Video games used to be EXPENSIVE

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

...compared to now. Take a gander at some of these catalogs for video game stores during the late 1980s and 1990s. (https://huguesjohnson.com/scans/)

Keep in mind, $59.99 today = $33.08 in December 1992. That's a typical price for a new video game now. $100 today is $55.14 then; a majority of new games on SNES were going for more than that. Genesis games were slightly cheaper on average but still considerably more expensive than today's games. Even NES games were normally $40-50 ($72.54 - $90.68). New games on a dying console.

For instance, in the Christmas 1992 Electronics Boutique (EB) catalog, not many games were available for near or under $33.08. Super Mario World was $44.99, but it was a year old and if you had an SNES, you probably already had it. That's $81.59 in today's money. Zelda: A Link to the Past? $49.99 then = $90.66 now. LJN games like Terminator 2 and NBA All Star Challenge were $59.99 then = $108.80 now.

Street Fighter II would set you back $74.99 then. That's $136.00 today! You could also get a Capcom-designed joystick for $79.99 then = $145.07 today. I don't think very many people today would blow $136 on the latest hit video game, let alone $283 for the game + a special controller. No word on how the controller sold, but SFII flew off store shelves. The Miracle Piano is my favorite. $399.99 then = $725.41 today for a piano that works with your SNES!


I'm working on getting the statistics together, using the Christmas catalogs from 1988-1999 to get an average price for the games on each system. I could use all the catalogs, but that would take too much time, so I'm limiting my analysis to what the games were selling for in the Christmas season of each year. A game launched early in the year may be cheaper than its launch price, and video games sell best during the holiday season anyway.

[Aussie2B]

It seems like the general trend is that necessities are skyrocketing while entertainment products have gotten cheaper over time (when inflation is factored in). You can placate the masses who will never be able to afford to own their own home and will spend their whole lives paying off student loans with Black Friday deals on TVs and video games. When you factor in inflation, sure, today's games are cheaper, but I don't think games were necessarily more of a hardship to afford in the past. Wages have stagnated and not kept up with inflation, and when you're paying more for gas and milk and all the little basics of life, you have less to put toward a $60 game, even if that $60 is only $33 in 1992 money. I was dropping as much as $80 on SNES games, and sure, it was a significant chunk of money, such that I'd only buy new games myself a couple times a year, and one new video game was usually my "big" Christmas present, but it still didn't feel like the equivalent of spending $150 these days.

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

That is true. Video games are cheaper, but we often have less money to pay for them.

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

Here's the analysis for 1990. Source: EB Christmas catalog.
The games in the catalog, as well as the system price, were averaged, as well as the price for 10 average games plus the system to give an idea of how much a reasonably-sized setup for the time would cost in total.

NES: Average game $42.95 (AFI $82.61) - range $29.49 to $59.99 (AFI $56.72 - $115.38) - 34 games
System itself (Sports Set) $149.99 (AFI $288.49)
System + 10 games would be $579.49 (AFI $1,114.57)

Sega Genesis: Average game $50.99 (AFI $98.07) - range $29.99 - $69.99 (AFI $57.68 - $134.62) - 21 games
System itself $189.99 (AFI $365.42)
System + 10 games would be $699.89 (AFI $1,346.14)

Turbo Grafx 16: Average game $54.37 (AFI $104.57) - range $39.99 - $61.99 (AFI $76.92 - $119.23) - 8 games
System itself $159.99 (AFI $307.72)
System + 10 games would be $703.69 (AFI $1,353.45)

Turbo Grafx CD: Average game $59.99 (AFI $115.38) - all games same price - 4 games
System itself $399.99 (AFI $769.33)
System + 10 games would be $999.89 (AFI $1,923.15) (if there were 10 games then)

Sega Master System: Average game $39.99 (AFI $76.92) - all games same price - 3 games
System itself $59.99 (AFI $115.38)
System + 10 games would be $459.89 (AFI $884.54)

The 16-bit systems cost more, as well as their games, than the venerable NES. Those little HuCards would put a big dent in the wallet. However, the NES games showed a significant jump over their 1988 price.

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

Here's the analysis for 1991. Source: EB Christmas catalog.
The games in the catalog, as well as the system price, were averaged, as well as the price for 10 average games plus the system to give an idea of how much a reasonably-sized setup for the time would cost in total.

SNES: Average game $57.99 (AFI $108.22) - range $47.99 to $69.99 (AFI $89.56 - $130.61) - 12 games
System itself $199.99 (AFI $373.22)
System + 10 games would be $779.89 (AFI $1,455.41)

NES: Average game $45.48 (AFI $84.87) - range $37.99 - $57.99 (AFI $70.90 - $108.22) - 37 games
System itself $89.99 (AFI $167.94)
System + 10 games would be $544.79 (AFI $1,016.68)

Genesis: Average game $50.89 (AFI $94.97) - range $36.49 - $69.99 (AFI $68.10 - $130.61) - 24 games
System itself $149.99 (AFI $279.91)
System + 10 games would be $658.89 (AFI $1,229.61)

Turbo Grafx 16: Average game $52.49 (AFI $97.96) - range $49.99 - $54.99 (AFI $93.61 - $102.62) - 2 games
System itself $99.99 (AFI $186.60)
System + 10 games would be $624.89 (AFI $1,166.16)

Neo Geo: Average game $194.99 (AFI $363.89) - range $169.99 - $199.99 (AFI $317.23 - $373.22) - 6 games
System itself $649.99 (AFI $1,213.00)
System + 10 games would be $2,599.89 (AFI $4,851.86)

The astounding price of the Neo Geo is shown here; a Neo Geo and 10 games would cost over 3 times as much as an SNES and 10 games; the price of the Neo Geo games was as much as the SNES alone!

[gbpxl]

Virtua Racing sticker price was $100 when it came out in 94. $171 in todays dollars

VHS prices were similarly expensive in the early 80s. people rented VHS a lot more than they bought and you see that with video games from the late 80s and early 90s where people rented a lot more than they bought. my family did at least. many of the cartridges I see are former rentals

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

Here's the analysis for 1988. Source: Sears catalog.
The games in the catalog, as well as the system price, were averaged, as well as the price for 10 average games plus the system to give an idea of how much a reasonably-sized setup for the time would cost in total.

Sega Master System: Average game $31.81 (AFI $67.94) - range $29.99 to $39.99 (AFI $64.05 - $85.40) - 11 games
System itself $99.99 (AFI $213.54)
System + 10 games would be $418.09 (AFI $892.19)

NES: Average game $32.99 ($70.46 AFI) - range $29.99 - $37.99 (AFI $64.05 - $81.13) - 12 games
System itself $89.99 (AFI $192.19)
System + 10 games would be $419.89 (AFI $896.74)

As you can see, in 1988 video games themselves were more expensive than they are today, but the system was less expensive. A system and ten games would run slightly more expensive than today.

The reference value for "today's average" is a $225 system (the PS4 is available new in the $250 range and the Xbox One runs about $200), and $59.99 for new games, for a total of $825 for the system + 10 games.