Kinguin Review (2023) – Is Kinguin Legit & Safe To use? PROS & CONS

Gamers now have more options than ever to purchase games thanks to platforms such as Blizzard, Epic Games, GOG, Origin, Uplay, Steam, etc. While there is a great number of platforms, prices are still not for every pocket.

Gamers are trying to find the cheapest option in order to purchase the games they love. Usually, that means waiting several months after a game is released for a discounted price or watching for discount promotions.

Kinguin’s marketplace has grown in popularity since its launch in 2013. It now has over 4 million customers worldwide. For those who don’t know what Kinguin does, it’s a platform that allows people to buy and sell games at affordable prices.

POPULAR GAME KEY MARKETPLACES

Being able to buy quality games heavily discounted is a great selling point and reason why Kinguin is so popular marketplace. But is Kinguin legit website? Should you seriously consider using Kinguin for buying game keys?

In this Kinguin review, I will answer questions like is Kinguin safe to use, how does Kinguin work, what are its features and options, how does Kinguin compare to other marketplaces, and what are its pros and cons.

Kinguin Review – How Does Kinguin Work?

Kinguin itself doesn’t actually sell game keys. Well, this is not entirely true. They do sell on their own platform under seller names G2PLAY.NET and Game Changer (maybe they have more).

Kinguin is foremost an online marketplace where people can sell game keys but they can also purchase game keys. On Kinguin, you’ll find game keys, gift cards, CSGO skins, Windows keys and software programs such as Microsoft Home Office and various anti-virus programs.

Once you’ve found an item that you want to buy, you click on it. You will then be redirected to the respective product page. Here you’ll see all the different sellers that sell key for that product.

Pick the seller that you want to purchase from, and select the “Buy Now” option when you’re ready. Ideally, the seller that you select should be one that has a higher seller rating and a higher amount of overall orders placed as well as the cheapest price.

From there, you’ll then complete the checkout process. After your payment has been accepted, you’ll receive your product key via email. The process is very simple.

Mode Of Operation

Kinguin is a platform that connects buyers and sellers. Kinguin is just the marketplace. It’s not the supplier of games or game keys. Game codes are purchased from other people who use the platform.

Most of Kinguin’s negative reviews revolve around the fact that buyers sometimes get used or invalid game codes. This is something that can happen on any marketplace for game keys. Another issue is the Kinguin payout delay. Kinguin has got in some serious financial issues and because of that, they cant pay sellers what they owe them.

Many buyers when buying want to know who are exactly sellers that hide under username displayed, and from where do they get digital codes that they sell?

There have been several scandals in the game key marketplaces in recent years which also included Kinguin. These online marketplaces have been hit with fraudulent activities, such as game keys being offered that were acquired using lost or stolen credit card information or other illegal means.

Kinguin acknowledges this activity in the terms and conditions section of their website. They note that transactions in an online marketplace such as theirs can sometimes be subject to transaction risks.

You’ll definitely find more questionable product codes in online marketplaces like Kinguin than you would in dealing directly with game companies or other authorized dealers. Should you really care where your game keys come from, as long as they’re bought legally and work properly?

Take into account an event that occurred several years ago. Many buyers who used the platforms like Kinguin and G2A to purchase Ubisoft title Watch Dogs were later frustrated when they found out that those keys were revoked by the Ubisoft.

Ubisoft justified their actions by claiming that the affected game keys had been purchased using stolen credit cards. Most buyers affected by this later received refunds for their transactions. Ubisoft also later announced that it wouldn’t revoke keys, so games were returned to accounts. I know this for a fact because I also had bought a copy of that particular game when everything occurred.

The risks of buying game keys in online marketplaces like Kinguin have been well documented over the last several years. Kinguin does take some measures to limit potentially harmful transactions from being fulfilled.

For example, Kinguin will only make transaction funds available in sellers’ accounts after 60 days pass (or in some cases less than that). Only after a certain time will the funds be released into the seller’s account.

There is also an application process required for sellers on Kinguin. This process requires that sellers have a valid ID which is not much of a strict process. Other than that you don’t have to provide much info to sell on Kinguin compared to selling on G2A where you have to have a registered company and provide all details for it as well as the VAT number.

Anytime you make a purchase on Kinguin, you’re buying a product that could come from anyone living anywhere in the world. With all of that being said, I can say that the majority of items offered on Kinguin are legitimate as it is in sellers’ interest to have satisfied customers.

Is Kinguin Legit?

Kinguin is legit. It isn’t a scam. Website Kinguin.net is run by Kinguin Digital Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong but they have offices in Poland and Bulgaria. Being owned by a fully legal and licensed company gives more credence to the site’s legitimacy.

Any keys that you purchase on their site are from game sellers. Thus, even Kinguin does not know from where the keys come from or whether they will work.

Kinguin is just a marketplace. Marketplaces aren’t just filled with cheaters, fakes, and trolls. Even though there are bound to be some of those elements. There are far more people on Kinguin selling legitimate products than those sellers with questionable game keys.

Is Kinguin Safe To Use?

Kinguin is indeed safe to use. Safety in this context can be described as the fact that Kinguin safeguards information that users share on it. This is done so that any illegal or unauthorized parties can’t access customers’ personal data.

Whenever you make a purchase on their site, personal and sensitive information such as credit card details are not shared. This is information that you definitely don’t want to end up in the hands of cybercriminals!

With this in mind, there’s no question that Kinguin is a very safe site to use. The company says that they take organizational and technical measures to protect customers’ information.

Though it would be nice to know more about the details of those technical measures, we can feel a little more secure in knowing that out of all of Kinguin’s negative reviews, none of them was a breach of data complaint.

All pages on Kinguin’s site where credit card information or other sensitive data is required are secure. Kinguin never stores or even sees the credit card information that you enter. That data is only viewed by the respective payment processors.

What Can You Buy?

There are many different products that you can buy. There’s something for people of all gaming interests. They have a huge selection of adventure, action, anime, classic, horror, sports, fighting, indie games and much more.

Besides game keys, you’ll also find software keys for antivirus programs, Microsoft Office Suite, Windows keys, gift cards, game skins, etc.

Are The Prices Good?

One of the first things that you should think about before making a purchase is the price. Even if you’re extremely satisfied with your purchase, you might not want to buy it if the price isn’t reasonable. The perfect marketplace should have an excellent selection of items that are all at very reasonable prices.

Secondary marketplaces like Kinguin exist for gamers because of players’ needs for cheaper options. After reading all of the stories about bad experiences some people had with Kinguin in the past, you may be a bit hesitant in buying games on their site.

Why would anyone buy from them? The answer is their low prices. Publisher retail prices for games can sometimes be as much as 80% higher than what you’d pay for the same games on Kinguin. There isn’t a single white market price (prices offered by authorized resellers and game publishers) that can match the prices that Kinguin sellers offer.

Game prices on Kinguin’s site are usually much lower than what you’ll find on Steam, Origin, Uplay and other online stores.

Available Payment Methods

Most online stores offer easy payments. Online game key marketplaces are no different. The marketplace that you buy from should offer a simple payment process. The first step is having a wide assortment of payment methods that are accepted no matter where you live.

Kinguin used to offer many more available payment options but for me when I check only available options are PayPal, credit card, Kinguin Wallet funds, Bitcoin, Paysafecard, and GPay option. They also support payment methods that are specific to transactions in certain countries (as far as I know) so maybe there are more.

Be noted that there is a payment gateway fee that you will need to cover. All game key marketplaces charge it. Depending on the total amount of order payment gateway fees will be higher or lower.

Time To Receive Purchased Key

Another important consideration when buying online games is the amount of time that it takes for you to receive a purchased game key. The ideal site should deliver purchased game code rather quickly (in a manner of minutes).

Dispatches from Kinguin’s site are usually sent within 15 minutes after your payment has been accepted. Sometimes it can take longer if your payments need to be reviewed by a staff member. You’ll receive the game keys that you’ve purchased by email. If you purchase a pre-order, the game key will be delivered around the game’s release date.

Returns & Refunds

Most of us have grown accustomed to being able to return defective products to the seller. Because most online purchases are known as “blind purchases” (transactions that are completed before the buyer can actually assess what they’ve bought), most online stores offer refunds or exchanges. Things are different in the digital marketplace of game keys.

The nature of the product being sold is different. Physical products that are defective are usually mailed back to the seller. Because game keys are digital products, there’s no physical product to be returned. The only way that you wouldn’t receive what you purchased is if the game key was revoked, invalid or already used.

Game key sellers themselves can’t revoke keys. After you’ve paid for your order and received your game key, there’s really no way that you can actually “return” the product if it doesn’t work because your computer can’t run it or some other game-related issues.

But if the key is invalid, already used, or region-restricted then you can ask for refund. In those cases, you’ll need to provide proof that the key is invalid, already used on another Steam account or cant be activated in your region in order to get refund or replacement.

Cancelling Orders & Returns

Sometimes you might change your mind about a game either when you’re ready to submit payment for it, or right after you’ve done so. In those instances, you need a site that allows you to cancel your order and stop the transaction so that you won’t be charged and won’t receive the items that you no longer want.

Because game keys are digital goods that are usually delivered fairly quickly, and canceled orders are rare. Kinguin does allow some orders to be canceled, depending on order status.

If your order’s payment hasn’t been finalized, or if the order is in a “pending payment” status, you can cancel the order. If the order is on hold or being processed but has already been paid for, you’ll need to contact their customer service department via live chat to cancel the order before it’s sent.

If the order is in “completed” status, that means that the items you’ve bought have already been delivered. Completed orders can’t be canceled.

Customer Support

There are bound to be problems and complaints that arise from time to time on any online marketplace. The best platform to use is one that handles such occurrences in a timely manner. That’s where having a good customer support system comes into play.

The good marketplace should have multiple ways in which users can contact the customer service department. Most importantly, you’ll want a responsive service that when contacted will provide you with needed assistance and promptly.

Kinguin’s customer support staff can be reached by live chat and email. Kinguin says that you will get an answer quickly, but it may take a day or two (even several days) in some instances for a response.

If you don’t want to wait that long for an answer, you can try contacting customer service by live chat. However, their live chat support staff cant always answer your questions right away or they don’t have “power” to do certain things. So you might still need to open a support ticket to resolve the issue.

What If You Purchase A Faulty Code?

When you are paying for products on Kinguin you will notice that in order total there is included fee for something called Platform Development Contribution. Kinguin explains that: ” Used to cover operating expenses and tailor the platform to your needs. Faster checkout, shorter loading, more customization – we make your shopping easier and more fun.”

Platform Development Contribution is part of the former Kinguin Buyer Protection Program (BPP) which was before optional but now it is mandatory to pay. Platform Development Contribution fee will depend on the order total.

If you have issues with purchased game code, you need to open a ticket. Kinguin will then investigate the matter and be a middleman in your correspondence with the seller in order to solve the issue. Customers can receive refunds or replacement code if their claim is valid and they provide proofs.

How To Buy?

It is not hard to make purchase on Kinguin. There are few steps from finding game, making payment and receiving key.

Sites Like Kinguin

Kinguin is just one of the few online game marketplaces. There are several Kinguin alternatives that you can use. Each site has its own unique features and offerings. It’s a good idea to check them all out before you buy. Other marketplaces include G2A, Gamivo, and Eneba. There are also other online shops that sell game keys (not marketplaces).

G2A is rather similar to Kinguin. Both sites rely on third-party sellers for their game inventories. You won’t know the origin of games purchased on either site.

The vast majority of the game keys available on G2A and Kinguin are perfectly legal. If you’re trying to choose which site to use, pick the marketplace that offers the lowest price for the games you want. The business practices for both sites are almost identical.

Eneba is one of the newest game marketplaces. It operates on many of the same principles as Kinguin. Its rise in popularity is primarily due to the growing selection of games that are offered. You can purchase game keys for Battlenet, GOG, Nintendo Switch, Origin, PSN, Steam, Uplay, and Xbox. You can also find gift cards for Amazon, Apple iTunes, Blizzard, Google Play, Netflix, Nintendo Switch, PSN, Steam, and Xbox.

Gamivo is another digital product online marketplace. You can buy or sell game keys on their site. Their site has no physical products to deliver. All products sold are digital. Buying is easy because there aren’t any shipping costs to calculate.

Delivery usually only takes a few minutes. After your payment has been processed, you’ll receive a legitimate activation code via email. All you have to do then is follow the activation instructions and use the code on the Blizzard app, Origin, Steam, Uplay or another platform as specified. Only registered users are allowed to purchase items on the Gamivo website.

If you are interested in how Kinguin compares with other marketplaces like G2A, Eneba, and Gamivo then be sure to check my Kinguin vs G2A vs Gamivo vs Eneba comparison where I have in detail compared features and fess of each marketplace.

Store Frequently Asked Questions

Kinguin PROS & CONS

Here are advantages and disadvantages of using Kinguin marketplace:

PROS:

• There is a wide range of software and game keys available.
• Their prices are some of the lowest that you’ll ever find.
• The payment process is quick and easy, with a decent variety of payment options to choose from.
• You can use the site to sell game keys.
• You can reach customer support using live chat or support tickets.
• You can leave a review to sellers and see seller rating.

CONS:

• No option to see previous reviews left from past buyers for a particular seller.
• Payment gateway fees.
• Platform Development Contribution fee.
• Sometimes you ned to wait long time to receive your ordered key (especially if order is on hold).
• Often long waiting times to get support response (it can take few days).

Is Kinguin Legit?

Kinguin states that “its mission is to provide sellers and buyers all around the world the possibility to trade games at a fair price with no hassle.” It is a legitimate site. It’s not a scam. You will receive the game keys that you purchased.

Kinguin is legit. It’s a name that you’ve probably heard when looking to purchase game keys. No other authorized game sellers can match their prices.

Compared to other grey markets like Eneba and Gamivo, Kinguin’s prices are higher. But if you compare prices with other online stores and with prices on Steam, Uplay, Origin, etc. then prices are very affordable.

Even though Kinguin is completely legal, there are still chances that you may receive game keys that either stop working after a while or don’t work at all. Some keys may be revoked for various reasons.

There’s no way of knowing where game keys offered on Kinguin come from. The benefit of Kinguin as an online marketplace is that you can buy and sell games anytime you want.