Game value tends to be somewhat contentious these days, with seemingly constant debate about what makes a game worth it. While that is entirely up to the individual consumer, it's hard to argue the value of compilation releases.
Over the years, it has almost become its own genre. If a disc with one game on it is good, a disc with multiple games has to be even better. But some compilation releases are a cut above, offering some amazing value for the money.
11 Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
If there's one developer who has some say in what belongs in a beat 'em-up compilation, it's Capcom. Their exhaustive list of accomplishments in the genre is remarkable, some of the best of which are included in this release.
Including clear-cut classics like Final Fight and Captain Commando, it also features criminally underrated titles like Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit. It truly offers some of Capcom's finest arcade efforts.
10 Mega Man X Legacy Collection
Capcom has been doing a wonderful job of archiving Mega Man's adventures ever since the launch of the first collection in 2015. But it's the release of the Mega Man X Legacy Collection that really shines.
Bringing together the first four Mega Man X games, it's hard not to fall in love with this release. Some of the best action-platformers of all time, all in one place is an impossible offer to pass up.
9 Castlevania Advance Collection
Slowly but surely, Konami has been rebuilding Castlevania back to the iconic franchise it used to be. Between the anime, the first collection, and rumors of a new game in development, it's fun to be a Castlevania fan again.
The Castlevania Advance Collection is an incredible assembly of three Gameboy Advance titles; Aria Of Sorrow, Harmony Of Dissonance, and Circle Of The Moon, as well as the SNES release Dracula X.
8 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
It's difficult to imagine ever since the disappointing launch of Halo Infinite, but there's a reason that the shooter franchise has made it to six mainline entries. Halo's time at the top of the shooter food chain is handily chronicled in this release.
Collecting the first four entries, as well as the fabulous spin-off titles Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach, it's a massive amount of content. Add in the multiplayer maps and remastered cutscenes for Halo 2, and you've got something special.
7 The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
Though the franchise itself resembles the shambling corpses that the heroes fight against, there was a time when The Walking Dead was untouchable. The Telltale Games adventure series was among the very best in class at the time.
This extraordinary collection includes all four seasons, the fabulous 400 Days expansion, and the equally brilliant Michonne. It's truly some of the best content ever made in the genre, all in one perfect package.
6 God Of War Saga
Although Kratos is in the middle of a fantastic reinvention, it's impossible to ignore his roots. Spanning two discs, the collection includes the first three God Of War games. It's almost worth it just for GOW 2.
It also contains the criminally underrated PSP games: Chains Of Olympus and Ghost Of Sparta. In a franchise that is already made up of high-quality modern-day entries, this collection of its visceral origin is just as spectacular.
5 Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection
Metal Gear will get a new collection later in the year, but this beefy disc launched in 2013. It features every mainline Metal Gear Solid game released to that point when it was still under the stewardship of creator Hideo Kojima. It's been a minute.
It also features VR Missions, the early 2D games, and even includes the oft-overlooked Peace Walker. Although it's trapped on the PS3, it's truly the best package that money can buy for a Metal Gear fan.
4 Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection
As we sit waiting patiently for someone at Koei Tecmo to put a new entry into production, there's still some good news for Ninja Gaiden. It has not fallen victim to the horrors of bad game preservation like so many before it as the franchise is readily available on modern hardware.
Ninja Gaiden: The Master Collection launched in 2021 and features the absolute best games in the series. Looking, sounding, and playing better than ever, this action-packed collage of blood and steel is hard to beat.
3 Rare Replay
Rares' storied history with Nintendo came to an end in 2002 when they were purchased by Microsoft. Though Nintendo IPs like Donkey Kong and Star Fox were left behind, Rare maintained a hefty library that they made use of in 2015.
Rare Replay features 30 spectacular games like Banjo-Kazooie, Cobra Triangle, Perfect Dark, and Viva Pinata and was recently updated with a new release for Goldeneye. It's constantly on sale and is worth every penny.
2 Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Mass Effect has a fourth entry in development, but news on that project has been murky lately. Thankfully, fans can play all the entries from the franchise's glory days today thanks to this collection.
Featuring quality-of-life upgrades, graphic enhancements, and higher resolutions, the Legendary Edition is a sprawling adventure that covers over 100 hours of content. The changes to Mass Effect 1 alone make the package worth it.
1 The Orange Box
Half-Life has been deathly quiet since the 2006 release of Episode 2. Except for a VR game and a fan remake of the first game, the story of Gordon Freeman feels like it may be stuck in a state of limbo.
But none of that stops The Orange Box from being the incredible package that it is. Containing Half-Life 2 and its two episodes, Team Fortress 2 and the delightful Portal, The Orange Box is worth every penny.