How to Save Money Buying Video Games

If you’ve ever walked away from a computer, played a sport, sat on the sidelines of a video game store, or indulged in a bit of competitive gaming, then you’ve at least enjoyed playing some games. There’s something profoundly addictive about games, whether they’re playing alone or with friends, and whether they’re created through licensed or independent media. And yet, while most of us can happily walk away from any game that doesn’t hold our interest for more than an hour or so, many people struggle to find enough games to keep themselves entertained over the long term. So if you find yourself stuck for something to play, or if you find yourself having to plunk down money for games that you’ve already played more than once, you might want to consider some ideas for how to stretch your entertainment dollars.

The most popular method of stretching a video game budget is to buy more games than are typically needed, in the hope that the extra purchases will make up for the money spent on the cheaper starter games. For example, a big name console Warner board game like Chess requires at least three to four players to enjoy its single player mode, but there are multiple versions of Chess for two or more players to play. A quick search for “chess” on eBay should reveal multiple listings for Chess for two or more players, although the various versions of the game may require slightly different strategies to be successful. Some people prefer to simply use a few different Chess sets as decorations for their gaming space, to buy more expensive Chess sets may save you a little bit of cash in the long run.

A less obvious way of stretching a video game budget is to buy more than one controller for each player, purchasing at least six or more individual controllers if possible. Many of the more expensive games for consoles and PCs feature a wide variety of different controls, allowing you to use a mix of physical skill and strategy to win the game. A popular choice is to purchase two or more X-Box Ones for each player, allowing for up to four players to compete in a game. A few dollars can go a long way in getting a few sets of controllers, so it makes sense to do some price comparisons before buying just one.