A curated, time-sensitive guide to the best January 18–23, 2026 video game deals on major releases like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country, with platform info, discount percentages, ideal audiences and subscription-value tips.
January is usually when everyone’s trying to spend less after the holidays, but 2026 hasn’t stopped dropping great games. If you want to stretch your budget between January 18 and 23, these are the standout deals on big and mid-sized titles worth your time, pulled from retailers featured in recent roundups and cross-checked across stores.
This guide focuses on current or recent releases, not every $5 impulse buy. For each pick you’ll find platform, discount, who it suits best and whether a subscription might be a better value.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally landed in December and it’s already seeing modest discounts at major retailers.
On Nintendo Switch 2 (and compatible on original Switch), the Amazon listing recently dropped to around $64.99 from a $69.99 MSRP, which is roughly a 7 percent discount. That’s not a blowout price, but it is rare for a first-party Nintendo release this close to launch to budge at all.
This one is best for solo players who want a deliberate, exploration-heavy shooter with strong atmosphere. The campaign leans hard into scanning, puzzle-laced environments and methodical combat rather than twitchy arena shooting. If you love Metroid Prime 1 and 2 or modern immersive sims, this is a smart pick even at a modest discount.
In terms of subscriptions, there is currently no mainstream service like Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack that gives you day-one or even near-term access to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. You may eventually see it added years down the line, based on how Nintendo has treated older first-party releases, but if you want to play it this winter, buying during this price dip is the only real option.
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 is seeing some of the strongest discounts of any major fall 2025 release. Several retailer roundups have called out its PlayStation 5 version at around $39.99, down from a $69.99 launch price, which puts it at roughly 43 percent off.
That discount makes a big difference for a game that is at its best when played with friends. Borderlands 4 still revolves around loot-chasing, flashy skill trees and over-the-top weapons. This time the open world is denser and combat pacing has been tuned so it feels less like a shooting gallery and more like a proper action RPG.
Borderlands 4 is ideal for groups that want a long-term co-op game and can commit to a campaign that runs dozens of hours. It also works for solo players, but the loot grind and boss encounters are clearly tuned with co-op in mind. If your local group or usual online squad splits across platforms, prioritize the platform where cross-play and your friends list line up.
Subscription-wise, it is the sort of game that could eventually land in services like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus Extra as a second-wave addition, but right now there is no broadly available subscription alternative that gets you full access. If you’re saving every penny and don’t mind waiting, holding off for a potential future subscription appearance is reasonable. If you want a big co-op game for the next couple of months, this current 40-plus percent discount is strong value.
Mafia: The Old Country
Mafia: The Old Country pushes the series back toward tightly scripted, story-first design, and it’s already been a deals fixture in January. Best Buy and other retailers are listing the PlayStation 5 physical version for about $34.99 compared to a $49.99 standard price, which translates to about 30 percent off.
This entry is aimed squarely at players who want a cinematic single-player campaign. Set in early 1900s Sicily, it follows Enzo Favara as he works his way through local crime families. Missions are mostly linear and the pacing is closer to a prestige TV crime drama than an open-world sandbox, which suits anyone who prefers narrative focus over endless side content.
If you mainly play solo and want something you can complete in a couple of weekends without falling into an infinite grind, Mafia: The Old Country is a safe buy at its current discount. It also works well for players who enjoy watching story-heavy games with a partner or roommate.
As for subscriptions, Mafia games have a history of appearing in rotation-based catalogues such as PlayStation Plus Extra or multi-game PC libraries, but usually well after launch. Right now there isn’t a widely advertised subscription that includes The Old Country. If you are deeply invested in a subscription library, it may eventually show up, but there is no timetable. At roughly a third off, buying it during this sale is defensible if the setting and story hook you.
Little Nightmares III
Little Nightmares III on Nintendo Switch 2 has been one of the more surprising early-year deals. Recent listings show it at roughly $29.83 versus a $39.99 MSRP, around 25 percent off within its launch window.
The game is cleverly positioned for both solo players and pairs. You can experience it entirely in single-player with an AI partner, but the design really comes alive in co-op, where communication and timing matter during chases and environmental puzzles. The horror here is more about tension and unsettling imagery than explicit gore, so it fits players who enjoy spooky vibes but might not want full survival horror.
This is a great pick for couples, roommates or friends who want a shorter, atmospheric game they can finish over a few evenings. It is also well suited for horror fans who like something smaller and more focused than a 50-hour epic. There is no widely promoted subscription alternative that offers this entry right now, so grabbing it during this discount is currently the best route if it’s on your radar.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger
If you’re looking for a meaty JRPG to last through the rest of winter, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is one of the more budget-friendly options on Xbox Series X right now. Amazon listings put it at roughly $50 compared to a $69.99 MSRP, around 28 percent off, with some regional variance.
Time Stranger shines for fans who want character-driven, menu-based combat and a story that leans into time travel and alternate timelines. It’s structured as a classic turn-based JRPG with a modern coat of paint and an emphasis on building your party of creatures over dozens of hours.
This is primarily a single-player experience. It’s perfect for players who want something slow-burning to chip away at night after work or school. If your backlog is light and you crave one big RPG to focus on, this discount puts it in a friendlier price range.
On subscriptions, Digimon RPGs sometimes find their way into rotating console libraries, but usually not right away and not consistently across platforms. There is no prominent Xbox or multi-platform subscription that provides Time Stranger as of this deals window. If you are a patient fan with too much else to play, waiting might make sense, but the current discount is fair for a new JRPG with strong reviews.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Even though The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not brand-new, it remains one of the most expensive Nintendo Switch titles at full price, which makes its current physical discount stand out. Retailers like Woot were calling out a $46.99 price compared to the common $69.99 listing, roughly 33 percent off.
This is targeted squarely at solo players who love exploration. Tears of the Kingdom builds on Breath of the Wild with a more vertical world, new building mechanics and underground areas that reward curiosity. If you skipped it at launch because of the price, this sale is one of the better opportunities in recent memory.
Regarding subscriptions, there is no version of Nintendo Switch Online that grants access to Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo’s subscription catalog mostly covers retro titles and select expansions for specific games. If you want to play this soon, buying during a sale is the only real option.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch Collection)
The Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 collection for Nintendo Switch is another notable Nintendo discount flagged for this period. Deals roundups have it around $58.99 against a $69.99 standard price, about 16 percent off, which is meaningful given how rarely Nintendo bundles drop in price.
These games are best for players who value polished, inventive platforming and don’t necessarily need a giant open world. They work brilliantly for single-player runs but are also fun in a living room context where family or friends take turns tackling levels. With a free performance-focused update for Switch 2 on the way, this collection is also one of the more future-friendly picks in this roundup.
Like other big Nintendo titles, these are not offered as part of Nintendo’s subscription services, so there is no subscription-based alternative here. If you know you want both games, this dual-pack is usually better value than hunting for them individually.
How to Prioritize These January Deals
If you only want the deepest cuts, Borderlands 4 on PS5 is the most aggressively discounted of the headliners, with a discount north of 40 percent that makes it easy to recommend for co-op groups. Mafia: The Old Country and Tears of the Kingdom sit in the 30 percent range and are strong buys for single-player fans who prioritize story or exploration.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Little Nightmares III show more modest percentages, but they are also much closer to launch, which partly explains the smaller cuts. Metroid Prime 4 is worth it if you value carefully crafted solo campaigns, while Little Nightmares III is a great mid-priced pick for co-op horror.
Across the board, subscription alternatives are thin for these specific titles during the January 18 to 23 window. Aside from possible long-term appearances in rotating libraries, most of these games are still strictly pay-to-own. If one of them has been hovering on your wishlist, this is a good week to grab it without wrecking your budget.