The best gaming deals of January 2022

Buying a new console or a few new games is a great way to pass the time while social distancing drags on. The tough part is deciding which machine to choose. Each has its perks, faults, and a list of exclusive games to pick from. Price is a factor too, so we’ve scoured the web for some of the best gaming deals available right now.

See also: PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X

There aren’t too many savings to be had on consoles right now and many are out of stock. However, it’s a good time to give PC gaming a shot or look into some accessories for the console you already have. Our list is broken down by system so you’ll be able to quickly match the games and systems.

Best gaming deals

Editor’s note: We will update our list of the best  gaming deals as we find new options and the prices come back down.

Best PC gaming deals

PC gaming is appealing because it’s much easier to upgrade and improve your laptop than it is to try to change the parts in a console. Some games even offer cross-platform functionality, so you can play with friends who are sticking with console gaming.

Gaming laptops

When you decide to give PC gaming a shot, the first choice you have to make is whether you want a laptop or a desktop. It’s currently significantly easier to find a reasonably-priced laptop than to build a desktop, so we’re going to stick with them for this list.

See also: Best gaming laptops you can buy right now | Best PC gaming desktops

Gaming laptops of some kind can be found at all price ranges, but if you’re planning on running the latest and greatest games smoothly, you’ll probably be looking towards the $1,000 mark. Acer’s Nitro 5 is a great example, as it stays below the $1,000 threshold, yet it still delivers in gaming-ready specs. Gaming deals usually include a lot of gaming laptops, as they’re often great gifts.

If you have the budget, you can easily spend up to $2,000 on a high-end gaming laptop. However, we’re trying to stick to more affordable options in this list. You can check out more of our gaming laptop deals right here, but here are some of the best picks:

• Acer Predator Triton for $1,545 ($255 off) — i7-10750H, RTX 2070, 16GB RAM, 300Hz display
• Lenovo IdeaPad L340 for $767 ($273 off) — i5-9300F, GTX 1650, 8GB of RAM, 60Hz display
• HP Pavilion for $762 ($118 off) — i5-9300H, GTX 1650, 8GB RAM, 60Hz display
• Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook for $1,299.99 ($500 off) — i7-1165G7, GTX 1650, 16GB RAM, 120Hz display

PC accessories

A great set of accessories is nearly as important as your computer itself when it comes to gaming. Some people feel more comfortable with a controller than a keyboard and mouse, so why not pick a controller with a familiar feel? The Xbox 360 wired controller plugs into a standard USB connection with an extensive 7.2-foot cable. It easily supports games running on Windows 8, 10, and of course, Windows 11, to match your setup.

See also: Best gaming headsets for taking your game to the next level

PC games

PC gaming offers excellent flexibility when it comes to shopping for your games. There are numerous platforms to pick from, including Origin, Humble Bundle, and, of course, Steam. Many games are digital downloads now, but you can still pick up games from retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

Here are a few choices:

Best PlayStation gaming deals

If the PlayStation has always been your console of choice, it’s fair to guess that you’re sticking with it. After all, that’s the only way to make backward compatibility work, and it can be tough to adjust to a new controller. Unfortunately, there aren’t really any great gaming deals on consoles, but we’ll list a few options, as well as many other PlayStation deals.

PlayStation consoles

Sony offers two configurations of the PlayStation 4: the PS4 Slim and the PS4 Pro. Both models were introduced in 2016, after which Sony phased out the original PlayStation 4.

The PlayStation 4 Pro is the bigger, beefier of the two consoles and it supports advanced gaming with 4K and HDR resolution. It also packs a feature called Boost Mode that improves the frame rate of select older PlayStation titles. The PS4 Pro uses the same DualShock 4 controller that you’re likely used to.

See also: Best PS4 accessories

Commonly referred to simply as the PS4, the Slim version provides the same functionality as the original with a smaller footprint. The PlayStation 4 doesn’t support 4K or HDR, though it’s around $100 more affordable than the Pro model. That makes the PS4 Slim a great choice if you’re looking for a console to hold you over until you have a chance to nab a PlayStation 5 around the holidays. If there are still any previous-gen consoles floating around, you may see some gaming deals on them.

New consoles are very hard to come by at retail price. Here are some decent options:

PlayStation 4 games

One of the best reasons to pick a console over a PC is the exclusive titles. These are games that you can only play on the PlayStation, including the Uncharted series, The Last of Us, God of War, and more. Here are the best PlayStation gaming deals you can check out:

Just like the Playstation, it can be hard to switch consoles after you’ve amassed a collection of games and accessories. Unfortunately, the demand for consoles right now has led to very few gaming deals on Xboxes too. Here are some of the best Xbox deals that we could find.

See also: Xbox Series X: Everything you need to know

Xbox consoles

Xbox offers two main models as well: The Xbox One X and One S. Both models offer improvements over the original Xbox One, though the One X is the top-of-the-line model.

Xbox One X

The Xbox One X features native 4K support and 12GB of GDDR5 memory for faster startups and smoother performance. The One X also has a redesigned fan system for better cooling. Your favorite games and accessories should work with either Xbox model, so the decision mainly comes down to price and performance.

Here’s the best option we could find. Unfortunately, Microsoft has recently announced that it will be discontinuing the Xbox One X, so deals are hard to come by and the prices are on the high side. Gaming deals are highly unlikely to offer discounts on the latest-gen consoles, unfortunately.

The Xbox One S is lighter and smaller than the One X, but it’s also more affordable. It features a disk drive and is usually found with a black and white finish. Right now you can grab a version that includes a second controller so that you can always play alongside a friend.

See also: Best Xbox One accessories to level up your gaming

Xbox One games

Xbox has its own list of exclusive titles, chief among them being the Halo series. Gamers have been playing as Master Chief and company since the original Xbox launched years ago. A few other top exclusives are Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 4, and Gears 5. Here are a few more of the best Xbox gaming deals to check out:

Most of the above games are cross-gen compatible, meaning they will work on both last-gen and current-gen consoles.

Best Nintendo Switch gaming deals

Of all of the consoles, the Nintendo Switch is probably the best for a family-friendly gaming experience. It relies more on motion and activity with the joy-cons, and it’s the only place to go for games starring Mario, Link, and Pokemon. Backward compatibility isn’t really an issue with the switch, as it’s not a true successor to any other console.

See also: Nintendo Switch buying guide

Surprisingly, the four-year-old Nintendo Switch is still pretty hard to find in stock these days. The same issues that are plaguing the rest of the gaming landscape and preventing any good gaming deals on consoles from showing up are the ones affecting Switch stock. We’ve found the best Nintendo Switch deals available right now.

Nintendo Switch consoles

Nintendo offers two versions of the Switch as well, but the differences are a bit more significant than those of the Xbox and PlayStation models. You’ll likely have to decide whether you prefer mobile gaming or a hybrid experience when you choose your Nintendo Switch.

We have been trying to find a good Nintendo Switch deal for you, and we’ve finally found a console at retail price. For as hard as the Switch has been to find throughout the pandemic, it’s worth your money to grab one at any reasonable price you can get. Inventory fluctuates quickly, so check this link often, and check the different available color options too just in case they’re in stock.

The Switch Lite is your better bet if you plan to use the console exclusively as a handheld device. The Joy-Cons are integrated into the body, so they won’t detach as controllers. You can still play all of the same games on the Switch Lite, it’s just in a simpler body for easy mobile play. Nintendo hasn’t allowed discounts on new consoles, so there are few gaming deals on the Switch Lite. However, the smaller console’s strength lies in its customizability.

See also: The best Nintendo Switch accessories

Switch gaming deals

The Nintendo Switch might have the longest list of exclusive titles thanks to characters like Mario and games like Animal Crossing, though not every title is exclusive. Here are some great options on sale right now, with the Mario-verse up first:

That pretty much does it for our list of the best gaming deals available now. We know some of the console prices aren’t the best, but here are a few more resources while you search for gaming bliss: