How to Read a Historical Low (and Decide Whether to Buy or Wait)
Last updated: 2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z
“80% OFF!” is tempting. But if that game drops to 80% off in every single sale, there’s no rush. Here’s how to use price history to tell whether now is the time to buy.
Don’t judge by the discount percentage
A discount only tells you how far the price is below the regular price, not whether it’s a good price for that game.
- A recent AAA release at 20–30% off can already be its lowest price ever.
- An older indie at 75–90% off may simply be its usual sale price.
What matters is how low it has gone before.
What “historical low” means here
We record Steam prices every day. When a game’s current price is equal to or below the lowest price we’ve recorded, we mark it as a historical low.
- 🔥 Lowest: the best price on record. If you were on the fence, this is the moment.
- No badge: it has been cheaper before. If you’re not in a hurry, wait for the next sale.
Our records start from when we began tracking each game, so newly tracked games have less history to compare against.
Reading the price chart
Every game page shows a chart of the prices we’ve recorded.
- It keeps returning to the same price → the sale pattern is predictable; the next big sale will likely match it.
- Each sale sets a new low → the price is still trending down; waiting may pay off.
- No sales for a long time → this game rarely gets discounted. When it does, buy.
Buy now or wait?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| At its historical low and well reviewed | Buy now |
| A bit above the low, or a big sale is coming | Wait |
| You want to play with friends now, or it’s a hot new release | Worth buying even at a small discount |
| You only want it because it’s cheap | Wishlist it and think it over |
They say the best time to buy a game is when you’ll actually play it. Factor in whether you have time to play it now.
Check the reviews too
A cheap game that isn’t for you is still a waste. We show each game’s Steam positive review ratio. As a rule of thumb, 80%+ positive with lots of reviews tends to mean high satisfaction.
Summary
- Compare against the historical low, not the discount percentage
- Use the price chart to spot sale cycles and trends
- At the historical low with great reviews? Go for it
Our historical lows list shows only games that are at their lowest recorded price right now.