If you’ve been scrolling through PS5 game drops looking for an edition that gives you both bragging rights and tangible in-game advantages, the Doom the Dark Ages Collector's Bundle PS5 has likely popped up on your radar. I picked up my copy two weeks after launch, after holding off for three weeks to see if early reviews pointed to any hidden downsides, and I’ve put nearly 40 hours into playing with the exclusive content since. I’m breaking down everything you get, how it stacks up against the standard edition, and who should splurge on this bundle versus who can stick to the base game.
What’s Included in the Doom the Dark Ages Collector's Bundle PS5?
First off, this bundle splits its content into physical collector’s items and digital in-game perks, so you get value both for your display shelf and your gameplay sessions. I was surprised at the quality of the physical items, especially compared to other recent collector’s bundles that feel like cheap afterthoughts. The full breakdown includes:
- Physical copy of the base Doom the Dark Ages PS5 game, with exclusive foil cover art that shifts color under different lighting
- 12-inch resin statue of the game’s main protagonist, clad in the exclusive Obsidian Knight armor set only available with this bundle
- Hardcover 180-page art book with concept art, cut level designs, and developer commentary that never made it to official social media
- Digital code for the Dark Ages Expansion Pass, including three post-launch story DLCs that will roll out over the next 12 months
- Exclusive digital in-game content: three unique weapon skins, the Obsidian Knight armor set, 10,000 in-game souls currency, and a custom PS5 theme for your console home screen
I’ve bought my fair share of collector’s bundles over the years, and this one avoids the common pitfall of filling the box with low-quality swag you’ll throw in a closet within a week. The statue is heavy, well-painted, and doesn’t have the cheap plastic seams you see on mass-produced figurines. The art book, in particular, was a nice touch for long-time fans of the Doom franchise, as it includes nods to earlier games that casual players might miss. I compared the total cost of buying all items separately versus the Doom the Dark Ages Collector's Bundle PS5 price, and you save roughly $25 by buying the bundle rather than purchasing everything individually.
Exclusive In-Game Perks That Actually Impact Gameplay
A lot of collector’s bundle exclusive content is purely cosmetic, but that’s not the case here. I tested the Obsidian Knight armor set against the best armor you can unlock in the first 20 hours of the base game, and there’s a clear, fair advantage that doesn’t break the game for new players. The Obsidian Knight set has 15% higher dark damage resistance than any other early-game armor, which makes the first two major boss fights far less frustrating, especially if you’re playing on hard mode. The weapon skins aren’t just for show either: the void axe skin adds a 5% boost to stamina regeneration when you land a heavy hit, which is a game-changer for players who prefer melee builds over magic.
I know a lot of players hate pay-to-win mechanics, so I want to be clear: none of these perks make you unbeatable, and you can unlock comparable stats by grinding for 15 to 20 hours in the base game. They just let you jump into harder content faster, which is a nice bonus for players who don’t have a ton of time to grind for gear. That means you won’t be at a disadvantage if you play multiplayer against someone who has the standard edition, and you won’t feel like you wasted your money if you mostly play single-player. Unlike other bundles that lock core content behind a paywall, the Doom the Dark Ages Collector's Bundle PS5 keeps all base game story content available to every player, regardless of which edition they buy.
Pros and Cons of Splurging on This Collector’s Bundle
Before you drop the extra cash on this bundle, it’s important to weigh the upsides and downsides based on your play style and what you care about. I’ve recommended this bundle to some of my friends and told others to stick to the standard edition, based on what they prioritize in their games. The biggest upside for most players is the included expansion pass, which costs $39.99 if you buy it separately. When you factor that in, the extra $40 you pay for the collector’s bundle over the standard edition basically gets you all the physical items and exclusive in-game content for free.
For collector’s who display their game bundles on shelves, the foil cover and statue alone are worth the extra cost, and the art book has enough exclusive content to justify flipping through it multiple times. The downsides are pretty straightforward, though. If you don’t care about physical collectibles and you only play games for a few hours a week, you won’t get much value out of the extra content. The exclusive armor and weapons will become obsolete once you hit the endgame, so if you only plan to play through the main story once, you’re better off saving your money. It’s also worth noting that the statue is pretty large, so if you don’t have extra shelf space, it’ll end up collecting dust in a box somewhere. I also ran into a small issue with my digital code: it took two tries to redeem it on the PSN store, but customer support fixed the issue in 10 minutes, so it wasn’t a major hassle.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy This Bundle?
After spending weeks with the bundle, I’ve got a clear breakdown of who will get the most value out of this purchase, and who can skip it entirely. If you’re a long-time Doom franchise fan who plans to play the game for 50+ hours and collect franchise merchandise, this bundle is a no-brainer. You’re getting the expansion pass for the same price you’d pay separately, plus all the extra physical and digital content for no extra cost in practice. It’s also a great pick if you regularly play multiplayer or co-op with friends, since the exclusive gear will give you a small edge while you’re learning the ropes of higher difficulty missions.
On the flip side, if you’re new to the Doom franchise and you’re not sure if you’ll even like the dark, gritty gameplay of this entry, stick to the standard edition first. You can always buy the expansion pass separately later if you end up loving the game, and you won’t waste money on physical items you don’t care about. It’s also not a great pick if you only buy digital games, since there’s no digital-only version of the collector’s bundle available right now. I’ve also heard from some players who prefer to grind for all their in-game gear, and they said the exclusive perks felt like cheating for their play style, so that’s another thing to consider if you like earning all your items through gameplay.
At the end of the day, the Doom the Dark Ages Collector's Bundle PS5 is one of the better collector’s editions I’ve picked up in the last few years, mostly because it avoids the common trap of packing in low-quality, useless swag to jack up the price. It offers tangible value for both players who care about in-game perks and collectors who want physical items to display, without leaning into unfair pay-to-win mechanics that ruin the fun for everyone. If you’ve been on the fence about picking it up, weigh how much you care about the extra content against your budget, and you’ll be able to make a call that works for you. I haven’t regretted my purchase for a second, and I’m already looking forward to playing the first DLC when it drops later this year.
