We can drop the formality of "Happy Holidays" here, because we'll just go ahead and name the holiday that Americans are really looking forward to: Black Friday.
OK, I jest. Sure, it's a materialistic tradition that results in long lines, groggy parents and messy store floors (please be kind to your neighborhood retail workers, folks). But we can't lie: Black Friday is also a pretty good time to buy video games. Whether you're shopping for yourself or a loved one, there are plenty of options available this year.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of every deal available. (Those are available elsewhere.) Instead, it's a curated list of deals that I as a critic think are actually worth the money and effort. After all, buying a game for $10 isn't actually a great deal if the game isn't very good.
If you don't need physical, boxed copies of your new favorite video games, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are expected to have digital Black Friday sales on their respective console storefronts. Those sales should run all week, and many of the best deals should match the physical deals you'll find below.
A note on platforms: Most Black Friday ads will only show one platform that a game is available on, despite the fact that other versions of the game are also on sale. As such, I'm listing all systems that a game is available on next to each sale. It is a safe but not guaranteed bet that the sale applies to all platforms, but mileage may vary (especially with Switch versions of games, which are sometimes a special beast).
A note on Amazon: Some would argue that shopping Amazon from the comfort of your couch (and avoiding any hint of a physical crowd) is the best way to do Black Friday. There's merit to that, but keeping track of their deals on a list like this can be tricky. In years past, Amazon deals have matched some of the best deals you'll see at brick-and-mortar stores, but they are often limited to timed "lightning deals," and they aren't always announced in advance. As such, it's hard to include them on a list like this one.
Hardware
An important note about Xbox and PlayStation consoles: While this year could be a great time for great deals on Microsoft and Sony's consoles, bear in mind that both hardware companies will be releasing brand new systems next year (probably in 2020's holiday season). Those consoles will reportedly be backwards compatible, meaning the games you already own will continue to work on the new hardware, but just know what you're getting into so you don't experience buyer's remorse in 12 months.
One system that's likely to stick around for a few more years at least is the Nintendo Switch, which has been a pretty hot item over the past couple of holiday seasons. This year, Nintendo launched a new model, the Nintendo Switch Lite. Unfortunately, since it's so new it's not getting discounted this holiday season. The old (and still great) model, though, does have one deal:
_Nintendo Switch (standard model) with Mario Kart 8: $300 at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop
_Extra Joy-Con sets: $60 (normally $80) at Best Buy and Target
If you're in the market for an Xbox One, there are multiple bundles on sale that come with one of the year's best games, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. (This is also a game that you won't find on sale on its own, as it just came out this month.)
If you want an Xbox One X (the premium model of Microsoft's system, which boasts 4K gaming and more power overall), Best Buy has a doorbuster bundle with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order for $350. (The system alone retails for $500, and the game is $60, so this saves you more than $200 total.)
If you don't need the X, you can get the standard console (the Xbox One S), these options are also pretty good:
_Xbox One S 1TB with Jedi: Fallen Order and $60 in Kohl's Cash: $200 at Kohl's
_Xbox One S 1TB with Jedi: Fallen Order and a $40 Target gift card: $200 at Target
_Xbox One S 1TB with NBA 2K20: $200 at Best Buy
_Xbox One All Digital Edition (this console lacks a disc drive) 1TB with Sea of Thieves, Minecraft and Fortnite credits: $150 at Best Buy
_Xbox One wireless controllers: $40 at Best Buy, Target and Kohl's
If you're looking to hop onto the PlayStation 4 bandwagon, there is a "Best of PlayStation" bundle with three highly acclaimed games that would be a good place to start.
_PlayStation 4 1TB with The Last of Us Remastered, Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War: $200 at Best Buy (and potentially other places)
_PlayStation 4 1TB with Fortnite credits and $60 in Kohl's Cash: $200 at Kohl's
_PlayStation 4 Pro: $300 (normally $400) at "participating retailers"
_PlayStation 4 wireless controller: $40 at Best Buy, Target, Kohl's
Software
_Assassin's Creed Odyssey (XBO, PS4): $15 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 (XBO, PS4, Switch): $30 at GameStop
_Battlefield V (XBO, PS4): $15 at Best Buy, $10 at GameStop (at least for XBO)
_Bloodborne (PS4): $10 at Best Buy
_Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (XBO, PS4, Switch): $20 at Best Buy at GameStop
_Borderlands 3 (XBO, PS4): $28 at Best Buy, $30 at Walmart and GameStop, $35 at Target
_Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (XBO, PS4): $38 at Walmart and GameStop, $40 at Best Buy
_Control (XBO, PS4): $25 at Target, $30 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (XBO, PS4, Switch): $15 at Target and Walmart, $20 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled (XBO, PS4, Switch): $15 at Target, $25 at Walmart, Best Buy and GameStop
_The Division 2 (XBO, PS4): $12 at GameStop, $15 at Target and Best Buy
_Dragon Quest Builders 2 (PS4, Switch); $25 at Best Buy, $20 at Target
_Fallout 76 (XBO, PS4): $10 at Best Buy, $12 at GameStop
_Far Cry New Down (XBO, PS4): $15 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Forza Horizon 4 (XBO): $20 at Best Buy, $25 at Target and GameStop
_Gears of War 5 (XBO): $25 at Best Buy, $30 at Walmart and GameStop, $35 at Target
_God of War (PS4): $10 at Best Buy and GameStop, $15 at Walmart
_Hitman 2 (XBO, PS4): $20 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition (PS4): $10 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Kingdom Hearts III (XBO, PS4): $15 at Best Buy and Target, $20 at GameStop
_Madden NFL 20 (XBO, PS4, Switch): $28 at Best Buy and GameStop, $30 at Target
_Mario Tennis Aces (Switch): $30 at Target and Walmart
_Marvel's Spider-Man Game of the Year Edition (PS4): $15 at Best Buy
_Mortal Kombat 11 (XBO, PS4): $25 at Best Buy and Walmart, $30 at Target
_NBA 2K20 (XBO, PS4, Switch): $27 at Walmart, $28 at Best Buy and GameStop, $30 at Target
_Persona 5 (PS4): $10 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Planescape Torment & Icewind Tale (XBO, PS4, Switch): $30 at GameStop
_Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (XBO, PS4): $20 at Best Buy, $25 at Target and Walmart
_Rage 2 (XBO, PS4): $20 at Best Buy and GameStop
_Red Dead Redemption 2 (XBO, PS4): $25 at Best Buy, $30 at Target, Best Buy and GameStop
_Resident Evil 2 (XBO, PS4): $15 at Best Buy and Target, $20 at Walmart
_Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (XBO, PS4): $25 at Best Buy and Walmart, $28 at GameStop, $30 at Target
_Splatoon 2 (Switch): $30 at Walmart
_Spyro: Reignited Trilogy (Switch): $25 at Best Buy, Target, Walmart and GameStop
_Super Lucky's Tale (XBO): $15 at Best Buy
_Super Mario Odyssey (Switch): $30 at Target and Walmart
_Super Mario Party (Switch): $30 at Walmart, $40 at Best Buy
_Wolfenstein: Youngblood (XBO, PS4): $20 at Best Buy and GameStop
