Last Updated on June 9, 2024 by Jhonni Jets

Gaming has become so much more than just playing video games. For many, gaming is a true passion and a vibrant community. Hardcore fans show their dedication by accumulating gaming merchandise that demonstrates how much they love their favorite franchises, characters, and studios. Whether hanging posters on your wall, wearing licensed apparel, or displaying collectibles, owning gaming merch is a way for super fans to express themselves. In this article, we will explore the 10 best gaming collectibles and merchandises that any loyal fan would be proud to own.

1. Statues and Figurines

Highly detailed statues and figurines of iconic characters are some of the most coveted gaming collectibles. Produced by companies like First 4 Figures and Dark Horse, these licensed sculptures can be works of art. Featuring meticulous paint applications and prototyping of weapons, armor, and accessories, premium statues often retail for hundreds of dollars. However, they are a stunning focal piece for any gaming collection. Some particularly impressive entries include Dark Souls’ Ornstein and Smough statue, Overwatch’s Widowmaker Maquette statue, and Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy Maquette statue. For fans seeking a tangible embodiment of their favorite heroes and villains, statues are incredibly impressive additions.

2. Strategy Guides and Art Books

Gaming lore hounds and visual enthusiasts will appreciate strategy guides and art books. Prima Games is renowned for their detailed walkthroughs and Wikis that provide world-building information, gameplay strategies, enemy encounters, collectible guides, and more. Art books like The Art of The Last of Us and Horizon Zero Dawn: The Sunhawk Pocket Guide showcase breathtaking environments, character designs, creature concepts, and more. For those who want to learn every secret and appreciate the creative process, these books are indispensable. Even years after playing a game, fans still find joy in rediscovering mechanics and admiring aesthetic brilliance by leafing through guides and art books.

3. Limited Edition Game Copies

Nothing quite says you love a game like getting a premium collector’s edition. Whether it’s a steelbook case, statue bundle, or complete packaging overhaul, limited edition copies take fandom up a notch. Popular limited editions include God of War’s Stone Mason Edition with a replica of Kratos’ axe, Horizon Forbidden West’s Regalla Edition with a full-size TENAKTH Bow, and The Last of Us Part II’s Ellie Edition with a replica of Ellie’s backpack. Complete with bonus physical items, downloadable content, and artwork, collectors editions allow fans to own prestige versions of titles they adore in a way standard retail copies never could. Even gamers who go fully digital still covet these premium boxed releases.

4. Apparel

Repping your favorite games through apparel is a no-brainer for many fans. T-shirts, jackets, hoodies, hats – you name it, most major franchises have a variety of licensed clothing available. Casual graphic tees allow fans to subtly show pride whenever out and about. Meanwhile, jackets and hoodies with intricate embroidery or prints provide opportunities for bold outward expression. Bonus points if apparel includes references only die-hard fans would understand. Wearing gaming-related clothes on a daily basis is a comfortable way to blend fandom into everyday style. Companies like Fangamer, Insert Coin, and Limited Run Games produce high-quality, unique apparel options on a regular basis.

5. Soundtracks

No gaming experience is complete without its accompanying music and sound design. Many memorable game soundtracks such as The Legend of Zelda, Nier, and Halo have become culturally influential works of art in their own right. Owning both physical and digital versions of video game soundtracks allows fans to re-experience those emotional moments of discovery, combat, and resolution outside of gameplay. Some notable soundtracks to own include DOOM (2016)’s heavy metal playlist, God of War (2018)’s orchestral majesty, and Monster Hunter World’s adventurous melodies. Regularly listening to gaming soundtrack albums is a tranquil way to relive favorite titles or fuel future playthroughs with nostalgia and hype.

6. Trading Cards

If you enjoyed collecting Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards in your youth, adult gaming card collections scratch a similar itch. Companies like Cryptozoic Entertainment produce stylish trading card sets themed after epic game worlds. These feature characters, monsters, locations, weapons and more. While some cards purely showcase art, others include mini-games and mechanics just like traditional TCGs. Series like The Witcher, Overwatch, and Fallout have seen widespread trading card releases with dedicated collector followings. Amassing rare and holographic cards brings the same dopamine rush as a childhood hobby, just with significantly cooler IP-inspired subjects.

7. Gaming Accessories

Productivity and gaming go hand in hand for some fans. Customizable controllers, headset stands, mousepads, and more allow dedicated aficionados to deck out their battlestations in style. Controller skins from vendors like Skinit put a personalized twist on standard inputs. Standalone headset stands shaped like iconic weapons keep gear organized in style. Massive mousepads featuring sprawling game maps are useful for marathon sessions. Collector’s will also want premium peripherals from game-specific lines like the Razer Atheris Halo Infinite Edition headset. Equipping one’s setup with top-tier licensed accessories shows hardened dedication to both hardware and software.

8. Action Figures

While detailed statues capture pivotal character moments, action figures take playtime to the next level. Franchises with sizable toyetic reputations regularly release articulated plastic figures at both kid-friendly and collector-focused scales. Some popular lines include S.H.Figuarts’ selection of realistic anime figures, Mega Construx’s Halo building sets, and McFarlane Toys’ range of Fallout and Elder Scrolls sculpts. Posing, playing, and displaying figures satisfies an innate human urge to physically interact with fictional worlds. Arrange battles with your Kratos, Link, and Master Chief figurines to fuel future games with creativity. Action figures let the inner child shine through sophisticated collections.

9. Prop Replicas

For the most dedicated fanatics, only 1:1 scale replicas will do. Companies like Noble Collection, Dark Horse, and WETA Workshop manufacture remarkably detailed prop reproductions. This includes everything from the Master Sword and Hylian Shield to doomguy’s Praetor Suit and Ellie’s switchblade. Rivaling museum-grade replicas in terms of sheer material quality and attention to source authenticity, high-end props occupy a league of their own. While hefty price tags in the multiple thousands show they’re meant for ultra-buffs, owning a tangible piece of a beloved game world feels like achieving the ultimate collector goal. Displaying a genuine Cortana chip or plasma rifle may even convince newcomers you’ve stumbled into the games IRL!

10. Retro Gaming Merch

For fans who grew up with the original consoles, retro merch preserves nostalgia. Reproduction cartridges, console skins, and controllers show pride for gaming history. Officially licensed shirts, hats, and pins celebrate bygone eras with 8-bit or 16-bit pixelated designs. Unique items like Funko POP! figures of Mega Man, Simon Belmont, and Sonic let neo-retro styles shine. Coffee table art books documenting the rise of Nintendo and Sega offer a visual stroll down memory lane. While not necessarily the flashiest niche, retro gaming merch resonates strongest with players who fondly recall youthful adventures in pixels of yore. No collection is complete without a nod to where it all began.

Conclusion

The world of gaming merchandise offers immense variety for true fans looking to display their passion. From functional accessories to display-worthy collectibles, there are options at every price point to represent beloved titles. While virtual achievements matter most to players, physical items allow ownership of gaming worlds usually restricted to screens. Building a balanced collection over time becomes a fun challenge, with new additions fueling future gameplay. Above all, gaming merch lets loyalists creatively express fandom while bringing joy to other devotees who appreciate finely-curated collections. In the end, it’s not about the merchandise itself, but what it represents – a life enriched by the unifying power of play.