Are Games Worth $70?

An ongoing debate. 

 The topic of rising game prices keep getting brought up whenever a major game releases. We've been used to the standard $60 price point for a while, but at the start of this gen, that increased to $70. Publishers cite the increased cost of game development and inflation to be the cause. Naturally, this attracted debate among the community on whether or not games should warrant the price jump. I'm conflicted as I understand that games cost more each generation due to tech advancements, but some $70 games that I've paid for did not justify its price. So today I'll discuss my thoughts on games costing $70 and if they're worth it.

 It's true that the cost of everything has gone up and gaming is no exception. The hardware, accessories, subscriptions, and games are all more expensive than they were a decade ago due to multiple factors. My favorite franchises like Final Fantasy, Tekken, and Zelda all getting $70 titles that I bought and enjoyed to their fullest. All of them delivered solid, high-quality experiences so I didn't mind paying $70 for them. 

 Conversely, not every $70 game is going to be worth it as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor had a myriad of glitches and issues during its release, despite a fun core gameplay and story. I wish I waited for a sale with how unpolished it was. Recent releases such as Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth cost $70, but locked features like New Game Plus behind higher-priced editions. So it's easy to make the argument that some $70 games don't lead to complete or polished experiences. That's why it pays-off more than ever to be savvy when buying games. Be it playing demos, watching gameplay footage, or just waiting for sales, it's a great way to deal with the recurring price jumps and gauge if a game's worth $70. 

 But to answer the initial question: yes, paying $70 for a game you like is worth it. Paying full-price for a game or series that you're a fan of will not only support the developers, but hopefully increase the chances of it getting follow-up games in the future. However, if it's a game you can't justify spending full-price on, then the tried-and-true "wait till it's on sale" approach is the way to go (which is what I do). But that's hoping it's not a Nintendo game and that's a discussion for another time.