The gaming industry has been around for a long time. With rapid advancements, sequels that blow their predecessors out of the water, and new consoles, it’s reasonable to think that older games slowly drop their price and go out of style. While that is largely the case with many video games, that isn’t true with all of them, particularly in relation to Nintendo.
Nintendo makes games specifically for their platforms and nowhere else. As a result, many of their games only become harder to find and more expensive years after they release. Games for past Nintendo consoles can fetch a pretty penny as most people know. If you’ve held on to your collection as a child, perhaps you even have some of these more valuable games.
As time has moved on and more platforms developed, there are several Nintendo games that have become so difficult to find and so expensive that only the biggest collectors can even hope to have them in their library. Whether it be the NES, SNES, or even GameCube, there are so many games that have skyrocketed in price. Most people dream of seeing these titles one day.
Get ready for your wallets to hurt, then, as we go through 25 of the rarest Nintendo games on the market and how much they’re really worth. For this list, we aren’t excluding it to just games developed by Nintendo. Any game that was on a Nintendo console is fair game, so expect to see some third-parties here as well.
25 DuckTales 2
Most people look fondly at the DuckTales game on the NES. It’s been re-released and even remastered. However, many people don’t realize that there was a sequel in the form of DuckTales 2. If you decide to add this sequel to your collection, you’re looking at spending an average of $160 just for the cartridge alone. Honestly, at that point, it’s probably better just to find a ROM online and play it on your computer. You could buy plenty of new games with that kind of money.
24 Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is regarded by some to be the best in the series. Holding a lot of nostalgia while having the biggest competitive scene, the game is popular but no longer manufactured. Because of the great demand and little supply, copies can run easily upwards of $60, which is more than their original retail price. One could essentially purchase Super Smash Bros Ultimate for less money and get 50 more characters to boot. There’s just something about Melee, though.
23 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spawned some of the most popular games back in the day, and that trend continued with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters. This TMNT game isn’t well-known amongst the franchise’s other releases, but it does fetch a high price. If you want this game, you’re looking to spend at least $150. Some copies range even higher, approaching $400. It’s just a matter of deciding how big a fan you are of the heroes in a half shell.
22 Mega Man 5
The blue bomber has had it rough after his days on the NES. The original franchise was so popular back in the day that Capcom could get away with releasing several games on the same console.
They managed to get all the way to Mega Man 5 on the NES.
With plenty of advancements over the previous entries in the series, many Mega Man fans have wanted to get their hands on this one. However, it’ll cost you around $75 to add it to your collection. You’d be better off with the Legacy Collection.
21 Xenoblade Chronicles
One of the rarest games on the Wii was the original Xenoblade Chronicles. Without a serious level of demand, there weren’t many copies floating around. However, Shulk’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros for Wii U meant that many wanted to play the series that created him. As a result, prices for the physical copies went up. If you want to get yourself Xenoblade Chronicles, you’re looking to spend at least $50, which was the retail price for AAA releases on the console in its heyday.
20 Bonk’s Adventure
There were a lot of attempts from third-parties to create iconic gaming characters after seeing the success that Nintendo had doing the same thing. One such franchise was Bonk’s Adventure, which starred a baby-like caveman with an attitude. His game on the NES is nowadays a rare find. If you’re a hardcore collector, you’d better have at least $500 to spare just to get your hands on it. Copies that include the actual box can easily reach up to $1000.
19 Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers 2
Disney games were popular on older systems mostly because esteemed developers were tasked with bringing those characters to life. Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers was one of Disney’s older cartoons that got the video game treatment. It managed to even get a sequel that is lesser-known than its predecessor. If you’re trying to play Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers 2, though, you’re looking to save up around $200 just to get your hands on a cartridge. It only gets worse from there.
18 Bubble Bobble 2
Bubble Bobble 2 was a game where players would take control of a cute little dinosaur who would spew bubbles to trap enemies. That’s about all there was to this game. However, it’s another obscure NES title that managed to become one of the rarest and most expensive of all time. A few hundred dollars is the asking price for this NES cartridge. Of course, one could just purchase the “500 in 1” cartridges, but that’s not the same as having the actual cartridge for the game.
17 Bomberman 2
Bomberman has essentially always played the same that he did back in the day. There was something about the formula that was addicting for many people, and it spawned a successful franchise. Go back several years, though, and you’ll find that a few Bomberman games are a bit more expensive than they’re probably worth.
This includes Bomberman 2 for the NES.
If you want to experience the second chapter for this beloved character, you’re going to need to fork over at least $120.
16 Virtual Bowling
The Virtual Boy was a radical failure to Nintendo that showed them that innovation wasn’t always the best strategy if the technology wasn’t there. However, with how little of those consoles and games were produced, some of them reached astronomical prices since then. The Virtual Bowling game is about as simple as one can get, but that hasn’t stopped it from reaching over $1000 to purchase. It’s one of the rarest games in the world, so good luck trying to find one.
15 Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger was one of Square Enix’s other popular RPG games outside of Final Fantasy. With a wonderful cast of characters, an interesting time mechanic, and a memorable story, it has withstood the test of time as one of Square’s most memorable releases. If you’re trying to add this one to your SNES collection, though, you’re looking to spend around $120 at the very least. Honestly, you’re better off trying to get the remake for the Nintendo DS. It’s expensive, but it’s much more manageable.
14 Little Samson
Little Samson was a perfect case of too little too late. The game was one of the greatest action platformers on the NES, but a lack of interest caused it to get almost no attention.
By the time people realized how great the game was, it had already become incredibly rare.
Copies of Little Samson will run at least a few hundred dollars. Some can rocket up to the $1000 mark as well. The game was a hidden gem before hidden gems became popular in their own way.
13 Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Super Smash Bros Melee cemented the presence of Fire Emblem in the west, but it wasn’t until Fire Emblem: Awakening on the 3DS that the series exploded in popularity. Before then was Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn on the Wii. This game became extremely rare, as it was mostly under the radar for the majority of Wii owners at the time. As a result, the game became scarce. Copies can range up to $80. If you’re a diehard Fire Emblem fan, though, that might be a small price to pay.
12 Metroid Prime Trilogy
The Metroid Prime series masterfully brought Samus’ world to the third dimension. Retro Studios skillfully created a sub-series that was beloved and impressive. The trilogy was put together in a collection on the Wii titled Metroid Prime Trilogy. If you’re looking to get a physical copy of this release, though, pre-owned copies run around $60 while new versions can reach a few hundred at best. If you own a Wii U, you can download the game for just $20, though.
11 Pokémon XD: Gale Of Darkness
Before Pokémon Let’s Go, the closest there was to a proper Pokémon game on a home console was Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Putting players through a journey to purify shadow Pokémon proved successful enough, though the game didn’t rocket in popularity. Now the game is a pretty difficult find. Used copies start around $60 while newer copies can easily pass the $100 mark. If you’re a serious GameCube fan, that might be worth it, but Pokémon fans may just want to wait for Gen VIII.
10 Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2
There was always something mesmerizing about SEGA’s Phantasy Star Online series, but it never became popular enough to tie people over and keep the franchise going. Because of this, older entries in the series have become a bit hard to find. Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 on the GameCube is no exception. Used copies range at about $60 while those that have the instruction manual and case can reach up to $120. Forget about trying to find a new copy.
9 Ninja Five-O
Ninja Five-O is one of the most underrated games on the GameBoy Advance. Putting players through a well-designed action platformer starring as a ninja, there was a lot to love.
As with most hidden gems, the game never took off.
Now that everyone knows the game is good, it’s become very difficult to find. Copies can range from $80 well into the $100 range. Remember that it’s just for a tiny GBA cartridge and nothing more. Shame it didn’t get proper credit when it released.
8 Fire Emblem (GBA)
Replicating GBA cartridges has been fairly common, so people have managed to get the GBA version of Fire Emblem up for a pretty cheap price. However, if you want the proper tactical RPG action in an authentic form, that’s when the price starts to go up. For a simple GBA game, it’s quite expensive. Copies can start at around $40 and easily move up to $60. It might be one of the cheaper games on this list, but it still means Fire Emblem fans have it rough.
7 Hello Kitty Kruisers
Why this game is so expensive, we’ll never understand. Nothing more than a bootleg Mario Kart but with Sanrio characters, Hello Kitty Kruisers isn’t even fun for a joke. It’s just a bad, boring game. However, the game got a retail release on the Wii U. Now that the Wii U is deceased and the game is out on Switch, Hello Kitty Kruisers can start at $50 and easily reach $70. Keep in mind that’s more than its retail cost at release. Even the Switch version is cheaper.
6 Hyrule Warriors Limited Edition
The Wii U had it rough with a lot of its games. However, those who managed to get the limited edition for Hyrule Warriors are reaping the benefits now. Without a lot of love behind the game, this version of Hyrule Warriors can reach up to a few thousand dollars without breaking a sweat. Only 250 copies were ever made, which made it a rarity from the start. What’s even crazier is that it’s just the game and a special The Legend of Zelda scarf. It’s not worth $2000 dollars, we can tell you that much.
