Why you should still buy physical copies of video games

I have a shelf of Nintendo Switch games. I know I could buy the games online and it would probably be easier, but I think physical copies of video games are just better.

Now I’m in the minority here: Physical game sales are in free fall. And in many cases this makes sense. Online games usually take place in the cloud, regardless of whether you buy a physical or digital copy. And PC games are more or less only available as a digital purchase at this point. But when it comes to offline games, I prefer a physical copy.

I recently wrote about why you should keep your DVDs and Blu-rays and got quite a response. Many readers apparently feel strongly that there are benefits to buying a physical product, as opposed to paying to download something. That’s why I think it’s better to buy a physical copy of a game whenever possible.

You can lend them to friends

This is a big one for me. When I pay for a digital download, I only pay for myself. If I have a physical copy of a game, I can lend it to my friends when I’m done playing. It’s a great way to share the experience of a game with a friend: they can play the full game and we can talk about it. It’s the same reason I like to buy physical copies of books, even though I also like to read ebooks: lending things you like to friends feels great.

And there’s another related benefit: your local library, which probably offers more than you think, can lend out video games. I love trying out a Switch game for a few weeks before deciding to buy it myself.

Long-term ownership

Paying for a digital download gives you the right to play that game on your computer; a right that can disappear. In some cases, the store where you sold the game will close, making it impossible to download the game again. In other cases, the license may simply be changed or your account may be closed. A physical copy of a game will, in most cases, allow me to play the game even if that happens; it’s mine until the drive physically stops working.

A physical disk could also be compatible with future systems. The Analog bag is a good example of what this could look like: it’s a modern gaming console designed to play old Game Boy cartridges. At some point in the future there could be a similar device for playing current games, but due to copyright restrictions such technology would almost certainly not work (legally) with downloaded games. An esoteric point perhaps, but one worth keeping in mind if you want to collect for the long term.

They look great on your shelf (and sometimes come with bonuses)

Granted, not everyone will be concerned about this, but I like the way a collection of games looks on the shelf. I enjoy physically browsing the collection while deciding what to play next, and I enjoy seeing multiple console generations of games side by side.

Additionally, these games sometimes come with useful printed materials inside. My copy of Hollow Knightfor example, came with a gigantic fold-out world map. I love having this on hand when I play the game: there’s something wonderfully tactile about a physical map that contrasts nicely with the digital world. Granted, not all games offer such a bonus, but when they do, it’s great.

You can save space on your device

Downloading multiple full games can quickly fill a hard drive. Physical copies of games do not contribute to this. Now there are limits to this way of thinking: many games require updates that will fill your device.

You can sell them when you’re done

This isn’t too much of a problem for me personally, as I tend to just keep old games – I know I’ll probably want to play them again later. But the nice thing about buying a physical copy of a game is that you can sell the game. Now it is difficult to recover much of the original sales value; stores that buy used games don’t offer good prices, and selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace can be a difficult process. However, the opportunity is there and it can reduce the cost of your gaming habit.