Big games often come in several editions: Standard, Deluxe, Gold, Ultimate, Complete, Game of the Year… The price difference can be large. Here's how to decide.
What the editions usually include
Every publisher does it differently, but as a rough guide:
- Standard: the base game.
- Deluxe / Digital Deluxe: the game plus cosmetic items, a soundtrack, artbook or small bonuses.
- Gold / Ultimate: the game plus a season pass or future expansions, sometimes early access.
- Complete / Game of the Year (GOTY): released later, includes the game and all its expansions, often at a lower price than buying them separately.
Always read the store's description: the name alone doesn't tell you what's inside.
When is a bigger edition worth it?
- You know you'll play the expansions. Season passes are usually cheaper bundled than bought separately.
- The game is a few years old. Complete and GOTY editions often cost little more than the Standard edition.
- Early access matters to you. Some Ultimate editions unlock the game a few days early.
When to stick with Standard
- You're not sure you'll like the game. You can usually buy expansions later.
- The extras are cosmetic. Skins and soundtracks are nice, but rarely worth a big premium.
- It's a new release. Expansion content may not be out for months; prices for it may drop.
Compare editions properly
Key sites often price editions very differently from official stores. Sometimes a Deluxe key is cheaper than the official Standard edition. On Zemly, every edition has its own button on the game page, and the price list updates as you switch between them, so you can see exactly what the extra content costs today.
DLC on its own
If you've already got the base game, check the DLC & add-ons buttons on the game page instead. Expansions bought separately are often discounted too.
Browse popular games to compare editions.