By Lou Carlozo, dealnews contributor Video game diversions aren't hard to come by, though finding the bargains can prove a contest in and of itself. But just as savvy gamers have their cheat codes, readers of this roundup have something just as valuable: A list of five gaming deals, all Editors' Choices, and for PC gamers and PS3 and Xbox-lovers alike! Far Cry 3 for Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 Store: Best Buy Price: $29.99 with free shipping Lowest By: $25 Is It Worth It?: At $5 under our January mention and the lowest total price we've seen for either platform, you're getting a winning deal on this open world first-person shooter game. Far Cry 3 "is a virtual playground for hunting, climbing, shooting, stabbing and looting" where having fun is the object of the game. (Note that Amazon charges the same price.) Darksiders II for PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 Store: Best Buy Price: $14.99 with free shipping Lowest By: $9 Is It Worth It?: This fantasy game centers on the fallout when one of the legendary Four Horsemen destroys the Earth before its appointed time. After being awakened by the end of days, Death embarks on an epic quest to undo Armageddon, and instead discovers that Creation is facing a far worse fate. How meta! In its review, PC Gamer addresses this: "Its platforming and puzzling may be undemanding, but in balance to its respectably rich combat challenge, they make for as relaxing a journey as you might expect in the company of Death." In other words, it's to die for. $10 Xbox LIVE eCertificate Store: Kroger Co. Store Coinstar Price: Free when you cash in $30 or more in coins Expires: March 30 Is It Worth It?: With the demise of the arcade, has your piggy bank begun to overflow? Grab that 5-gallon Poland Spring bottle and haul it to your local Kroger Co. store and hit up the Coinstar! You'll be handsomely rewarded with dollar bills (y'all!), and if you've racked up $30 or more, you'll also nab a $10 Xbox LIVE eCertificate for free! This is the best deal we've seen from Coinstar and Xbox LIVE, and your eCertificate can be used for either an Xbox Live Gold Membership or Microsoft Points. Just be aware that the additional code for $10 will appear on your receipt! Kroger Co. stores include Kroger, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, Dillons, City Market, Smith's, Baker's, Ralphs, QFC, and Gerbes. Cars, Jets, and Dirt Bike Pack 3-Game Bundle for Windows Store: Amazon Price: $14.99 EXPIRED Lowest By: $80 Is It Worth It?: Want more fun than you can shake a joystick at? Well, it's not every day you can save $80 a three-game video bundle! The games include Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, MUD: FIM Motorcross World Championship, and RIDGE RACER: Unbounded. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon intensifies the franchise, escalating global combat to the next level with aircraft that are literally torn apart, spewing oil and debris across the sky. MUD: FIM Motorcross World Championship delivers pure freestyle motocross action, and RIDGE RACER: Unbounded allows you to "crash through everything" and race in urban environments using a new breed of racing machines. No matter your driving style, this deal allows you to crash through high prices on your way to a gaming bargain. Note that Steam is required to download and activate these games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Windows Store: Amazon Price: $16.49 Lowest By: $34 Is It Worth It?: You'll also need a Steam account to play this game, which places you at the heart of humanity's last stand. Threatened by an unknown enemy, the Earth's governments unite to form an elite paramilitary organization known as XCOM to combat this extraterrestrial attack. As the commander of XCOM, you control the global defense team in a battle against a terrifying alien invasion that will "entertain tactics fans and satisfy classic gaming fans" alike. Lou Carlozo is a dealnews contributing writer. He covers personal finance for Reuters Wealth. Prior to that he was the managing editor of WalletPop.com, and a veteran columnist at the Chicago Tribune. Follow @dealnews on Twitter for the latest roundups, price trend info, and stories. You can also sign up for an email alert for all dealnews features.
