Image Composition: Ross Miller/PolygonRoss 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’ve formally said our goodbyes to 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 across video games, board games, Lego, and more. 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 DayAzul$24$4040% off$24Azul 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.Read More$24 at AmazonThe Complete Calvin and Hobbes Box Set$98$16039% off$98The story of a boy with a vivid imagination and his best friend (a stuffed tiger, naturally) defined many a childhood. This four-volume paperback box set features every Calvin and Hobbes cartoon that appeared in syndication, which ran from 1985 until Bill Watterson’s retirement at the start of 1996.Read More$98 at Amazon (Paperback)$125 at Amazon (Hardcover)Catan: Starfarers Duel$28$3520% off$28Catan: 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.Read More$28 at AmazonHoto electric screwdriver (12 bits)$40$6134% off$40With 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.Read More$40 at AmazonJust One$12$2552% off$12Just 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.Read More$12 at AmazonLego Super Mario Piranha Plant$48$6020% off$48The sassy, carnivorous plant from Super Mario is now available as a 540-piece Lego set. The LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant comes complete with gold coins and adjustable limbs to give it some extra personality.Read More$48 at AmazonThe Lord of the Rings Illustrated$47$7537% off$47The single-volume hardcover includes thirty color illustrations, maps, and sketches (all produced by the author) sprinkled throughout its 1,248 pages. Inside, you’ll also find a pair of removable, fold-out maps of Frodo’s journey and of Middle-earth produced by his son, Christopher.Read More$47 at Target$47 at AmazonLove Letter$13$1513% off$13Love 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.Read More$13 at AmazonMTG Doctor Who Commander Deck Bundle$129$18731% off$129No need to pick a favorite when we have all of time and space. Pick up all four ready-to-play Doctor Who themed Commander Decks for Magic: The Gathering: Timey-Wimey, Paradox Power, Blast from the Past, and Masters of Evil.Read More$129 at AmazonMTG Commander Masters Deck – Planeswalker Party$60$10040% off$60Legendary Planeswalker Commodore Guff is the emcee of the Planeswalker Party Commander Deck, a ready-to-play, 100-card blue-red-white that boasts two foil legendary cards and a two-card Collector Booster Sample Pack “containing 2 special treatment cards from the Commander Masters set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare.”Read More$60 at AmazonMTG The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Set Boosters Box$114$17033% off$114Legendary Planeswalker Commodore Guff is the emcee of the Planeswalker Party Commander Deck, a ready-to-play, 100-card blue-red-white that boasts two foil legendary cards and a two-card Collector Booster Sample Pack “containing 2 special treatment cards from the Commander Masters set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare.”Read More$114 at AmazonMetal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1$20$4050% off$20Metal 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.Read More$20 at Amazon (PS5)$20 at Amazon (Switch)Mysterium$30$5545% off$30Mysterium, 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!Read More$30 at AmazonSpirit Island$40$7043% off$40Everything you’ve heard about Spirit Island is true. We consider it at once one of the best cooperative games and one of the best solo games, so there’s no bad time to play. Take on the role of spirits fighting against colonizers. If you’re looking to upgrade your Spirit Island experience, the Jagged Earth expansion is on sale, too.Read More$48 at Amazon (Base Game)$40 at Amazon (Jagged Earth)Splendor Duel$28$307% off$28Finally, Splendor Duel turns the beloved gem-buying game Splendor into a taught little two-player experience knife fight of a strategy game.Read More$28 at AmazonTwilight Inscription$52$6520% off$52Twilight Inscription is a roll-and-write strategy game, featuring the space cats of the Twilight Imperium franchise. Playable solo, or with up to eight players, this clever game summarizes the epic galactic conquest of Twilight Imperium into a single afternoon.Read More$52 at AmazonWhitehall Mystery$30$313% off$30Whitehall 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.Read More$30 at AmazonLooking 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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Read moreCyan Worlds via PolygonSusana Polo is a senior entertainment writer at Polygon, specializing in pop culture and genre fare, with a primary expertise in comic books. Previously, she founded The Mary Sue.In honor of the 31st anniversary of seminal puzzle adventure game Myst, Cyan Worlds has a new Humble Bundle sale, “Enter the Mysterium.” Through Oct. 2, players can pay $20 and pick up 13 games, which run the gamut from Myst’s earliest 1989 predecessor, to its modern progeny, and every mainline Myst game in the franchise, with part of the proceeds going to Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping teens and young adults with the tools to advocate for mental health advocacy and suicide prevention.Enter the Mysterium$20$19290% off$20$20 at HumbleOr, you could pick up any of four …
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