The Rarest Nintendo Games (& How Much They’re Worth)

Key Takeaways

• Rare Nintendo games don’t have to be popular to be valuable. Some, like promotional games and Not For Resale cartridges, fetch high prices averaging $3,000-$10,000.
• Earthbound
  for the SNES,
  Barbie Groom & Glam Pups
  for 3DS, and
  GoldenEye 007
  are rare games with average prices ranging from $1420 to $2860.
• Games like
  Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Pokemon Box,
  and
  Mega Man
  (Five Screw Version) have unique functionalities, driving their prices to over $2,000 per game.

Nintendo has been in the video game industry for over 40 years, meaning there’s been plenty of time for some games to become extremely rare and valuable. These games don’t have to be good, popular, or even finished, to be valuable in the eyes of collectors. As other Nintendo consoles enter classic territory, the list of shockingly priced games grows longer.

Many rare Nintendo games were either promotional games, unlicensed games, or exclusive to rentals. Some of the most expensive games aren’t even technically games. There are some games released for the general market, like Mega Man 5 & 6, that command a high price, but they are still way down the list in terms of overall worth and rarity.

Updated on November 10th, 2024, by Blaise Santi: As time goes on, various games are deemed valuable or invaluable to collectors, but nothing can even touch some of the rarest Nintendo games of all time. Whether it’s a cartridge that was never meant to get into the hands of regular gamers, or a game that maybe took too long to earn the acclaim it deserved upon release, there are many rare Nintendo games from the company’s historic library, including from more recent consoles like the GameCube or Nintendo 3DS. Check out these additional rare Nintendo games that currently fetch a high price in online markets, and keep up to date with just how expensive collectors currently consider them.

35 Earthbound

This Influential RPG Is Hard To Come By – Average Price: $1,420

It may seem surprising to newer Nintendo fans just how rare the original iteration of Earthbound is for the SNES, but the game’s acclaim was quite delayed. It’s easy to find versions of it to play through Nintendo Switch Online, but as for the actual cartridge, it usually sells for hundreds of dollars, and even closer to $1,500 for the complete box.

Even Mother 3, the Earthbound sequel that’s never seen a Western release, typically sells for much cheaper than the localized version of its predecessor. Even years after its release, Earthbound remains one of the best and most valuable Nintendo IPs of all time.

34 Barbie Groom & Glam Pups

Barbie Fetches A Pretty Penny – Average Price: $2,860

If there are any head-scratchers on this list, it’s Barbie Groom and Glam Pups. On the surface, there’s nothing particularly special about this game, in which players get to pick a pooch and get them ready for beauty competitions. Although it was originally released for the DS and Wii in 2010, the 3DS version from 2013 often sells for quite a lot of money.

Many theorize the reason why Barbie Groom and Glam Pups is particularly rare is that, in North America, it only saw a wide release in Canada, so actual physical copies of the game are hard to come by. That being said, even the most diehard collectors agree that this game is not good enough to be valued this highly, despite the popularity of the Barbie figure.

33 GoldenEye 007 (Not For Resale)

An Iconic Shooter’s Rare Cartridges – Average Price: $1,013

GoldenEye 007 is one of the most iconic shooter games of all time, originally released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64. It’s seen a lot of ports and re-releases since then, but some fans of the OG game may be enticed by the rare “Not For Resale” version, which sells for over $1,000 on online markets.

Other than the possibility of encountering beta content that isn’t in the final release, there’s not much value to this rare cartridge aside from completing a “Not For Resale” collection. However, considering it’s a must-have for the Nintendo 64, even casual video game fans might be starstruck by this limited edition version of Goldeneye.

32 Donkey Kong Jr. Math

Nintendo’s Foray Into Edutainment – Average Price: $2,893

Nintendo’s ventures into educational games haven’t always been successful, mainly because of games like Donkey Kong Jr. Math. An offshoot of the iconic retro title for the NES, Donkey Kong Jr. Math utilizes similar mechanics to the original Donkey Kong Jr., albeit requiring players to solve simple math problems by climbing towards numbers or mathematics symbols.

Despite selling in cartridge form for over $2,000, Donkey Kong Jr. Math has made several appearances on Virtual Console, and as of 2024, it has made its debut on the Nintendo Switch Online service. Still, even as far as educational games go, this was a huge misfire from Nintendo, but one that’s still valued by collectors nonetheless.

31 Pokemon Box

A NYC-Exclusive With A Special Function – Average Price: $2,075

At first glance, the extremely rare Pokemon Box seems like a simple Pokemon storage simulator, but it’s much more than that. The GameCube title was sold in limited quantities at Nintendo World in New York City, and was also sold in a bundle with the GameCube itself in Europe.

While the main advertisement for this game is its functionality as a storage system for Pokemon from GameBoy games like Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen, it also included an emulator for Ruby & Sapphire, making it one of the few ways to play a mainline Pokemon game on consoles like the GameCube or Nintendo Wii before Pokemon Sword & Shield, which holds a lot of value for some fans by itself.

30 Mega Man (Five Screw Version)

The Blue Bomber’s First Game – Average Price: $34,114

The original Mega Man was a bit overlooked when it first appeared on store shelves. This is partly due to its infamously terrible box art. Another reason was that anyone who played the game was quick to point out the high level of difficulty to others. A sequel wasn’t even planned, and it only received one thanks to the team of developers who completed it in their spare time.

The first batch of NES games were held together with five screws. This was replaced with a cartridge that replaced two of the screws with plastic clamps. The original five screw Mega Man commands a fair price on the modern vintage video game market.

29 Donkey Kong 64 (Gray Cartridge)

The Gray Cartridge Version Is The One You Want – Average Price: $1,625

The vast majority of people who own Donkey Kong 64, for the Nintendo 64, own the version with a yellow cartridge. There were a few promotional copies that had a gray cartridge. These versions also have “Not For Resale” printed on the label, and the ESRB rating is RP (rating pending) rather than E (everyone).

These gray versions of Donkey Kong 64 are extremely rare, hence the greatly increased price versus the yellow cart. The official value of this game hovered around $400 until October 2022, when it ballooned to around $1,500.

28 Power Blade 2

Overlooked To Overvalued – Average Price: $3,199

Not many gamers noticed Power Blade 2 back in the day. The reason for this is simple: it was released for the NES a year after the release of the Super Nintendo console. Gamers had already moved on from the NES and were playing games on the Sega Genesis, SNES, and Turbografx-16.

Power Blade 2 is s side-scrolling action platformer, and a good one at that. The fun factor of the game and the game’s rarity have both contributed to a steady increase in value over the past decade. However, it wasn’t until around mid-2021 that the price began spiking to its current $1,000 value.

27 The Legend Of Zelda, Majora’s Mask (Holographic Label)

It’s Worth The Price For Its Art Design – Average Price: $1,250

The odd one out in a vast family of games, Majora’s Mask always enjoyed a cult following but was never a fan favorite. It’s the only game in the entire franchise that’s a direct sequel to the one before it in a series that’s known for a wonky, non-linear timeline. Critics raved about the game’s graphics and the compelling story even if fans were undecided.

The game has stood the test of time and is currently enjoying a resurgence. New and sealed copies are going for more than a thousand dollars and the price is rapidly going up, especially for any special or collectors editions that are rare and hard to find. The example given here is the one with the holographic label, which is currently on top in terms of rarity and value.

26 Myriad 6-In-1

Six Average Games In One Expensive Cartridge – Average Price: $1,489

This is an unlicensed compilation cartridge for the NES. This game was originally titled Caltron 6-in-1, but when Caltron went out of business their remaining stock was purchased by Myriad Inc. and resold as the Myriad 6-in-1. The 6 games on the cart are clones of popular games – like Space Harrier and Buster Bros.

The Caltron version is rare, but the Myriad version was limited to 888 copies. Each copy was numbered, and for those who had a copy with matching serial numbers (for the cart, instructions, and box) the value significantly increased. A copy of the Myriad 6-in-1 commonly sells for about $1,200.00, but a complete-in-box copy goes for about $3,500.00.

25 Hagane: The Final Conflict

A Valuable Hidden Gem – Average Price: $2,663

A game that’s currently enjoying a resurgence thanks to the nostalgia factor, Hagane: The Final Conflict is a classic side-scroller that mimics other favorites like Ninja Gaiden. Like so many other games that were released on the SNES platform in the mid-1990s, it arrived too late to make an impact before the N64 arrived and sucked all the air out of the gaming room.

Circulation was limited; few copies are still available for collectors. Old-school platformers are riding a trend right now as it is, and this game is fairly rare, which adds even more to its value. New and sealed copies are selling for about $7500, with prices for loose and used copies also trending upwards.

24 Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages & Seasons – Limited Edition

Both Versions Of The Game In One Box – Average Price: $2,860

These were games for the Gameboy Color, and not many people seem to remember them when discussing Zelda games. These two games featured gameplay and a graphical style very similar to the original Legend of Zelda title. The game incorporates the changing of the seasons into the gameplay; with some areas only accessible during a certain season.

There were only 500 copies of the Limited Edition released, which included both games as well as promotional items – like a shirt and an actual, working boomerang. The price is currently around $1,200.00, but a complete-in-box copy can fetch about $2,200.00.

23 M.A.C.S.: Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator

A Training Simulator Worth Thousands – Average Price: $3,553

These cartridges are exceptionally rare since they were made specifically for professional target audiences and training practice. The game came as a complete package that included the entire Super Nintendo Entertainment System, a loose version of the game, and a training rifle.

Only loose versions are currently available, as the game was never intended for resale or retail display, and these are going for a nice chunk of change at just over $2,500. If a complete package were ever to become available, or an unsealed one, the price would be exponentially more, as they probably don’t even exist.

22 Extertainment Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer Combo

Two Games For One High Price – Average Price: $2,552

Speed Racer is already a beloved game and one of the more famous early Nintendo titles. This Super NES cartridge combines two popular racing games and plenty of fans seek out the ROM just to experience the games if they can’t find the cartridge.

With a price tag of more than $11,000 for a new, sealed copy, it’s not a surprise that the cost of this game is out of reach for most. Complete used copies sell for over $5,000 and even loose copies are priced at $2500. Nostalgia value combined with the rarity of the game has kept the price fairly steady.

21 Peek-A-Boo Poker

An Unlicensed Game With Adult Themes – Average Price: $3,000

This is one of those games that just can’t be made anymore, which is one of the reasons that it’s valuable. Peek-A-Boo Poker isn’t just a card game for the original NES. The player’s opponents are all women, and they spend most of the game flirting in various states of undress. Complete copies cost $1600, and loose copies for $1200, which is a lot for the cartridge on its own.

Other reasons for the high price include that it was an unlicensed game, and it contained some raunchy content that Nintendo would have rejected out of hand because of its “family-friendly” philosophy. It’s a dicey investment since the price tends to fluctuate, but if collectors keep their eyes on the market, the resale value is worth it.

20 Aero Fighters

An Average Shmup With An Above Average Price – Average Price: $2,950

Aero Fighters is a game that was poorly received back in the day. This game was an arcade port of a vertically scrolling shoot ’em. The SNES version suffered from extensive slow-down; which is the one thing one doesn’t want in a SHMUP.

This game also went under the radar due to it being released shortly after the release of the SNES. Many gamers were still happy with their NES, and by the time they upgraded to the SNES, this game was no longer on store shelves. This is one of the easier games on this list to find, but it will cost about as much as three new PS5s.

19 Cheetahmen 2

Unfinished, Unlicensed, And Incredibly Rare – Average Price: $5,421

The original Cheetahmen game appeared on the Action 52 cartridge for the NES. Action 52 is also a fairly rare game and was made infamous by The Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) on YouTube. Cheetahmen 2 is a broken game that was clearly unfinished. The outer cartridge case is just a re-purposed Action 52 cartridge with a simple gold label. The only reason the game went public at all was when a box of them was found in a warehouse.

There were less than 2,000 of these produced, making them rare to find no matter where collectors look on the internet. These generally sell for about $2,000.00. There are a lot of reproduction Cheetahmen 2 cartridges out there, so those looking to buy one need to make sure it is genuine.

18 Amazing Tater

Possibly The Most Valuable Officially Licensed Gameboy Game – Average Price: $4,916

Amazing Tater only appeared on the radar as a collector’s item in 2017, and after it was discovered, the price went up to $1,700 and has only risen ever since (for a complete-in-box copy). Even loose copes are worth about $500. Part of the reason why is that it’s a Gameboy cartridge. Games for that iconic portable console are ones that collectors are always keen on finding; it has a smaller library, and the cheaper prices are not too prohibitive for collecting all the games in the library.

The game itself consists of puzzles and features a charming group of vegetable characters, in particular the main character, who happens to be a potato. This game is fun to play and also a great investment, since the price keeps rising. There is another game in this series called Spud’s Adventure. It is worth as much as Amazing Tater (for a loose cart).

17 The Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak

A Blockbuster Video Rental Exclusive – Average Price: $4,999

Collectors are often after this game partly because of its unique history. Its value is high due to the fact that this cartridge is quite rare, but the story as to why has been lost to the ages. Rumors speculate that it was never available in retail in North America, and could only be acquired as part of a promotional deal with Blockbuster video, hence the relatively small number of them.

Other versions of the story indicate a limited, late release and a poor marketing campaign. Either way, this cartridge is very difficult to find and therefore priced at more than $3500 for a complete-in-box copy.

16 Duck Tales – Gold Cartridge Edition

Duck Tales In A Gold Cartridge – Average Price: $1,225

The original Duck Tales is itself a game that commands a fairly high price but is not particularly rare. When Capcom remade this classic game in 2013 they decided to release a very limited kit that includes a functional gold copy of the original NES cartridge along with some other promotional items – like a really cool lunch box.

There were only 150 of these kits produced, so the prospect of finding one is very slim. If collectors do find one, the average price is $1,600.00.