Me and my friend Lila spent three nights huddled over my couch, Google Sheet open, scrolling Target and Walmart’s Black Friday previews like we were cramming for a final. Our goal? Score Baldur’s Gate 3 for under $40 and maybe a Switch game for Lila’s little sister. “Target’s gonna have better bundle deals,” I said, pointing at a Switch OLED + Zelda combo. Lila shook her head: “Walmart always slashes single-game prices—remember last year we got God of War for $25?” By 5 a.m. Black Friday, we were split: I camped outside Target, she hit Walmart’s online queue. By noon, we compared notes—and realized the “better” deal wasn’t about the store—it was about what you’re actually buying. Let’s break it down like we’re dissecting a loot drop: no bias, just what each store nails.
First up: Target—your go-to for bundles if you’re after more than just a game. I froze when I saw the Switch OLED bundle: $349, plus a free copy of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (normally $60) and a $25 Target gift card. That’s basically getting the game and gift card for free. The line next to me was full of parents grabbing it for their kids—one mom said, “It’s cheaper than buying the console and game separately, and the gift card’ll cover wrapping paper.” Target also had great PC accessory bundles: a wireless mouse + keyboard + Cyberpunk 2077 for $80 (the peripherals alone are usually $50). For anyone upgrading their setup or buying a console, Target’s bundles are a no-brainer—you’re not just saving on games, you’re getting extra stuff you’d probably buy anyway. The catch? Single-game discounts were so-so: Baldur’s Gate 3 was $45, which is good, but not mind-blowing.
Then there’s Walmart—the king of single-game steals if you’re just here for the titles. Lila texted me at 6 a.m.: “Baldur’s Gate 3 is $35. Spider-Man 2 for PS5 is $30. I’m buying both.” She wasn’t lying—Walmart slashed prices on new releases way more than Target. Even older hits like Elden Ring were $20, and Stardew Valley was $15 (perfect for Lila’s sister). But Walmart’s bundles? Not as flashy. They had a PS5 + Call of Duty combo, but it was only $50 off—no extra gift cards or freebies like Target. Lila also noticed Walmart’s online stock dried up fast: she tried to grab a Xbox controller (on sale for $35) and it sold out in 10 minutes. “Their in-store stock was better, but I didn’t wanna wait in line,” she said. For anyone who just needs to check a few games off their wishlist—no consoles, no accessories—Walmart’s your spot. Just set alarms for online drops, ‘cause they vanish faster than a loot chest in Fortnite.
The wild card? Exclusives and small extras. Target had a secret win: if you bought two games, you got a free game disc protector (which we both forgot we needed—mine got scratched last month). They also let you use Target Circle rewards to knock off an extra 5%, which added up. Walmart, though, had better prices on retro games—Lila found a copy of Super Mario 3D World for $20, which Target was still selling for $30. And their curbside pickup was a lifesaver: Lila ordered online, parked for 5 minutes, and had her games—no freezing in line like I did at Target.
By the end of the day, I walked away with the Switch bundle (and that $25 gift card, which I used for coffee later) and Lila had three games for under $100. We met up at my place, popped in Baldur’s Gate 3, and laughed—we’d both won, just in different ways. “Target’s for when you wanna stock up,” I said. “Walmart’s for when you’re hunting specific games.” Lila nodded: “Next year, we split the work—you do Target bundles, I do Walmart single games. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Here’s the tea: There’s no “winner” between Target and Walmart. Target crushes bundles and extras; Walmart kills single-game prices. The key is to know what you want before you start: if you’re buying a console or upgrading gear, hit Target. If you’re checking off a wishlist of new releases, Walmart’s your best bet. And pro tip? Use both stores’ apps to compare prices—Lila found Baldur’s Gate 3 $10 cheaper at Walmart than Target, but Target had the Switch bundle she couldn’t get anywhere else. Black Friday’s not about “beating” the stores—it’s about getting the games you’ve been eyeing without breaking the bank. And if you end up with extra coffee money from a gift card? Even better.
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