The Smart Way to Shop the Winter Sale (so you don’t hate Past You)
1) Start with your wishlist (then sort by discount)
Your wishlist is basically your personal deal dashboard. Sort it by discount and you’ll instantly see which “maybe later” titles became “okay fine, now.”
Quick rule: If you’ve wanted it for 6+ months and it’s deeply discounted, it’s probably a safe buy.
2) Pick ONE “big” game + 2–3 “snack” games
The Winter Sale is where people accidentally buy a full-time job worth of games.
Try this simple combo:
- 1 main course — something you’ll actually play next
- 2–3 snack games — short indies, co-op, roguelikes, puzzle games
3) Look for “Complete the set” bundles + DLC value
Sometimes the bundle discount beats the base game discount. If you already own part of a series, Steam will often offer a complete-the-set price that’s weirdly good.
4) Use price history as a sanity check
Before you buy, check whether it’s near a historic low (SteamDB is a common go-to). If it’s not close to a low, it may be worth waiting—unless you’re going to play it immediately.
5) Treat your backlog like a vault, not a landfill
Ask yourself:
“Will I play this in the next 30 days?”
If the answer is no, it might be a future deal—not a today deal.
A few fun extras during the sale
- Steam Awards voting is open during the sale window (see dates above).
- Steam often drops seasonal cosmetics / points-shop goodies during big events (worth a peek if you like profile flair).
If you’re organizing your games (and your chaos), this is the perfect time to:
- Add titles to your wishlist now so you can spot future sales fast
- Grab a few forever games (replayable roguelikes, co-op staples, chill sims)
- Pick up one epic quest you’ll actually commit to
Pro tip: The best purchase is the one you play.
Want updates + future deal roundups?
If you want more sale guides, hidden gem lists, and “what should I play next” posts, keep an eye on the Gammoridin blog — I’ll be posting more during the sale window.