6 Ways to Save on Video Games

Video games have been all the rage since the pandemic, and not just among kids.

Nearly half of Americans ages 55 to 64 play video games at least one hour a week, according to the Entertainment Software Association. Even people 65 and older play games on their smartphones and computers to kill time or simply be entertained. ​

That’s getting a little more difficult to do with inflation at a 40-year high. At the same time the price of gas, food and other necessities is soaring, so is the cost of video games. With less purchasing power, buying a $70 game may not be in your budget. After all, 36 percent of older adults told the Entertainment Software Association that when making a purchasing decision, the price of the game is important. 

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

Saving on video games may not be as easy these days, but you can find ways to get a deal. Here’s how. 

1. Consider a membership program

The consumer lure “loyalty has its rewards” could not be more true than in the video game market. Game makers want you to keep coming back, and they offer membership programs to achieve that.

With the plans, you pay monthly and get unlimited access to video games you can play online, on your PC or on your mobile phone. Nintendo’s Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership is one example.

It gives users access to a library of more than 100 games and costs $50 for an annual membership. That’s less than the cost of one brand-new video game. Sure, it may not offer the latest titles, but having so many games to choose from should keep you busy for a while.

Many game makers and online services will let you pay monthly for unlimited access. Despite the potential savings, older adults haven’t embraced these memberships in large numbers yet. 

“Just 6 percent of players over 55 say they subscribe to a service that gives access to a library of video games, a much smaller percentage of players than in other age groups,” says Carrie Robinson, manager of industry affairs at the Entertainment Software Association. ​

2. Play many AARP games for free

AARP’s website has its own library of games you can play on your laptop, smartphone or tablet. Most are free, some earn AARP Rewards points for those who have registered, and others are unlocked when you join AARP and log on to the site as a member.