Introduction

The Steam Summer Sale is one of the best times of the year to be a gamer! Some of our most anticipated titles go on sale, and it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on games before our summer vacation period. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that sometimes people go overboard with their spending, only to end up feeling guilty and with a massive backlog of titles they’ll never play, which causes more stress than fun. Having been in that situation myself and having also escaped it. Here are a couple of tips that I found along the way to help me avoid unnecessary costs and make the most of my Steam Sales.

10 – Set a Budget Before You Browse

Decide how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it. Sales make impulse buying very tempting, so do something simple, and set aside a budget for the whole sale. Have some self-restraint and discipline, but this leads me to my next tip.

9 – Look At Your Backlog

This one is very self-explanatory. Look at your backlog of games. How many of those are you still promising yourself that you’ll one day go back and play them? If the answer is more than 10, maybe go play what you have. You never know if your favorite game of all time isn’t hiding in plain sight, but you haven’t given it a go yet.

8 – Don’t Buy On Day 1 Unless It’s a Must-Have

Prices usually stay the same throughout the sale, giving you time to think and avoid regret purchases. There’s no need to rush and fill your cart right away. Wait, and think for a couple of days before pushing the buy button. The only reason I can even consider buying a game on day one is if you’re on vacation and want to enjoy it right away.

7 – Check Price History Before Buying

Use sites like SteamDB or IsThereAnyDeal to see if the discount is actually good—or if the game has been cheaper before. This can help you predict future prices, and those 50% in discount might not be as great as they were, so you’re better off waiting a bit more.

6 – Buy GOTY and Publisher Bundles Instead of Individual Games

Publisher or franchise bundles often give extra discounts compared to buying games separately, even if the whole thing ends up costing more. If you’re absolutely certain you need a whole franchise, there’s probably a Publisher Bundle that includes all the games and DLCs for an extra discount on top.

5 – Get Yourself a Timeline To Play The Games You’re Buying

Before pressing the buy button, make sure that you realistically know when you’re going to be able to play the game you’re getting. Is it going to be that day? Maybe next week? Maybe in a month or two? If it falls into the latter, you’re better off just waiting for the next sale.

4 – Ignore FOMO Culture

I managed to escape FOMO (Fear of Missing Out Culture) when I stopped trying to be up to date to try to play the “hot games” of that month. As soon as I did that, I never went back. You’re not missing a whole lot, maybe just some conversations with your friends that are playing it, but if the game is really good, conversations about it will be timeless, so don’t concern yourself if you haven’t played the new blockbuster triple-A, or the new co-op slop, or the greatest indie hit of the year. Play as you want, and as you wish. This hobby is for you and your enjoyment alone.

3 – Watch my Recommendations On It

This one is very simple. If you’re looking for real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, 4X, city-builders, and wargames, check out my lists; I have thousands of recommendations there!

2 – Avoid Cheap Games You’ll Never Play

I cannot understate how important this one is. In fact, it’s the one that causes the biggest backlogs and the stress that comes with it. Don’t fall for the ” it’s just 2 dollars. Yes, the game is just 2 dollars, but it will take you 20 hours to finish it. Multiply that by 20, the 2-dollar game you bought, and you have enough games for a full year, and if we’re honest with ourselves, you’ll never play that much. Also, a couple of dollars here and there add up very fast. It’s tempting, but buy games you know you’ll play, not for a day that might never come.

1 – Buy Games For The Person You Are, Not Who You Want To Be

This is especially important if you keep promising yourself that if you get that game, that one specifically, that’s going to be the jump-off point to a whole new genre. I see this as a whole with wargaming. People are always looking for their next “big thing”, only to buy it, be disappointed, and put it down in the back and play what they already had, with a new hole in their wallets. That CRPG you really want, that 100-hour RPG that looks like it’s going to be the next big thing, or that amazing new wargame that looks so interesting in Reddit posts, is probably not what you’re looking for. Buy games for the person you are. If you enjoy a genre, don’t be guilty; get games for that genre. Now, this might sound discouraging, and if you’re really confident, that’s the game you want, then go for it, just make sure you already know when you’ll be able to pick it up and play.

Conclusion

These are tips & tricks that I have gathered over the years while doing some Steam Sales shopping. Set a budget, make sure you get what you can realistically play at the moment, and don’t overspend unless you’re really sure you’re going to be loving those games. Besides, sales come and go so frequently, you’re not really missing out waiting for a new opportunity, that shiny new game. Chances are, when a new sale comes again, it will be cheaper.

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