You've just loaded a massive adventure game, and the last thing you want is to miss a key quest, collectible, or boss strategy. A good video game strategy reference can be the difference between a blind playthrough and a completionist run. But with guide prices ranging from a budget paperback to a collectible-price official book, and with options spanning brand-new unofficial guides and a used official PS1 book, how do you choose? Here's a side-by-side look at four very different walkthrough products.
Quick take
If you want the most affordable guide that covers a specific game from beginning to 100% completion, the 007 First Light guide is the entry point here. If you're looking for the biggest print reference for a deep RPG, the Baldur's Gate 3 guide's 670 pages make it the heavyweight. The Skyrim Anniversary Edition guide sits in the middle of the price range and focuses on the expanded Anniversary Edition content. At the other end, the used official Tomb Raider 3 PS1 guide is the most expensive and the only official strategy guide in this group.
Price comparison
| Strategy Guide | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| 007 First Light: Game Guide - 2026 Unofficial Edition | USD 26.79 | |
| Anniversary Edition Complete Game Guide (Skyrim) | USD 29.39 | |
| Baldur's Gate 3 Unofficial Complete Game Guide | USD 55.95 | |
| Tomb Raider 3 PS1 Strategy Guide (Used) | USD 81.20 |
The lowest-priced guide is $54.41 less than the highest-priced one, so there's a big spread to work with depending on how much depth (or nostalgia) you need.
Decision matrix
- Pick the 007 First Light guide if you're playing 007 First Light and want a portable companion that covers missions, stealth, gadgets, weapons, collectibles, bosses, and 100% completion tips.
- Pick the Skyrim Anniversary Edition guide if your game is The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition and you want a step-by-step walkthrough plus crafting systems, all collectibles, and secrets in one new book.
- Pick the Baldur's Gate 3 guide if you want the largest reference here and have room for a big, hefty book.
- Pick the Tomb Raider 3 PS1 strategy guide if you want an official, used, original PlayStation walkthrough for a classic game, and you're willing to pay a premium for it.
Product notes
Anniversary Edition Complete Game Guide (Skyrim)
At $29.39, this brand-new guide is built for The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition. The description promises a step-by-step walkthrough plus alchemy, enchanting, smithing, all collectibles, and secrets, along with Creation Club content. That makes it a strong all-in-one companion for a huge RPG. The price sits close to the cheapest guide here, so you're getting a larger game's coverage for nearly the same money. The trade-off is that the guide aims for concise formatting, so it won't be as physically thick as a multi-hundred-page reference. If you know you're playing the Anniversary Edition, this is a straightforward choice.
007 First Light: Game Guide - 2026 Unofficial Edition
This 95-page guide costs $26.79, making it the cheapest option here. It is an unofficial companion for 007 First Light, covering missions, stealth tactics, gadgets, weapons, collectibles, boss strategies, and 100% completion tips. Because it weighs only 7 ounces and measures 6 by 0.22 by 9 inches, it's the most portable walkthrough in this group. The limitation is that it's a compact guide rather than a giant tome, so if you expect exhaustive lore or hundreds of pages, this one keeps things focused. It's a solid budget buy for a single game you're actively playing.
Baldur's Gate 3 Unofficial Complete Game Guide and Walkthrough
For $55.95, this unofficial guide delivers a 670-page reference for one of the densest RPGs in recent memory. It covers the plot, the Mind Flayer tadpole, turn-based tactics, and the freedom and depth of the game, according to the description. The physical book is the heaviest here at 2.43 pounds and 1.51 inches thick, so it's not a guide you'll want in your lap on a plane. Choose it if you're deep into Baldur's Gate 3 and want a comprehensive companion that stays open on a desk. The limitation is that it's both the heaviest and one of the more expensive guides here, so it's not an impulse buy.
Tomb Raider 3 PS1 Strategy Guide Used Official Game Walkthrough Book
This is the only official strategy guide in the mix, and it's the most expensive at $81.20. It's a used copy in Good condition, so it has the charm and wear of a pre-owned collectible. The title confirms it's an official PS1-era walkthrough for Tomb Raider 3. If you're a retro gamer or collector, this is the guide to display on a shelf. The limitation is that it's used and priced far above the others, so you're paying for nostalgia and official status rather than new condition. The used condition means the book shows the normal wear of a pre-owned item, which is expected from a vintage guide. For a classic game like Tomb Raider 3, that patina can be part of the appeal.
Final recommendation by use case
- For a budget pickup: the 007 First Light guide.
- For Skyrim Anniversary Edition players: the Anniversary Edition guide.
- For Baldur's Gate 3 completionists: the Baldur's Gate 3 guide, as long as you have desk space.
- For retro collectors: the official Tomb Raider 3 PS1 guide, understanding it's used.
