There are plenty of places to buy digital games, but storefronts like Steam and Xbox aren’t always the cheapest, even though they do offer generous 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 that I regularly check for the best deals.
However, buying digital games from third-party sites can carry risks, as you don’t get the same protections or return policies offered by official stores. That’s why I’m only recommending websites that I’ve personally used, where I’ve had no issues with game codes. While you will find hundreds of sites offering cheap game codes, not all of them operate through legitimate means. To stay safe, stick to these reputable sites that have been tried and tested for many years by Windows Central staff, including myself.
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. 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.
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: Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition | was $20 now $3 at GOG
2. Green Man Gaming
Green Man Gaming is an officially licensed third-party retailer that has earned an 'excellent' rating on Trustpilot. It’s one of the first sites I check for new releases to see if they have any discounts or voucher codes available, allowing me to save even more on games from 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.
🔥TOP PICK: Silent Hill 2 | was $69.99 now $54.59 at Green Man Gaming
3. Fanatical
Fanatical is a similar retailer to Green Man Gaming, and also has an extremely high Trust Pilot rating. It's savvy to check between the two sites to see who has the best current price, depending on sales and available discount codes. Fanatical often has value bundles, allowing you to add more than one game to the basket for a further discount,
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.
🔥TOP PICK: Castlevania Anniversary Collection | was $19.99 now $2.99 at Fanatical
4. CDKeys
CDKeys offers games for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, sourcing its keys from global distributors to secure lower prices. Most recently, I purchased both my Xbox and Steam versions of Balatro from here. 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.
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: Jusant | was $29.99 now $1.59 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 Humble Bundles may not be as generous as they once were and are now offered on a rotating basis, they are still worth checking periodically. 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.
🔥TOP PICK: 110-game Atari Retro Recharged Revival Bundle | worth $139 now $20 at Humble Bundle (cheaper bundles available)
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 like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, as they often engage in price wars with other retailers, striving to offer the cheapest games and Xbox account credit.
The 'Hot Deals' section for video games is the best place to hunt for the lowest prices. 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.
🔥TOP PICK: Red Dead Redemption 2 |was $59.99 now $19.49 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 a fantastic Halloween bundle that includes DOOM Eternal, Bioshock Remastered, and Killing Floor 2.
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: Doom Eternal | was $39.99 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.
CDKeys is the riskiest option, as they typically refuse refunds, but they often have the lowest prices. If you’re uncertain, only use CDKeys when you’re sure you’ll love the game, and it’s compatible with your platform. I strongly advise avoiding gray market digital key sellers not mentioned here with "too good to be true" prices, as their keys may come from questionable sources.
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.
