The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Friday, April 26, 2024

6 Best Credit Cards for Gamers (Feb. 2024)

Best Credit Cards For Gamers
Adam West

Written by: Adam West

Adam West
Adam West

Adam corresponds with finance experts to publish industry news coverage related to helping consumers achieve greater financial literacy and improved credit. He has more than 12 years of storytelling, editing, and design experience in print and online journalism and is most knowledgeable in the areas of credit scores, financial products and services, and the banking industry.

See full bio »

Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

See full bio »
Advertiser Disclosure

Video games have come a long way. Once considered a recreation for kids, video games are now a billion-dollar industry that drives much of the world’s entertainment economy. And our list of the best credit cards for gamers shows the financial industry wants to tap into that market, too.

Entertainment is a big part of what these cards reward. Whether it’s cash back for your purchases or bonus points for category spending, these cards show that Mario isn’t the only person in the video game world who can collect and save coins.

Rewards | Savings | Students | Retail | PlayStation | Bad Credit | FAQs

Best Rewards Card for Gamers

The Discover it® Cash Back card offers bonus categories each quarter that pays a substantial cash back percentage — and nearly every quarter includes a category where you can buy games. Discover also commonly offers an introductory APR on purchases for new cardmembers.

Discover it® Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

This card has the capability of providing massive savings beyond those you get with your regular video game purchases. With bonus rewards categories that include gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurant purchases, you can earn bonus cash back for just about all your spending, up to the quarterly maximum. See card page for details.

Best Instant-Savings Card for Gamers

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers cash back on entertainment purchases. The fine print lists video rental stores as a cash back option.

We all know there aren’t many of those around anymore, but you’ll find that video game specialty stores — such as GameStop or retro game stores — fall under the bonus category.

CASH BACK RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
  • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Capital One will also reward you if you’re a regular spender. As a new cardholder, you’ll qualify for a signup cash bonus after you meet the spending minimum on new purchases within your first three months with the card.

Best Student Card for Gamers

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card makes those late-night gaming sessions less expensive — thanks to the card’s impressive cash back rewards.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
$0
Fair/New to Credit

Bonus categories must be activated each quarter, but all other purchases still qualify to earn cash back at a reduced percentage rate — see reward details above. With a low APR and friendly introductory terms, it’s also attractive to those who want the benefits of a robust rewards program without breaking the bank on interest payments.

Best Retail Card for Gamers

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you can expect the same savings you’re used to — with the added perk of cash back for your purchases.

4. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card offers 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Markets as well as 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

  • 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Markets
  • Receive a $60 Amazon.com gift card upon approval
  • Variable APR, depending on creditworthiness
  • No annual card fee, but an annual Prime membership fee applies

You’ll instantly receive a $60 Amazon gift card when approved for the card, which essentially pays for a game of your choice. The card offers these perks with no annual fee or other hidden charges.

Best Card for PlayStation Gamers

The card touts itself as a perfect fit for techies and gamers.

5. PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card

New PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card members receive a $50 statement credit when they use their card on direct.playstation.com within 60 days of opening their account. Cardholders also receive 5X points on all PlayStation Store purchases and on all other PlayStation and Sony products.

PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card

  • 5X points on all PlayStation Store and PlayStation and Sony products
  • Receive a 50% statement credit on a 12-month PlayStation Plus membership
  • No annual fee

You can redeem the points you earn for VIP experiences, games, accessories, and other electronic gear from Sony.

Best Card for Gamers with Bad Credit

If you have less-than-perfect credit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can give you the spending power of a credit card that allows you to buy games and other items online to improve your gaming experience.

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.6

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Limited, Bad

To qualify, you’ll need to submit a refundable security deposit of either $49, $99, or $200 (based on your credit history) to secure your $200 credit line. You won’t pay an annual fee for the card and Capital One will refund your security deposit when you close your card account, as long as your balance is paid.

Be Wary of These Popular Cards for Gamers

If you’re a regular gamer, you’ve likely visited a GameStop or Best Buy. Maybe you’re a regular at one of these locations and buy all your games, consoles, and accessories from the retailer.

You may be inclined to think those regular purchases make the store’s credit card a no-brainer for your wallet. But think again.

GameStop Credit CardAlthough it’s one of the most popular destinations for new and used games and consoles, GameStop shouldn’t be on your credit card must-have list. The GameStop PowerUp Rewards Credit Card is a closed-loop card, meaning you can only use it at GameStop locations.

It has a high APR, as most retail cards do, and you’ll only earn $5 in rewards for every $250 you spend. This is equivalent to a 2% cash back card, but considering you can only earn and redeem rewards at GameStop, you’re much better served using a cash back card that allows you to earn rewards everywhere you shop.

My Best Buy Credit CardThe My Best Buy Credit Card, on the other hand, offers solid rewards. With 5% cash back (6% for certain loyalty members), this card can be a good choice — but only if you pay your bill in full and on time every month.

That’s because the high APR — over 29% for some cardholders, based on creditworthiness — is substantially greater than those of most other cards. If you tend to carry a balance from month to month, you can quickly find your gaming purchases costing far more than you expected. This card is only recommended for gamers who never carry a credit card balance.

Which Credit Card is Best for Gamers?

One way to level-up your gaming experience is to maximize your cash back options. This will help reduce the overall cost of your games, consoles, and accessories, and increase your ability to purchase the newest games as soon as they’re released.

The Discover it® Cash Back card allows you to do all of that. You’ll receive two-fold rewards with this card. If you leverage the bonus spending category, you can earn more cash back on your purchases — not just video games.

Just remember the card’s bonus rewards categories will rotate and must be activated each quarter, and there is a quarterly maximum on rewards earned.

So, while this card may not promote itself specifically to gamers, there aren’t many cards on the market that increase your buying power as this card can.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit CardIf you want to receive an ongoing 3% back on your gaming and entertainment purchases, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid option. Plus, you’ll receive an instant cash bonus when you meet the minimum spending requirement in your first three months with the card.

So, if you have your eye on the newest game console, you may be able to achieve the bonus in a single swipe and save significantly on your new toy. If you’re a PlayStation loyalist, the new PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card may be a great choice, especially if you’re a PlayStation Plus member.

Can You Use the PlayStation® Credit Card Anywhere?

Yes, you can — and you can earn rewards for your purchases. Not only does the card offer 5X points on purchases at the PlayStation Store as well as on PlayStation and Sony products, but you’ll also earn 3X points when you use your card to pay your mobile phone bill and 1X points on all other purchases.

PlayStation® Plus Membership

Cardholders can earn 50% off the price of a 12-month PlayStation Plus membership.

Sony obviously designed this card for avid PlayStation fans, as you can only redeem your rewards points for Sony and PlayStation products and experiences. You’ll also get 50% back as a statement credit when you use the card to pay for a 12-month PlayStation Plus membership and make at least $3,000 in total purchases within a year.

You also receive a 10% statement credit on PlayStation.Vue, PlayStation.Music, and PlayStation.Now memberships.

Every 100 points equal $1 in Sony Rewards and you can redeem your points for PlayStation games, consoles, downloadable content, subscription services, Sony electronics, movies, music, and experiences. You can use the points through the Sony Rewards portal, which offers all of these options, plus several more rotating special offers for cardholders.

And, since this is a Visa-branded credit card, you can use it at any location that accepts Visa cards — which is just about everywhere.

How Do You Take Advantage of Credit Card Rewards?

Credit cards offer varying rewards options that include, but aren’t limited to, cash back, points, and loyalty programs.

Cash back is just as it sounds. You get a percentage of each purchase back as either cash or a statement credit.

This essentially lowers the price of your purchase and makes your games, consoles, and accessories more affordable. Cash back works everywhere and will allow you to purchase more games and downloads — or you can save the money to purchase any other items or services you choose.

Points work in different ways. You can earn and save your points to redeem them for cash back, travel rewards, or merchandise credits and gift cards. Points have varying values, depending on how you choose to redeem them, but offer more options.

Loyalty programs work very much like the PlayStation Rewards structure on the PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card. They are tied to a specific brand, as is the case with this card and Sony.

How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards

With the PlayStation® Visa®, you’ll earn a set number of points on every purchase. You can redeem these points for games, consoles, accessories, downloadable content, experiences, and more.

The type of rewards that work best for you will depend on what you want from the card. While the PlayStation card offers tremendous point potential, you’re limited to only redeeming those points with Sony. If that’s all you care about, then it can be a great choice.

To make the most of your rewards, you need to know where you earn maximum value and use the card accordingly. With any rewards card, be sure to pay the balance off each month, so the interest charges don’t negate the rewards you earn.

Play Your Way to Free Rewards & Perks

Video games aren’t just for kids. The pastime is just as popular with adults as is evident in the number of games, loyalty programs, and even credit cards promoted to the older demographic.

If you play your cards right and use one of the best credit cards for gamers, you can keep playing without the fear of overspending or accruing high finance charges. That’s like getting an extra life when it’s about to be game over.

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.