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Each year, the video game industry unloads a ton of games during the lead up to the end of the year. The holiday season has always been a crowded time for entertainment releases, but in the past several years, the game-release schedule has bloated almost to the point of absurdity. With that in mind, I decided to see just how much the holiday season of gaming could potentially cost someone.
I took our release schedule for the final five months of the year and placed the entries into categories. After grouping them, I found the MSRP for each game (and, unfortunately, removed the games that don’t have any prices available). What I was left with was a snapshot of the how much money the most noteworthy releases of holiday 2018 could set you back.
The numbers this feature resulted in are startling. Of course, there are few, if any, people who will purchase games in this manner, but it provides interesting data points that speak to the holiday season in a few different ways. Still, if you’re like me and like to play as many new releases as possible, you’re going to need a plan of attack in order to prevent going broke.
For my personal plan, I started by listing out all the games I absolutely want to play right away. Then, I went through the complete list again, making a new list of games I would like to play sooner rather than later. Finally, I made a list of games I want to play but can wait a bit for either a dead period in releases, or for the price to drop; I’ve been burned too many times by buying a game right at launch, only to see it drop dramatically in price before I ever even turn it on for the first time.
There’s another way to play as many games as possible without emptying your wallet: Keep an eye out for sales. With the holidays coming faster than we think, retailers everywhere are gearing up to slash prices in the weeks prior to December. Black Friday has always been a sure bet for great deals, but nowadays, the deals stretch for months as storefronts try and tempt potential purchasers.
If you can stick to your plan and shop for deals, you might just come out of this holiday season with your bank account intact. If you want to see just how much various categories of games (as well as the total cost of all noteworthy games), check out the lists below.
All Remakes/Remasters – $320
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Okami HD (Switch)
August 9
$20
Shenmue I & II
August 21
$30
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
August 28
$60
Yakuza Kiwami 2
August 28
$50
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
November 13
$40
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu
November 16
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
November 16
$60
All Fighting Games – $330
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Blade Strangers
August 28
$40
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
September 7
$50
Dragon Ball FighterZ (Switch)
September 28
$60
Soulcalibur VI
October 19
$60
My Hero One’s Justice
October 26
$60
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
December 7
$60
All RPGs – $1,130
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Yakuza 0 (PC)
August 1
$20
Monster Hunter World (PC)
August 9
$60
We Happy Few
August 10
$60
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth
August 14
$50
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
August 28
$60
Yakuza Kiwami 2
August 28
$50
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition
August 31
$60
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
August 31
$60
Destiny 2: Forsaken
September 4
$40
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
September 4
$60
Immortal: Unchained
September 7
$50
Black Clover: Quartet Knights
September 14
$60
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country
September 21
$40
Valkyria Chronicles 4
September 25
$60
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
September 25
$40
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
October 2
$60
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
October 5
$60
Fallout 76
November 14
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu
November 16
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
November 16
$60
Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Switch)
Fall
$60
All Shooters – $270
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Strange Brigade
August 28
$50
Destiny 2: Forsaken
September 4
$40
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
October 12
$60
Battlefield V
October 19
$60
Overkill’s The Walking Dead
November 6
$60
All Sports Games – $420
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Madden NFL 19
August 10
$60
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
August 28
$60
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
NBA Live 19
September 7
$60
NHL 19
September 14
$60
FIFA 19
September 28
$60
WWE 2K19
October 9
$60
All PlayStation 4 Games – $2,795
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Overcooked 2
August 7
$25
Dead Cells
August 7
$25
Madden NFL 19
August 10
$60
We Happy Few
August 10
$60
Death’s Gambit
August 14
$20
Phantom Doctrine
August 14
$40
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
August 14
$20
Shenmue I & II
August 21
$30
Guacamelee 2
August 21
$20
F1 2018
August 24
$60
Little Dragons Cafe
August 28
$60
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
August 28
$60
Yakuza Kiwami 2
August 28
$50
Strange Brigade
August 28
$50
Blade Strangers
August 28
$40
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition
August 31
$60
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
August 31
$60
Destiny 2: Forsaken
September 4
$40
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
September 4
$60
Immortal: Unchained
September 7
$50
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
NBA Live 19
September 7
$60
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
September 7
$50
Spider-Man
September 7
$60
NHL 19
September 14
$60
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
September 14
$60
Black Clover: Quartet Knights
September 14
$60
Valkyria Chronicles 4
September 25
$60
Life is Strange 2
September 27
$40
FIFA 19
September 28
$60
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
October 2
$60
Mega Man 11
October 2
$30
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
October 5
$60
Disgaea 1 Complete
October 9
$50
WWE 2K19
October 9
$60
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
October 12
$60
Lego DC Super Villains
October 16
$60
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
October 16
$75
Warriors Orochi 4
October 16
$60
Soulcalibur VI
October 19
$60
Battlefield V
October 19
$60
Just Dance 2019
October 23
$40
My Hero One’s Justice
October 26
$60
Red Dead Redemption II
October 26
$60
Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game
October 30
$60
Overkill’s The Walking Dead
November 6
$60
Hitman 2
November 13
$60
Fallout 76
November 14
$60
Wreckfest
November 20
$60
Darksiders III
November 27
$60
Just Cause 4
December 4
$60
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
December 4
$60
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
December 4
$60
All Xbox One Games – $2,245
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Overcooked 2
August 7
$25
Dead Cells
August 7
$25
Madden NFL 19
August 10
$60
We Happy Few
August 10
$60
Phantom Doctrine
August 14
$40
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
August 14
$20
Shenmue I & II
August 21
$30
F1 2018
August 24
$60
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
August 28
$60
Strange Brigade
August 28
$50
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition
August 31
$60
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
August 31
$60
Destiny 2: Forsaken
September 4
$40
Immortal: Unchained
September 7
$50
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
NBA Live 19
September 7
$60
NHL 19
September 14
$60
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
September 14
$60
Valkyria Chronicles 4
September 25
$60
Life is Strange 2
September 27
$40
FIFA 19
September 28
$60
Forza Horizon 4
October 2
$60
Mega Man 11
October 2
$30
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
October 5
$60
WWE 2K19
October 9
$60
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
October 12
$60
Lego DC Super Villains
October 16
$60
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
October 16
$75
Warriors Orochi 4
October 16
$60
Soulcalibur VI
October 19
$60
Battlefield V
October 19
$60
Just Dance 2019
October 23
$40
My Hero One’s Justice
October 26
$60
Red Dead Redemption II
October 26
$60
Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game
October 30
$60
Overkill’s The Walking Dead
November 6
$60
Hitman 2
November 13
$60
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
November 13
$40
Fallout 76
November 14
$60
Wreckfest
November 20
$60
Darksiders III
November 27
$60
Just Cause 4
December 4
$60
All Switch Games – $1,417
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Iconoclasts
August 2
$20
Salt & Sanctuary
August 2
$18
Overcooked 2
August 7
$25
Dead Cells
August 7
$25
Okami HD
August 9
$20
Minit
August 9
$10
Cosmic Star Heroine
August 14
$14
Gone Home
August 23
$15
Little Dragons Cafe
August 28
$60
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
August 28
$60
Blade Strangers
August 28
$40
De Blob 2
August 28
$30
Freedom Planet
August 30
$15
The Messenger
August 30
$20
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
September 7
$50
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country
September 21
$40
Valkyria Chronicles 4
September 25
$60
FIFA 19
September 28
$60
Dragon Ball FighterZ
September 28
$60
Mega Man 11
October 2
$30
Super Mario Party
October 5
$60
Disgaea 1 Complete
October 9
$50
Lego DC Super Villains
October 16
$60
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
October 16
$75
Warriors Orochi 4
October 16
$60
Just Dance 2019
October 23
$40
My Hero One’s Justice
October 26
$60
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
November 13
$40
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu
November 16
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
November 16
$60
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
December 7
$60
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Fall
$60
All Microsoft Exclusives – $60
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Forza Horizon 4
October 2
$60
All Sony Exclusives – $290
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Yakuza Kiwami 2
August 28
$50
Spider-Man
September 7
$60
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
October 2
$60
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
December 4
$60
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
December 4
$60
All Nintendo Exclusives – $420
Title
Release Date
MSRP
WarioWare Gold
August 3
$40
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
August 28
$60
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country
September 21
$40
Super Mario Party
October 5
$60
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
November 13
$40
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu
November 16
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
November 16
$60
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
December 7
$60
The Murderers’ Row of Holiday 2018 – $625
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Dead Cells
August 7
$25
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
Spider-Man
September 7
$60
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
September 14
$60
Forza Horizon 4
October 2
$60
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
October 5
$60
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
October 12
$60
Battlefield V
October 19
$60
Red Dead Redemption II
October 26
$60
Fallout 76
November 14
$60
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
December 7
$60
All Notable Games – $3,767
Title
Release Date
MSRP
Yakuza 0 (PC)
August 1
$20
Iconoclasts (Switch)
August 2
$20
Salt & Sanctuary (Switch)
August 2
$18
WarioWare Gold
August 3
$40
Overcooked 2
August 7
$25
Dead Cells
August 7
$25
Okami HD (Switch)
August 9
$20
Minit (Switch)
August 9
$10
Monster Hunter World (PC)
August 9
$60
Madden NFL 19
August 10
$60
We Happy Few
August 10
$60
Death’s Gambit
August 14
$20
Phantom Doctrine
August 14
$40
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
August 14
$20
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth
August 14
$50
Cosmic Star Heroine (Switch)
August 14
$14
Shenmue I & II
August 21
$30
Guacamelee 2
August 21
$20
Gone Home (Switch)
August 23
$15
F1 2018
August 24
$60
Little Dragons Cafe
August 28
$60
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
August 28
$60
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
August 28
$60
Yakuza Kiwami 2
August 28
$50
Strange Brigade
August 28
$50
Blade Strangers
August 28
$40
De Blob 2 (Switch)
August 28
$30
Freedom Planet (Switch)
August 30
$15
The Messenger
August 30
$20
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition
August 31
$60
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
August 31
$60
Destiny 2: Forsaken
September 4
$40
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
September 4
$60
Immortal: Unchained
September 7
$50
NBA 2K19
September 7
$60
NBA Live 19
September 7
$60
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
September 7
$50
Spider-Man
September 7
$60
NHL 19
September 14
$60
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
September 14
$60
Black Clover: Quartet Knights
September 14
$60
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country
September 21
$40
Valkyria Chronicles 4
September 25
$60
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
September 25
$40
Life is Strange 2
September 27
$40
FIFA 19
September 28
$60
Dragon Ball FighterZ (Switch)
September 28
$60
Forza Horizon 4
October 2
$60
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
October 2
$60
Mega Man 11
October 2
$30
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
October 5
$60
Super Mario Party
October 5
$60
Disgaea 1 Complete
October 9
$50
WWE 2K19
October 9
$60
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
October 12
$60
Lego DC Super Villains
October 16
$60
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
October 16
$75
Warriors Orochi 4
October 16
$60
Soulcalibur VI
October 19
$60
Battlefield V
October 19
$60
Just Dance 2019
October 23
$40
My Hero One’s Justice
October 26
$60
Red Dead Redemption II
October 26
$60
Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game
October 30
$60
Overkill’s The Walking Dead
November 6
$60
Hitman 2
November 13
$60
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
November 13
$40
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
November 13
$40
Fallout 76
November 14
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu
November 16
$60
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee
November 16
$60
Wreckfest
November 20
$60
Darksiders III
November 27
$60
Just Cause 4
December 4
$60
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
December 4
$60
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
December 4
$60
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
December 7
$60
Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Switch)
Fall
$60
Source: Game Informer Calculating The Cost: Budgeting For Holiday 2018's Game Releases
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