I sat down to sanity check a few discounts and somehow resurfaced hours later with a fuller wishlist and a lighter wallet. On Switch, Hades and Ori still feel like magic tricks disguised as games. Over on Xbox Series X, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds are absurd value for experiences that can eat entire weekends. PS5 is stacked with personality this week thanks to Astro Bot and Lies of P, while PC quietly delivers some of the strongest long form RPG and action value going around. Go get amongst it.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, it's been 26 years since I unpeeled adventure in Donkey Kong 64, a game some called the top banana of Rare 3D platforming (I still prefer Banjo Kazooie). At the time, it looked gorgeous, sounded amazing (hello, DK Rap), and was overladen with crap to collect and unique ability Kongs to switch between. Kong made a comeback quite recently in Donkey Kong Bananza, too. I dug it.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Earthworm Jim 2 (MD) 1995. Get

- Blast Corps (N64) 1997. Get

- Donkey Kong 64 (N64) 1999. Get

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

I keep coming back to Switch deals that reward feel over fidelity. Tight design, expressive music, and games that respect your time or gleefully steal it anyway.

• Hades (-70%) A$11.20 Supergiant turning roguelike repetition into a strength, with reactive dialogue and gods who remember your failures. I have finished this more times than I will admit.
• Bravely Default II (-38%) A$49.10 Old school JRPG systems with modern quality of life tweaks. Risk reward combat that actually makes grinding interesting.
• Borderlands 3 Ult. (-50%) A$44.60 A noisy loot fountain with the best gunplay the series has managed. The writing misses sometimes, the shooting never does.
• Ni No Kuni: WotW (-33%) A$59.90 Studio Ghibli vibes, sweeping music, and a combat system that rewards patience. Still one of the prettiest JRPG worlds around.
• Ori And The Blind Forest Def. A$7.40 A masterclass in movement and melancholy. Platforming that feels effortless once it clicks, backed by a soundtrack that sticks.

What's Big on the Radar?
Current hotcakes selling

• Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 - $79
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A - $78
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - $64

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

This batch is all about scale. Big worlds, big monsters, and games built to show off what the hardware can really do.

• Monster Hunter Wilds (-64%) A$41.90 Methodical combat, absurd creature design, and that familiar loop of prep, hunt, celebrate, repeat. It is dangerously moreish.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (-75%) A$22.40 Rockstar at its most indulgent. Slow, deliberate, and emotionally heavier than most open world games dare to be.
• Hogwarts Legacy (-57%) A$47 The castle exploration is the real star here. Flying lessons and secret passages still feel properly magical.
• DOOM: The Dark Ages (-59%) A$49 Brutal, fast, and gloriously unsubtle. DOOM experimenting with tone without losing its steel boot to the face identity.
• Borderlands 4 (-59%) A$49 More refinement than reinvention, but the co op chaos still sings when the guns start flying.

Xbox One
Older hardware, still ridiculous value. These are content rich packages that age far better than expected.

• Diablo III: Eternal Col. (-54%) A$46.30 The most approachable Diablo, packed with years of tuning and seasonal hooks that keep pulling you back.
• Mass Effect Leg. Ed. (-90%) A$9.90 Three classic RPGs, cleaned up and still emotionally devastating. An all time sci fi trilogy for pocket change.
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-85%) A$16.40 Stronger combat, bigger worlds, and a surprisingly confident story. Cal Kestis really comes into his own here.

What's Big on the Radar?
Headed out the door quick

• Battlefield 6 - A$89
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - A$89
• Borderlands 4 - A$99

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

Personality driven games dominate on PS5 right now, with mechanical polish to match the charm.

• Borderlands 4 (-59%) A$49 Better visuals, already excellent gunplay. Loud, silly, and technically slick.
• LEGO Horizon Adventures (-63%) A$21.90 A surprisingly smart LEGO remix that pokes fun at Horizon lore while staying accessible for younger players.
• Hogwarts Legacy (-45%) A$59.90 Strong production values and a setting that does most of the heavy lifting. Still easy to get lost wandering Hogwarts.
• Astro Bot (-42%) A$64 A joyful showcase of PlayStation history and controller tech. Every level feels handcrafted with genuine affection.
• Lies Of P (-40%) A$51.10 A Soulslike that earns its confidence. Tough but fair combat wrapped in a surprisingly coherent dark fairy tale.
• Death Stranding 2 (-54%) A$57 Kojima doubling down on weirdness. Slower moments still hit hardest, especially when the music swells just right.

PS4
These PS4 deals are all about dense storytelling and value packed collections.

• Crisis Core FFVII Reunion (-58%) A$35.80 Zack Fair finally gets his polished moment. Combat feels modern, the tragedy still lands.
• Mafia Trilogy (-56%) A$44 Three crime dramas that prioritise atmosphere over open world busywork. Mafia II remains the standout.
• Neo: The World Ends With You (-53%) A$39.90 Stylish, loud, and unapologetically anime. Combat systems layer beautifully once the full party opens up.

What's Big on the Radar?
Fast movers shifting

• COD Black Ops 7 - A$89
• Battlefield 6 - A$89
• Borderlands 4 - A$99

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

If you want sheer hours per dollar, PC quietly wins again this week.

• Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii (-64%) A$36.40 Ridiculous side stories, heartfelt crime drama, and now pirates. RGG Studio refusing to play it safe.
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (-90%) A$6.90 A silly, charming speed run through the entire saga. Packed with jokes and collectibles.
• Dead Space (-85%) A$13.40 The remake nails tension and sound design. Still one of the best examples of survival horror pacing.
• The Witcher III Comp. (-80%) A$15.70 Blood and Wine alone justifies the price. A landmark RPG that still embarrasses newer open worlds.
• Hades (-70%) A$10.90 Fast, fluid combat and writing that adapts to how you play. It deserves every accolade it received.
• Hollow Knight (-50%) A$10.90 Deep exploration, brutal bosses, and lore that rewards curiosity. An indie benchmark.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

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Just like I did last holiday season, I'm getting festive with the LEGO section. In Mathew Manor, my sons and I are again racing / rating 2025's batch of LEGO Advent Calendars. Basically, we open the City, Harry Potter, Minecraft, and Star Wars ones daily and compare the mini-prizes for "Awesomeness" and "Actual Xmas-ness". 2024's winner was the Lego Marvel one, but, weirdly, there's no 2025 equivalent. So it's anybody's race this year.

Here are the cheapest prices for the four calendars we're using. Score them yourself or just live vicariously through our unboxings.

• LEGO CIty Advent 2025 - A$59.95 $45
• LEGO Harry Potter Advent 2025 - A$59.95 $45
• LEGO Minecraft Advent 2025 - A$59.95 $45
• LEGO Star Wars Advent 2025 - A$59.95 $45

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.

Clerics casting Dimension Door? Not at any table in 1987.

Sorting through every new game on Steam so you don't have to.

"I guess we were immature enough to just see that angle on it."

Roll out, Commander.

The holidays are almost here, and we've rounded up the best deals for Sunday, December 21, below. Don't miss your chance to save on these last-minute gifts!

Save on Assassin's Creed Shadows for Nintendo Switch 2

Launched earlier this month, Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally available on Nintendo Switch. Right now, you can save $10 off the physical copy at Amazon. This edition packs in all the game's DLC, updates, and more into one package for Switch 2 owners.

Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for $449

The best deal of the weekend is the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle, which is on sale for $449. That's the price of a standard Nintendo Switch 2, which means you're essentially scoring Mario Kart World for free. This model is said to have ended production, so we likely won't see this bundle available much longer. If you're planning on picking up a Switch 2 for yourself or as a gift this holiday season, today is the best time to buy one.

Save $20 Off Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

One of the most anticipated RPGs of 2025, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, is down to $39.99 this weekend. This remake transforms the original two Dragon Quest games into gorgeous experiences with numerous updates and tweaks to modernize the experience.

PS5 Pro for $649

PS5 Pro is on sale this weekend for $649, saving you just over $100 off Sony's most powerful console. Even if you already own a PS5, the PS5 Pro can still be a solid upgrade, providing enhanced performance and frame rates for numerous games. Newcomers to the PlayStation ecosystem can expect the best PS5 has to offer with this one.

Samsung P9 Express microSD Express Card for $32.99

If you're a Nintendo Switch 2 owner or expecting to become one this holiday season, a microSD Express Card is an absolutely essential purchase. The internal 256GB of storage is nowhere near enough for most players, especially with huge games like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade set to take up over a third of that space next year. You can save $20 off this 256GB microSD Express Card at Amazon and instantly double your Switch 2 storage.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for $35

Black Ops 7 is the latest Call of Duty, with the game releasing just a few weeks ago. Despite this, it's already on sale at Amazon for $40, which makes this a perfect last-minute Christmas gift.

Save on The Art of DOOM: The Dark Ages

Art books are a great way to gain greater insight into the development of your favorite games. This DOOM: The Dark Ages art book was released a few weeks ago, and it's already on sale for just under $31. Featuring over 200 pages, you can dive into behind-the-scenes art of the Doom Slayer, his weapons, and even enemies or locations.

Astro Bot for $39.99

Astro Bot is a must-own game for any PlayStation 5 owner for many reasons. The fun platforming adventure is a trip across PlayStation's iconic history of games, with cameos from many of the beloved characters that shaped each console generation. Today, you can score Astro Bot for $39.99 at Amazon, which is the lowest we've seen it so far.

Star Wars Outlaws for $30

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws is on sale this weekend for $29.99, which is a steal for one of the hybrid system's best third-party games. This version of Star Wars Outlaws is the Gold Edition, packing in all the DLC and updates that released.

Battlefield 6 for $39.99

Best Buy has Battlefield 6 for $39.99 today, with both PS5 and Xbox Series X copies discounted. Out of all multiplayer games released this year, Battlefield 6 might just be the most popular. This is a great gift to give alongside a new console.

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally for $489.99

Amazon has the Asus ROG Xbox Ally on sale for $489.99, which is even lower than Black Friday! You can save $110 on this portable PC equipped with everything you need to play or stream your Xbox games. This deal is almost gone, so don't miss your chance to score!

God of War Ragnarök for $19.97

Finally, Walmart has God of War Ragnarök on sale for $19.97 today. This is one of the best PS5 games available, as it builds off its predecessor in many ways to deliver an action-packed, unforgettable experience. It's hard to beat this price, especially if you're on the hunt for a holiday gift.

Fascism's foothold in the wasteland mirrors the way it spreads in the real world.

We're being limit tested, and I fear we're too okay with it all right now.

Cosplay always starts somewhere, and for Emily, that's a lot of foam and brainstorming.

Machinations is the musical cockroach of Final Fantasy 14.

Now here is something really cool for all our retro fans. Games That Weren’t has shared a new ROM for the canceled Game Boy Color port of the first Resident Evil game. This new ROM is said to be 98% complete. As such, you can finally experience this unreleased Resident Evil game on PC. For … Continue reading You can now play the canceled Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil →

The post You can now play the canceled Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil appeared first on DSOGaming.

Minus one victory lap for the J'RPG.

Ogryn and bear it.

Is this some kind of curse?

Vholume is Straftat meets Mirror's Edge.

Unreal Tournament fans, here is something for you today. YouTube’s Smart Poly has ported Unreal Tournament to Unreal Engine 5.7 and has released a playable demo that you can download right now. Before Fortnite Battle Royale launched, Epic Games was working on a free-to-play Unreal Tournament game. This was meant to be a community-driven project. … Continue reading Unreal Engine 5.7 Demo for Unreal Tournament Released →

The post Unreal Engine 5.7 Demo for Unreal Tournament Released appeared first on DSOGaming.

"It was not a decision I agreed with."

The mapping project features new weapons to use and enemies to fight.

Modder ‘GPC-Surgeon’ has released V4 of his Ultra Cinematic Next-Gen Mod for Cyberpunk 2077. So, let’s take a closer look at it, shall we? The Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra Cinematic V4 Mod makes the game look much better, especially when Path Tracing is turned on. The modder says this is not just a simple ReShade preset. … Continue reading Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra Cinematic V4 Next-Gen Mod Looks Stunning →

The post Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra Cinematic V4 Next-Gen Mod Looks Stunning appeared first on DSOGaming.

Doesn't matter if I know what I'm shooting, as long as I don't stop shooting.

There are plenty of homebrew solutions to get your Dreamcast online, but surfing the web will be a bit harder.

Just in case you thought Thief was a little light on eldritch horror.

Bring back Heroes of the Storm then.

First-person jumping is better when you can look down and see your feet.