Some days, the sales gods align in curious ways. I’ve spent the entire “working” week reliving my Red Dead Redemption obsession with the heir to my throne of games, and lo and behold, more cowboy titles on my wishlist are suddenly discounted. If your own backlog is bursting but your willpower is weak, you’ve got company. Stay safe, save often (with a Basic Campfire Kit), and see you Monday.
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m using the flickering backlight of Columns’ jewel-matching chain reactions to light a 34-candle cake for the Sega Game Gear. Back in 1991, this chonky so-and-so arrived with colour visuals that made the Game Boy look like a sad calculator, and I remember being floored by the novelty of portable Sonic in full RGB.
That said, the dream of a portable, kinda-sorta Mega Drive came with a few cruel trade-offs. Battery life was a running joke, the screen ghosted like a séance, and good games were oddly thin on the ground. Still, I can’t overstate how futuristic it felt to leave my Game Boy at home and play this on a school bus. It was the ultimate brag until all six (!!!) AAs invariably died in next to no time.
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
– Sega Game Gear launch, 1991. eBay
– Atari Jaguar launch, 1994. eBay
– Jazz Jackrabbit (PC) 1994. Get
– FlatOut 2 (PC,PS2,XB,X360) 2006. Get
– Guitar Hero: Rocks the ’80s (PS2) 2007. eBay
Contents
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
On Switch, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is practically being given away. Ubisoft threw their zaniest Rabbids at Nintendo’s biggest IP, let XCOM-style combat cook, and somehow didn’t mess it up. Meanwhile, Doom Eternal on handheld still boggles my brain. Panic Button’s porting wizardry turns the console into a demon-slaying miracle machine.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
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Exciting Bargains for Xbox
Over on Xbox Series X, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League got hammered in reviews, but its chaotic co-op is genuinely fun if you grab a few mates and mute the cutscenes. And The Ascent is a gritty twin-stick RPG with a synth-soaked aesthetic and gunplay that hits hard. I rate it highly, especially in co-op.
On Xbox One, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus remains a bombastic ride with moments of real narrative gut-punch. Also, if you’ve never played Fallout: New Vegas, now’s the time. It’s Obsidian at their branching-path best.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
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Pure Scores for PlayStation
PS5 users should beeline to Dragon’s Dogma 2. It’s the wildest RPG I’ve played this year, full of emergent chaos and griffin rodeos. And Persona 5 Royal? Still the reigning champ of turn-based style and swagger. Just when I thought I was out, it dragged me back in for another 100 hours.
Over on PS4, Like a Dragon: Ishin! scratches that samurai soap opera itch with heartfelt drama and absurd dance-offs. Meanwhile, Jedi Outcast delivers sith hot lightsaber duelling, even decades later.
Expiring Recent Deals
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Aug 1 with this subscription
- Lies of P | PS5, PS4
- DayZ | PS4
- My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
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Purchase Cheap for PC
Today, on PC, Dishonored 2 is a masterclass in stealth sandbox design. Arkane’s level layouts deserve their own BAFTAs. And Sifu is a punishing ballet of fists that rewired my brain over a weekend. Every death teaches a lesson. Mostly: don’t rush.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Legit LEGO Deals
Lastly, LEGO fans have plenty to stack into their shelves. The Jango Fett Helmet set is a bold build for any bounty hunter, and Pixar’s Up House is a colourful tribute to one of the best animated films ever made IMO.
Expiring Recent Deals
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Adam Mathew is a lifelong gaming critic, a passionate connoisseur, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that’s worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
