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...600-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.