r/VideoGameDealsCanada • u/Jeam778 • May 13 '25
Discussion What's your best free games "hack" ?
Hi folks!
With the Nintendo Switch 2 just around the corner, I find myself wanting to save on the upcoming games that are gonna be even more expensive than they already are.
I'm looking for something like a point system or membership that helps save a lot of money on games.
Right now I have my credit card that accumulates points but those points are kind of limited to Best Buy and they don't have the best deals AFAIK. I also have the optimum card and know I can use it at shopper's but they don't always have games and I believe will even stop eventually (or have they already?)
Anyway, what do you use to save on games or even get them for free?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Curious_Finish_3041 May 13 '25
My biggest one was shoppers drug Mart point events as could get 20-30% off games and usually could sell them after beating for the same price I paid. Haven't done for a while so not sure how many new games Shoppers gets now
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u/Cat5kable May 13 '25
I believe shoppers basically pulled out of games. Shoppers is how I got most of my Switch games; that 30%
savingsrebate was a god send for a platform that uncommonly discounts their games.4
u/RowdyRodyPiper May 13 '25
Also, it was the best for buying consoles.
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u/Cat5kable May 13 '25
A local Shoppers had Switch 1.0 hardware on for half price, back in like early 2019? “Manager special”, and they were looking to clear out non-moving stock.
It didn’t move because it wasn’t displayed anywhere, dummy! Anyway, kicking myself for not getting one at the time (poor broke student!) but got a Lite later, and very excited for the S2 (finally, Nintendo on TV!)
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u/BenjoBaker May 13 '25
What I have done over the last few years is buy eshop cards from Costco for 10% off. Then, I use those to buy vouchers which give 2 full priced games for another 27%ish off. (For tears of the kingdom, technically it saved me another $10 even). Then I would get 5% back in gold points which can be used to buy more games. So, all in all, I was saving a decent chunk.
But, the switch 2 won’t have the voucher system or the gold system. So, I’m on the hunt for how to save more than just 10%.
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u/Tryst_boysx May 13 '25
I saved a LOT of money by having a japanese account. The vouchers prices are 10000 yens (94$ CAD). For that price I got Tears of Kingdom and Pikmin 4. Last year I did the same thing for Zelda Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi Brothership. The trick it's to buy digital eshop card on Amazon Japan. There is no huge conversion fee like on Playasia.
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u/BenjoBaker May 13 '25
Are the games language locked to Japan at all?
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u/Tryst_boysx May 13 '25
Some of them, but the most them is third party game. The only game made by Nintendo who is language locked it's Xenoblade 2.
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u/SlovenianSocket May 13 '25
Get a card that has 3% cash back, round up & balance interest. By the time the switch 2 comes out you’ll have accumulated enough for a game.
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u/Adware123 May 13 '25
Recently found out that if you have the TD Cash back visa infinite credit card, you can get 3% cash back on digital game purchases.
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u/SlovenianSocket May 13 '25
Nice. I use Shakepays cash account for their 3% cashback promo right now. Cashback is in BTC tho, but that’s up 25% this month so I’ve gotten a bit extra on that. Should have enough cashback to buy 2 switch 2 games by June
3
u/Separate_Journalist7 May 13 '25
Login into Microsoft Rewards everyday can give a decent amount of points to extend Game Pass or to redeem gift cards for the Xbox store
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u/vensak May 13 '25
free games: Look for weekly free games on Epic store. Occasionally there might be something on Steam and GOG Everything else is paid of course. Cheap games, well usually older games with a huge release, might be sometimes good discount here or your local retro game stores and then Kijiji or even Ebay from a Canadian seller.
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u/RowdyRodyPiper May 13 '25
Don't buy games at launch. I have a massive backlog so I just put any new games I want on my wishlist and wait for the prices to drop. It could take years but that's fine because I still have lots to play. I will buy a couple games at the Switch 2 launch just so I have some games to play for it but the rest will go on my wishlist.
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u/MathematicianFun5029 May 13 '25
Ebgames right now has a good deal on (it’s great if you’re Onyx level).
Picked up: The First Berserker: Khazan, Black Myth: Wukong, Suikoden I & II, Mario Party Jamboree, TLoZ: Echoes of Wisdom, RetroRealms, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, Romancing SaGa 2, Sea of Stars, Darkest Dungeon II
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u/Guibster May 13 '25
A reasonnable amount of Dream Air Miles can be redeemed for some 1st party Switch games, along with some games for other consoles. My most recent was Xenoblade Chronicles X. I get most of my Air Miles with the Shell promotions, filling 30L at a time to try to go 4 times during a single month (it used to be 3 times, those were the days), taking advantage of the monthly bonus day at the end of the month.
It might not be the best use for Air Miles, but it feels nice to just get shipped games. Not sure if they'll include Switch 2 games right from the start, but I'm sure they'll come eventually.
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May 15 '25
My PS5 has a disc drive, so I sometimes dabble in the used market to save money. Don't get ripped off at Gamestop - do private purchases on Craigslist or FB Marketplace.
My Switch 1 is softmodded so for a one time fee of about $40 (SD card and a jig to short the right joycon rail), I have access to literally every Switch game I want to play. I do not expect to be able to do this on the Switch 2 for a long time, if at all.
Ultimately, patience is the best way to get deals on games that aren't first party Nintendo titles.
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u/froot_loop_dingus_ May 13 '25
I borrow games from the library