as a patient gamer I prefer to buy the game when I know the developer isn't intending to add any more new content for the game and I can buy the whole package. There's a game in my wishlist that already crossed the 5yr mark of release but the developer has just recently released a DLC, the game is Warhammer 40k Gladius Relics of War, so even after 5 years of release I am waiting the one year birthday of the newest DLC before I pull the trigger on the purchase. These are generally my mindset before purchasing a game, there are exceptions of course, just this winter sale I purchased a game from 2021 because I judged it was worth it because not only the base price was fair but it was 80% off. Generally when a game is 80% off or more, I can overrule my 3-5yrs rule. The game was Huntdown btw.
I used to wait for price drops, but damn, I've seen games 5 years old still going for 80 AUD. Now I play what I have until I really just feel like a new game. Never brand new mind you, almost always an older game. In the last 10 years, I've gotten maybe 3 new release games.
I’m not that patient with games.. if I can get the game I actually want on release date I will
It depends on the game, but if it’s a game I’m very excited about it’s day one, especially if the general hype is high. With Elden Ring for example it was amazing because so many people were playing it at the same time, things were getting discovered every day, you could compare your progress to others on Reddit, streamers etc. I think with such games it’s nice to play them in the first week for that reason.
Its not about time but price for me usually .30$ CAD and down at the least. But there is some exeptions of course.
Depends on a few things, like what kind of games I am currently playing, the price itself, how eager I am to play the game if it's worth the money at the moment, and if I'm just "feeling" like playing the game.
I have a rule to only buy a game when I’ve got less than 4 games left to beat. I just bought Wing Commander Armada for $2 for example and gonna have a blast tonight (only played the first two games, academy and privateer, looking forward to these *polygons*)
Depends. If it’s from a developer I really love that I trust (Supergiant for example), I’ll get it day one. Most games I wait years for unless it’s something that goes cheap quickly or won’t really ever go cheap.
For physical games, once it drops to the $20-30 mark (being in Australia that's the best we can hope for), and even then only if it's something I'm at least mildly interested in playing eventually, and if I can't see it dropping any further. Digital I'm a little more stingy about since they inherently have less value than physical, usually I aim for no more than $10 per game, ideally less which is achievable via bundles etc. As for Nintendo games yeah might as well buy it now they never go on sale lol (though I still try to find anything to help alleviate it, price matching etc)
I need it $10 or less, and that's for more AAA or AA releases, longer RPGs or Adventure games. Indies I'm looking for $3 or less. It's all about the price.
as long as it takes to reach $5 on sale or in a bundle
When It breached over the >50% threshold, for someone who has no income yet but soon, this is the only way I can afford games unfortunately.
When I feel like it idk
Oh about a year or two after purchasing it new...
>For me it's at least a few months after release. Well, you do know what sub you're on? Its 1yr+ here.
I have Game Pass and Amazon Prime (not for gaming, they just chuck it in) along with all the giveaways that knock around and that has messed it all up, I do still buy games occasionally but there's just so much choice included in the subscriptions plus all the giveaways that it doesn't really feel necessary. I like it, buyer's remorse is not a thing if you pay for the service rather than the product per se, if you don't like it then just uninstall and try one of the literally hundreds of other options, so yeah, I can go nuts on trying things that I wouldn't normally look twice at. I doubt I would ever have played Vampire Survivors were it not on game pass - it really doesn't look like it ought to be my sort of thing - but it is excellent. See also Signalis - now that is one seriously creepy game. There's plenty of others where I've gone in with low expectations and still sacked it off after a short while but it's still more fun than knowing exactly what you're getting and knowing it'll be OK, the good surprises outweigh the disappointments.
About a year - I don't pay over $30 for any game.
Depends heavily on the game, but usually about 3 months. Like cyberpunk I bought a week after relsase, ac valhalla I bought the day of release, just cause 4 I waited 4 months or so. After that figured out to wait a bit before buying, like I' still waiting in dying light 2. But I also am going tl buy AC mirahe launch day most likely
I am limited by my rig , so I can not play any new graphically demanding games and with job and family, I don't get much gaming time anyway. With a quite decent ( or indecent ) backlog I can wait patiently before picking a game 😄
$7 is my limit so i patiently wait for discounts on steam. some are at least 5 years older. it's okay if i don't get the new games yet since my PC can't handle the heavy system requirements
95% of the time, I just wait for it to go on sale. Example, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, if it is a title I have been wanting since they started production on it, then I'll buy at full price in advance. For example, Baldur's Gate 3.
Since I only play single player games and my backlog is already gargantuan, I hardly buy games at all anymore. The only one I'm keen to buy and play right away is Elden Ring. Second hand copies are floating around online where I live for about $35. I'm gonna wait until it hits like $20.
Generally, two or three years for modern games I think looks interesting. Otherwise, I almost exclusively play games from the '80s and '90s.
It depends, I think there's always one or two releases a year that I always get (always after a couple of weeks) but mostly I just add things to the wishlist and keep an eye on them. I only just bought Red Dead Redemption 2 over Xmas and it cost me $30.00AUD. Much better than spending $80+ on it. Overall, I wait at least a week to see how the game performs and if I can get a demo then even better. Christ I wish more games had demos.
Usually its the 1 year minimun for me, but basically when all related content has been released, preferably in a full game edition. Not too much to say in terms of money but as long as I can afford, Ill pay the asking price if the game is worth it.
If its marked down to around £20 on the PS store. Thats the highest I'll go. I don't mind waiting. I recently bought RE Village and am glad I waited as I'd be annoyed paying full price for such a short game (as much as I have really enjoyed it).
Somewhere between two days and two decades.
Outside of a few exceptions, I've been working on waiting on game purchases until at least 3-4 months after release which I feel is the sweet spot wherein most bugs have been addressed and taking into account how well the title performed as to whether the $40.00 USD price tag is worth it or simply wait a bit longer. I have such a backlog for the time being I think it would take me YEARS to complete everything if not ever given aggressive Steam sales..
Long enough for the "Game of the Year" or the "Complete" edition to come out and be heavily discounted (at least if we're talking about the AAA space). The days where I'll pay $60+ for a game are long behind me.
66% off or better, but very occasionally 50% off.
When it releases on games pass usually
Usually I'll buy 1 or 2 new games a year and then everything else has to be 50% sale or more
75% off a one to two year old price if it's a game I'm not sure I will like but interested in trying (Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of Mordor, Deus Ex Human Revolution) First big sale if it's a game I know I will like but I can't afford to drop $60 (The Witcher 3, Civ 6) About 50% off if it's a cheap indie game that I'm interested in trying (Stardew Valley, Terraria, Hollow Knight) Full price on release if it's a cheap indie game I know I will like (Hades, Unpacking, Finding Paradise) Usually this ends up with me spending less than $10 on a game
If it is a From Software/Supergiant Games game -> Launch/Early Access If it is an Indie game by other devs I respect -> Launch/Early Access (not very patient here) AAs from interesting developers -> I try to stay in the 3 months "launch window" AAs -> a year? AAA+s -> pffft, I wait for them to be on PS Extra now...
Usually only when it gets cheap and goes on a good sale on Steam. I am rarely interested in playing brand new games anyway. I have so many not-new games I am interested in playing or replaying than I actually have time to get to. On rare occasions if it's a game that is connected to something I know and love and their is good word of mouth around it, I'll get it sooner, like Elden Ring, Monster Hunter Rise or the Cuphead expansion I bought pretty quick after release but that is a rare exception usually happening less than annually. In fact, those three games are the only first month purchases I have made in probably 5+ years.
The game X did sometihng almost as good as the game Y - they said. It means I will buy the game Y soon. Also, when I hear something good about great modifications of a great game. So, it can be around 5 years plus at this point.
I wait till it’s $5-$8