Thank your own personal deity (possibly a panther riding Awilix), it's Friday! Today’s trawl across Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC has yielded the sort of finds that could make any backlog groan with incredulity. From high-speed hedgehogs to sprawling RPG epics, my handpicked line-up is as eclectic as it is irresistible.
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m taking aim at Duck Hunt, the quintessential light gun game that’s having its 38th birthday today. I have crystal clear memories of my first time playing this and thinking, “Whaaa? There’s a bright orange ray gun that can kill the things living in my TV?” That felt like voodoo magic to an '80s kid. Better yet, the NES Zapper had this ker-chunking trigger retort, too. So satisfying (despite the side order of guilt for having murdered another Donald or Daffy).
This Day in Gaming
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
- Duck Hunt (NES) 1987. eBay
- Ninja Gaiden (NES) 1991. Get
- GRiD (DS) 2008. eBay
- Papo & Yo (PC,PS3,X360) 2012. Get
- Dust: An Elysian Tail (X360) 2012. Get
- War Thunder (PC) 2013. Get
- Nidhogg 2 (PC,PS4) 2017. Get
- Sonic Mania (NS,PS4,XO) 2017. Get
Contents
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
On Switch, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the sort of turn-based rabbit hole that can quietly steal a weekend, especially now that the AI behaves less like a grumpy calculator and more like a backstabbing diplomat. Sonic Forces, on the other hand, is worth it just to experience that moment where Classic and Modern Sonic collide in a blur of nostalgia and chaos.
- LEGO Skywalker Saga (-80%) A$55 Blast through all nine Star Wars films in this co-op-packed adventure. I reckon it's the best TT Games has ever done (and they've done bloody heaps of these).
- Civilization VII (-22%) A$69.90 Build empires, negotiate, and wage wars. Strategy junkies like yours truly shall be consumed by its endless replayability.
- Sonic Forces (-33%) A$40 Dash through colourful stages with a custom hero. It's a blast for quick sessions or casual speedrunning fun.
- Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-66%) A$19.30 Kitchen chaos never felt so entertaining. Perfect for single-screen co-op nights that end in ruined dishes and/or friendships.
- Ninja Gaiden: Master Col. (-50%) A$30 Precision combat and tough bosses keep you on your toes. Fans of classic action will find this a rewarding challenge. Then, I say go buy Ragebound.
Expiring Recent Deals
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A (-13%) – A$78
- Zelda: Link’s Awakening (-13%) – A$69.90
- Mortal Kombat 1 (-35%) – A$39
- One Piece Odyssey Del. (-24%) – A$64.90
- Capcom Fighting Col. 2 (-11%) – A$49
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Exciting Bargains for Xbox
Over on Xbox Series X, TopSpin 2K25 brings tennis back with a swagger I haven’t seen since the Dreamcast’s Virtua Tennis days. Maneater is an absurd joy too, letting you live out the strangely satisfying fantasy of being a shark that somehow gets involved in a human revenge drama.- Seagate Expansion 1 TB (-31%) A$213 Extra storage for your ever-growing library. Essential for folks who hate constantly deleting and redownloading games.
- Mafia: The Old Country (-12%) A$79 Dive into a gripping mob story. Fans of narrative-driven games won’t want to miss this cinematic experience. Short and more linear, but I dug it.
- TopSpin 2K25 (-88%) A$14.90 Deep, strategic tennis gameplay at a steal. I'd lob a paltry 15 bucks at this, for sure.
- Sonic X Shadow Generations (-39%) A$49 Classic Sonic thrills with modern challenges. Fun for casual players and platformer vets alike.
- Maneater (-80%) A$11.90 Play as a fearsome shark in a chaotic world. I challenge you to not gleefully hum the Jaws theme while clocking this. Impossible.
- Street Fighter 6 (-25%) A$47.20 Refined fighting action for newbies and pros. Perfect for competitive bouts with friends. I also enjoyed the create-a-pugilist solo campaign.
Xbox One
- Neon White (-45%) A$20.50 Speedrun-focused platforming with gorgeous visuals. Fast, clever, and immensely satisfying.
- Inertial Drift (-75%) A$7.40 Arcade racing with style and precision. A bargain for anybody who grew up on Initial D (as I did).
- The Pathless (-65%) A$20.90 Explore breathtaking open worlds as you hunt mythical creatures. Pretty captivating stuff.
- Chivalry 2 (-80%) A$11.90 Medieval melee madness. Thwacking people with large, sharp chunks of metal in visor-to-visor PvP was my jam for quite a while.
Expiring Recent Deals
- Forza Motorsport (-43%) – A$67.10
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-47%) – A$58.50
- RoboCop: Rogue City (-62%) – A$55.40
- Devil May Cry 5 Special Ed. (-75%) – A$15.70
- Dead Rising Del. Rem. (-40%) – A$41.90
- The Crew Motorfest (-55%) – A$44.90
- L.A. Noire (-50%) – A$44.90
- Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak (-75%) – A$21.30
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
Pure Scores for PlayStation
On the PS5 side, Metaphor: ReFantazio is Atlus at its most ambitious, blending Jungian psychology with fantasy warfare in a way that makes Persona look almost restrained. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla remains a feast for anyone who loves to lose themselves in side quests, ancient lore, and questionable Viking haircuts.- Mafia: The Old Country (-12%) A$79 Mob drama with cinematic flair. Fans of story-driven games will love this one. Sandbox diehards, not so much.
- Hitman WoA (-39%) A$64.90 Stealth and strategy at its finest. A must for anyone who enjoys precision gameplay. Brilliant in PS VR2.
- Borderlands 4 (-17%) A$99 Looking like over-the-top looter-shooter chaos. Seems like a safe-ish preorder, if you love wild weapons and dark humour.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (-46%) A$62 Colourful, whimsical RPG. Story-driven adventurers will appreciate the imaginative world. Atlus games rarely miss.
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla (-40%) A$50 Viking raids and epic storytelling. For action-RPG fans seeking immersive, lengthy-as-hell experiences or as a chaser to watching Vinland Saga on Netflix.
PS4
- Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Def. Ed. (-75%) A$24.90 Classic GTA with a visual refresh. Some of the greatest open-world games ever made. Hell, I'd play Vice City for the OST alone.
- Red Dead Redemption (-47%) A$39.90 Western epic with cinematic storytelling. A journey worth saddling up for. My greenhorn son is playing this now and loving it.
- Dragon Ball FighterZ (-53%) A$47 High-octane DBZ fighting action. Perfect for competitive battles and fans of ridiculously OTT brawls.
- Batman: Return to Arkham (-51%) A$34.50 Relive Arkham adventures with a fresh look. OG-era Rocksteady were truly masters of their craft.
- Ghost of Tsushima D.C. (-42%) A$64 Stunning samurai open world with added content. Still a visual and gameplay treat. Pair it with a watch of Shogun on Disney Plus.
Expiring Recent Deals
- Death Stranding 2 (-21%) – A$99
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard (-69%) – A$34
- Judgment (-48%) – A$28.50
- Horizon Forbidden West (-35%) – A$80.90
- Rise of the Ronin (-28%) – A$89.90
- Suikoden I&II HD Rem. (-19%) – A$65
- Alien: Isolation (-80%) – A$9.50
- Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-26%) – A$40.40
- Final Fantasy I–VI Pixel Rem. Col. (-21%) – A$85.80
- The Yakuza Rem. Col. (-31%) – A$37.70
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Aug 1 with this subscription
- Lies of P | PS5, PS4
- DayZ | PS4
- My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
Purchase Cheap for PC
Lastly, the PC section is topped by The Witcher 3 Complete, still the gold standard for open world RPGs. Katamari Damacy Reroll, meanwhile, remains unmatched for sheer weirdness, a game where “rolling up a continent” somehow becomes meditative.- Doom: The Dark Ages Premium Ed. (-35%) A$110.40 Medieval-themed FPS action. Fast-paced and ground-based. Eternal is better, but this ain't far off.
- Civ 7 Del. (-30%) A$111.90 Empire-building and strategy at its best. Endless possibilities for tacticians. Sheer addiction awaits.
- Totally Reliable Delivery Service (-100%) FREE Hilarious physics-based mayhem. Great fun for friends and family.
- The Witcher 3 Complete (-80%) A$15.70 Immersive RPG with insanely rich storytelling. A long-haul adventure worth every hour.
- Katamari Damacy REROLL (-75%) A$7.20 Roll up everything in a colourful, quirky adventure. The soundtrack will live between my ears forever.
Expiring Recent Deals
- Silent Hill 2 (-48%) – A$53.30
- Capcom Steam Sale (≤75%) – A$0
- No Man’s Sky (-60%) – A$33.90
- Subnautica (-75%) – A$11.20
- This War of Mine Comp. (-90%) – A$3.90
- Dying Light Def. (-80%) – A$15.50
- Logitech Astro A10 (-21%) – A$79
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Legit LEGO Deals
- City Fire Station (-34%) A$99
- Super Shadow vs. Biolizard (-30%) A$49
- 3in1 Medieval Dragon (-28%) A$64.90
- Jurassic World Raptor Escape (-27%) A$4
Expiring Recent Deals
- Technic Mercedes-Benz G 500 (-38%) – A$249
- Harry Potter Mandrake (-30%) – A$70
- Bluey’s Family House (-30%) – A$69.90
- F1 Truck With Cars (-27%) – A$109.90
Fortnite login is mostly back after an outage