Black Friday is a mere 16 days away at this point, and Nintendo is getting prepared! While we may not have too much information about exact discounts for specific titles, they have given us some ideas of what to expect so that you, dear readers, can get your shopping plan in order.
Starting November 24th, select local retailers — reportedly Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart — will be discounting Nintendo Switch titles up to $30 off. Discounts we specifically know about so far include:
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom dropping to $49.99 ($20 off).
- Super Mario Maker 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Pikmin 4, Nintendo Switch Sports (physical editions), and Kirby and the Forgotten Lands all dropping to $39.99 (also $20 off).
- Super Mario Odyssey and Pikmin 1+2 dropping to $29.99 ($30 off and $20 off, respectively).
"But what about accessories?" we hear you asking. Well, we also know that the classic Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con set and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will see a $20 discount, knocking the Joy-Cons to $59.99 and the Pro Controller to $49.99, and that the Nintendo Switch Carrying Case & Screen Protector - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition will drop $10 to $14.99 after savings, meaning you can game in style this season without breaking the bank.
As for consoles themselves... well, if you've been around the block a time or two with Nintendo Black Friday sales, you're going to see this next discount coming from a mile away! But to nobody's surprise, the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle will come in at $299.99 for the holiday, once again. This year, however, there's also a new Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Kart 8 Bundle, which will run you $349.99 — an $80 savings on both bundle versions (of note, both also include 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online membership).
More of a Switch Lite fan? You're in luck there too! The beautiful golden Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition with Bonus Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will bag a $40 savings as well, making it $209.99.
And last, but most certainly not least, Nintendo has some in-store events planned that you can enjoy this holiday season, should you want to experience some of their newer releases before making up your mind on which ones to purchase!
- November 16th and 17th, select Target stores will be hosting live demo days for Super Mario Party Jamboree.
- December 7th, select Best Buy stores participating in Best Buy Family Fun Day will have live demos of Mario & Luigi: Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Just Dance 2025 available to play.
- And on December 14th, select GameStop stores will have live demos of Mario & Luigi: Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Just Dance 2025 available to check out.
However, if you're ready to make your purchases now and simply cannot wait to get your hands on all the fun goodies the world of gaming has to offer, check out our current early (and upcoming) Black Friday video game deals now. Shop Now at Nintendo
- Check out new and upcoming titles. If applicable, bonus offers are listed on the product page.
- Get one-day shipping for $10 for release date delivery or free shipping on $35 for delivery 2 to 4 days after release.
- The Preorder Street Date Guarantee means you can choose one-day shipping on orders placed by 12 pm ET the day before release for guaranteed release date delivery, or shipping charges will be returned.
- Preorders have a low price guarantee in the case of the GameStop price going lower before release.
- Pre-order items may have an in-cart discount (typically around $10) or bonus items and arrive by the release date with free shipping. This applies to select items; see individual product pages for details.
- Most games have free 2-day shipping.
New Video Game Releases
Looking to stay updated on all the latest new video game releases without breaking the bank? The deal experts here at DealNews have you covered. We’ve scoured the internet, hunting down deals on games released in the last 45 days, so you can keep your eyes on the in-game prizes instead.
Video Game Price Trends
The price of a newly released game can vary greatly, depending on whether the title is produced by an indie development company or a major publisher. A typical AAA title will usually cost $60 upon initial release across all major platforms. (“AAA” refers to games produced by mid-size or major publishing studios.)
On the other hand, newly released indie games can cost anywhere from $5 to $40, depending on several factors:
- The perceived value and scope of the gameplay
- Whether the studio has published recognizable titles previously
- The pricing of similar games already on the market
We’re entering the later years of the lifespans of current video game consoles — the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were both released in 2013, and both have successor consoles slated for release around the holidays of 2020. As such, the prices of current-generation titles may begin to drop slightly .
Tips & Tricks
Our Blog team has compiled an extensive guide on how to snag a deal on video games and consoles around the holiday season. Here are some of our most helpful tips on how to pay less for new video game releases:
- Check for console bundles that include newly released titles, as well as special editions of said titles that include extra content. These are typically bundled to save a few bucks off the combination of items, and will be a better bet than buying them separately.
- Marketplace sellers can be your best bet for finding discounts on the newest video games. Check Amazon, eBay, and Rakuten marketplaces for deeper discounts that you’d see on the official publishers’ sites.
- Gift card offers can help you save on future games. Buying a new console? Search for deals including gift cards to help you snag games or accessories for less.
Brittany has been working at DealNews since 2013; she started out on the coupons team, and now navigates the waters of deal writing. As a member of the Content team, she spends most of her time sussing out whether stores are actually offering a good sale, as well as being a stickler for all things grammar and formatting. She spends most of her free time at home entertaining her small shih tzu puppy, testing new recipes, and traveling other worlds via video games and novels.