With the ascension of streaming and disappearance of rental stores, video game rentals are definitely not as popular as they one time were. But there are even so a few ways to hire games, which can help you save money while enjoying the latest titles.

Permit's take a look at the options y'all accept for renting video games, too as similar services that update the renting process a bit.

ane. GameFly

GameFly is a longtime video game rental service that's one of the few left of its kind. Information technology's a disc-rental service similar to Netflix'due south DVD programme: you choice what games y'all want from GameFly's library, have them shipped to you, and send them dorsum when you lot're done.

In addition to the latest titles on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, GameFly offers titles from older consoles. You tin rent Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, GameCube, and even Game Boy Accelerate games from the service. Of course, the option is a bit limited for legacy systems, only it'due south a overnice fashion to replay an old favorite.

GameFly's Pricing Plans

GameFly has a few different pricing plans to fit your needs. If yous opt for 1 Disc at a fourth dimension, there are two tiers:

  • Budget is the cheapest programme for getting one disc at a time. The biggest drawback is this plan does not permit you lot to rent new games until upwards to 120 days after their release. It costs $8.95/month, after promotional pricing of $5/month for the first 3 months.
  • Standard upgrades your business relationship with some perks. These include admission to new releases correct away, the GameLock feature that lets you reserve upcoming titles ahead of time, and reward coupons every so often. This programme is $fifteen.95 per month, after the introductory offer of $9.50/month for three months.
GF Rental Pricing 2020

If yous want to have two discs out at a time, choose from the following plans with 2 Discs:

  • Standard has the aforementioned perks as the 1 Disc Standard plan; the only difference is existence able to take the second disc out. Since you need to have a costless slot to hire a game when it launches with GameLock, the extra slot may come up in handy if y'all frequently rent new games. This plan is $22.95/month, after intro pricing of $13.fifty/calendar month for 3 months.
  • Aristocracy is the top-tier programme. The biggest difference compared to other plans is that you can GameLock an upcoming title one calendar week before the game releases. With other plans, yous demand to lock in your reservation six weeks before the game releases. Otherwise, Elite gives you lot early admission to GameFly sales. Information technology costs $29.95 per calendar month, later special pricing of $18/month for the first three months.

GameFly tin can get expensive if you opt for the top-tier plans. But if you get for a cheaper option, it can serve as an inexpensive way to grab upwardly on titles y'all missed without buying them outright.

Just proceed in mind that with both the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Serial S lacking a disc drive, GameFly isn't an pick if y'all have an all-digital console.

two. Borrow From Friends

While not an official service, setting upwards a rental scheme with friends tin be a great style to save money on the latest games. If you lot and a friend enjoy playing similar genres, you can permit each other borrow games once yous've finished them.

Whether you buy make-new games and merchandise them after you finish, or just let your friend pick from your library, it cuts down on the cost compared to buying every game on your ain. Just brand sure you practice this with a trustworthy friend who won't damage your games.

If you lot have a large digital drove that you desire to share with a friend, gamesharing is an option. Run into our guide to gamesharing on Xbox I or how to gameshare on PS4 for help.

three. Subscribe to a Game Subscription Service

While they aren't true rentals, video game subscription services deed as a kind of successor to game rentals.

Services similar Xbox Game Pass give you access to hundreds of titles for a fix monthly fee. As long as you lot stay subscribed, you can download and play anything in the catalog as much as you similar.

If yous have a fast cyberspace connection and enough storage infinite for your games, this is more cost-effective then GameFly. Plus, it'due south more than efficient since you don't have to look for shipping. Xbox-published titles appear on Game Pass the twenty-four hours they release, and y'all have access to the games for every bit long equally yous subscribe (instead of having to return them when you lot're done with GameFly).

The equivalent PlayStation service is PlayStation Now, which is more focused on streaming PS4, PS3, and PS2 games instead of providing admission to the latest titles. While it's a decent service, Xbox Game Laissez passer is superior in nearly aspects.

Are At that place Other Video Game Rental Options?

Unfortunately, your choices for video game rentals aren't as vast as they once were. This makes it difficult to endeavour a game for a few dollars without subscribing to a total service.

One option in the past was Redbox, a service that offers movie rentals outside grocery stores, pharmacies, and like. While Redbox used to offer video game rentals, at the end of 2019 the visitor switched to TV and movie rentals only.

Gamerang was some other video game rental service that no longer exists.

iFlipd is a website that offers video game rentals for as depression equally $ii/calendar week, but its selection is scant---at that place are only three-4 games each for Xbox I, PS4, and Switch. Your mileage may vary, as in that location doesn't seem to be much info about this service available.

iFlipd Game Rentals

Finally, Family unit Video's website has a page offering "new video game rentals." However, clicking whatever of these brings you to a purchase folio. If y'all accept a Family Video shop nearby, information technology might exist worth checking to see if they offer game rentals.

Video Game Rentals: Slim, merely Available

It's not a surprise that about companies take stopped offering video game rentals. With the decline of concrete media and digital games existence so convenient, rentals experience outdated in some ways. Simply if you still want access to a selection of games without buying them outright, y'all have options.

If none of these work for you, there are other ways to relieve coin on gaming that don't involve renting.

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Near The Author

Ben Stegner (1800 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write total-time in 2016 and has never looked dorsum. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more than equally a professional writer for over 8 years.

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