Target offers a better video game pre-order discount than Amazon

Following the gutting of Amazon Prime video game pre-order discounts, Target is stepping up to the plate with an interesting new deal. The wording on Target’s pre-order promotion is a little confusing, but essentially customers who pre-order an upcoming game through Target’s website can take an extra 30 percent off any game that’s currently available.

This isn’t a new Target pre-order policy, it’s just a promotion that runs through Sept. 29. Theoretically though, it could mean that Target is testing a program similar to Amazon Prime or Best Buy’s recently cancelled Gamer’s Club Unlocked. There’s definitely a pre-order void where Amazon Prime and GCU used to be that Target could be looking to fill.

Either way, Target seems to be following Amazon’s lead by offering a pre-order discount that can be used on something other than the upcoming game itself. (Prime members currently receive a $10 Amazon credit when pre-ordering a game.) The 30 percent discount will save about $18 off a full-priced game, so it’s a better deal than Amazon Prime.

With the amount of sequels and remasters coming out in the next few months, this deal is a good way to catch up on a series before diving into the new game. The most anticipated upcoming titles included in the sale are listed by platform below, along with their release dates.

Target’s pre-order promotion ends on Sept. 29. The games listed below are standard editions priced at $59.99, though some deluxe and collectible editions are also included.

Nintendo Switch

• Mega Man 11 (Oct. 2)
• Super Mario Party (Oct. 5)
• Dark Souls: Remastered (Oct. 19)
• Diablo 3: Eternal Collection (Nov. 2)
• Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu (Nov. 16)
• Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee (Nov. 16)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Dec. 7)

PlayStation 4

• Mega Man 11 (Oct. 2)
• Assassins Creed Odyssey (Oct. 5)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (Oct. 12)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (Oct. 26)
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Nov. 13)
• Fallout 76 (Nov. 14)
• Battlefield 5 (Nov. 20)
• Doom Eternal (Dec. 31)
• Resident Evil 2 (Jan. 25, 2019)
• Rage 2 (Spring 2019)

Xbox One

• Forza Horizon 4 (Oct. 2)
• Mega Man 11 (Oct. 2)
• Assassins Cred Odyssey (Oct. 5)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (Oct. 12)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (Oct. 26)
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Nov. 13)
• Fallout 76 (Nov. 14)
• Battlefield 5 (Nov. 20)
• Doom Eternal (Dec. 31)
• Resident Evil 2 (Jan. 25, 2019)
• Rage 2 (Spring 2019)