Most people enjoy, among other amenities in life, playing video games and saving money. Chances are if you’re reading Gamer Headlines, you fall into the former category, and the latter is simply assumed. If you prefer spending more money than less, well, feel free to bestow your fortune upon the rest of us. Finding cheap video games can be a bit troublesome, particularly because, unlike most other objects, older often means increased price. Brand new and ancient both carry high pricetags in the gaming world. Whether you’re looking for that rare game cartridge, a next-gen console that won’t bankrupt you, or simply can’t resist collecting games, here are the top 7 best places to satiate your budget-conscious gaming needs. Want to share a great gaming find, or have a suggestion of where to unearth reasonably priced games and consoles? Leave a comment below!
- Craigslist: Craigslist can yield a jackpot, or you can get jacked. Therein lies the problem. Often you can dig up some wonderful treasures for surprisingly cheap. A seller might not know the gem they hold, or maybe they don’t care about the monetary value and simply want to clear up space. Either way, I’ve certainly scored some amazing deals, like “Star Trek: The Next Generation” complete series on DVD for $50 total. Then again, there’s no shortage of Craigslist horror stories, so always use this option with caution. Landing a bootleg game is disappointing, but that’s one of the milder problems folks have encountered with Craigslist.
- Ebay: Like Craigslist, Ebay offers a cache of gaming goodies, and usually is slightly safer. Additionally, shipping allows for items to travel worldwide. It’s less likely you’ll get robbed, stabbed, or otherwise harmed as (usually) nobody but the mailman visits your house with this delivery method. Nonetheless, scams do happen such as when I accidentally purchased a knock-off Nokia phone. Should have looked at those seller reviews. Alas…
- Amazon: Ok, so everybody and their grandmother uses Amazon, but it’s one of the best sites for obtaining games, consoles, and accessories. Featuring many of the benefits of Ebay, there’s no annoyance of incessantly watching auctions. Usually bootlegs are less prevalent, and often rare items can be found easily, though expect to pay a premium price.
- Facebook: It may sound silly, but Facebook isn’t merely for stalking, posting selfies, and poking, not that anyone really knows what poking means or does. The trusty FB can actually be a great source of local game finds, particularly through the abundance of groups. Universities often have unofficial pages devoted to selling and trading, some of which may be dedicated specifically to gaming. Be forewarned, you may have to slog through post after post of the obligatory overpriced economics textbook, sorority function shirt, or 200 pack of shrimp Ramen, but when you score that $20 Dreamcast, it’ll totally be worth the effort.
- Thrift Stores: Once used primarily for buying your grandpa’s clothes, Michael Jackson jackets, and mothball-scented everything, thrift stores are now a haven of affordable gaming paraphernalia. Especially if you don’t care about boxes, manuals, and necessarily having the right cables, thrift stores can yield great finds at even better prices.
- Yard Sales: Ah, yard sales, those Saturday morning traditions. Generally, yard sales feature insanely low prices. Gamers can really score big as many buyers are there for the wicker chairs and Laura Ashley cushions, not the $5 copy of “Ocarina of Time.” Just be sure to arrive early, as the good finds usually don’t last very long.
- The Dumpster: Before attempting such a maneuver, please understand that we at Gamer Headlines are not suggesting that you plunge into a dumpster. Depending on your state that may even be illegal. That being said, loads of Youtube videos chronicle the cult following that has shockingly rewarded brave gamers with mouth-watering loot. The phenomenon became so popular that IGN wrote an article detailing the history.