As an avid gamer and industry analyst, I‘ve closely followed the upcoming launch of God of War Ragnarök. This hotly anticipated sequel lets players continue Kratos and Atreus‘ epic Norse saga, and Sony has announced several editions from standard to collectors versions. If you‘re wondering which is the best choice, I believe the PS5 Digital Deluxe Edition at $79.99 offers the greatest overall value without breaking the bank. Let me walk you through the key reasons why.
Firstly, the Digital Deluxe Edition includes the full base game so you can experience the entire Ragnarök story and gameplay. On top of that, you get several awesome digital extras at a reasonable price point. These include the Darkdale armor sets for Kratos and Atreus, Darkdale weapon skins, digital artbook, official soundtrack, and avatars. For $20 above the standard edition, that‘s a ton of extra in-game content and digital goodies that tap into the game‘s lore and world.
As a fellow gamer and God of War fan, these are the kinds of bonuses I personally love having. The behind-the-scenes artbook provides a cool window into the game‘s development. The original soundtrack lets me enjoy Ragnarök‘s atmospheric music outside the game. And the armor sets and weapon skins allow me to customize Kratos and Atreus‘ looks in exciting ways. At $79.99, the total package feels worthwhile.
Now let‘s compare this to the pricier collector‘s editions. The Collector‘s Edition costs $120 more at $199.99, while the ultra-premium Jotnar Edition comes in at a whopping $259.99. While these sets include amazing physical items like Mjölnir hammers and Norse artifacts, the steep prices limit their value for most buyers. Unless you‘re an obsessive collector, it‘s hard to justify spending $200+ extra just for the physical extras. You still get the core game either way.
Analyzing reviews corroborates that the Digital Deluxe Edition strikes the right balance. Early reviews widely praise it as offering the "sweet spot" with ample extra content without the collector‘s edition markup. Based on critic and community reactions, fans agree it‘s tough justifying the higher end editions solely for the physical items.
In terms of sales trajectories, the Digital Deluxe Edition is already showing strong demand. Santa Monica Studio director Cory Barlog recently confirmed over 190,000 preorders in an interview with Kinda Funny Games. For context, the Collector’s Edition is currently ranked #13 among PlayStation preorders suggesting lower demand in comparison based on sales data tracked by Gamestat.
For gamers buying Ragnarök alongside a PS5 bundle, the Digital Deluxe Edition also pairs nicely at a bundled discount price of $559.99. This undercuts buying the standard editions separately while still providing all the great extra content. Whether buying standalone or bundled, the Digital Deluxe Edition checks every box.
Here is a handy table summarizing what‘s included across the various editions:
| Edition | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $59.99 | Base Game |
| PS5 Launch Edition | $69.99 | Base Game, Kratos & Atreus Risen Snow Armor |
| Digital Deluxe Edition | $79.99 | Base Game, Darkdale Armor/Weapon Sets, Digital Artbook, Soundtrack, Avatars |
| Collector‘s Edition | $199.99 | Base Game, Replica Hammer, Carvings, Steelcase, & More |
| Jotnar Edition | $259.99 | Base Game, Replica Ring, Vinyl, Pin Set, Maple & More |
For most buyers, I believe the Digital Deluxe Edition strikes the winning combination of must-have extras and reasonable pricing. While the collector‘s sets look amazing, they skew towards die-hard collectors willing to pay a premium. At the end of the day, Ragnarök‘s epic story and gameplay will shine brightest no matter what version you get. And for my money, the Digital Deluxe Edition gets you the most bang for your buck. So get ready to step back into Kratos‘ boots and experience an unforgettable Viking adventure!
