Buying video games can be an expensive hobby, especially with new releases often costing significant amounts. However, digital storefronts frequently offer discounts, sometimes reducing prices by 50% to 90%. A game price tracker is a digital tool that monitors these fluctuations, allowing you to buy your favorite titles at the lowest possible cost. By using these services, you can receive notifications the moment a price drops, ensuring you never miss a deal.
Understanding how to navigate these trackers is the key to building a large gaming library on a budget. Whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, there are dedicated tools designed to help you save money. This guide will explain what game price trackers are, which ones are the most reliable, and how you can start using them today to manage your gaming expenses effectively.
What is a Game Price Tracker?
A game price tracker is a website or application that collects pricing data from various online retailers. These tools monitor stores like Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, and the Nintendo eShop, as well as third-party retailers like Amazon and Humble Store. They provide a centralized location where you can see the current price of a game across multiple platforms.
Beyond showing current prices, these trackers maintain a price history. This data shows you the highest and lowest price a game has ever reached. Knowing the “all-time low” is helpful because it tells you if a current sale is actually a good deal or if you should wait for a deeper discount. Most trackers also offer a notification system where you can set a target price and receive an email when the game hits that mark.
Top Game Price Trackers for PC Players
PC gaming offers the most variety when it comes to storefronts, which makes price tracking particularly useful. Because games are sold on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and various authorized key sellers, prices can vary wildly on any given day. Here are the most trusted tools for PC gamers:
- IsThereAnyDeal: This is one of the most comprehensive trackers available. It monitors dozens of legitimate storefronts and allows you to import your Steam wishlist directly. It is highly customizable, letting you filter out stores you do not wish to use.
- GG.deals: This site offers a very clean, modern interface that is easy for beginners to navigate. It categorizes deals by “historical lows” and provides a risk rating for different shops, helping you distinguish between official retailers and gray-market key shops.
- SteamDB: While primarily a database for Steam statistics, SteamDB has an excellent sales section. It is the best tool for checking the price history specifically within the Steam ecosystem across different global regions.
Best Trackers for Console Gaming
Console players have fewer storefront options than PC players, as they are usually tied to the official store of their console manufacturer. However, prices on these digital stores change weekly. Trackers for consoles are essential for catching these digital sales or finding physical copies at a discount.
DekuDeals is widely considered the best tracker for Nintendo Switch owners. It tracks digital prices on the eShop and physical prices at major retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Amazon. It features a clean layout and sends reliable alerts when games on your wishlist go on sale.
For PlayStation and Xbox users, PS Deals and XB Deals are the go-to resources. These sites (and their corresponding mobile apps) track the history of almost every game on the respective platforms. They are particularly useful for tracking “Plus” or “Game Pass” additions, so you know if a game you want is about to become available as part of a subscription service.
How to Use a Price Tracker Effectively
Using a price tracker is straightforward, but a few specific steps can help you maximize your savings. Most of these tools are free to use and only require a few minutes of setup. Follow these steps to get started:
- Create an Account: While you can browse deals anonymously, creating an account allows you to save a “Waitlist.” This is a list of games you are interested in buying.
- Sync Your Wishlist: Many trackers allow you to sync your existing Steam or GOG wishlists. This saves you the time of manually searching for every game you want.
- Set Your Price Threshold: You can often specify the price you are willing to pay. For example, you can tell the tracker to only notify you if a game drops below $20 or if it reaches a 50% discount.
- Enable Email Notifications: Ensure that notifications are turned on. Some trackers also offer browser extensions that will alert you to a better price while you are browsing a specific store page.
Understanding Price History Charts
One of the most powerful features of a price tracker is the price history chart. When you look at a specific game, you will usually see a line graph showing price movements over the last several months or years. This chart is vital for making informed decisions.
If a chart shows that a game goes on sale for $10 every three months, and it is currently listed at $30, you know that waiting a few weeks will likely save you $20. If the chart shows the game has never been cheaper than its current price, you can feel confident that you are getting the best possible deal. This data removes the guesswork from digital shopping.
Official Retailers vs. Key Shops
When using price trackers, especially for PC games, you will often see two types of sellers: official retailers and key shops. It is important to understand the difference to protect your purchases and your data.
Official Retailers (like Humble Store, Green Man Gaming, or Fanatical) get their game keys directly from the publishers. Buying from them is safe and supports the developers. Key Shops (often called gray-market sites) are marketplaces where individuals resell keys. While prices are often lower, there is a risk that the keys were obtained through fraudulent means and could be deactivated later. Most reputable trackers like IsThereAnyDeal only list official retailers by default.
Additional Tips for Saving Money
While price trackers are the best tool for individual games, there are other ways to save. Many trackers also monitor game bundles. Sites like Humble Bundle and Fanatical offer groups of games for a single low price, which can be much cheaper than buying them individually, even during a sale.
Additionally, keep an eye on seasonal sales. Most major storefronts have large sales events during the Summer and Winter. During these times, trackers are especially useful for sorting through thousands of discounted titles to find the ones that are actually at their lowest prices. You can also use trackers to find “Free to Keep” promotions, where stores give away games for a limited time to entice new users.
Conclusion
Using a game price tracker is a simple and effective way to manage your entertainment budget. By taking a few minutes to set up alerts and check price histories, you can avoid the frustration of buying a game right before it goes on sale. These tools provide the transparency needed to navigate the complex world of digital storefronts with confidence.
Start by choosing a tracker that fits your preferred gaming platform and adding a few games to your waitlist. You will likely be surprised at how quickly the savings add up. For more tips on managing your digital life and finding the best online tools, explore our other guides on technology and smart shopping strategies.