There are plenty of places to buy digital games, but storefronts like Steam and Xbox aren’t always the cheapest, even with their generous holiday sales. Personally, I’ve rarely paid full price for any game—whether it’s a new release or an older title—thanks to these 7 key websites I regularly check for the best deals, especially during the festive season.
The holidays are a perfect time to get digital games at lowest prices, whether as last-minute gifts (my trick is scribbling a code on a Christmas card and popping it in a stocking) or to stock up on titles if you’re unwrapping a new Xbox console or gaming handheld like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally. However, buying from third-party sites can carry risks, as you don’t always get the same protections or return policies offered by official stores. That’s why I’m only recommending websites I’ve personally used and trust. These reputable sites, tried and tested by both myself and the Windows Central team, offer great deals from legitimate sources. Many also have holiday deals too which I've highlighted, as well as my own personal picks from the sales.
I proudly consider myself a budget gamer, sticking to the Xbox Series S and Steam Deck over pricier options like the Xbox Series X and ROG Ally. My frugal habits extend to both accessories and digital games—I've only paid full price for a handful of games in my entire gaming life. With holiday sales in full swing, I’m even more eager to hunt down deals, whether it takes 15 promo codes or a blood-summoning ritual worthy of Diablo. I've personally tested and compared all the sites listed here to ensure they not only offer the best deals but are perfect for scoring stocking-stuffer-worthy game keys this festive season.
1. GOG (Good Old Games)
The biggest and best of all of the game code websites is probably GOG. Many PC gamers specifically default to GOG for most of their purchases for a number of reasons and it’s an excellent pick during the holiday season thanks to its fantastic sales and unique benefits. The prices are often on par with Steam, however the games come DRM-free. In fact, GOG recently reminded everyone why they should buy games there rather than competitors like Steam or Epic Games.
Once you purchase the game, you can download using an offline installer and keep it forever without needing an internet connection or regular checks for an active license. Buying a game through GOG means you own the game, and ownership is important for many who worry about the shift from physical to digital libraries.
You can also download the GOG Galaxy 2.0 launcher to integrate all your PC games, Xbox Live and Epic Games. Whether you’re buying for yourself or gifting to a fellow gamer, GOG is a fantastic option this holiday season.
🎄GOG's Winter Sale is live right now with over 6500 deals and a daily advent calender with deals and discount codes.🎄
Can I play GOG games on the Steam Deck?
Yes, you can play GOG games on the Steam Deck, but it requires some tinkering and installing another launcher. We recommend using the Heroic Launcher, that you can also use to run Epic Games on your Steam Deck. We have a full guide to how to install GOG games on Steam Deck.
🎅TOP PICK: Cyberpunk Ultimate Edition (includes Phantom Liberty | was $82.85 now $47.70 at GOG
2. Green Man Gaming
Green Man Gaming is an officially licensed third-party retailer that has earned an 'excellent' rating on Trustpilot, making it a reliable choice for holiday shopping.It’s one of the first sites I check for new releases to see if they’re running holiday sales or offering extra voucher codes, helping me save even more on games for platforms like Microsoft or Steam. In fact, I grabbed Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree at 14% off from here before launch. Every little helps.
While they primarily focus on PC deals and have a more limited selection of Xbox titles, they remain a top choice for affordable Steam keys. Additionally, their frequent sales and promotions make it easy to find great deals on a wide variety of games whether you’re treating yourself or picking up a last-minute digital stocking stuffer.
🎄Green Man Gaming have a Holiday Sale running until January 10 with 'yeti-sized' discounts. 🎄
🎅TOP PICK: Lords of the Fallen | was $59.99 now $18.00 at Green Man Gaming
3. Fanatical
Fanatical is a similar retailer to Green Man Gaming, and also has an extremely high Trust Pilot rating. During the festive season, it’s worth checking both sites to compare holiday sales and discount codes to snag the best deals. Fanatical often has value bundles, allowing you to add more than one game to the basket for a further discount—perfect for gifting or building up your library.
Earlier this year I wrote about 7 Steam Deck games for $10 or less, combining deals from Fanatical, Green Man Gaming and CDKeys to make huge savings.
🎄Fanatical's Winter Sale is offering up to 96% discounts and a bonus game if you spend over $15. 🎄
🎅TOP PICK: Rimworld | was $34.99 now $25.54 at Fanatical
4. CDKeys
CDKeys is a go-to source for games on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, offering lower prices by sourcing keys from global distributors. Most recently, I picked up Lego City Undercover for Xbox for just $6.69, while it’s still full price at $59.99 on the Xbox store—proof that CDKeys can deliver serious holiday savings. My kids are already entertained for the holidays, making it one of the best deals I’ve scored this season! I also use CDKeys whenver I want Minecoins as I can get a third off the Xbox dashboard price.
I've been using CDKeys for many years, not only to snag cheaper games, but also to stack my Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription at a fraction of the usual cost. Often, this site offers the best prices for Game Pass Ultimate, and occasionally, you can even find discounted Steam Wallet credit codes.
Personally, I’ve never had an issue with a key from CDKeys, though I’ve come across mentions on Reddit about problems when keys are kept unused for a while. CDKeys themselves recommend redeeming any key you purchase as soon as possible to avoid such issues. For that reason I wouldn't recommend them specifically for gifting, but definitely a go-to for your own purchased when you're unwrapping your new Steam Deck (maybe Santa was extra generous this year?)
🎄CDKeys Christmas Sale has cheap game keys for all platforms and runs until January 2, 2025. 🎄
It’s also important to double-check each listing before buying. Games are marked with their region and platform compatibility, and if you purchase the wrong version, CDKeys won’t issue a refund for your error. For example, a family member of mine once bought a game for their Xbox One S, not noticing the listing specified it was for Xbox Series X|S, and they couldn’t redeem it.
What is a 'gray market' retailer?
CD Keys is 'gray market' retailer, what does this mean?
Gray market retailers offer games cheaper than authorized retailers by purchasing games perhaps intended for different markets or regions. While this practice is not illegal, it carries certain risks. When you purchase from a gray market retailer, you typically forfeit the consumer protections associated with authorized retailers. For example, if you encounter redemption issues, you usually won't have access to a refund or support, as you would with an officially authorized retailer.
🎅TOP PICK: Helldivers 2 | was $39.99 now $25.49 at CD Keys
5. Humble Store
Many people remember the Humble Store fondly for its iconic Humble Bundles, which helped the site gain popularity with their "pay what you want" model. I’ve even scored massive PDF bundles of Diablo and World of Warcraft books for just a few dollars. While the bundles aren’t as frequent or generous as they once were, they’re still worth checking out, especially during the festive season when unique collections often pop up. You can easily find any active bundles by navigating to the "Bundles" section on the site, or subscribing to the Humble Bundle subreddit to be notified of the best deals.
In addition to bundles, the Humble Store offers a wide selection of individual games at discounted prices for Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, along with some DRM-free options. The store is particularly appealing to some because a portion of every sale goes to charitable causes, which you can learn more about on its website. So you’re not just grabbing festive deals—you’re giving back.
🎄Humble Bundle's sale has over 1000 titles 🎄
🎅TOP PICK: 7 item Future Games Show Discovery Bundle: Gloomwood, Lost in Play and more | worth $151 now $15 at Humble Bundle
6. Newegg
Newegg isn't just a great place for PC gaming parts and accessories; you can also find discounted game codes for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. It's especially worth keeping an eye on Newegg during major retail sales events during the festive season. With holiday sales in full swing, Newegg is competing fiercely with other retailers, offering some of the cheapest prices on games, Xbox account credit, and even combo deals perfect for gift-giving.
The 'Gifts for Gamers' section for video games is the best place to find the lowest prices this time of year. You can often score even better deals through displayed discount codes or by taking advantage of combo deals, which pair gaming accessories with heavily discounted games.
🎄Newegg's Dealcember is underway with 100s of deals on games and gaming accessories🎄
🎅TOP PICK: EA Sports College Football for Xbox | was $69.99 now $39.99 at Newegg
7. Amazon and Amazon Prime Gaming
It would be remiss of me to discuss cheap game codes without mentioning Amazon, where you can purchase digital keys. However, the main attraction is Amazon Prime Gaming, which offers an impressive selection of free games with its subscription. I've managed to get codes for Fallout 76 on both Xbox and PC for free through this service.
Currently, there’s an awesome bundle available that includes a range of titles like The Outer Worlds, Mega Man 11, Spelunky, Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Space Hulk: Deathwing - Enhanced Edition, Necromunda: Hired Gun, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. It’s a fantastic deal for anyone looking to expand their library with some classic and modern finds.
With this subscription, you get these codes for free and can keep them permanently. If you’re feeling a bit cheeky, you could sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial, claim your games, and then choose not to renew—but if anyone asks, you didn’t hear that from me!
In addition to the free game offerings, Amazon is also an excellent place to check prices on both digital and physical games across all platforms.
🎅TOP PICK: Baldurs Gate 2 | was $19.99 now FREE with Amazon Prime Gaming
Compare all retailers depending on your budget, platform and individual risk
For safe and reliable purchases, official stores like Xbox, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net provide peace of mind with return policies that generally allow refunds if you’re dissatisfied within a few hours of gameplay, though they can be expensive without sales. Trusted authorized resellers like Green Man Gaming, Fanatical, Humble Store, Amazon, and Newegg also offer solid deals directly from publishers, but refunds after redeeming digital codes may involve some hassle and hoop jumping.
During the holidays, CDKeys is one of the go-to spots for unbeatable prices, though it comes with a bit more risk. They typically don’t offer refunds, so it's best to only purchase when you’re certain you’ll enjoy the game and that it’s compatible with your platform. When shopping for gifts or holiday sales, it's also wise to avoid gray market key sellers with "too good to be true" prices, as their keys may come from questionable sources and result in unwanted headaches. Stick to the sites mentioned here for the best mix of savings and security this holiday season.
How do I find the cheapest price?
How do I find the best deal on a game?
Outside of checking each website yourself and comparing prices, there are comparison tools you can use such as IsThereAnyDeal.com which not only compares multiple digital retailers but also shows the cheapest price a game has ever been sold at. Note that this does not include listings from CDKeys so you will need to check that separately.
