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.
The PS Vita + Hotline Miami combo. So good, people were still dying to play it in 2038.
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 Console Prices
How much to Switch it up?
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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.
Xbox Console Prices
How many bucks for a ‘Box?
20
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.
What you’ll pay to ‘Station.
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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
PC Hardware Prices
Slay your pile of shame.
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.
