Getting a $150+ game for half that may be a little silly, but I’m sure you’ve been tempted by the siren song of a video game Collector’s Edition or a high-end re-release like Knights of the Year. increase.The Old Republic package from Limited Run (opens in new tab) Satisfies a major part of my gamer brain. I wanted to hear about our staff and community treasures, or reflections that buyers can never forget.
What’s the best (or worst) video game collector’s edition you’ve ever bought?
Here are our answers and some from us forum (opens in new tab).
Wes Fenron, Senior Editor: Ten years later, I’m still a little annoyed with Black Ops. This was the last Call of Duty game of his that I bought, and by this point my interest in the series had already waned.but my friends and I loved I played the zombie co-op mode in Treyarch’s previous game, World at War, and decided to purchase Black Ops to play more zombies. The only problem: Only the Hardened Edition came with his Zombie map. I don’t think there was an option to buy them separately at launch. So for the Hardened Edition he either paid $20 extra or missed one mode he really cared about.
So I paid and played a lot of zombies. That mod was definitely worth the $20. For the remaining $60 I spent…well, there’s a reason I haven’t bought another Call of Duty since. I was sick of multiplayer’s ridiculously fast TTK pace, and Black Ops’ campaign was mostly bugging me. I’m not sure a few weeks of zombie co-op was worth keeping “THE NUMBERS, MASON” on my mind for the rest of the time.
Phil Savage, UK Editor-in-Chief: I moved three times in one year and have avoided Collector’s Editions ever since. The acquisition of the video game tat is ultimately just a problem I have to solve someday. I kept an Anno 1404 collector’s chest. The odd little package contains the standard art book and bonus DVD, but also includes a few more quirky items.
There is a compass, but there was certainly no reason to use it. There’s also a small pouch with 6 almond seeds, which I think will come in handy if you’re stuck on an island and need to produce goods to start a new trading empire. is different and interesting junk. Admittedly, I only chose this one because I didn’t buy the World in Conflict Collector’s Edition that came with the actual piece of the Berlin Wall.
Robin Valentine, Print Editor: I’m usually very anti-collector’s edition. No one on earth needs a big plastic statue of a game they haven’t played yet. One of the few things I’ve ever been obsessed with was his one in his classic, short-lived MMO Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. I still have it on the shelf, but it’s absolutely brimming with authentic quality.Exclusive Warhammer miniatures of one of the main villains, nice graphic novel that sets up all the factions in the game and their conflicts , there’s a complete artbook. Some of my favorite concept art, and…well, mouse mats, which are admittedly not that exciting. Not found. Even the box is a heavy and durable artifact in its own right. It’s a shame it lasted longer than the game.
Rich Stanton, News Editor: My hype for StarCraft 2 was off the charts, and I played Wings of Liberty relentlessly for about two years after its release. As you know, the box has big industrial teeth that slide away and back). It includes an elaborate artbook and the usual suspects of a soundtrack CD, but this one came with a USB stick shaped like Jim Raynor’s dog tag with his OG Starcraft on it. rice field. A DVD, an absolutely terrifying comic book, and a variety of in-game downloadable items including miniature his Thor’s must-see awesome pets.
Straight into my belly Blizzard. The main reason I love this collector’s edition is because I’ve loved this game for so long. Recently, a friend who used to play a lot came to visit me on the weekend. We played a little co-op game on his laptop one night, and soon he was able to get the WoL Collector’s Edition and revisit it. At this point, he recalled, there were three sticker sheets included, one for each faction in the game. Clearly, we set aside the Protoss and Zerg stuff and reaffirmed our unbreakable masculine bond by tastefully and discreetly embellishing our laptops with Terran stickers. offers. We now call it the Collector’s Edition.
Andy Chalk, News Lead: It’s hard to pick just one “best,” but I think I have to give it to Neverwinter Nights. An absolutely gigantic box containing a gorgeous (and huge) artbook, full-size poster, complete manual, game disc, soundtrack disc, mousepad map, and, for some reason, a long-sleeved shirt. and holds a special place in my heart because I got it through my last interaction with an EB Games employee. It’s a pity that the game itself was mediocre.
The worst collector’s edition in my mind is probably Half-Life 2. It’s a big box with nothing inside. Need a Prima game guide for Half-Life 2? We’re not playing Myst here.
By the way, Phil, I think I have the World in Conflict Collector’s Edition. It’s pretty sweet.
Ted Litchfield, Associate Editor: I love filling my home office/gamer hole shelves with plastic junk. If I’m talking about a game I’m excited about enough (which would have hit Elden Ring, but that special version was console-only), or a re-release of an old favorite (I got my hands on those LimitedRun KotOR You better believe I put it in) I do it, I care about the results.and i will definitely do Evil From Andy’s NwN Collector’s Edition.
But I will never forgive what BioWare did to me in Dragon Age: Inquisition “Inquisitor’s Edition”.
Lockpick sets, war table pieces, ink, quills, all look decent, right? The cross map is probably what I’m most excited about? the same (opens in new tab) It has been on the Dragon Age Wiki since 2009. The only half-decent thing was the Tarot card deck. Do you think my first and most crucial loss was somewhere between the university move and a minor flood in my parents’ basement? I already know.
from forum (opens in new tab)
DX Chase: My Skyrim Collector’s Edition is pretty awesome. I love the dragon statue and I still have the original box in which the books and everything is on display.
Brian Boll: “Do you think we’ve all been seduced by the siren song from the collector’s edition video game?” No we don’t!
I haven’t bought what you’re talking about, but I’ve bought collector’s editions of game franchises. Without a doubt, the 17-game Command and Conquer Ultimate Collection is the best.
In the world of casual gaming, the Collector’s Edition contains nothing physical, but additional files such as strategy guides and art books, as well as additional features of the game such as collectibles and additional levels (different versions of the game ) is also included. I haven’t bought many of them, the best being the excellent Royal Envoy series CE which offers levels above 50%.
Zlot: I got the version of City of Villains with a small plastic Ghost Widow figure. This is the closest we’ve ever come to a collector’s edition style statue. I still have the plastic figure, so I think it’s a win.
The KotOR2 stuff doesn’t appeal to me at all…except for the poster with the HK-47 in the background. I’d probably pay $1 for that. [Editor’s note: I paid a lot more for it than that, bucko!]
Kurdish: Probably the best purchase I ever made was the Warcraft III Collector’s Edition. It came with a lot of cool physical stuff (but nothing like helmets or canvas bags, just artbooks and guides and posters and movie DVDs etc.) I don’t remember the details), but got it for cheap from a store that clearly didn’t know it was worth a lot more than the $25 I paid. It hasn’t been out that long, I think the regular base game was $19.99 at the time.)
The Roberta Williams Anthology is generally a collection rather than a “collector’s edition”, showing off her legacy on Sierra (also plugging in Phantasmagoria, which only appeared as a demo). , if I remember correctly. )
That said, I’m not sure if I bought the “Collector’s Edition” as I only went for digital downloads. With the exception of a few GoG products labeled as “collector’s editions” even though they are all digital swag. It usually refers to the more complete version of the game. Even if the only difference is that the Advanced Deluxe Legendary Edition comes with high-res wallpapers and a FLAC-formatted soundtrack, it probably won’t give you an extra $10 or whatever they’re asking for.
Main: I have purchased quite a few collector’s editions over the years for games and game series that I really enjoy. I’m a little picky about what I buy, though, as I see what kind of physical “loot” is included, not just the digital “rewards” for paying extra. My biggest hobby, and my heart, is a child, so cloth maps, statues, unique decks of cards, hardcover art books, replica coins, and all other small physical items that may be included. love. However, I’m not interested in collector’s editions that only offer digital perks, such as in-game weapons, armor, pets, or digital art books and soundtracks.
It’s a bit difficult to name my favorite collector’s edition, but I have to go with Fallout 4’s original Pip-boy collector’s edition. The original CE sold out in less than 48 hours and I got a real Pip-boy (a real wearable Vault 111 crate) plus a smartphone (not all makes/models) to Pip-boy Insert and download the Pip-boy app connected to your game to give you access to all your stats. , maps, quests, just like in the game. At least in theory. The app was notoriously buggy and only worked about 75% of the time. I don’t think it’s available anymore. But it’s the only interactive CE I’ve owned so far. Plus, I got the season pass, so I get all future DLC for free.
Arguably the worst collector’s edition I’ve ever purchased was the Ultima 9 Ascension. A gigantic game box that is hard to put on a shelf and completely unnecessary for its low contents. A cloth map, a poster, several unique tarot cards and a signed certificate of “Lord British”. Disappointing to say the least, and even worse, the game was awful and buggy and lacked reflections on such a great RPG series.
