Darksiders Limited Edition

The apocalypse rides on four horses, but only one of them came with a poker deck. The Darksiders Limited Edition on Xbox 360 bundled Vigil Games' ambitious action debut with two extras that punch above their weight class: a bonus code for the exclusive Harvester weapon and a full collectible poker card deck featuring 52 unique Darksiders-themed designs. The Harvester unlock is a nice in-game perk, but that poker deck is where the collector value lives.

Fifty-two unique illustrations means every card in the deck carries original Darksiders artwork, turning a simple pack of playing cards into a portable art gallery for the franchise. It's the kind of creative pack-in that stands completely on its own, usable and displayable regardless of whether your 360 still boots up. Darksiders carved out a loyal following by blending Zelda-style exploration with visceral combat, and the Limited Edition captures that scrappy underdog energy.

This wasn't a mega-franchise throwing its weight around with premium statues and hardcover books. It was a new IP saying, "We belong here," and backing it up with something genuinely fun to hold. For Xbox 360 collectors who appreciate editions that try something different with their pack-ins, this one deals a winning hand.