Before you buy: the five-minute kit check
Most disappointing purchases could have been caught in five minutes. Work through these seven questions before paying for any game, on any kit.
- Is it on the kit you will actually use? Check the edition too: a PS4 version plays on PS5, and a Switch version plays on Switch 2, but they are not always the best way to play. Kit Check answers this for our twelve games.
- Does your hardware clear the minimum? On a PC, compare the graphics card first; on a Steam Deck, look for Valve's rating. Our note on reading requirements shows how.
- Is there room for it? Big games need 70 GB or more before updates. See storage for twelve games.
- What else does it need? A publisher account, a separate launcher, an always-on connection, or a console subscription for online play. Online subscriptions sets out the rules per console.
- Who is it for? Check the PEGI rating and whether the shop sells random items; both are on every game page here.
- Can you get your money back? Refund rules differ by store, and digital downloads lose the usual 14-day cooling-off right once you start them. Read refunds and your rights.
- How will you control it? Some PC games are far better with a controller; some console games support mouse and keyboard. The game page notes which.
Free-to-play games skip question six at the start, but not later: the same checks apply before the first purchase in their shops.