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The Best Games for the New PlayStation & Xbox (and How to Get Them Cheapest)

Author: Marcus

| Updated May 6, 2023

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The Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X are finally here, and if the frenzied preordering was any indication, it’s going to be a huge year for the new game systems.

But getting the PS5 and Series X is just the beginning this holiday season — you gotta have games, too.

What are the hottest games for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X? Where can you get them the cheapest? We’ve got you covered.

First, you gotta know how to avoid paying full price.

Check Target first — chances are, they have the best price.

On top of the guaranteed 5% savings for RedCard cardholders, Target is doing a “Buy 2 Get 1 free” offer on select games, movies, music and books.

These brand new games tend to be around $60 each, and many of them are part of the promotion, so if you’re planning to buy multiple games, you could save 37% on these brand new games when you stack the offers. And even more if you trade in your old games.

Got some old games or systems? Target & GameStop will pay you for them.

Your mileage may vary, depending on your store, the inventory they have on hand, and the particular game (or hardware consoles, headsets and phones) you’re trying to trade.

GameStop trade-in and Target trade-in is an easy way to get store credit, which you can use to purchase the newest titles.

I got a $99.52 gift card from Target for my PlayStation 4, which goes a long way toward purchasing new games and systems.

RELATED: 6 Used Items You Can Trade in for Target Gift Cards

Discount gift cards at Costco & Raise give you up to 10% off.

Raise.com is selling Xbox gift cards and PlayStation gift cards — but you don’t pay for the price loaded on the card. You pay a percentage less (it was 6.5% off when I checked), and you can use those gift cards to buy new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 games.

If you’re a Costco member (or know someone who is), you can get $100 PlayStation and Xbox gift cards for $89.99.

Keep an eye out for GameFly rentals.

young boy looks at gamefly website on his laptop

Remember the early days of Netflix? When you’d get DVDs in the mail and not get a new one to watch until you returned the rental?

GameFly is the video game equivalent of that, and it’s still going strong.

If you aren’t sure you want to shell out the $60 per game, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of GameFly, and then pay:

$5.00/month for 1 disc at a time
$9.50/month for 1 disc at a time with GameLock (priority access to new game releases)
$13.50/month for 2 discs at a time with GameLock
$18.00/month for 2 discs at a time with Elite GameLock

Sign up for GameFly.

See if you get $10 off $20 at Amazon.

Some people have access to this offer, some don’t. It’s only available on mobile devices, though, so make sure you’re using your smartphone.

If you’re buying $60 video games, this could be a big deal.

See if you qualify here.

Keep tabs on KCL’s Video Game Deals

We’re always watching for video game deals, and we have a special place where we share those. So bookmark the KCL video game deals page and we’ll help you find the best prices on games.

If you’re buying EA Sports games, consider EA Access.

Electronic Arts has a subscription program for PlayStation and Xbox called Origin Access Basic. It costs $4.99/month or $29.99/year, which provides full early access to EA titles like FIFA 21.

Learn more about Origin Access Basic here.

Top 5 Games for Both Systems

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Retail price: $59.99
Best price: $49.94 at Walmart (PS5 only)
Available for retail at Best Buy, GameStop, Target and Walmart

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War

Retail price: $69.99
Available for retail at Best Buy, GameStop, Target and Walmart

Cyberpunk 2077

Retail price: $59.99
Best price: $49.94 at Walmart

This title is being released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but the game developers say it will be backwards-compatible, and will be a sought-after title for the new systems.

Releasing Dec. 10; available for preorder at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition

Retail price: $59.99
GameStop preorders come with a poster, $59.99
Available for retail at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Retail price: $59.99
Best price: $49.94 at Amazon/Walmart (backwards-compatilble for Xbox One/Series X and PlayStation 4/5)
Available at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart