Game of the Year Collections

Back in the olden days, when everyone lived in mud huts and only had 56k internet connections, “Game of the Year Edition” was just a meagre title thrown on a game box to let you know it had probably sold eleventy gajillion copies. These days, with the futuristic magic of streaming television and 3D everything, a GOTY edition is a cause for celebration, as it usually has all kinds of fantastical free gubbins tacked on. Here are some of the highlights:

Fallout 3

After the phenomenal success of 2008’s Fallout 3, developer Bethesda went on to produce five beefy add-on packs which added a significant chunk of new content to the game – including a rewritten ending. The Game of the Year disc collects this all into one convenient package.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman: Arkham Asylum was one of 2009’s biggest hits. The Game of the Year edition includes four bonus challenge maps alongside two pairs of 3D glasses – allowing the game to be played in a (somewhat successful) 3D mode on 2D televisions.

Dragon Age

Okay, so the Ultimate Edition of Dragon Age might not have “Game of the Year Edition” written on the front of the box, but it’s pretty much the same thing. Collecting all the extensive downloadable content and putting it on a disc with the original game, Dragon Age: Ultimate Edition is by far the best way for latecomers to get acquainted with BioWare’s epic 2009 RPG.

LittleBigPlanet

PS3 exclusive LittleBigPlanet was a gorgeous platformer built around the idea of making and sharing your own content. While the sequel is out next year, the Game of the Year Edition version features a whole load of extra levels and assets – including the Metal Gear content packs, which are an absolute necessity for all budding designers.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

This one’s going to be mostly for the PS3 and PC owners – the 360 version is in incredibly short supply. Oblivion was hugely celebrated RPG when it came out – and a massive one to boot – but the Game of the Year Edition is even better value. It’s got loads of extra stuff, including the hefty Shivering Isles expansion pack.

Borderlands

Borderlands, released autumn 2009, was a crazy over-the-top RPG shooter with a unique aesthetic and an incredible penchant for loot collection. Before going on to finish the development of Duke Nukem Forever, developer Gearbox managed to put out four add-on packs – The Zombie Island of Dr Ned, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, and Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution. The Borderlands Game of The Year edition collates all these extras into one box. Watch out, though: the bonus content is not actually on the disc, so you’ll need an internet connection to get ahold of it.

Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II was a fantastic sequel to its gorgeous but contentious predecessor. The plot skips ahead near the end, however, missing out on two key ‘memories’ of protagonist Ezio Auditore. These bits are added back in for the Game of the Year edition, along with a few secret locations and a nice new outfit to wear.

Fable II

Fable III might have just been released, but for a measly sum it’s possible to get hold of the Fable II: Game of the Year Edition. The game still holds up well today, too, and comes with both of the additional content packs thrown in.

Gears of War II

Gears of War 2 is still one of the Xbox 360’s most impressive exclusives – even though it’s almost two years old. The third-person cover shooter’s Game of the Year Edition comes with 19 extra multiplayer maps and a new Road to Ruin single-player chapter, making it the easiest way to get your hands on the game’s heaving 1750-point gamerscore.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Modern Warfare 2 might be the most successful game of all time, but the first one definitely isn’t bad either. The Game of the Year collection can be found for next-to-nothing and now gives you four extra multiplayer maps. Don’t worry: plenty of people are still playing it online.