Reading All-Time Lows to Know When to Buy
In a Steam sale, the "-50%" and "-75%" badges are what catch your eye. But a big discount doesn't always mean now is the best time to buy. This article explains how to use a game's all-time low to spot a good moment.
What happens if you only look at the discount
"-50%", but it used to be cheaper
The same game often gets different discounts from sale to sale. If it's 50% off now but was 75% off last time, there's less reason to rush.
A small discount that's actually the lowest ever
On the other hand, newer or popular games may show a modest discount that is still the lowest price they've ever had. Pass on "only 20% off" and you may not see that price again for a while.
Compare the current price with the all-time low
When deciding, look at these two side by side rather than the percentage:
- Current price: the discounted price if it's on sale
- All-time low: the lowest price the game has ever had on Steam
| Current price vs. all-time low | How to read it |
|---|---|
| Equal or lower | The best moment so far. Buy if you want it |
| Slightly higher | Close to the floor. Fine to buy if you want it a lot |
| Much higher | There's room to wait for the next big sale |
You can look up all-time lows on price trackers such as IsThereAnyDeal. The results screen of Steam Wishlist Ranker shows each wishlisted game's all-time low on Steam next to its current sale discount.
Combine price with how much you want it
Deciding on price alone tends to fill your library with games you didn't really want but were cheap. Pair the price with how much you want each game and you'll make fewer mistakes.
| How much you want it | When to buy |
|---|---|
| Want it now | At a decent discount. Losing play time to waiting costs more |
| Buy on sale | When it's close to the all-time low |
| Maybe someday | Only when it's unusually cheap, near or below the all-time low |
| Probably skip | Not even when it's cheap |
Holding off for months on a game you want right now, just to save a little, isn't a great trade. "Maybe someday" games, though, have no deadline, so waiting for the bottom price suits them.
Worth remembering
- Big seasonal sales are when lows tend to appear: many games drop the most during Steam's big seasonal sales. Revisit your "Buy on sale" tier then.
- Know the refund rules: on Steam you can request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you've played less than 2 hours. Handy if you worry about a price drop right after buying (check Steam's refund policy for the exact terms).
- Prices are a guide: they vary by time and country. Always check the price on the Steam store before buying.
Summary
- Look at the gap between the current price and the all-time low, not the percentage.
- Adjust when to buy by how much you want the game.
- For games you really want, don't wait too long for the absolute bottom.