1. The "Benchmark" Tier: Test Your New Hardware
You didn't buy that new graphics card just to play Minecraft (well, maybe you did, but let's aim higher). These are the games you buy to justify your purchase to yourself and your friends. They are the graphical kings of 2025.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (50% OFF)
Platform: Steam / Epic / PS5 / Xbox
The Pitch: Even two years later, nothing touches this game visually.
Why Buy Today? If you have an NVIDIA card (RTX 4070 or higher), you need to experience Path Tracing. It is not just "better lighting"; it simulates how light works in the real world. Walking through the rain-slicked streets of Dogtown with neon reflections bouncing off puddles is a religious experience for tech enthusiasts. The 50% discount on the Ultimate Edition is the lowest price we have ever seen.
Alan Wake 2 (40% OFF + Epic Coupon)
Platform: Epic Games Store (PC Exclusive) / PS5
The Pitch: The first true "Next-Gen" survival horror experience.
Why Buy Today? If you bought an OLED Monitor today, this is mandatory. Alan Wake 2 plays with light and darkness as a core mechanic. On an IPS screen, the dark woods look gray. On an OLED, they are pitch black and terrifying.
Pro Tip: Buy this on the Epic Games Store. It is already discounted, and you can stack the "33% Off Coupon" on top of it, bringing the price down to absurdly low levels.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (60% OFF)
Platform: Steam / Ubisoft Connect
The Pitch: It is basically "Crysis" for the modern era.
Why Buy Today? You might not care about the blue aliens, but the "Snowdrop Engine" creates the most dense, reactive, and lush vegetation ever seen in a video game. It is a stress test for your CPU and GPU. At 60% off, it's worth it just for the virtual tourism alone.
2. The "Budget Kings": Under $10 Gems
Spent all your money on the hardware? No problem. These masterpieces cost less than a sandwich but offer hundreds of hours of gameplay.
The Witcher 3: Complete Edition ($7.99)
Status: 85% OFF (Steam)
It is almost criminal that CD Projekt Red sells this for $7.
Don't be fooled by its age (2015). The recent "Next-Gen Update" added 4K textures, Ray Tracing, and gameplay overhauls. It looks like a modern 2025 title. If you have never played it, this is the best value-for-money deal on the entire internet today.
Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition ($2.99)
Status: 90% OFF (Steam)
This appears on every sale list for a reason. It features the best First-Person Shooter campaign of the last decade. It is short (6 hours), punchy, emotional, and mechanically perfect. For $3, you are robbing EA. Just buy it.
Control: Ultimate Edition ($8.99)
Status: 75% OFF
Before Alan Wake 2, Remedy made Control. It is a game about telekinesis and destruction physics. Everything in the office environment is destructible. It is an incredible showcase for physics engines and Ray Tracing reflections, wrapped in an X-Files style mystery.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($9.99)
Status: 80% OFF
Three massive RPGs (100+ hours of content) for ten dollars. This is the remastered trilogy that defined sci-fi storytelling. Perfect for filling up that new 2TB SSD you just installed.
3. The Store Strategy: Steam vs. Epic vs. Consoles
Not all stores are created equal. On Boxing Day, you need to know where to buy to save the most.
⚔️ The Epic Games Strategy: "The Coupon"
The Epic Games Store fights Steam by burning money.
During their Holiday Sale, they offer a 33% Reuseable Coupon. This applies to already discounted games (as long as they are above $14.99).
Example: A new $70 game is on sale for $40. Steam sells it for $40. Epic sells it for $40 - 33% = $26.80.
Rule: Always check Epic for "AAA" titles (Ubisoft, EA, Sony ports) before buying on Steam.
⚔️ The Steam Strategy: "The Ecosystem"
Why pay more on Steam? Because of the features.
Steam Workshop (Mods), Steam Deck verification, and community guides add massive value.
Rule: Buy Indie games, multiplayer games, and mod-heavy games (like Skyrim or City Builders) on Steam.
⚔️ The PlayStation Strategy: "The First Price Drop"
Sony is notoriously stingy with discounts. However, this Boxing Day, we are seeing the "First Big Drop" for major titles.
Target: God of War Ragnarok and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Both have hit the $30-$40 range for the first time. If you are a PS5 owner, this is likely the lowest price they will be until Black Friday 2026.
4. The "Steam Deck" & Handheld Essentials
For those of you who unwrapped a Steam Deck OLED or ROG Ally yesterday, you need games that respect your battery life and controls.
- Hades II (Early Access): The sequel to the best rogue-like ever made. It runs at a locked 90FPS on Steam Deck and consumes very little battery. Perfect for short bursts.
- Dave the Diver (30% OFF): A relaxing mix of fishing RPG and restaurant management. It’s charming, beautiful, and absolutely addictive on a handheld screen.
- Balatro (20% OFF): The poker rogue-like that took over the world in 2025. Be warned: This game is dangerous. You will lie in bed intending to play for 10 minutes and realize it is 4:00 AM.
- Stardew Valley ($9.99): No sale needed, but essential. The 1.6 Update made it even better. The ultimate "cozy game" for your new handheld.
5. The Grey Market Warning: Be Careful!
You might visit sites like G2A, CDKeys, or Eneba and see prices even lower than Steam.
Are they safe?
It is a gamble. These are "Grey Market" resellers. Users sell keys they obtained from various sources.
The Risks:
1. Revocation: Publishers can (and do) revoke keys bought with stolen credit cards. Your game could disappear from your library next week.
2. Developer Hurt: Indie developers often say they prefer you pirate their game rather than buy from G2A, because G2A costs them money in chargebacks.
Commander's Order: During a massive official sale like Boxing Day, the risk isn't worth saving $2. Support the creators and buy from official stores (Steam, Epic, GMG, Fanatical, Humble Bundle).
6. Commander's Curated Baskets
Can't decide? Here are three curated shopping carts based on your budget.
🛒 The "I'm Broke" Basket ($15 Budget)
- Titanfall 2 ($3)
- The Witcher 3 ($8)
- Vampire Survivors ($4)
- Total Hours of Gameplay: ~150 Hours
🛒 The "Visual Feast" Basket ($60 Budget)
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty ($30)
- Alan Wake 2 (via Epic with Coupon) ($25)
- Hellblade II ($5 - Game Pass Subscription)
- Total Eye Candy: Maximum
🛒 The "Steam Deck Starter" Basket ($40 Budget)
- Hades ($10)
- Dave the Diver ($15)
- Hollow Knight ($7)
- Celeste ($5)
- Battery Life: Excellent
Conclusion: Fill That Drive!
There is no better feeling than seeing a queue of amazing games downloading on a fresh, fast internet connection.
You have the hardware. You have the settings optimized. Now you have the library.
The Holiday break is short, Commander. Pick your game, shut out the world, and enjoy the technology.
What was the #1 game you bought today? Or are you waiting for a specific deal that didn't happen? Let us know in the comments below!