Idk if this helps, but here's my general ethical approach:

If it's a small indie developer/studio. I always pay for the game, or at least, if I pirate the game, I buy the rough equivalent of their merchant or make a donation if that's an option.

If it's a large studio/corpo game, I pirate it and don't shed a single tear. Same is true for all my music and visual media.

I support people and small groups that need the help and are creating great products and art. I think it is actually unethical to support giant corporations monetarily, so I do my best to minimize the amount of money they get from me, which for many years now has been pretty close to zero.