The Weekend’s Best Deals: Epic Games Store Holiday Sale, Apple Devices, And More – Ars Technica

It’s time for another Dealmaster. Leading our latest roundup of the best tech deals we can find is the Epic Games Store’s annual holiday sale, which kicked off earlier this week and runs until January 6.

Though sales at PC gaming storefronts are fairly common, this one is notable for bringing back a recurring coupon promo that takes $10 off any eligible game priced at $14.99 or more on Epic’s store. You have to claim it first, but the $10 coupon applies on top of any existing discounts—e.g., a game already on sale for $15 will only cost $5—and automatically renews after each transaction you complete.

Also of note: Epic finally added a shopping cart to its three-year-old storefront earlier this month, so you can now check out with multiple games at once. If you do, the $10 coupon will apply to each eligible game in your cart individually, not as a one-time discount. If you pick up five games priced at $15 or more, for instance, you’ll get $50 shaved off the total cost.

All of this has brought several recommended games down to their best prices to date. The roguelike Hades, our 2020 game of the year, is down to a new low of $6 after applying the coupon, while the RPG Disco Elysium, the runner-up on our 2019 list, is down to a new low of $8. The PC ports of Death Stranding and Horizon Zero Dawn are at new lows of $11 and $15, respectively, while critically acclaimed 2021 games such as Death’s Door, Hitman 3, Loop Hero, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Inscryption, and The Forgotten City are also as cheap as we’ve seen them. We have a more complete list of deals we particularly like from the sale below. If you’re a PC player looking to catch up on some games over the holidays, there’s good value here. If you’d rather shop elsewhere, though, note that Steam plans to kick off its own winter sale on December 22.

If you’re already drowning in things to play, meanwhile, our weekend deals roundup has plenty more to offer, including strong price cuts on various Apple Watch and AirPods models, ongoing Black Friday prices on 4K media streamers and noise-canceling headphones we recommend, a couple good deals on Philips Hue lights, and more. You can see our full curated list below.

Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Featured deals of the day

• Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2021: Clip Epic Coupon to take $10 off various PC games priced $14.99+
• Apple AirPods (3rd gen) wireless earbuds for $140 ($170) at Amazon, Costco
• Apple AirPods Pro wireless ANC earphones for $179 ($196) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
• Apple Watch SE (40mm) smartwatch for $229 ($270) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
• Jaipur board game for $16 ($20) at Amazon
• Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K media streamer for $40 ($50) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart
• The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (4K Ultra HD + Digital) for $54 ($75) at Amazon
• Samsung Evo Select (256GB, A2, V30) microSDXC card for $27 ($37) at Amazon
• Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance (3-pack) smart LED bulbs for $90 ($115) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (2TB) for $220 ($265) at Amazon (discount in cart)
• Buy one, get one 15% off sale on Nintendo eShop, PlayStation, and Xbox gift cards at Target

Celeste our game of the year in 2018.” data-height=”1080″ data-width=”1920″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/shot01.png”>Enlarge / We named the 2D platformer Celeste our game of the year in 2018.

Video game deals

• Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2021: Clip Epic Coupon to take $10 off various PC games priced $14.99+
• Celeste (PC) for $5 ($15) at Epic
• Spiritfarer (PC) for $5 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Death’s Door (PC) for $5 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Ape Out (PC) for $5 ($10) at GOG, Epic
• Hades (PC) for $6 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Inscryption (PC) for $6 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart)

Hades, meanwhile, topped our game of the year list in 2020.” data-height=”1080″ data-width=”1920″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/797A6A085D8A4DF3A15AA84C914F7BEA.jpeg”>Enlarge / The charming roguelike Hades, meanwhile, topped our game of the year list in 2020.

Supergiant Games

• Art of Rally (PC) for $6 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Lake (PC) for $6 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Olija (PC) for $7 ($15) at GOG, Epic
• Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PC) for $8 ($35) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• New Super Lucky’s Tale (PC) for $8 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• The Messenger (PC) $8 ($15) at GOG, Epic
• Axiom Verge 2 (PC) for $8 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• The Forgotten City (PC) for $9 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)

Loop Hero is a self-looping RPG.” data-height=”1080″ data-width=”1920″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1.jpg”>Enlarge / One of our favorites of 2021, Loop Hero is a self-looping RPG.

• Loop Hero (PC) for $9 ($15) at GOG, Humble, Epic
• SnowRunner (PC) at $9 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (PC) for $10 ($30) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Desperados III (PC) for $10 ($30) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• The Outer Worlds (PC) for $10 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Death Stranding (PC) for $11 ($45) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• The Jackbox Party Pack 7 (PC) for $11 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• JETT: The Far Shore (PC) for $12 ($25) at Epic (coupon in cart)

Tetris Effect is a gorgeous take on the classic puzzler.” data-height=”2160″ data-width=”3840″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Tetris.Effect.10.29.Journey.Mode_.Prayer.Circles.png”>Enlarge / Tetris Effect is a gorgeous take on the classic puzzler.

• Outer Wilds (PC) for $12 ($20) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Hitman 3 (PC) for $14 ($35) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Alan Wake Remastered (PC) for $14 ($30) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition (PC) for $15 ($45) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Tetris Effect: Connected (PC) for $16 ($35) at Epic (coupon in cart, also on Game Pass)
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PC) for $20 ($35) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (PC) for $29 ($55) at Epic (coupon in cart)
• Psychonauts 2 (PC) for $39 ($55) at GOG (also on Game Pass)

Kena: Bridge of Spirits.” data-height=”1080″ data-width=”1920″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-11-at-1.30.48-PM-2.png”>Enlarge / Another 2021 favorite of ours, the third-person action-adventure game Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) for $40 ($50) at Amazon, Best Buy
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) for $36 ($43) at Best Buy, Walmart
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch) for $34 ($55) at GameStop (discount in cart)
• Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Switch) for $40 ($50) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy (discount in cart)
• Catherine: Full Body (Switch) for $20 ($40) at GameStop
• Cruis’n Blast (Switch) for $20 ($35) at Nintendo eShop
• Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) for $35 ($55) at Amazon, GameStop
• Golf Story (Switch) for $7 ($15) at Nintendo eShop

Cruis’n Blast lifestyle at work.” data-height=”720″ data-width=”1280″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Cruisn-Blast-Screenshot-4.jpg”>Enlarge / Flipping past a technicolor dinosaur in a shiny, blue sports car: that’s the Cruis’n Blast lifestyle at work.

• It Takes Two (PS4, Xbox) for $20 ($30) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart (also on Game Pass)
• Deathloop (PS5, PC) for $23 ($50) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PS4, Xbox) for $17 ($40) at GameStop
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $15 ($30) at GameStop
• Life is Strange: True Colors (PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $30 ($55) at Amazon, GameStop
• 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (PS4) for $17 ($35) at GameStop
• Persona 5 Royal (PS4) for $20 ($40) at GameStop
• Persona 5 Strikers (PS4) for $25 ($40) at GameStop

Mass Effect Legendary Edition bundles the (mostly) beloved trilogy of action-RPGs in one package.” data-height=”2160″ data-width=”3840″ href=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mass-Effect%E2%84%A2-Legendary-Edition-18.png”>Enlarge / Mass Effect Legendary Edition bundles the (mostly) beloved trilogy of action-RPGs in one package.

BioWare / EA

• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5) for $50 ($65) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• The Last of Us Part II (PS4) for $20 ($30) at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5) for $30 ($45) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PS5, PS4) for $20 ($40) at Best Buy, GameStop
• Yakuza 0 (Xbox) for $5 ($15) at Microsoft (also on Game Pass)
• Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox) for $7 ($15) at Microsoft (Xbox Live Gold required)
• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Xbox) for $5 ($15) at Microsoft

Electronics deals

• Apple AirPods (3rd gen) wireless earbuds for $140 ($170) at Amazon, Costco
• Apple AirPods Pro wireless ANC earphones for $179 ($196) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
• Apple Watch SE (40mm) smartwatch for $229 ($270) at Amazon, Target, Walmart
• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm) smartwatch for $350 ($390) at Amazon, Target (45mm for $379)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless ANC headphones for $248 ($310) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless ANC headphones for $279 ($315) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Jabra Elite 75t wireless ANC earphones for $80 ($125) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless ANC earphones for $248 ($265) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (8GB) ebook reader for $120 ($155) at Amazon

• Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control for $199 ($235) at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
• Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) with Clock smart speaker for $35 ($53) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) smart speaker for $25 ($35) at Target, Best Buy
• Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) smart display for $60 ($85) at Target, Best Buy
• Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) smart display for $45 ($75) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum for $140 ($160) at Amazon (clip $60 coupon)
• iRobot Roomba i3 (3150) for $299 ($335) at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy

• Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (2TB) for $220 ($265) at Amazon (discount in cart)
• Google Pixel 5a unlocked smartphone for $399 ($449) at Google Store (code: 2DAYHOLIDAY)
• Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker for $130 ($165) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Fitbit Sense (40.5 mm) smartwatch for $200 ($260) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Garmin Lily smartwatch for $150 ($185) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy

Laptop and desktop PC deals

• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop for $650 ($850) at Best Buy—Core i5-1135G7, 14-inch 1080p, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD
• Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop for $2,001 ($2,200) at Microsoft—Ryzen 9 5900HX, 14-inch 1440p 165 Hz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
• Apple Mac Mini (2020) desktop PC for $570 ($650) at Costco, Amazon—Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• Samsung SSD 980 (1TB NVMe) PCIe Gen 3 internal SSD for $100 ($120) at B&H (discount in cart)
• Samsung 980 Pro (1TB NVMe) PCIe Gen 4 internal SSD for $160 ($185) at B&H (discount in cart)
• SK Hynix Gold S31 (1TB SATA) 2.5-inch internal SSD for $76 ($100) at Amazon

TV, media streamer, and home entertainment deals

• The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (4K Ultra HD + Digital) for $54 ($75) at Amazon
• Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K media streamer for $40 ($50) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max media streamer for $35 ($50) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Roku Ultra 4K media streamer for $69 ($80) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K media streamer for $180 ($200) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Hisense U6G (2021) 55-inch 4K TV for $449 ($520) at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
• Hisense U7G (2021) 55-inch 4K TV for $600 ($725) at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart

Gaming deals

• Jaipur board game for $16 ($20) at Amazon
• Buy one, get one 15% off sale on Nintendo eShop, PlayStation, and Xbox gift cards at Target
• Sony PlayStation Plus (12 months) for $30 ($60) at PSN (new users only)
• Razer Basilisk Ultimate wireless gaming mouse for $80 ($100) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Razer Kishi game controller for iPhone for $60 ($77) at Amazon, Best Buy ($45 for Android)
• Razer Huntsman Mini compact gaming keyboard for $80 ($100) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Logitech G305 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse for $30 ($38) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

• $100 Apple Gift Card + $10 Target Gift Card for $100 ($110) at Target
• Apple Pencil (1st gen) iPad stylus for $80 ($90) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Apple Pencil (2nd gen) iPad stylus for $99 ($110) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Tile Mate (2022) Bluetooth tracker for $18 ($22) at Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart
• Tile Mate (2022) + Tile Slim (2022) Bluetooth trackers for $40 ($54) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy
• Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance (3-pack) smart LED bulbs for $90 ($115) at Amazon, Best Buy
• Philips Hue White (2-pack) A19 smart LED bulb for $15 ($30) at Best Buy
• RavPower RP-PC145 65W 2-port USB-C PD charger for $19 ($40) at RavPower (code: DNS145)
• Samsung Evo Select (256GB, A2, V30) microSDXC card for $27 ($37) at Amazon