This is aimed at people who are ok with digital games. And the idea here to stack discounts. This will be USA centric as that is where I am and what I know. Another thing to note is I am leaving out sale tax as this varies too much. So keep in mind you will probably need to add some money to cover that.
Obviously the first step is to make sure the game you are wanting isn't currently on sale elsewhere. More often then not, this will be the best option.
I would recommend checking dekudeals.com for prices as well as price trends. They don't predit future sales, but it will help decide. You can also create an account and add games to a wishlist. Set up price and it will email you when it drops below that.
There are a few options you can use to help stretch your dollar (or other currency)
The first is to check your credit cards or other reward accounts to see if you can claim a Nintendo gift card.
The next step is to find discounted gift cards. I would recommend avoiding shady sites. Generally you want to stick to established retailers.
If you have a Costco membership they offer discounted cards. Which are usually available year round. A pack of 4 $25 cards will go for $89 and a pack of 4 $50 will go for $179. This option is available online and in most stores. On occasion the price will drop. They also might work for gifts since it is split.
A lesser known option is AARP Rewards. I know, I know. It isn't just for old people. The reward program is free and doesn't require a paid membership (though a membership is currently on sale.) Now, the catch is I am unable to verify the availability since I do have a paid membership.
As a disclaimer, I cannot verify this is the case, but I am pretty certain the discount for Nintendo is part of the free option. Currently they are offering an $18 card for $20 or a $45 for $50. It matches the discount from Costco
A few things to note: AARP does rotate their offerings. But Nintendo has been there for at least a few months. They also have a limit of 5 gift cards per month. And I believe it is a total amount, and not per gift card.
Best Buy has been known to offer discounts. But I don't see any live.
Now that funding options are covered, there are a few additional ways to stretch it futher. The main option requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you don't have one, you can get a trial.
The game voucher program is still active. I will cover a few of the catches below. You are able to purchase a pair of vouchers for $99.98. The page is https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/nintendo-switch-game-vouchers/
The biggest catch is it only covers certain games. The list is here: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/games/game-voucher-eligible/#sort=df&p=0
As mentioned the biggest catch with this method is it only covers certain games. And it is worth mentioning that it does NOT include any Switch 2 games.
The program is ending. But you can purchase the vouchers until the end of January. Vouchers expired one year from purchase.
It is also important to note that you need an active NSO membership both at time of purchase and redemption. If you plan on redeeming right away you can use a trial. Additionally people will sell slots on their family plan to further reduce costs.
I want to provide a couple examples of how this works.
An extreme example is getting Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most expensive games at $69.99. Breath of the Wild is the "standard" price at $59.99. Buying these 2 games will run you $129.98. Using the vouchers will save you $30. However, using the gift card trick above will allow you to get the vouchers at $10 off. Which brings you to $40.
Getting 2 games at a standard price will end up with a lower savings. But still.
Another example is what you want to avoid. As established you can get a pair of vouchers for $90. Which brings your price to $45 a game.
Luigi Mansion is currently on sale for $39.99 directly through them. As are a few others such as Wario Ware Move it.
Buying those 2 games will run you $79.98. Obviously you will save some money using the discounted cards. But you will LOSE $20.09 using vouchers as the sale price is less then the voucher price.
Additionally while you can't stack the gift card savings, other retailers are offering sales. For example, Echoes of Wisdom is currently full price on Nintendo. But $29.99 through Target for both the physical and digital edition.
So I highly advise using DekuDeals and checking other places to make sure you are getting the best deal.
I apologize for the long post, but I hope it will be of use to someone.
by GreenRangerOfHyrule