Editorials
The Last of Us 2: Which Edition to Buy?
Interest in The Last of Us 2 has seen a resurgence in 2023 thanks to the hit Last of Us series on HBO. If you’ve been watching the show, you may be thinking about playing the game. If that’s the case, you’ll want to pick the right edition for your interest level and budget.
The Last of Us 2 comes in five different versions. These include a Standard Edition, a Special Edition, a Digital Deluxe Edition, a Collector’s Edition, and an Ellie Edition.
In this guide to the The Last of Us 2 editions we’ll take you through each version of the game and help you pick the correct version for your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.
The Last of Us 2 Standard Edition
The most basic version of the game is the standard edition. It comes with the least amount of content, but it also is the cheapest way to play. The Last of Us 2 standard edition used to retail for $59.99, but you can find it on sale for much cheaper in 2023.
So who should buy the standard version of The Last of Us 2?
- Newcomers to the series though we recommend playing the original Last of Us before playing this one.
- People who don’t have a ton of time to play games and aren’t sure how much time they can or want to invest in a lengthy action-adventure game.
You can buy the standard edition at sites like Amazon and Sony.
The Last of Us 2 Special Edition
The Last of Us 2 Special Edition is a bundle that comes with some extras you won’t get with the standard edition.
The Special Edition includes a custom SteelBook case, a 48 page mini art book from Dark Horse, a dynamic theme for your PS4, and a set of 6 PSN avatars.
So who should spend the extra money for the Special Edition?
- Collectors.
- People who love to customize their PlayStation backgrounds and avatar.
You can buy the Special Edition at retailers like Amazon.
The Last of Us 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
There’s also a Digital Deluxe version of the game that’s aimed at those who want to avoid buying a disc.
If you buy this version of the game you get a digital soundtrack, Ellie’s tattoo avatar, a digital mini art book from Dark Horse, a dynamic theme for your PS4, and a set of 6 PSN avatars.
The Last of Us 2 Collector’s Edition
For those that want even more from their purchase, there’s the Collector’s Edition which comes with an assortment of bonuses. It retails for a lot more than the editions above.
The Last of Us 2 Collector’s Edition comes with a digital soundtrack, a digital mini art book from Dark Horse, a dynamic theme for your PS4, and the set of 6 PSN avatars. But that’s not all. You’ll also get:
- A beautifully crafted 12” Ellie statue.
- A life-sized replica of Ellie’s bracelet.
- A custom SteelBook case.
- A set of six enamel pins, A lithograph art print.
- A set of five stickers.
This bundle is aimed at collectors and huge fans of The Last of Us series. Casual fans of the series are better off going with the Standard or Special edition.
You can buy the Collector’s Edition at retailers like Amazon.
The Last of Us 2 Ellie Edition
And finally, there’s the very expensive The Last of Us 2 Ellie Edition which comes with the most content.
The Last of Us 2 Ellie Edition comes with a digital soundtrack, a digital mini art book from Dark Horse, a dynamic theme for your PS4, and the set of 6 PSN avatars.
You also get all of the items from the Collector’s Edition plus a few additional ones. These include:
- A full-sized, fully functional recreation of Ellie’s backpack.
- An embroidered patch.
- A 7” vinyl record featuring music from the original soundtrack.
Like the Collector’s Edition, this bundle is aimed at hardcore fans of the series.
You can buy the Ellie Edition at retailers like Amazon and eBay though you’ll need to shell out a ton of money for the bundle. We’ve seen prices upwards of $500.
Digital vs. Physical
You’ll also need to decide between the physical and digital version of The Last of Us 2. While the Digital Deluxe version is digital only, the other editions come in physical format.
If you buy The Last of Us 2 with a disc, you’ll be able to sell it to a retailer like GameStop for credit toward another game when you’re done with it.
You’ll also be able to sell it on a site like eBay or Craigslist for cash if you’d rather put your money toward another game or product.
Buying a physical copy of the game will also allow you to easily lend the game to a friend, family member, or co-worker if they want to try before buying or if you’re feeling generous after completing the story.
If you buy the digital version of the The Last of Us 2, you’ll be able to avoid clutter building up around your television and/or entertainment center.
If you often misplace games or have kids who like to fling discs around the house like a frisbee, the digital version of the game is probably the version you should buy.
There’s also added convenience. Instead of digging through a sleeve of games or searching around the house looking for your game disc, you can start up your console and start playing immediately.