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Ross Miller (he/him) is Polygon’s Senior Commerce Editor for the summer. He has nearly 20 years of experience in media and was a founding editor of The Verge.
We’re in the midst of a busy October Prime Day, where we’ve spent countless collective hours sifting through literally thousands of deals to find a few hundred we think are worth your time. And from there, we’ve noticed a few that stood out as the best of the best, according to our favorite tastemakers out there — you, dear reader.
Looking at the most popular deals among our readers, it’s clear that folks are gearing up for the changing of the seasons. Board games like Azul, Mysterium, Whitehall Mystery, and Spirit Island have dominated — all perfect for the spooky season, some more literally than others. So, too, has the Hoto electric screwdriver, which is handy for any DIY plans, planned or otherwise. And as for the digital games, the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 deal is a clear favorite. Does this mean more people will soon become huge fans of Raiden? We can only hope.
Here are the top Amazon October Prime Day deals according to Polygon readers. We say it every time and we truly mean it: y’all have have excellent taste.
What Polygon readers bought for October Prime Day
$17
Azul is a board game where you work with friends to build an exquisite tile mosaic. The rules are simple enough to make it pick up and play but has endless strategic depth.
$26
Catan: Starfarers Duel is the unlikely reboot of an obscure 2001 game called Starship Catan. This two-player variant has solid reviews, but the 75-minute playtime seems like it might be a bit of a tough sell for all but the most dedicated players.
$40
With a long-lasting battery, adjustable torque (be gentle with your screws!), and a ring-light if you need, Hoto’s USB-C rechargeable electric screwdriver is one of our go-to tools for opening up your games and gear. The kit comes with a USB-C cord, case, and 12 steel bits.
$9
Just One, the hit word-guessing game, is a snappy little gem that can easily kick off a night of longer games with a bang. Or kick back with a few beverages and play it all night, your call.
$11
Love Letter packs all of the spicy drama and intrigue of Bridgerton into a deck of just 16 cards. Similar to Coup, Love Letter is a game of secrets as you attempt to deduce the contents of other player’s hands and uncover the single princess card among them. An easy game to tote around just about anywhere.
$19
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 brings together the first Metal Gear Solid for the PS1 and its two PS2 sequels, Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater, in addition to the original Metal Gear, Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. This collection is available for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
$28
Mysterium, a favorite of the Overboard crew, will have you set up for a seance in no time. Up to 7 players can become psychics and interpret cryptic clues to solve crimes. Perfect for the spooky holiday!
$22
Finally, Splendor Duel turns the beloved gem-buying game Splendor into a taught little two-player experience knife fight of a strategy game.
$24
Whitehall Mystery is an overlooked gem of a hidden movement game, where one player secretly plots their course on a hidden map and everyone else tries to hunt them down. The theming here is key, however, as it puts players on the hunt for a mysterious murderer in Victorian London. It’s a fast-moving experience that rewards repeating the game after switching up roles at the table.
Looking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite October Prime Day 2024 deals right here, and subscribe to our newsletter below to get great deals delivered to your inbox every week.
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Polygon’s handpicked deals on games, movies, books, and more.