This is a personal favorite niche of mine as well, as I am drawn to the more obscure and weird collectibles from an otherwise popular franchise. With Halloween right around the corner let's take a look at some of the more unique items from the horror video game genre.
The Halloween Horror Nights The Last of Us FEDRA Ration Can
At this year's Halloween Horror Nights at both Universal Hollywood and Orlando theme park fans of the popular PlayStation game The Last of Us can step foot into the world of Ellie and Joel. Both theme parks have an immersive The Last of Us haunted house (an absolute delight and worth the wait in line), as well as themed food offerings.
I recently visited Universal Orlando and got to experience the small-themed TLOU area which offered themed food provided by the FEDRA Rations Distribution stall. The themed food included Left Behind Ravioli, Lakeside "Meat" Stew, and a ration bar. As my boyfriend is a hardcore fan of the game, he opted for the ravioli, as it came in a collectible can.
For the record the ravioli tasted like it came from a Chef Boyardee can, which is both comforting and disappointing as this meal was $9.99. But we all know why people are buying it. And yes, Richie cleaned his out and took it home. He skipped the meat stew, but note that it did come on a collectible dish that to the naked eye looks like something you could buy in Target.
A quick eBay search yields a number of sales for the can itself with prices ranging from $20 for one can, all the way to $70 for two cans and an 8-ounce glass. Personally, I do like the weirdness of this specific item. If you're not familiar with the game or the HBO show it really does look like another generic food item. But it does have some intrinsic value and if you're able to get a can for yourself, do so.
Five Nights at Freddy's Night of Fights! Board Game
If you're a fan of the popular Five Nights at Freddy's video game and want to bring the action to your next board game night, you're in luck. As FNAF takes place in an upside-down version of Chuck E. Cheese or ShowBiz Pizza, Funko created the game's box to look like a pizza box, and some of the contents look like stuff you would bring home from a pizzeria. While most of us associate Funko with their plastic mini-figures, the company does occasionally release something truly fun and unique.
The game itself mimics the video game, in which you have to try and survive a night as a security guard or be eaten alive by an animatronic. While it may not have the jump scare factor, this is still a thrilling game that will keep your heart rate up. Board games themselves can be very collectible, with certain ones going for hundreds of dollars. Thankfully this is a new item, so you won't have to break the bank to add this to your collection.
BioShock Big Daddy Life-Size Statue
Alright, maybe BioShock isn't a true horror game. But it does have elements of horror and, in my opinion, is Halloween adjacent, so this game fits in. When BioShock was released in 2007, Oxmox Studios created a life-size Big Daddy statue that was on display in toy stores, gaming stores, or wherever else BioShock was sold (and to whomever else could afford this item). This was a piece of marketing material, but they have since become big collector's pieces. As these were not mass-produced finding one is rather tricky. When they do come up for sale they command a few thousand dollars -- and that's before shipping!
These statues are also fiberglass, making them fairly fragile. If you have the chance to pick one up locally -- and you have the space -- I would absolutely get one. The only downside is if you were to ever re-sell the item. Your options will be limited to local pick-up or a freight company such as DHL, and that can be very pricey. This is one collectible you would likely have for the rest of your life!
Resident Evil First Aid Spray
In March 2023 the Resident Evil 4 remake was released to high praise from both fans and critics alike. Resident Evil itself has been a horror video game staple since 1996, and has grown to be a recognizable franchise. Loads of collectibles have been released for this game, including your standard statues and posters, as well as proplica items. One such item, the first aid spray, is a personal favorite. While you could find loads of other items (including airsoft guns), this item was only released to the Capcom store in Japan.
These bottles come empty, so they truly are a display or cosplay piece. They're prices at a reasonable 880 yen - or just shy of $6 USD. Yet before shipping these are selling on eBay for over $15 each. These are still available at the Capcom store, so if you're heading to Japan or know someone there, this is a great and inexpensive collectible.
If you're looking for something with more pizzaz, don't miss out on this Resident Evil Fist Aide Drink Collector's Box from Gameflavor. It may not save your life if an 8-foot vampire queen comes to kill you, but at least it'll look cool in your kitchen.
