I have played most of what is sitting below, and a few of these still live rent free in my head. This week’s spread is less about filler and more about games that either defined a genre or quietly perfected it. If your backlog is already judging you, add two more and call it character building.
Contents
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m celebrating the 13th birthday of the PlayStation Vita. Though its life cycle wasn’t one of roaring success, I still have a soft spot in my heart for its gorgeous OLED screen, impressive tech specs and games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, and Hotline Miami.
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
– Tetris (NES) 1990. Redux
– Super Street Fighter II Turbo (ARC) 1994. Get
– Grandia II (DC) 2001. Get
– Supreme Commander (PC) 2007. Get
– PlayStation Vita launch, 2012. eBay
– Catherine (PS3,X360) 2012. Redux
– Radiant Historia (3DS) 2018. eBay
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (-40%) – A$50.90 Fast, colourful kart chaos with Sega fan service everywhere. Handling takes a minute to click, but once it does the shortcuts and drift boosts feel earned rather than random.
- Super Mario RPG (-38%) – A$49.90 A charming remake of a quietly odd Mario spin off. The timed hits keep combat engaging, even if it is breezy by modern RPG standards.
- Rayman Legends Def. (-67%) – A$19.90 Still one of the best 2D platformers ever made. Tight controls, absurd creativity, and music levels that feel like playable cartoons.
- NBA 2K26 (-67%) – A$29.90 Slick on court presentation and deep modes, even if the microtransaction pressure never fully leaves the building.
- Dead Cells (-50%) – A$18.70 A brutally efficient roguelite that rewards smart aggression. Runs are quick, builds are flexible, and it still finds ways to surprise.
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Switch 2 $696 |
Switch 2 + Mario Kart $766 |
Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $534 |
Switch Original: $448 |
Switch OLED Black: $539 |
Switch OLED White: $539 |
Switch Lite: $328
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Exciting Bargains for Xbox
- Resident Evil 4 (-42%) – A$34.90 A confident remake that sharpens combat without losing the original’s camp edge. Parrying alone makes it worth revisiting.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (-68%) – A$29 A slow burn western obsessed with detail. The pacing demands patience, but the world building is still unmatched.
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (-49%) – A$36.60 Systems driven stealth at its peak. The story wobbles late, but the sandbox freedom is still absurdly good.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate (-75%) – A$11.20 A punchy roguelike spin on the Turtles. Co op shines, solo is tougher, but at this price it is easy to recommend.
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
Series X: $799 |
Series S Black: $545 |
Series S White:$498 |
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Pure Scores for PlayStation
- Death Stranding 2 (-21%) – A$99 Kojima doubling down on strange ideas and long walks. Not for everyone, but undeniably singular.
- Dead Space (-73%) – A$29.90 A remake that respects the original’s dread. Audio design does half the work, and it still gets under your skin.
- Elden Ring (-45%) – A$54.90 Vast, punishing, and strangely inviting. Exploration feels self directed, even when the bosses absolutely flatten you.
- Tekken 8 (-48%) – A$44 Flashy, aggressive, and mechanically dense. The new Heat system rewards confidence, but button mashers will be exposed quickly.
- The Last of Us Part I (-36%) – A$79.90 A technical overhaul of a modern classic. Still emotionally heavy, still deliberate, and still worth revisiting.
PS4
- Dragon Ball FighterZ (-61%) – A$38.60 Arc System Works turning anime chaos into tight competitive combat. Accessible early, brutally technical later.
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (-50%) – A$49.40 A massive Greek playground with more quests than restraint. Great if you want value, less so if you crave brevity.
- Neo: The World Ends With You (-57%) – A$39 Stylish, frantic combat wrapped in sharp writing. The systems take time to click, but the vibe carries it.
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
PS5 Slim Disc:$829 |
PS5 Slim Digital:$749 |
PS5 Ghost of Yotei:$909 |
PS5 Pro $1,199 |
PS VR2: $649.95 |
PS Portal: $329
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Purchase Cheap for PC
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (-67%) – A$29.60 Loud, weighty third person action that understands scale. Narrative is pure pulp, but the combat spectacle delivers.
- Outer Wilds (-50%) – A$18.40 A time loop mystery built on curiosity. No hand holding, just smart design and genuine discovery.
- Neon White (-60%) – A$14.60 Speedrunning as a first person shooter puzzle. Messy dialogue aside, the flow state is undeniable.
- Persona 5 Royal (-73%) – A$26.10 Stylish turn based combat and social sim depth that eats your calendar. Long, yes, but rarely dull.
- Hades (-65%) – A$12.70 Combat that feels immediate and writing that never wastes a line. Still the roguelike most others chase.
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Official launch in Nov
25
Steam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 |
Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 |
Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049
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Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that’s worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
