:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/6NZJNJIUSRFQRH5LW74E3G3FTY.jpg "Guide for the Savvy Gamer: How to Play Video Games Without Breaking the Bank")
Although popular wisdom says that cheap is expensive, it does not mean that we do not seek to save some wallet pain from time to time and, although playing video game It is an increasingly common hobby, it is one that can cost us a good amount not only in hardware, but also in entertainment software.
That is why, continuing with our guide on how to become a ‘gamer’, we continue here with some tips and tricks so that it doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg.
Free-to-play
A growing method of distributing games is ‘free-to-play’, which in a way epitomizes the English phrase “there is no free lunch.” Essentially, these types of games are free to enter, but they have a series of benefits or content for which you can pay real money, whether cosmetic issues such as costumes, new characters and, in the worst case, even an advantage against other players.
But despite a certain initial stigma in the world of gamers, ‘free-to-play’ has proven to be a successful model and some of the most popular games of the moment follow this format, such as “Dota 2”, “Overwatch 2″, “League of Legends” and “Counter Strike 2″. We put a small list of free-to-play games that I consider worth trying (although there are many more).
Of shots: “Counter Strike 2″, “Fortnite”, “Valorant”, “Apex Legends”, Overwatch 2″, “Destiny 2″ y “Team Fortress”
MMO: “Guild Wars 2″, “RuneScape” “Star Wars: The Old Republic” y “Phantasy Star Online 2″.
Simulation: “World of Tanks” y “Sims 4″.
Aventura: “Genshin Impact” y “Dauntless”
MOBAs: “League of Legends”, “Dota 2″, “Pokemon Unite”,
Cards: “Marvel Snap”, “Heartstone” y “Gwent”
ARPG (as Diablo): “Path of Exile”.
How to avoid spending on ‘free-to-play’ games?
Patience is your main resource when it comes to these games (and also in the following saving modes). Free-to-play games are designed to stimulate the so-called FOMO or fear of missing out in English, giving you quick paid solutions to issues that you can hypothetically achieve with time in the game. And while it’s not wrong to spend so much on a game, especially one you’ve enjoyed for a long time, it’s undoubtedly healthier for your finances to avoid spending huge amounts of money on costumes or digital characters. Here are some tips to avoid falling into temptation.
- Determine if the game is worth it. Do you like it enough to play it for hundreds of hours?
- Before choosing to stay in a ‘free-to-play’ game, check how predatory their practices are. Is it possible to get the objects or services that are paid for with the credits you get when playing? How long does it take you? Forums can be your friends.
- Think carefully about whether what you are buying is worth it. In a game in which you can buy credits, usually acquiring them directly is what costs the most monetarily. Look for alternatives like Battle Passes or options like daily login, which extend the value of your money.
- Set a monthly spending limit and follow it religiously.
Discounts
There are few things as satisfying as getting something cheaper than its usual value, which is why some people become shopping addicts. This is no different in the gaming world, particularly on digital distribution platforms like Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation Store, and more.
In general, the most expensive time to buy a game is when it is released, with its value depreciating over time. PC and its primarily digital ecosystem is where depreciation can be seen the most, while video game systems tend to maintain their value longer, particularly Nintendo games.
While discounts can occur at any time, there are dates that coincide from year to year, such as the changes of seasons and the end of the year holidays, so be on the lookout during those days.
Subscriptions
In a world dominated by streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, it is not surprising that there are similar versions for video games, offering a catalog of various titles for a monthly payment.
It’s an attractive proposition, since the average ticket for these services is around US$10, less than the cost of a game. On the other hand, the user is at the mercy of choosing between the available titles, which are not always the newest.
It should be noted that the number of video game services per subscription is not equal to that of streaming services and, in general, each service is attached to a system. Here is a list of the most important ones with what they offer.
PlayStation Plus (PlayStation 4 y 5). It comes in three versions: PlayStation Plus Essential, with around three free games per month. It costs US$6.99 per month and US$54.99 per year.
PlayStation Plus Extra, with the same as Essential, plus a catalog of dozens of games. It costs US$10.49 per month and US$93.99 per year.
PlayStation Plus Deluxe, with the same as Essential and Deluxe, plus a catalog of classic games and current game tests. It costs US$11.99 per month and US$106.99 per year.
Xbox Game Pass (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S): Not yet available in Peru, although there are tutorials on the web that teach you how to subscribe in Peru. There are two versions:
Xbox Game Pass Core for US$9.99, with a catalog of 25 games and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for US$16.99 per month with a catalog of hundreds of games, some of them brand new. *These are the prices in the US.
PC Game Pass (Microsoft Windows): Another Microsoft subscription service that offers a catalog of dozens of games for a monthly cost of S/.26.99. This plan also includes the EA Play subscription service.
EA Play (Microsoft Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One y Xbox Series X/S): Offers the Electronic Arts catalog for a monthly payment divided into two levels: EA Play for US$4.99 monthly or US$29.99 annually offers the catalog of classic games and most of the most recent ones. EA PlayPro for US$14.99 or US$99.99 offers the premium version of the games, including some on the day of their release.
Apple Arcade (iOS, VisionOS, tvOS, iPadOS, macOS): Apple’s subscription service offers around 200 games for a monthly cost of US$6.99.
Nintendo Switch Online (Nintendo Switch): In addition to enabling the multiplayer function on this console, this subscription service offers a catalog of classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy games in its basic package for S/.79. Meanwhile, its Expansion Pack also includes games from the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and Sega Genesis for S/.189 per year.
Free
Different from free-to-play, which is free with the intention that you end up making microtransactions, there are times when stores offer games that were previously paid for in exchange for nothing.
The main perpetrator of this practice is the Epic Games Store, in what began as an attempt to win the market for digital distribution platforms against its titanic rival Steam, with the title offered changing every Thursday. They are not just cheap games, and throughout the history of the store it has offered excellent games such as the “Bioshock” trilogy, “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided”, “Borderlands 3”, “Batman: Arkham Asylum” and its sequels, among others.
It’s not the only store that offers free games, with Steam and GoG also making these types of offers from time to time, so it’s a matter of keeping an eye out for the opportunity.
Outside of this, if one doesn’t mind a more indie quality to the games, one can find free games on the web. My favorite site is the itch.io games page, which has a robust catalog of games made by amateurs with professional quality.