Gotta catch 'em all! The 9 best video game deals this winter, starting at just $9 – Yahoo New Zealand News

What do you do when it’s too cold to do anything? You load up on the best video game deals you can find and play hard with family and friends, of course. Save big on some of this year’s smash-hit titles like Pokemon Violet and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Or kick it old school with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection, on sale for $29 (from $40). Amazon’s winter sale is the perfect time to build up your backlog! Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Amazon

Pokémon Violet – Nintendo Switch

$54$60Save $6

One of the most popular games of the year, Pokémon Violet is a romp across the region of Paldea. With brand-new Pokémon to discover and rivals to battle, this baby will keep you entertained for hours.

$54 at Amazon

Will you choose the Fire Croc Fuecoco, the Water-type Qualey or the Grass-type Sprigatito? All three are adorable, and all three are viable options. Whichever you pick, you’ll get a similar experience with both Pokémon Violet and Pokémon Scarlet. There are a few differences between these games, but that’s part of the fun!

“This new open world Pokemon game is awesome! I’ve been so busy exploring, that by the time I hit my second badge my team was already in the level 60s 🤣. There’s three story lines…Highly recommend this new gen,” said one gamer.

If you’re a fan of Sonic-style 3D platforming, this is the game for you. If you’re a fan of Sonic-style 2D platforming, this is also the game for you. It’s got a bit of something for everyone, and it’s a brand-new interpretation of Sonic the Hedgehog in an open world setting.

One fan called this a new era of Sonic. “I’m still in the middle of playing this game, but the level design is mostly well thought out and the character interactions are so much better now than in years past. There are true connections from Sonic to each one of the characters, and the boss fights are an interesting, outlandish take. However, it works well with what this story conveys. Highly recommend!”

Calling all Kirby fans! Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a new take on the franchise that encompasses all the fun and adorable-ness (is that a word?) of the Kirby series. Save all the different Waddle Dees and help rebuild their town, find secrets and upgrade your abilities. It’s also a two-player game, so you can sit down with someone special and experience it together.

“Gorgeous and really fun game for Kirby’s fully 3D adventure. I think they found a great balance with the difficulty. Kirby isn’t known for being hard of course. Coming from a 27-year-old fan of this series, it was fairly easy on Wild Mode while still being challenging enough that you can’t totally let your guard down and breeze through — and that’s all I can ask for,” said one fan. “There’s plenty of challenge in the special challenge worlds and a steep difficulty spike toward the end. This was a great new entry and a good game to play when you’d just like a time out from school/work/life while still being engaged in the adventure.”

With nine characters to choose from, you can build a team of three to help you fight the forces of evil and save the galaxy by rescuing the scattered Sparks. Utilize cover, employ unique abilities and think through every move — you can be sure your enemies will, too!

It’s even impressive to people who aren’t fans of strategy games. “This game was loads of fun. I never played the first one and thought that I’d be lost and clueless on certain aspects of the game but it’s its own standalone story. Each of the characters and star sparks have unique abilities so playing is a breeze. Turn-based strategy usually bores me and feels like a drag but this game was fun and accessible.”

Anyone that’s a fan of Fire Emblem: Three Houses can get more of the universe they love in this musou-style interpretation. Fight your way across massive battlefields with action-adventure gameplay. Don’t worry, though; it doesn’t do away completely with that classic Fire Emblem strategy, employing unique twists on gameplay to keep you on your toes.

One player said, “This game is a fantastic addition to Fire Emblem Three Houses Lore. If you enjoyed Three Houses, and don’t mind a small mixture of warriors gameplay, this is a must play. This game also would have been welcome as a mainstream Fire Emblem title.”

Enjoy classic TMNT gameplay across 13 different titles, but with upscaled graphics and online gameplay to replace couch co-op. You can save any time you want, and the rewind button helps you overcome the most difficult parts.

“What a collection. I didn’t know these included strategies, walkthrough videos and original game manuals. The Rewind feature is great but the reduced slowdown and reduced flickering options are awesome for the NES games. This is a must have. The arcade ports are great too, love the local four player couch co-op [on the] same Switch cart!” said one player.

Battlefield 2042 might have had a rough launch, but updates have made the game eminently playable with a lot to do. Different roles serve different jobs on the battlefield — will you be a medic and keep your allies in the fight, or will you take on the role of a scout and sniper and cover your team from afar?

One player compared it to the much-loved Socom 2. “Takes me back to my Socom days on PS2. Enjoying the different modes, especially Rush XL. Weapons, specialists, gear etc. so much to customize. More and more players are playing with the many improvements made since launch. Plus Seasons 4 and 5 upcoming for 2023.”

With five classic playfields from previous Mario Party games, Mario Party Superstars has plenty of nostalgia for long-time players along with tons of new content to experience. You can play online with friends across the globe — or on the couch sitting with your family. It’s a blast for everyone, no matter their proficiency with a game controller.

One player said their entire family loves it. “Mario Party Superstars has a great mix of classic Mario Party games. Everyone from my 5-year-old to my husband can find a game they like. Some games are very simple and others require more skill. We’ve had a lot of fun family game nights with this one.”

Like Lego? Like Star Wars? Then putting the two of them together is a surefire win! Play through the story of Star Wars and experience every planet in a whole new way. Explore different lands and pilot all the different vehicles with one of literally hundreds of playable characters.

“Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of those games that you pick up and don’t want to put down…. like ever! The newest game in the long running Lego series offers players the chance to play across nine Star Wars movies. Travel across 20 iconic planets with hundreds of unlockable characters and vehicles as well as action-packed battles and epic cut scenes!” said one ecstatic fan.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Looking for more great Amazon tech deals? Check these out:

Headphones and earbuds

TVs

Tablets and tech

Originally published 16 January 2023, 5:39 pm