Which edition of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey should you buy?

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the latest entry in the long-running franchise, lives up to its name. It’s an epic in every sense of the word, with family drama, political intrigue and yes, lots of grinding. Unless you shell out for some boosts and buffs, that is.

Microtransactions in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey have been a huge topic of debate, both in the Polygon newsroom and on the internet at large. To complicate matters even further, many of the skins and boosts available via microtransactions are included with different editions of the game. When I tried to figure out which version to buy, I was confused and frustrated by the whole thing. It turned buying a game I was excited about into a chore. I ended up just buying the base game and paying for a permanent XP boost in the in-game store, which may lose me money in the long run if I decide to pick up any DLC down the road.

For those who may be facing similar indecision paralysis, we’ve broken down the differences between the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey editions below. Everyone plays differently, especially when it comes to huge RPGs like this one, so we’re not recommending any one edition (though I don’t recommend the Deluxe Edition unless you really want some extra skins). We’re just doing the homework for you.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey standard edition

Ubisoft

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you don’t care about any of the extras and just want the experience of playing the game, this is probably the best option. The standard edition costs $59.99.

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey base game

Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey standard edition here: Amazon | Best Buy | Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition

Ubisoft

The Deluxe Edition costs $79.99 and includes boosts to help you progress faster, along with some exclusive skins and weapons.

It’s not very clear in the description for the Deluxe Edition, but you should note that boosts included in this edition are temporary — they’ll expire after your first two hours of play. As Polygon’s Ben Kuchera points out, that’s not nearly enough time for the game to get going. Unless you’re dying for the exclusive skins, you’re better off getting the standard edition and paying an extra $10 for the permanent boost.

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey base game
• Temporary XP and Drachma (in-game currency) boosts
• Kronos Gear Pack, Herald Gear Pack, Capricornus Naval Pack

Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition here: Amazon | Best Buy | Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Gold Edition

Ubisoft

It’s too late to take advantage of one of the Gold Edition’s perks: three-day early access to the game. However, you’ll also get access to the Season Pass, which will include two new story arcs and the remastered Assassin’s Creed 3 and Assassin’s Creed Liberation as soon as they’re released. The Season Pass is $39.99 on its own, and the Gold Edition costs $99.99, so this is basically just a bundle.

The basic Gold Edition is only available digitally, but a physical steelbook version of it is available for $109.99.

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey base game
• “Legacy of the First Blade” DLC (December 2018)
• “The Fate of Atlantis” DLC (Spring 2019)
• Assassin’s Creed 3 and Assassin’s Creed Liberation (March 2019)

Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Gold Edition here: Amazon | Best Buy | Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ultimate Edition

Ubisoft

The Ultimate Edition costs $119.99 and includes everything mentioned above from the other editions, making it the most complete set.

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey base game
• Temporary XP and Drachma (in-game currency) boosts
• Kronos Gear Pack, Herald Gear Pack, Capricornus Naval Pack
• “Legacy of the First Blade” DLC (December 2018)
• “The Fate of Atlantis” DLC (spring 2019)
• Assassin’s Creed 3 and Assassin’s Creed Liberation (March 2019)

Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Ultimate Edition here: Amazon | Best Buy | Ubisoft