Mobile gaming is cheaper than console gaming, but that's not the full picture. I recently picked up a Nintendo Switch 2, and I've found myself spending about the same amount on games via the eShop as I did on Android. What gives?

Mobile Games Do Tend to Be Priced Lower

Mobile games usually carry a lower price tag compared to their console counterparts, even for the same title. I noticed Morphite in the Play Store priced at $8, while it costs $15 on the Nintendo eShop. And this isn't unique to Nintendo—the eShop price aligns with what you'd pay on Steam. Similarly, Morphite retails for $15 on PC.

That said, Morphite isn’t an isolated case—just look at titles like Coromon, The Wreck, or Dead Cells, all of which follow the same pricing pattern across platforms: Play Store, eShop, and Steam.

It’s no secret that people tend to be hesitant to spend big bucks on mobile games upfront, which is why many are free-to-play with aggressive in-app purchases. Even premium mobile-exclusive titles that feel right at home on consoles, like Ex Astris, often only set players back around $10.

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When done well, I actually prefer them.

Console and PC Digital Titles Often Go On Sale

Sticker prices don’t always reflect actual spending habits—I’m aware of this. Case in point: I'm typing this on a Galaxy Z Fold 6, a device that typically retails for $2000. I paid half that for a 512GB model in perfect condition. Foldables depreciate quickly, and used models can often be found for nearly half the original cost.

Similarly, digital game prices on consoles and PC aren't fixed. Most titles eventually go on sale, and when they do, cross-platform games tend to reach similar price points. In my first month with the Switch 2, I purchased roughly two dozen indie games from the eShop—all for under five dollars each.

Take the first few games I bought from the mobile Epic Games Store—I wanted the Switch versions too. I grabbed both Figment 1 & 2 bundled together during a sale on the eShop for $2.37, just one cent more than the $1.19 I originally paid per title on Android.

I got The Forest Quartet on sale for $1 on Switch. The Android version cost me $6 because I bought it at full price. So thanks to sales, I ended up paying less for these games on my Switch 2 than I did on my phone!

It’s the Big Budget Titles That Add Up

No matter the platform—Play Store, console, or PC—you can find indie games for just a few dollars if you're patient. Where the real price difference comes in is with AA and AAA titles that rarely make it to mobile. These are the blockbuster games typically associated with high-end PlayStation 5 or custom-built PC setups. While Stardew Valley might be available everywhere, it's not what most people spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on.

My Switch 2 came with Mario Kart World, an $80 title that many have already questioned. Right now, my favorite game on the system is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, which cost $40. And I’m eagerly anticipating Donkey Kong Banaza at $70. Just those three titles will end up costing me more than all the dozens of Android games I’ve ever owned combined. That’s what originally made mobile gaming seem more affordable.

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And I’m definitely not talking about free-to-play here.

What You Play Matters More Than Where

As a mobile gamer, I wasn’t missing out on AA and AAA titles—I simply bought them for PC and streamed them using NVIDIA GeForce NOW. I picked up Life Is Strange: Double Exposure shortly after launch, without waiting for a discount, setting me back $50. Another $40 went toward Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. There was a clear divide in my spending: most mobile games were smaller, cross-platform titles, while my PC purchases were for major releases I streamed.

Now, I'm spending about the same total amount as before, just shifting where that money goes. Instead of splitting between mobile and PC, I'm buying a mix of titles directly on the Switch, where I play most of my games these days. For every big title like Metroid Prime 4, I’ll also grab several indie gems like The Last Campfire, Planet of Lana, and Far: Lone Sails when they go on sale.

This month’s high volume of purchases stems from the fact that my last console was the Wii U, and I’ve got ten years of backlog calling my name. But once the excitement settles, I’ll keep picking up titles like Dros for $3 on the eShop.

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