Alright folks, let’s talk about scoring a deal on Manor Lords for PS5. This was my mission this week. See, I got hooked watching streams, that deep medieval strategy itch needed scratching. But dropping full price? Nah, especially when my gaming budget’s tighter than a rusty suit of armor after last month’s Steam sale frenzy. So, I decided to hunt down the cheapest copy. Here’s how it went down.
The Initial Digital Letdown
First thing I did, like always, was fire up the PS5 store from my couch. Super convenient, right? Searched for Manor Lords, found it fast. Price tag hit me right in the wallet – full retail price, the usual launch cost. Felt like a gut punch. I hovered over that ‘purchase’ button for a solid minute, hoping maybe, just maybe, a sale magically appeared. Nada. Zip. Digital store was playing hardball. Closed the store feeling kinda bummed.
Hitting the Physical Trail
Time to switch tactics. If digital wouldn’t budge, maybe the physical discs would. Grabbed my phone and started hammering those obvious big names:
- The Big Blue Box: Checked their website. Price was… exactly the same as the PS Store. Seriously? Usually they throw an extra five bucks off or a coupon for pre-owned next week. Not this time. Dead match.
- The Game Giant: Swung over to their site next. Same story. Full price, pristine and unapologetic. Didn’t even see any pre-owned listings pop up – probably way too new for that anyway.
- The Online Megastore: Figured maybe the giant online marketplace where I usually get socks and obscure batteries might surprise me. Typed it in, got a bunch of results, mostly at… you guessed it… the full MSRP again. Saw a couple slightly higher from third-party sellers, which was just confusing.
Starting to feel like a dog chasing its own tail. Everywhere I looked, $59.99 (or whatever the exact local price was) was staring back at me like a brick wall. Why wasn’t anyone discounting it yet?
The Discount Radar
Knew I had to get smarter. Decided to focus on known discount spots, places where the prices wobble more than my resolve during a late-night snack run.
- My Go-To Discounter: Booted up their app. Searched. Bingo! They had it listed… but… wait. It was just a placeholder saying ‘Currently Unavailable’. No price, no nothing. Total tease.
- Wholesale Club with Games: Checked the wholesale place where I sometimes grab paper towels alongside surprisingly cheap triple-A titles. Scrolled through their online game section… nada. Couldn’t find it listed at all. Swing and a miss.
Frustration was setting in. This game was stubbornly sticking to its launch price everywhere.
The Second-Hand Scramble
Got desperate. Maybe someone bought it, hated it instantly, and wanted shot of it? Flea markets, buy-sell-trade apps? Yeah, way too early for that. The game was barely out! Checking those felt like showing up to a party before the host has even put pants on – pointless and awkward.
Patience Pays (Finally)
Okay, plan C. Went old-school. Pulled out my PS5 and shoved a disc in (an old one, obviously not Manor Lords!). Scrolled down the PS5 menu to the little store icon nestled on the right. Booted it up properly. Typed “Manor Lords” again. There it was. Same price as before.
BUT… I remembered something. I had some dusty old PS Store credit tucked away from a birthday gift card last year, totally forgotten about! Didn’t cover the whole thing, but it knocked a decent chunk off the final price right on the payment screen. Boom. That was the ‘discount’ I needed. Instant relief. Pulled the trigger, started the download, and grabbed a celebratory soda.
Later that evening, digging into the gameplay, I realized my earlier panic was for nothing. Digital worked fine. Finding a true physical discount for a brand new, hyped game on launch week? Seems borderline impossible right now. Everyone just wants that full price. If you gotta have it now, and aren’t waiting months for a sale, the credit trick or finding forgotten gift cards might be your best ‘cheap’ option. Otherwise, get comfy and wait it out. The deep discounts will come… eventually. My pocketbook hopes so, anyway!