Video games are sold three ways now: as a disc or cartridge you own outright, as a download licensed to one account, or as part of a subscription catalog. Which store makes sense depends on that format and on the system you play. Physical retail has thinned out since 2023 while digital storefronts multiplied, so the chain that once stocked every platform may not carry yours today. This guide covers where to buy video games for each system, what every seller will actually refund, and the traps that cost buyers money at checkout.
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Where to Buy Video Games for Each System
Start with the hardware, not the retailer. Every current system has exactly one official digital storefront, physical copies come from the same handful of retailers, and the catch worth knowing differs by platform.
| System | Official storefront | Where physical copies sell | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch | Nintendo eShop | Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, Target | Game-key cards that hold only a download key |
| PlayStation 5 | PlayStation Store | Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, Target | Digital Edition and PS5 Pro ship without a disc drive |
| Xbox Series X and S | Microsoft Store on Xbox | Amazon, GameStop, Walmart | Series S cannot read discs at all |
| PC | Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store | Boxed PC releases are nearly extinct | Gray-market key sites |
| Phones and tablets | App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android) | None | Purchases tied to the device account, no resale |
| Older systems (Wii U, 3DS, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360) | Wii U and 3DS eShops stopped sales in March 2023 | eBay, retro specialists, independent shops | Counterfeit cartridges and missing manuals |
Drive-free hardware is the detail gift buyers miss most. The Xbox Series S, the PS5 Digital Edition, and the PS5 Pro arrive with no disc drive (Sony sells a detachable drive separately), so a boxed copy is useless to those owners until they add one.
Disc, Download, or Subscription: Picking the Format First
A video game is an electronic game played on a console, a computer, a phone, or a handheld device. The format you buy decides your resale rights, your refund options, and which sellers are even in play.
The video game industry now earns most of its software revenue from downloads, and rising video game development costs push publishers toward digital-first launches. That is why a modern video game console often ships in an edition with no disc drive. No drive, no use for a physical copy.
| Format | Best for | Resale value | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disc or cartridge | Collectors, gift givers, trade-in users | Yes | Needs a drive or slot |
| Game-key card (Switch 2) | Buyers who want a box to lend or resell | Yes, the card moves between consoles | Needs a download and free storage before first play |
| Download | Convenience, deep sale pricing | No | Locked to one account forever |
| Subscription catalog | High-volume players | No | Titles leave without notice |
Game-key cards. A game-key card is a Switch 2 cartridge that carries a license key instead of the full data. Insert it and the Switch 2 downloads the release over the internet; after that the card must stay inserted to play, and it still works on another Switch 2. Nintendo marks these on the box, along with the storage space required, so check the packaging before you assume a cartridge plays out of the case.
Subscription overlap. Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus rotate large catalogs in and out. Paying full price for something already in a service the player holds is the most avoidable waste here. Nintendo Switch Online works differently: it adds online play and a library of classic NES, SNES, and Game Boy titles rather than new releases.
ESRB rating. The ESRB, the North American body that assigns age and content ratings, prints an ESRB rating on every retail box and product listing. E through M covers nearly every title; the Adults Only 18+ tier is rare and chains do not stock it.
Account and region locks. A download attaches permanently to the buying account, and some keys activate only in the region where they sold. Gifting a code across regions can fail outright.
Retailers Compared: Who Carries What, Online and on the Shelf
Eight sellers and seller groups cover nearly every purchase, from new discs to discounted PC keys to out-of-print cartridges. The first five sell mostly online; the last three are where you can still walk in and pick up a box.
Amazon
Amazon #ad, the largest online retailer in the United States, carries the widest selection of video games left in one place: discs, cartridges, download codes, and accessories in one order. Check the seller name on each listing, since marketplace sellers set their own pricing and returns.
Steam and GOG for PC
Steam is the default PC storefront, with the deepest catalog of indie games anywhere and seasonal sale events that cut older prices hard. GOG sells a smaller DRM-free library, so the installers stay on your drive even if the seller does not, and it backs purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Building a rig? The gaming computer buying guide covers the computer hardware side, and the computer mouse guide covers the gear you will actually touch.
Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox
Buying direct is the only route to some first-party titles. Nintendo runs the eShop on Switch hardware and folds cloud saves into Nintendo Switch Online. PlayStation and Xbox run their own digital storefronts with rotating sales. Official pricing rarely beats authorized key resellers, but delivery is instant and pre-loads let a new release start the minute it goes live.
Green Man Gaming and Humble Bundle
Green Man Gaming is an authorized reseller of PC keys and discounts new titles within days of launch. Humble Bundle sells pay-what-you-want bundles plus a monthly Choice subscription, with a share of every sale going to charity. Both treat a revealed key as final.
eBay and the retro specialists
eBay is where out-of-print cartridges, sealed collector editions, and delisted discs resurface, along with PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, 3DS, and Xbox 360 stock no retailer carries anymore. Lukie Games and DKOldies grade condition by hand. Read the item description and seller feedback before you bid.
Mobile buyers have only the two platform storefronts listed in the table above. Both bill through the device account, and neither allows resale.
GameStop
GameStop is the last national specialty chain standing, with new and pre-owned titles, hardware, and a trade-in counter that turns old discs into credit toward the next purchase. It has closed hundreds of US locations since 2024, so check the location finder first.
Buying Video Games in Store at Walmart and Target
Walmart keeps its assortment in the electronics department of most Supercenters, with new titles behind glass and budget copies on open pegs. Target shelves a smaller range near phones and tablets. Both lean on the past year, with almost no back catalog, so reserve online and collect the same day when you need a specific release.
Best Buy and independent shops
Best Buy dropped physical media, meaning movies and music CDs, in 2024 and cut its software floor space hard, but console titles, hardware, and accessories still appear on its website and in some locations. Independent retro shops remain the best local source for older cartridges, tested consoles, and arcade boards, and most buy, sell, and trade. For the wider category, the electronics buying guide maps which chains still keep a real tech floor.
Refund Rules: What Each Seller Actually Takes Back
Return rules decide it when two sellers list the same title at one price. Opened media is treated differently from everything else in retail, and a revealed key is final almost everywhere.
| Seller | Typical window | Condition rule | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | 14 days | Under 2 hours played | Clearest refund rule in the category |
| GOG | 30 days | Money-back guarantee on purchases | Most forgiving PC storefront |
| PlayStation Store | 14 days | Download or stream not started | A pre-load counts as a download and ends eligibility |
| Amazon | 30 days on most items | Unopened; codes final once revealed | Marketplace sellers set their own terms |
| Target | 30 days for entertainment items | Unopened, receipt required | Opened copies are exchange only |
| GameStop | Varies, check the policy page | New and pre-owned handled separately | Trade-in credit is not a refund |
| eBay | Set by each seller | Varies by listing | Money Back Guarantee covers misdescribed items |
Read the seller’s policy page before checkout, since entertainment media is often carved out of the chain-wide window. On PlayStation, switch off automatic downloads before a big purchase if you want the 14-day option to survive.
The gotcha: once shrink wrap comes off or a key is revealed, most sellers switch from refund to same-title exchange. Buying blind? Start with the longest return window, not the lowest price.
Red Flags and a Five-Step Check Before You Pay
The most expensive mistake is buying the wrong platform version, and the easiest one to prevent. Run these five steps in order:
- Confirm the exact system the player owns, including whether it has a disc drive.
- Check whether the title is already included in a subscription they hold.
- Pick physical if resale or gifting matters, digital if speed matters.
- Compare the price against one competing seller before checkout.
- Verify the return window, since opened media rules differ from the store default.
Then watch for four traps that catch buyers most often.
Grabbing the wrong system’s box. Retail packaging differs only by a small banner across the top. An Xbox disc will not run on a PlayStation 5, and a Switch cartridge fits nothing else, so confirm the banner against the hardware the player actually owns.
Gray-market key sites. Unauthorized marketplaces resell codes bought with stolen cards or priced for cheaper regions. Publishers revoke those keys without warning or refund, so stick to authorized resellers.
Assuming a used copy still has its code. Season passes, expansion vouchers, and multiplayer access codes are single-use. A pre-owned copy priced close to new is rarely worth it once the expansion is gone.
Loose cartridges with reprinted labels. Counterfeit retro carts turn up constantly. Genuine ones have crisp label printing, the correct screw type on the back, and a board matching the era. If the label looks inkjet-printed, walk away.
Which Seller Fits Which Buyer
Ranked on catalog size, pricing, and how painless returns are, not affiliate payout.
PC players: Steam. Biggest catalog anywhere, with seasonal pricing that beats retail on anything a year old. Weak point: nothing physical, so nothing to resell. For discounted keys on new releases, Green Man Gaming adds authorized reseller pricing delivered by email in minutes, though it sells PC keys only.
Players who want a box: Amazon. Every current platform in one cart, with fast shipping. Compare the Nintendo Switch 2 selection, the PlayStation 5 listings, or the Xbox Series X shelf. Weak point: marketplace sellers vary in reliability.
Trade-in users: GameStop. The only chain that still takes old discs for credit, and the largest pre-owned wall left in retail. Weak point: fewer branches every year.
Collectors: eBay and independent retro shops. The only places older hardware generations still trade in volume. Weak point: condition grading is only as honest as the seller.
Bundle buyers: Humble Bundle. Pay-what-you-want bundles plus the monthly Choice subscription, charity built in. Weak point: you take the whole bundle, including titles you skip.
Parents and gift buyers: a chain with a return counter. Walmart, Target, or GameStop let you swap a wrong-platform copy in person. If you cannot confirm the system, a gaming headset from the headphones guide or a retailer gift card is the safer present.
Confirm the exact system and whether it has a disc drive, then check whether the title already sits in a subscription the player holds. If not, compare one storefront against one authorized key reseller before you buy video games at full price. Shopping for a birthday or the holidays? A physical copy from a seller with a real return counter is worth the few extra dollars. The guide to finding cheap titles covers sale timing and used copies, and for a group, board games or Amazon gift cards beat guessing at a system.
Video Game Questions, Answered
Does Best Buy still sell video games?
Yes, though not the way it once did. Best Buy dropped movies and music CDs in 2024 and shrank its software aisle, but console titles, hardware, and accessories still appear on its website and in some stores. For a deep physical range, GameStop, Walmart, Target, or Amazon will beat it.
What is a game-key card on Switch 2?
A game-key card is a Switch 2 cartridge that holds a license key rather than the full release. The system downloads the data the first time you insert it, and the card must stay in the slot to play. It can still be lent or resold, since the card works on any Switch 2.
Is digital or physical the better buy?
Physical wins if you ever want to resell, trade in, lend, or gift the copy. Digital wins on speed and sale depth. The tiebreaker most people miss is the drive: several current consoles ship in drive-free editions, and those owners cannot use a disc.
Does Walmart sell games in store?
Yes. Walmart stocks current console and PC titles in the electronics department of most Supercenters, usually in a locked case, weighted toward the past year. Order online for store pickup to confirm a title before you drive over.
Are pre-owned copies worth buying?
Usually yes for discs and cartridges. Check the disc face for scratches, confirm the case holds its manual, and assume any bundled code has been used. Cartridge-era Nintendo titles hold up better than discs, though the save battery inside older carts eventually dies.
What is Xbox Game Pass, and is it worth it?
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription granting access to a rotating catalog on Xbox hardware and PC for a monthly fee. Microsoft’s first-party titles arrive on launch day, the main draw. It pays for itself if you play two or more included titles a month.
Retailer availability and return policies change often; confirm the seller’s current terms before you buy. Where to Buy Guides is reader-supported; we may earn a commission through links on our site at no extra cost to you.