Dead Island Riptide Zombie Bait Edition

This is the one that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Dead Island Riptide Zombie Bait Edition for PC shipped with a hand-painted figurine that sparked immediate controversy, a Weapon Pack DLC, and a steelbook case. Love it or hate it, it became one of the most talked-about collector's editions of 2013.

The hand-painted figurine is the entire draw. It was produced in limited quantities, pulled from shelves in several markets, and became instantly scarce. The steelbook case is a solid addition, giving the package some traditional collector's edition credibility alongside its more provocative centerpiece.

The Weapon Pack DLC adds in-game content that most players have long since redeemed or forgotten about. But the physical goods here carry all the weight. Controversial collector's editions occupy a strange space on the shelf.

They're historical artifacts of the industry's growing pains, snapshots of a moment that won't repeat. Whether you're collecting Dead Island completionist-style or curating a shelf of editions with a story behind them, the Zombie Bait Edition is one that people remember.