Fanatical’s January Platinum bundle offers verified hits for your backlog

Digital retailer Fanatical has launched its January 2025 "Build Your Own Platinum Collection," offering a tiered selection of indie and AA titles starting at three games for $9.99. The promotion allows customers to select from a pool of 16 titles, with the price per unit dropping as low as $2.85 when purchasing the maximum tier.

The pricing structure is broken down into three distinct tiers: three games for $9.99, five for $14.99, or seven for $19.95. While the "Platinum" label is marketing shorthand for "more expensive than the dollar bundles," the selection this month includes several titles that have maintained price points well above these averages on Steam.

The Retro and Arcade Highlights

For readers of this site, the inclusion of Windjammers 2 is likely the headline attraction. Dotemu's 2022 sequel to the 1994 Neo Geo cult classic retains the frantic disc-throwing gameplay of the original while updating the visuals with hand-drawn 2D animation. It is a rare example of a modern revival that understands exactly why the original hardware was special.

Also notable is the Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines & Grapple Dog Double Pack. This includes both the 2021 original and the 2024 follow-up. These are competent, colorful 2D platformers that lean heavily into the Game Boy Advance aesthetic, utilizing a grappling hook mechanic that feels like a lost mechanic from the 16-bit era.

Steam Deck Performance

Portable performance is a priority for many collectors, and Fanatical has listed the Steam Deck verification status for the available titles. According to the bundle page, the following titles are Verified for the handheld:

• Mika and The Witch's Mountain: A cozy exploration game often compared to Kiki's Delivery Service.
• Let's School: A management sim from 2023 with a 95% positive rating on Steam.
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank: The roguelite follow-up to the tax-evasion original.

Other titles, such as the Soulslike action RPG Asterigos: Curse of the Stars and the immersive sim House Builder, are listed as Playable. It is worth mentioning that the House Builder option in this bundle is the "Atomic Age Bundle," which includes the base game and the Atomic Age DLC.

Value Proposition

The math here is favorable for those looking to fill gaps in a digital library. At the highest tier, paying roughly $2.85 for a game like Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express (which normally lists for $39.99) is a significant discount. However, as with all digital bundles, the value depends entirely on whether you actually play the games or just add them to the pile of shame that haunts us all.