Not all game releases are created equal. Publishers love to put out different editions of games to make more money. They repackage, add extras, and raise the price to turn a $60 game into a $150 game, or turn a $20 bargain bin game into a $40 purchase a year after the fact. Limited and collector’s editions can mean you get a ton of extra stuff with your game. They can also mean you’re spending a lot of money on nothing. Just because it says limited doesn’t mean it is, and your game might have plenty of collectibles or you might be spending an extra $40 on a soundtrack and an art book. Here’s how to figure out whether a collector’s/limited/ultimate/premium edition of a game is worth it.
Worthwhile Limited/Collector’s Edition
This is the collector’s edition we all know and love. $80-100, with a combination of DLC, some feelies, and a custom case for the game to make it look cool. Depending on the company and the game, the extras might be just a soundtrack and an art book, or they might be a whole collection of poker chips, bobbleheads, cards, posters, and other things. While they might say Limited Edition, since they’re more expensive than the regular releases they’re more “collector’s” editions than “limited.”
Examples: Fallout 3 Collector’s Edition
Disappointing Limited/Collector’s Edition
Not all collector’s editions have collectibles. Some companies throw in a soundtrack and an art book as an excuse to raise the price to $70 or $80. Maybe they just have a metal case or something useless like that. Unless you really like making-of facts and concept art, these editions aren’t worth the extra money
Examples: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Limited Edition
Super Limited/Collector’s/Platinum/Ultimate Edition
These only happen when there’s already a collector’s edition and the publisher wants to put out something bigger and more expensive. Usually $150 to 200 at first, but after a few weeks the prices might drop to $100 if there aren’t any takers in the first wave. These releases usually have all the stuff in the collector’s editions, plus a big, weird extra, like a statue of Noble Team or a remote control car.
Examples: Call of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition
“Special” Edition (Store/Platform Exclusive)
These are special editions that really aren’t special. If they’re on a certain platform or sold at a certain store, they might have one or two extra pieces of DLC and come in a different case, but it’s really the same game. Don’t pay more than the “regular” version of the game for this, because it is the “regular” version.
Examples: X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition
Actually Limited Edition (Launch Release)
Very rarely, when a publisher makes a “limited” edition of a game, they mean it. It’s the first release of the game with a few extras, and future copies won’t have it. Funny enough, it doesn’t always say “Limited Edition” on the box, and it might not even cost more than the regular version of the game, because it’s the first release of the regular version of the game. At most, it will cost $10 or $20 more, depending on what you get. It might have a soundtrack or some art cards, and when it’s gone, you’ll have to settle for just the game. Commonly seen in NIS America and XSeed games, which throw in soundtracks and other things with the first waves.
Examples: Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition
Game of the Year/Complete Edition
You know that game you loved that you paid $60 for at launch and spent another $20 in DLC? Now you can get it all for $40 a year later! The Game of the Year Edition is how publishers bookend their DLC-intensive games and make room for the next game by saying “See? There’s no more DLC.” GOTY editions usually cost less than the original game and include all of the DLC released for that game over the year. It’s a great deal if you waited, but if you didn’t you’re going to kick yourself when you remember how much you spent on all those New Vegas campaigns. It’s the best way to enjoy a game you missed the first time around but heard great things about from your friends.
Examples: Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition
