Sometimes a bargains haul comes along that perfectly aligns with my bad habit of adding more to my backlog than I clear. This idle Tuesday’s mix is an irresistible blend of heavy hitters and cult curios that deserve a spot in anyone’s library. As per always, I’ve found myself revisiting old favourites and even picking up a few oddities I’d somehow missed.
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m celebrating the 42nd birthday of Mario Bros., the arcade cabinet that launched a plumbing empire. Partially inspired by some of Joust‘s mechanics (and an Italian-American landlord hounding Nintendo for rent), Mario Bros. was a non-scrolling arena affair that was quite addictive, especially in simultaneous two-player. Interestingly, it was made by a tiny team of just five people, all of whom were credited in its great, great, great, (great) grandchild, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Sadly, we rarely see such a lineage occur in modern game development, given how lay off happy this bloody industry has become.
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
This Day in Gaming
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
– Mario Bros. (ARC) 1983. Get
– Warlords III (PC) 1997. Get
– Trials HD (X360) 2009. Sequel
– Hacknet (PC) 2015. Get
Contents
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
On Switch, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival still has me grinning like an idiot, and I swear drumming along to J-pop is a proper cardio workout. Meanwhile, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy remains one of the most cleverly written series ever, with its sharp courtroom drama and over-the-top character animations.
LEGO Jurassic World (-55%) – A$26.90 A solid LEGO adventure that gene-splices JP nostalgia with fun building action. Effortlessly leaps generation gaps in one double-jump bound.Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival (-40%) – A$41.60 Perfect for parties or solo jam sessions, this rhythm game’s varied soundtrack keeps me coming back for more.LEGO Skywalker Saga (-39%) – A$54.90 Covers all nine Star Wars films with LEGO’s trademark humour and charm. Sith hot value at this price.Darkwood (-75%) – A$5.40 Creepy top-down survival horror that nails atmosphere and tension. A steal for fans of indie horror on Switch.SNK 40th Ann. Col. (-65%) – A$21 A massive collection of SNK’s classic fighters and arcade gems. Not gonna lie, there’s some filler. But bona fide classics also await.Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (-67%) – A$13.10 Courtroom drama and quirky characters make this visual novel series a must-own that I don’t think you’ll object to at all.
Expiring Recent Deals
Monster Hunter Rise (-75%) – A$14.90 Broforce (-87%) – A$2.90 Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (-34%) – A$46 Romancing SaGa 2 NS2 (-30%) – A$59.40 Stray (-25%) – A$33.70 Pokémon Scarlet (-14%) – A$69 What Remains of Edith Finch (-75%) – A$7.40=
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Switch Console Prices
How much to Switch it up?
Exciting Bargains for Xbox
Series X gets the spotlight with 40K Space Marine 2, a power fantasy where bolter fire and chainswords feel just right. And then there’s Wild Hearts, which gave me a genuine Monster Hunter alternative with some creative monster designs I still think about.
40K Space Marine 2 (-54%) – A$49.90 Brutal third-person shooter with kick arse co-op. If you like grim sci-fi, this is a solid single-player deal, too.Forza Horizon 5 (-50%) – A$49.90 One of the best open-world racing games around, and this price makes it an absolute key turn.Cyberpunk 2077 Ult. Ed. (-36%) – A$77 The Ultimate Edition packs in all expansions and fixes. Worth it if you’ve been cy-curious since those iffy launch results.Wild Hearts (-86%) – A$14.90 Monster hunting with a fresh twist, offering great value at this historic low price.Sonic X Shadow Generations (-35%) – A$40.40 Classic Sonic action meets new adventures. This sale is a good chance to catch up with the blue ‘n’ black blurs.
Xbox One
LEGO Marvel Col. (-50%) – A$44.50 An older Collection packed with superhero fun, perfect for casual play or Marvel fans looking for hours of kleptomania.Monopoly 2024 (-60%) – A$20 The classic board game gets a 2024 refresh. Won’t blow your mind, but a great price for family game nights.SpellForce III Reforced (-52%) – A$31 A solid RTS-RPG hybrid with a dedicated community. This sale makes it an accessible entry point.
Expiring Recent Deals
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Headset (-32%) – A$271 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kol. (-12%) – A$79 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-47%) – A$58.50 Monster Hunter Wilds (-35%) – A$74.90 PGA Tour 2K25 (-51%) – A$59 Grand Theft Auto V (-58%) – A$25 Borderlands: The Handsome Col. (-52%) – A$33.80 Call of Duty: MW2 (-55%) – A$49 DOOM Anthology (-65%) – A$48.90
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
Xbox Console Prices
How many bucks for a ‘Box?
Pure Scores for PlayStation
Over on PS5, Tales of Arise had me hooked with its gorgeous anime visuals and surprisingly heartfelt story arcs. Resident Evil 4 needs no introduction, but its remake really is the gold standard for how to modernise a classic.
Ghost of Yōtei (-21%) – A$99 Looks like atmospheric action with haunting visuals so far. I dug (and replayed) GoT so much, a quick-draw preorder for feels quite likely for me.Crisis Core FF7 Reunion (-42%) – A$48.90 Classic FF7 story told with fresh mechanics and visuals. I very much appreciated this updated experience.Mafia: The Old Country (-12%) – A$79 A narrative-driven crime drama with solid gameplay. Not the deepest discount but still tempting.Tales of Arise (-68%) – A$32.30 A standout JRPG with beautiful art and a strong story. Worth it for this much gold.Resident Evil 4 (-35%) – A$64.90 The classic horror-action game remastered. Absolute top-tier Resi action that is even more phenomenal in PS VR2 (like, system-selling good).Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza (-25%) – A$74.90 Quirky open-world action with a tropical twist. A fresh Yakuza experience well worth the doubloons IMO.
PS4
Gran Turismo 7 (-27%) – A$61 The definitive racing sim on PS4. This discount makes it a solid pick for my fellow (yet incredibly patient or late to the grid) petrolheads.Dragon Ball FighterZ (-53%) – A$47.10 Intense fighting action with a stellar roster. Great deal for anime loves and folks who wish to bring back the biff of their ’00s, Cheez TV watching youth.Armored Core VI (-55%) – A$45 Mech combat returns with depth and style. I was surprised by how much I dug this non-Souls FromSoftware title.
Expiring Recent Deals
Battlefield 6 (-41%) – A$89 Dragon’s Dogma 2 (-29%) – A$76.80 Rise of the Ronin (-28%) – A$89.90 Helldivers 2 (-17%) – A$49.90 Grand Theft Auto V (-58%) – A$25 The Witcher 3 Comp. (-80%) – A$15.50 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-28%) – A$79 Katamari Damacy Reroll (-75%) – A$11.20 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (-65%) – A$12.50
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Aug 1 with this subscription
Lies of P | PS5, PS4DayZ | PS4My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
What you’ll pay to ‘Station.
Purchase Cheap for PC
PC-wise, Pillars of Eternity: Definitive Ed. delivers deep role-playing from Obsidian at their best, while Wasteland 3: Colorado Col. offers sharp writing and tactical combat that blends post-apocalyptic grit with absurd humour. These are the sorts of games that keep me up far later than I plan.
Hogwarts Legacy (-79%) – A$18.80 A magical RPG that lets you explore Hogwarts. A rare low price for Potterheads and RPG fans.SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL Keyboard (-45%) – A$81.40 Reliable gaming keyboard with good features at a solid discount.Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Keyboard (-42%) – A$139 Compact mechanical keyboard with fast switches, perfect for tight setups.Wasteland 3 Colorado Col. (-75%) – A$17.60 A deep tactical RPG with tons of content.Pillars of Eternity: Def. Ed. (-75%) – A$11.50 A critically acclaimed RPG with massive depth and story. Good book stuff that I couldn’t put down easily.Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Ed. (-50%) – A$14.40 Classic D&D RPG experience refreshed for modern systems. Great pick for tabletop fans. Still a must-play.
Expiring Recent Deals
Mafia: The Old Country (-12%) – A$79.10 NieR Automata YoRHa Ed. (-65%) – A$16.60 NieR Replicant ver.1.22’ (-65%) – A$31.40 Diablo IV + Vessel of Hatred Bndl. (-50%) – A$54.90 GRIS (-80%) – A$4.30 Need for Speed Unbound (-93%) – A$6.90
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
PC Hardware Prices
Slay your pile of shame.
Legit LEGO Deals
Pixar ‘Up’ House (-27%) – A$65Batmobile vs. Mr. Freez (-50%) – A$15Super Mario Adventures (-41%) – A$47City Fire Rescue Plane (-30%) – A$168LOTR: Balrog (-30%) – A$139
Expiring Recent Deals
Super Mario Kart (-27%) – A$22Animal Crossing Isabelle’s House (-50%) – A$35Botanicals Sunflowers (-35%) – A$15Grogu with Hover Pram (-34%) – A$99
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.
