The rarest/most valuable games of each decade

[Zap!]

I was thinking about the rarest or most valuable (they don't always go hand and hand) games of each decade, and it got me thinking about what they could possibly be. Let's start a list, as I have never seen a similar topic. For now, let's focus on US official console releases first, then we can do foreign and computer games later.

1970's: No idea. Possibly something for the Fairchild Channel F, RCA Studio II, Bally Astrocade, or Odyssey II.

1980's: Stadium Events for the NES easily wins the most valuable, but it isn't the rarest. That distinction probably goes to Air Raid for the Atari 2600.

1990's: Nintendo World Championship 1990 Gold had to be the one.

2000's: I'm drawing a blank. Doesn't seem to be anything insanely valuable.

2010's: The decade is still brand new, just two months old. I'm guessing come March 16, the $100 God of War III Ultimate Edition will take the cake so far.

[Zoltor]

I was thinking about the rarest or most valuable (they don't always go hand and hand) games of each decade, and it got me thinking about what they could possibly be. Let's start a list, as I have never seen a similar topic. For now, let's focus on US official console releases first, then we can do foreign and computer games later.

1970's: No idea. Possibly something for the Fairchild Channel F, RCA Studio II, Bally Astrocade, or Odyssey II.

1980's: Stadium Events for the NES easily wins the most valuable, but it isn't the rarest. That distinction probably goes to Air Raid for the Atari 2600.

1990's: Nintendo World Championship 1990 Gold had to be the one.

2000's: I'm drawing a blank. Doesn't seem to be anything insanely valuable.

2010's: The decade is still brand new, just two months old. I'm guessing come March 16, the $100 God of War III Ultimate Edition will take the cake so far.


Hmm damn, I was Gonna say Ogre Tactics is probally easily the most valuable game in 2000s(not the rarest though)but I forgot, that came out in like 98, so yea, I can't really think of anything noteworthy for the 2000s(aka the dark ages of gaming, aleast after 2002 anyway).

[sylvestor]

The decade of 2000 for american games would easily be Dead space ultra limited eddition, of which only 1000 numbered copies exist. I've seen it sell for over $400 and its still a relativly new release. Im happy to say I own one of those 1000!

[Zoltor]

The decade of 2000 for american games would easily be Dead space ultra limited eddition, of which only 1000 numbered copies exist. I've seen it sell for over $400 and its still a relativly new release. Im happy to say I own one of those 1000!

Ah ok, cool.

[retroman]

Tengen Tetris for the 80s

[Zap!]

Tengen Tetris for the 80s

It's rarity was overhyped. There are 1,000's out there, and they go for around $75, complete in box.

[DreadIsReal]

I would say for the 2,000's it would have to be Uncharted 2 Fortune Hunters Edition.

[Smashed Brother]

Also for the 2000's, you could add:

Valkyrie Profile (PS1) - it's awesomeness went unnoticed until everybody jumped aboard the 'retro-craze bandwagon', which propelled its' value sky-high.

Metal Gear Solid Subsistence: Limited Edition (PS2) - probably the most expensive game of the last generation (in the US anyways), so limited that most people who pre-ordered it were unable to get a copy.

[peachstapler]

Tengen Tetris for the 80s
I just bought the cartridge for $30 on eBay, and I overpayed for it.

For 2010-2019: Bioshock 2 Limited Edition is just as expensive as the God of War 3 Collector's Edition. Though time will tell if one grows more valuable than the other.

[DuckTalesNES]

The Demon's Souls Deluxe Edition is selling for a pretty solid price lately too.

[tom]

the most rare for the 70s is Magnavox Odyssey (1972 model), the 1973 range of games: Interplanetary Voyage, WIN, Basketball, Brain Wave.
as for the 90s, 1990's: Nintendo World Championship 1990 Gold is not really a released title, more a compilation of existing games

[Famidrive-16]

Gradius III and IV on the PS2 used to sell for a lot but not much anymore.

[Tron 2.0]

90's
snes:Chrono Trigger even now i see it go for insane prices boxed.

[Zap!]

Earth Bound is also pretty expensive for the 90's SNES, but not the most.

[Gameguy]

There's also Elemental Gearbolt Assassin's Case Edition, that's still pretty rare for a 90's release. I'm unsure of the current value.

For 2000's, wasn't there some PS1 game that was recalled because of the artwork? I thought someone here managed to find copies with that artwork though it never made it to stores. I have no idea about the value of that.

[Loremaster]

For the 90's, how about that version of Tetris for the Genesis? Aren't there only like 10 or so copies confirmed to exist?

For the 2000's, how about Steel Battalion for the XBOX? Granted, I think that's mostly because of the controller. DDR Mario Mix seems to be kinda rare as well, I remember having a hell of a time trying to find that for my mother when it came out.

For the 80's, I'd say one of the top two games on this list wins: http://www.racketboy.com/retro/atari/2009/07/rarest-and-most-valuable-atari-2600-games.html

[savageone]

Hard to believe I'll be the first to mention this but...

Most valuable and rare from the 1990s is likely english release of Kizuna Encounter from 1996 for the Neo Geo AES. Currently less than 10 known to exist and it sells for $10,000++. If you look at the AES you can probably populate the entire top 10 from the 1990s with AES titles. :P

For the 2000s it is harder to say but I really wouldn't doubt if the majority of a top 10 could be made from AES titles as well since SNK released games for the system up until late 2004. There are several games released in the 2000s that currently average well over $500 (particularly the more rare US versions), the highest I can recall seeing at open auction on eBay was a US copy of Rage of the Dragons (released in '02) that sold for ~$900, that was maybe a year ago. Samurai Shodown 5 Special is another big one as well.

[mezrabad]

the most rare for the 70s is Magnavox Odyssey (1972 model), the 1973 range of games: Interplanetary Voyage, WIN, Basketball, Brain Wave.
as for the 90s, 1990's: Nintendo World Championship 1990 Gold is not really a released title, more a compilation of existing games

I agree with the 1973 games for Odyssey being the rarest of "released" games for the 70s. Though, if it counts, I'd say Bingo for the RCA Studio II is probably rarer than any of the four 1973 games.

[PapaStu]

There's also Elemental Gearbolt Assassin's Case Edition, that's still pretty rare for a 90's release. I'm unsure of the current value.

For 2000's, wasn't there some PS1 game that was recalled because of the artwork? I thought someone here managed to find copies with that artwork though it never made it to stores. I have no idea about the value of that.


The Assassins case Elemental Gearbolt was not a normal release. This was a special gimmie given to developers, people in the 'biz' and others who won E3 contests. It's valuable, under 50 were made and the last few that were on eBay late in 09 sold for a pretty penny (1k range). But it's not a release that was ever in the store, so like the NWC, it shouldn't count in this list.


That would be the Syphon Filter 3 cover that has the American Flag on it. A few sealed ones have shown up over time, and 1 2 P found like 7 of them (but only 2 were complete, the other ones were missing the front insert). There was a sealed on eBay for a LONG time and it never sold at the 300-400 price the store wanted for it.

Whoever said the Bioshock 2 LE isn't aware about how common it really is. When I can walk into any Target and see 2-3 for both PS3/X360, not to mention any BB or GameStop, its just not rare.

MGS 3 Subsistance is a hard to find game that's held its value since release, but at the 100-175 that it brings, doesn't make it the most expensive game out there.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I'd go with Kizuna Encounter for 90s, Uncharted 2: Drake's Fortune Fortune Hunter Edition for 2000s.
There's not really anything >$100 released in the 2010s yet.

[darkslime]

I'd go with Kizuna Encounter for 90s, Uncharted 2: Drake's Fortune Fortune Hunter Edition for 2000s.
There's not really anything >$100 released in the 2010s yet. Agreed 100%.

[badinsults]

If you look at the snes, the most a single game has gone for is a sealed Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer, which went for about $1200, I believe. I think that is a bit of an anomaly. Several other sealed games (Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World), have reached $1000. If you want to look at unsealed games (which is probably a better indicator of value), the most expensive snes game is the Donkey Kong Country Competition Cart. Boxed copies of that typically sell between $500 and $900. Boxed Earthbounds tend to be the next highest up, though prices vary between $200 and $400.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

What about these following Turbo Grafx-16/Duo games that got very small print runs?

Dynastic Hero
Bonk 3 CD
Magical Chase
Dungeon Explorer II
Exile II: Wicked Phenomenon
Vasteel

I am very sure they are some of rarest of the 90s.

[Ed Oscuro]

1970s: FUzzle Foo Fighters

1980s: SUPER MARIO BROS. The original version sitting on Shiggy's desk, with a twinkie hidden inside

1990s: Star Triangulation Service 2

2000s: Mountain Dew XBOX (never mind it's not a game)

2010s: Final Foo Fighters 14: Foot Revolution

2020s: End of humanity, no more video games, look what you ---damned did

This list is the result of considerable work and effort by our staff, it will always be correct through every age. Nevermind that each market has its ups and downs throughout the years, that's not the question so I have altered reality to make it work. I also altered the definitions of RARITY and VALUE so that they are now equal, to enhance your enjoys of the list.


What about these following Turbo Grafx-16/Duo games that got very small print runs?

Dynastic Hero
Bonk 3 CD
Magical Chase
Dungeon Explorer II
Exile II: Wicked Phenomenon
Vasteel

I am very sure they are some of rarest of the 90s.
Isn't Sapphire one of them? Nevermind it's not a particularly good game and there's also tons and tons of boot-legged copies freewheeling about.

[Compute]

Final Fantasy 7 :bigmac:

[RPG_Fanatic]

The first Bioshock (360 version) limited edition is going for $125 - $175

[TheRedEye]

I'm going with Polaroid Pete as the rarest game of the 2000s so far.

[g00ber]

The Demon's Souls Deluxe Edition is selling for a pretty solid price lately too.

I second that one. Demon's Souls Deluxe will be the rarer of titles for PS3.

[Bojay1997]

I'm going with Polaroid Pete as the rarest game of the 2000s so far.

Has anyone ever confirmed that was ever released even in small quantities? My understanding is that it never went gold and therefore exists only as a PAL prototype.

[TheRedEye]

Has anyone ever confirmed that was ever released even in small quantities? My understanding is that it never went gold and therefore exists only as a PAL prototype.

The rumor as I understand it is that a few genuine, printed copies were given out as a magazine prize just before the publisher shut down, but I have no way of confirming that.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Most games mentioned are only valuable, not rare. One of the rarest for the 2000's has to be NCAA College Basketball 2K3 for the GameCube. Estimates place it having 2500 to 5000 copies released.

Non game wise would be the Hello Kitty X Box.

[ScourDX]

The decade of 2000 for american games would easily be Dead space ultra limited eddition, of which only 1000 numbered copies exist. I've seen it sell for over $400 and its still a relativly new release. Im happy to say I own one of those 1000!

That or Uncharted 2: Hunter Edition

[b0ub0u]

For 2000-2009, how about Border Down Limited Edition for the Dreamcast?
This goes for a lot of money right now, and only 2000 were ever produced.

I do have it and paid 220$ for it 3 years ago, now they go for 300-400 on ebay.

[jb143]

Couldn't the rarest game of any decade also include the previous decades rarest game? Only, it could be even rarer due to fewer existing for whatever reason.

Just asking, as the original post didn't specify or imply that the games had to be released that particular decade.

[Zap!]

Couldn't the rarest game of any decade also include the previous decades rarest game? Only, it could be even rarer due to fewer existing for whatever reason.

Just asking, as the original post didn't specify or imply that the games had to be released that particular decade.

They have to be released in that decade. How could a rarest of the decade list include something from a previous decade? For example, how could a 1988 or 1989 game count for the 90's? Not sure I understand what you mean.

[nectarsis]

What about these following Turbo Grafx-16/Duo games that got very small print runs?

Dynastic Hero
Bonk 3 CD
Magical Chase
Dungeon Explorer II
Exile II: Wicked Phenomenon
Vasteel

I am very sure they are some of rarest of the 90s.

these are the only 3 off that list that are "rare" and while pricey Bonk 3, and Dynastic can still be had for semi reasonable prices.
Dynastic Hero
Bonk 3 CD
Magical Chase

none of these are all that rare, or even that pricey
Dungeon Explorer II fairly common ballpark $80-100
Exile II: Wicked Phenomenon uncommon ballpark $100
Vasteel not rare $40-80 HIGH END

[gum_drops]

For 2000-2009, how about Border Down Limited Edition for the Dreamcast?
This goes for a lot of money right now, and only 2000 were ever produced.

I do have it and paid 220$ for it 3 years ago, now they go for 300-400 on ebay.

For the 2000s, there is Iron Soldier for the Nuon, very hard to find complete. Also, a few of the late release AES US versions of game likes Rage of Dragons and Metal Slug 5 are difficult to find.

[Vroomfunkel]

So ... no-one has yet mentioned Ultima: Escape from Mount Drash?

Hmm.