What is the Difference Between the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions of God of War Ragnarök?

The main difference is that the Standard Edition includes just the base game, while the Digital Deluxe Edition contains bonus digital items like armor sets, an art book, soundtrack, and avatars. Keep reading this 2600+ word guide to see if paying extra for the Digital Deluxe Edition is worth it for you.

As an avid God of War fan, I‘ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Ragnarök – the epic sequel to 2018‘s Game of the Year winner. My friends always ask me for advice on which video game editions to buy, so I‘m here to help break down the key differences between the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions of God of War Ragnarök.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll compare what you get in each version so you can determine if it‘s worth spending extra on the Digital Deluxe Edition. Let‘s dive in!

Overview of God of War Ragnarök Editions

First, let‘s outline the two editions of God of War Ragnarök available for pre-order:

• Standard Edition

  • $59.99 on PlayStation 4
  • $69.99 on PlayStation 5
  • Includes base game only

• Digital Deluxe Edition

  • $79.99 on PlayStation 4 and 5
  • Includes base game + bonuses detailed below

Now let‘s take a deeper look at exactly what extra goodies you‘ll get in the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Digital Deluxe Edition Bonus Items

The Digital Deluxe Edition of God of War Ragnarök includes the following digital items:

• Kratos Darkdale Armor
• Atreus Darkdale Armor
• Darkdale Blades Handles
• Digital Mini Art Book
• Digital Soundtrack
• Avatar Set
• Pre-Order Bonus Armor

I‘ll now go through each of these bonuses in detail so you can judge if they‘re worth it for you.

Armor Sets

One of the big selling points of the Digital Deluxe Edition is that you get bonus armor sets for Kratos and Atreus:

Kratos Darkdale Armor

This armor provides a brand new dark look for our iconic Ghost of Sparta. Here are the key details:

• Decked out in black and silver colors
• Features thick, layered metal plates covering the chest
• Furry raven-feathered mantle across the shoulders
• Intricate Nordic trim and paneling on the gauntlets
• Raven iconography representing Kratos‘ past

The chest plate in particular is highly detailed, with crisscrossing straps, intricate engraved patterns, and a thick armored abdomen.

Atreus Darkdale Armor

Atreus also gets a slick new Darkdale armor set so he matches his father:

• Primarily black leather material
• Raven feathers adorning the outfit
• Metallic sheen on the tunic chest piece
• Blue cloth skirt with geometric Nordic patterns

This armor gives Atreus a tougher, grown-up look compared to his armor in the last game.

Darkdale Blades Handles

Along with the armor sets, you get an alternative handle design for Kratos‘ Blades of Chaos called the Darkdale handles. These provide the blades with:

• A black metal color scheme
• Raven wing decor at the hilt
• Nordic wolf etching on the grips

It‘s a small detail, but a nice touch for fans who want to customize Kratos‘ iconic weaponry.

So in summary, the armor sets and blades allow you to customize Kratos and Atreus with a great new dark, raven-inspired look. However, these cosmetic items do not provide any gameplay boosts or stat improvements.

While the armor sets look awesome, just keep in mind that they are purely visual. You‘ll likely obtain even stronger gear statistically as you progress through the game.

Digital Art Book

You‘ll also get a digital art book published by Dark Horse if you purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition.

This book will provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the development of Ragnarök, including:

• Concept art
• Character and environment designs
• Comments from the artists, developers, and creative directors at Sony Santa Monica Studio

Here are some official sample pages:

If you love seeing how the God of War universe and characters were visualized early on, this is a great extra.

However, art books are ultimately about personal preference. If you‘re like me and love soaking in concept art, it adds a lot of value. But if you‘re less interested in behind-the-scenes content, it may not be as worthwhile for you.

Digital Soundtrack

You‘ll also get the entire orchestral soundtrack by acclaimed composer Bear McCreary in digital format with the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Based on the trailers and gameplay previews, Ragnarök‘s soundtrack sounds just as grand and sweeping as 2018‘s God of War.

Owning the soundtrack lets you relive emotional moments from the game whenever you want. I love playing my favorite game soundtracks in the background when working or reading!

However, the soundtrack is obviously an optional extra that doesn‘t affect the story or combat gameplay itself. It comes down to if you enjoy game music enough to want permanent access to this soundtrack.

Avatar Set

A small bonus included in the Digital Deluxe Edition is an avatar set for your PlayStation Network profile. You‘ll be able to represent God of War Ragnarök with Kratos, Atreus, or logo icons.

This is a neat freebie for fans, but has no monetary value. The avatars are just a nice representation of your love for the series when playing online or chatting on PSN.

Pre-Order Bonus Armor

Finally, both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions come with the same pre-order bonus armor set:

• Kratos Risen Snow Armor
• Atreus Risen Snow Tunic

This armor is inspired by the wintery settings of God of War Ragnarök. So you aren‘t missing out on any content by getting the Standard Edition here.

Is the Digital Deluxe Edition Worth it?

So based on this comprehensive breakdown, is it worth spending extra on the God of War Ragnarök Digital Deluxe Edition?

Here are the key factors to consider:

You get the game on both PS4 and PS5 – This allows for intergenerational flexibility if you plan to upgrade consoles.

The armor sets are visually striking – They let you customize Kratos and Atreus with awesome new Nordic raven-themed looks.

The art book provides cool behind-the-scenes content – If you love seeing concept art and developer insights, it adds a lot of value.

You get the entire Bear McCreary soundtrack – Great for hardcore fans who want to be immersed in the game‘s epic score.

The avatars are free bonuses for fans – Negligible value, but neat profile customization.

Ultimately, it comes down to your budget and interests:

• If you‘re on a tight budget, the Standard Edition gets you the complete gameplay experience.

• If you care about cosmetics and behind-the-scenes content, the Digital Deluxe extras add value.

• If you plan to play on both PS4 and PS5, the dual-generation bundle has appeal.

To help summarize, here is a quick pros vs cons table:

Digital Deluxe Edition	Pros	Cons
Kratos & Atreus armor	Awesome new looks	Cosmetic only, no stats
Art book	Cool concept art & info	Not needed for gameplay
Soundtrack	Great for fans of the score	Doesn‘t affect gameplay
Avatars	Neat profile customization	Negligible value
PS4 & PS5 versions	Allows for generational upgrades	Standard Edition still looks amazing on PS5

Let‘s compare this to what you get in the Standard Edition:

Standard Edition	Pros	Cons
God of War Ragnarök game	Same complete experience	No extras
Pre-order armor	Still get bonus armor set	Less armor sets overall
Cheaper price	Saves $20	No art book or soundtrack

Reviewing this comparison, the Standard Edition seems like the best option unless you really value the specific extras highlighted in the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Both versions will provide the complete God of War Ragnarök experience and hundreds of hours of top-tier gameplay. But the Standard Edition saves you $20 on the base game alone.

The Verdict

Given the comparison above, here is my verdict on which edition I recommend:

• If you‘re on a budget, get the Standard Edition – you still get the full amazing game!

• If you‘re a big fan who loves art books & soundtracks, get the Digital Deluxe Edition for the behind-the-scenes extras.

• If you‘re planning to upgrade from PS4 to PS5 soon, get the Digital Deluxe for both versions.

• If you only care about gameplay content, get the Standard Edition to save money.

That sums up my in-depth guide to the God of War Ragnarök editions – let me know if you have any other questions! I hope this advice helps you decide which version is best for you.