From the sublime to the ridiculous, franchises have been getting creative when drawing attention to their wares sincePongwas the height of video game technology. Whether offering fans enhancedcollector’s editions, unexpected object tie-ins, or just branded versions of products they already like, developers are always searching for ways to make their digital babies stand out from the crowd.
Among the logo-bearing T-shirts, mugs, and figurines, some truly strange and unusual stuff has been offered to gamers over the years. Custom weapons, scary statues, and a surprising amount of scented objects have made this list of some of the oddest pieces of video game merchandise around.
Xbox (Original)
It’s unclear what Xbox was thinking when they teamed up with Lynx to release a collection of toiletries, including body wash, deodorant, and other products that were ‘Lift Your Game’ scented. Any game-enhancing effects weren’t noted by those who actually shelled out for the bright green products.
Despite being released in 2019, the brand feels like an oddly old-fashioned take on unkempt gamer stereotypes. Considering video games have been a mainstream product for decades at this point, the collaboration represents a fumbled attempt to appeal to teenagers which somewhat missed the mark.
Gamers of all stripes have been captivated by the Wild West exploits of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang sinceRed Dead Redemption 2was released in 2018, so it’s no surprise that there have been a number of fun merchandise tie-ins released by Rockstar Games.
One unusual collection features candles in the shape of barrels and dynamite, promising fans exotic scents that will help establish the right yee-hawing vibes. Other pieces ofRed Deadmerch are a bit more tied into the game’s world (such as a collapsible shot glass and metal lighter), but gamers who like to set a mood before they switch on may prefer a smell-forward option.
Despite its psychic antagonist being widely lauded as one of the most interestingvideo game villains of all time,FEAR 3received a mixed reaction from all but the franchise’s most hardcore fans upon its 2011 release.Complex narrativeaside, many players found themselves enjoying the game’s co-op mode over the main storyline.
The collector’s edition of the game came with a few unusual bonuses (including a steel case for the disc and a downloadable weapon in-game), but by far the strangest was a naked statue of Alma Wade with a glow-in-the-dark fetus visible through her skin. It’s a unique, if freaky, conversation starter.
Resident Evil
Survival horror may not be the first thing perfume-makers think of referencing when coming up with new scents, but Capcom has made the concept work time and again with theirResident Eviltie-in merchandise.
With deodorant bottles modeled after the first-aid spray players use in-game, the accompanying T-Virus cologne is intended to inspire swooning rather than the monstrous outbreaks caused by its namesake. Capcom has put out multiple versions of this formula since they first launched the concept in 2017, with a new trio of perfumes inspired by Chris, Jill, and Leon released to charm the masses in 2021.
Fans of theMetal Gear Solidfranchise could turn their phone into Snake’s state-of-the-art iDroid with a branded phone case released by Sentinel in 2014. Gamers could create their own mission support data device (provided they possessed an iPhone 5 or 5s) to bring the game’s tactical vibes into life’s everyday assignments.
Released in conjunction withMetal Gear Solid 5:The Phantom Pain, the case boasted features like a flip-up camera cover and joystick-style volume control button. Although the phone case proved popular,The Phantom Painended up being one ofthe most polarizing video games of all time, with someMetal Gearfans declaring it the franchise’s finest and others rating its gameplay far above its storyline.
Nintendo
Nintendo’s kitschy breakfast cereal brand only hung around on shelves for a year (from 1988 - 1989), but it stayed in the hearts of fans who fell for the fruity tie-in’s charms for much longer.
Showcasing characters fromSuper Mario BrosandThe Legend of Zelda, the cereal tried to win the hearts of young Nintendo lovers with edible characters shaped like Marios, Super Mushrooms, Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Bowsers. Each box also came with a set of trading cards and the opportunity to win an NES Power Pad—or, more likely, aSuper Mario-themedcereal bowl.
Saints Rowis a franchise that has always tried to outdo itself in wackiness, fighting to give gamers a stranger and more extreme experience every time they step into the world of the 3rd Street Saints. One extreme collector’s edition package took things over the top, even for them.
The ‘Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition’ ofSaints Row 4was offered to the discerning (and rich) gamer for a mere one million dollars, and offered bundle items like a trip to Dubai, a Lamborghini Gallardo, a space flight, plastic surgery, and other outlandish perks. It’s no coincidence that the most fun (and realistic) item of the bunch was actually offered to those purchasing a much cheaper package: a replica of the charmingly infamous in-game Dubstep Gun.
With horror games being unable to capitalize on a lot of the cuter merchandising options used by more family-friendly games, some titles have become extremely creative in finding ways to beef up the deluxe collector’s packages for particularly dedicated fans.Dying Light’s’My Apocalypse' edition is perhaps the most infamous of these efforts.
Dropping a cool half-million dollars on the bundle promised to leave players ready for a real-world apocalypse, and included everything from professional parkour lessons to a supply of adult diapers, which were ostensibly for nighttime gaming, but would probably also be useful if zombies came calling. The strangest and most extreme item in the collection was a custom-built apocalypse bunker, which would certainly prove someone’s dedication tosurviving at the end of the world.
