Video gaming is an expensive hobby – and I say this as a girl who only boots up her PS4 once in while when there are big releases, like the recent Assassin’s Creed Odyssey or Monster Hunter World. I can only imagine how much more the real gaming geeks need to spend…
While the prices of consoles and video games are pretty much standard across big electronics and game stores at the malls, you can probably shave a couple of bucks off your purchase if you 1) preorder your stuff and 2) shop online or at a neighbourhood game shop. (More money-saving hacks below!)
Here’s a round-up of 5 cheap gaming shops in Singapore you should check out.
5 cheap game shops in Singapore (2019)
There aren’t many new console releases, but the latest one is the Nintendo Switch (March 2017), so I’ll gather the prices of that console and some of its games as basis of comparison.
| Console / game | Cheapest game shop in Singapore |
| Nintendo Switch | $439 at Qisahn and Shopitree |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | $62 at Qisahn |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $66 at War Games |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $71.90 at Gamewerks, War Games and Play-E |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | $79.90 at Qisahn and War Games |
Qisahn
Located at Far East Shopping Centre, Qisahn is widely known as the cheapest game shop in Singapore.
| Console / game | Qisahn price |
| Nintendo Switch | $439 |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | $62 |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $69.90 |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $72.90 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | $79.90 |
Right off the bat, most of their prices are already the lowest in the market. But if you find something that’s cheaper elsewhere, don’t worry – Qisahn has a price match guarantee.
Terms and conditions do apply though, so you can’t just go up to the shop and say some uncle told you about some forum where some guy posted a rumour about the item selling at $X price… It has to be the exact item (same format, same publisher, same region) and the price must be publicly listed and advertised.
It’s also only available BEFORE you hand over your cash – once you transact, you’re on your own.
I read online that FunzSquare at Far East Plaza does Qisahn price-matching as well, but I also read that they’re owned by the same boss so… Yup.
War Games
I kind of stumbled upon War Games because I used to frequent Ang Mo Kio Central a lot, and thought it was a hidden gem nobody knew about. But alas… Actually everybody also know. Sian.
| Console / game | War Games price |
| Nintendo Switch | $475 for console + case and tempered glass |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | $71.90 |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $66 |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $71.90 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | $79.90 |
As you can see, prices are very comparable to Qisahn – with the exception of their Nintendo Switch console price.
It’s $475 for the console + case and a tempered glass protector. You can get carrying cases for about $20 and tempered glass for $5 online, so that makes it about $450 for the console. Although not the cheapest, it’s still below retail price ($469 at Courts).
If you want, you can get the $560 bundle as well (Nintendo Switch + 2 games of price $60 and below).
Shopitree / GameMartz
Shopitree and GameMartz are different brands under the same group.
| Console / game | Shopitree / GameMartz price |
| Nintendo Switch | $439 |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | $72.90 |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $67.90 |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $72.90 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Sold out |
You MUST have heard about the legendary Shopitree warehouse sales at Bukit Batok right?
While their usual prices aren’t always the lowest, prices really get slashed during their flash sales. (It’s even inspired some “entrepreneurs” among us… )
For instance, the Nintendo Switch is usually $439 (which is the lowest in the market anyway), but during the recent sale (6 to 10 Mar 2019) it was going for $399.
Gamewerks
Gamewerks at Clementi is also another popular haunt for affordable gaming supplies.
| Console / game | Gamewerks price |
| Nintendo Switch | $459 |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | Sold out |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $69.90 |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $71.90 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | $89.90 |
Gamewerks’ prices are higher than most on this list, but it still beats paying retail price, right?
If you’re more of an online shopper, you can shop for their stuff on Lazada. I personally prefer that, since I can earn cash rebates on my online shopping credit card and enjoy free delivery thanks to LiveUp.
Gadget Solution / GameXtreme / Play-e
Many gamers recommend GameXtreme stores at Yishun and Tampines, but it’s actually part of the same company that runs Gadget Solution and Play-e.
| Console / game | Play-E / Gadget Solution / GameXtreme price |
| Nintendo Switch | $469 (GameXtreme), $488 (Play-e) |
| Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! | $71.90 (Play-e) |
| Pokken Tournament DX | $67 (Play-e) |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $71.90 (Play-e) |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | $84.90 (Play-e) |
Their prices are likely to differ from outlet to outlet. The Nintendo Switch is $469 on GameXtreme’s Qoo10 e-store, but $488 on Play-e’s website.
I couldn’t find published prices for games at GameXtreme/Gadget Solution, and I tried calling the different outlets but nobody answered…
However, I did find Play-e’s online store and prices. Although Play-E seems more expensive than its heartland cousins, their game prices are actually already quite competitive.
For example, Mario Kart 8 is actually cheaper than Qisahn!
Other ways to score cheap video games
1. Play on Steam instead
Many gamers agree that Steam is the cheapest way to play your favourite video games. So if you’re just starting out and are considering getting a console, perhaps you can explore the possibility of gaming on PC instead.
2. Buy the physical game, and then sell it
If you’re gaming on console, you can also buy digital versions of the games from the official e-stores. I don’t think recommend it though, because it’s usually about the same price as the hard copy, or only slightly cheaper.
Hence, it’s much more worth it to get a physical copy. You won’t waste as much space on your console, and if it’s a popular RPG release, you may even be able to sell it at almost the same price if you finish the game fast.
3. If it’s a big release, preorder it
Most popular game franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Tekken and etc will announce their release dates way beforehand, and game shops will take preorders for it. They’ll take a deposit from you to secure your preorder slot (it’s usually limited) and inform you once the stocks come in.
You may not always know the price when you preorder – because it may not have been released yet – but it’ll definitely be cheaper than if you picked it off the shelf.
4. Buy secondhand games
Lastly, if you’re not fussy about being among the first to own the game or having a brand new copy, you can always shop for secondhand supplies on Carousell.
Do you have a favourite game shop in Singapore? Tell us in the comments below.
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