In the year of 2011, Nintendo puts out two games, and Valve publishes a game. It was a great year for gaming. Pretending like it was 2011 is a smart gaming strategy that will help you forget about the terrible year.
I propose that you spend your time and money on previous-gen systems instead of modern games and consoles. All of the consoles have great game libraries, and could provide just as much, if not more, enjoyment and entertainment than the games that are out today.
You will save a lot of money.
One of the latest consoles is required in order to play it. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are very hard to find, if you browse a department store tech page on and off, you will never find one in stock. Tracking sites can be used to alert you to new deals, or to call around and see if any brick and mortar stores have the units in stock.
You can sign up for the chance to buy a PS5 during a specific window, if you so choose. Nintendo Switches are becoming harder to find. You have to pay the current-gen price tags if you find one of these consoles.
Get into the PS3. You can get one of these consoles for a fraction of the price of a PS5 or PS4 online. You might know someone who doesn't use theirs anymore. Many people let their old gaming consoles gather dust in their basement after a couple of generations. Maybe they would sell it to you for a good price and let you borrow it for free.
Let's continue the thought experiment and play games. PS3 games are considered collector items and command a high cost, but used games are dirt cheap. The Last of Us is $10, Dark Souls is $9, and Uncharted is $5. A sealed copy of Grand Theft Auto V on the PS3 can be had for $20 on eBay.
You spend a lot when you buy games for current systems. Even though there are deals and discounts on Steam, brand new,AAA games are often more expensive than older games. Super Mario Odyssey costs $50, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe costs $60, while Breath of the Wild is currently on sale through Amazon.
You can learn from the past.
Many of us rely on reviews to guide us through the buying process since modern gaming is so expensive. Pre-orders and early access ensure that we invest in a game before we know whether or not it is worth our time and money.
When you are a generation or two removed, you don't have that problem. The games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 have been reviewed and played many times over. It's easy to find the best-of collections, which is an excellent place to start. These lists are not the end-all-be-all, but they can be an excellent starting point to find the best games for your Wii U, or to begin your experience with collecting for the Xbox 360.
Sometimes games that were overlooked gain a following and respect over time, other times, games that were lauded didn't actually age all too well, and might not be the best place for you to start or spend your money. You get the best of both worlds if you come in late.
The games will always be there.
I love saving money and having great historical advice on what to play first, but it is comforting to know that these games will still be here when I finally get around to playing them. I don't need to pay full price for a PS5 right now, I haven't even played all my PS4 games.
Even if you have to wait 10 years for the PS5 to be released, it is possible to get a much more affordable experience with one generation removed. Some of us will always want to be at the forefront of what gaming has to offer. It is reasonable for those of us who have a large amount of classic games to live in the past.
