Boomerang Rentals

Boomerang Rentals: online video game rental across major consoles

Boomerang Rentals is a UK-based online video game rental service that operates by post. Members build a rental list, receive games in reusable envelopes and return them the same way, after which the next titles on their list are despatched automatically. The company presents itself as the UK's leading site for games rental and describes its catalogue as running into the thousands of titles.

Subscriptions start from £5.99 a month, and the site states that twelve console formats are covered. New releases are excluded from the Free Trial and Value packages, while PS5 and Xbox Series X titles are excluded from the Free Trial and only available on Priority packages.

Consoles and catalogue

The rental catalogue is organised by platform, with dedicated sections for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Wii and DS. The service also covers handhelds such as the Nintendo 3DS. Within each platform, games are grouped by category and by age rating.

• Boomerang Recommends, Coming Soon, New Releases and Most Popular selections
• VR, Move or Kinect enabled titles depending on the console
• Ex-rental games offered for sale
• Bonus Games
• Genres including Action / Adventure, Arcade / Puzzles, Fighting, Flight, Kids / Family, Racing, Shooter, Sport, RPG / Strategy and Music
• Age bands of 3+, 7+, 12+, 15, 16 and 18

Membership packages and pricing

The site lists eleven membership packages. Entry-level rental is advertised from £5.99 a month, a tier aimed at recent PS4, Xbox One and Switch titles from £9.99 a month, and a Priority service from £13.99 a month that includes unlimited new releases. Unlimited and Priority packages allow members to rent as many games per month as they wish, while other packages provide one, two or four games a month for more casual players. Every package includes PS4 and Xbox One games, and members can upgrade or downgrade their plan.

Free trial and how the service works

New members can take a 21-day free trial that allows three games to be played at no cost. After signing up, the member selects games and orders them by priority in a personal list; the first game is despatched within a couple of days of games being added, sometimes sooner, and should arrive in one to three days by First Class mail. Returns use the original envelope with the address slip reversed. There are no return deadlines or late fees, and members can pause their subscription, cancel at any time or change package.

Members can also keep a rented game. Most rentals are available to keep, with prices starting from £5.99 including delivery, and each purchased game comes with a 30-day no-quibble guarantee; ex-rental games are supplied with a new box and manual.

Points, postage and guarantees

The service includes a Payback points programme through which members can earn points for additional rentals, money off purchases and even a free rental month. Postage is free in both directions, and the company advertises a service guarantee alongside the absence of late fees.

Customer feedback shown on the site

The website reproduces member comments, including one from a long-standing subscriber who praises the speed of delivery and the range of plans, and another from a member of nearly ten years who credits the service with discovering favourite games. These are individual testimonials presented by the company rather than an aggregate rating.