Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Black Chest Edition

This is where Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag collecting reaches its peak. The Black Chest Edition for Wii U is crowned by a 55cm diorama of Captain Edward Kenway standing at the bow of the Jackdaw, leading the charge in a pose that turns any shelf into a scene from the Caribbean. Surrounding that centerpiece: a steelbook, an artbook filled with the concept art that shaped the game's world, the official soundtrack, a world map, two lithographs in a protective envelope, an embroidered Jackdaw Black Flag bearing the Assassin's Crest, and two canvas prints.

" Every piece in this box was designed to make you feel like you'd plundered something real. The embroidered flag and canvas prints push this beyond standard collector's fare into genuine display territory, the kind of items that work on a wall, not just a shelf. On Wii U, the Black Chest Edition is practically mythical.

This was a premium package for a console that was already struggling with third-party commitment, which means production numbers were small and surviving complete sets are smaller. If you collect Assassin's Creed at the highest tier, this is the white whale. Fitting, given the subject matter.