Highlights

• Nintendo games, especially for the NES, can be extremely rare and valuable due to their vintage and older nature.
• Competition cartridges for special events, unlicensed games, and exclusive rentals are among the rarest and most valuable Nintendo games.
• Prices for rare Nintendo games have significantly increased in recent years, making them inaccessible for all but the most dedicated collectors.

Nintendo has been in the video game industry for over 40 years. That means that there's been plenty of time for some games to become extremely rare and valuable. The rarest games are still for the NES since they have the most value when it comes to vintage and older games, and also tend to be harder to find. These games don't have to be good, popular, or even finished, to be valuable. As other Nintendo consoles enter classic collector territory, the list of shockingly priced games grows longer.

Competition cartridges for special events command the highest prices since only two or three copies even exist. These competition carts are becoming nearly impossible to find as collectors have snatched them up in the past couple of decades. Many of the other 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 9, 2023, by Jeff Drake: It's been two years since the last update for this article. In that time the value of a lot of Nintendo games, which were never overly expensive in the past, have risen in value and rarity to exclude all but the most dedicated of game collectors from ever owning them. Some of these games could have been purchased for less than $50 from a clearance bin at some point. The value of other games on this list has remained constant for over a decade. This update will update the prices and re-rank the list accordingly, as well as add four new incredibly rare and expensive Nintendo games.

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

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/Caltron 6-In-1

Average Price: $1,200

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

Average Price: $1,000

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

Average Price: $1,200

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 MACS: Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator

Average Price: $2,500

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

Average Price: $2,500

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

Average Price: $1,700

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 include that it was an unlicensed game and it contained some raunchy content that Nintendo would have rejected out of hand for its "family-friendly" label. 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

Average Price: $1,500

Aero Fighters is a game that was poorly received back in the day - something rare for Capcom. 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

Average Price: $2,100

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

Average Price: $5,800

Amazing Tater is a fairly recent entry on Nintendo's most-wanted list. It only appeared on the radar as a collector's item in 2017, and after it was discovered, the price went up to $1700 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. 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

Average Price: $1,500

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

Average Price: $1,500

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.

15 Mortal Kombat 2 - Not For Resale

Average Price: $2,000

Mortal Kombat 2 was one of the best-selling games of the 16-bit era. It's also one of the reasons modern games have ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) ratings. If someone owned an SNES or Sega Genesis, there was a decent chance this game was in their library.

Mortal Kombat 2 for the SNES is hardly rare, or expensive. A working cart in acceptable condition can sell for around ten dollars. This version is distinguished by the label on the cart having a little white bar (printed on the label) that says "Not For Resale". This version can be found on eBay without much problem.

14 NES Power Pad Test Cartridge

Average Price: $2,500

The Power Pad Test Cartridge was one in a series of cartridges that official NES repair locations used as diagnosis tools. The Power Pad Cartridge was specifically designed to test the power pad; a roll-out controller meant to merge physical activity with video games.

The Power Pad wasn't that popular, but ironically, games meant for use with this peripheral are among the most sought-after. Some of these diagnosis cartridges, like the Control Deck Test Cartridge, appear on sites like eBay and Amazon from time to time, but the Power Pad Test Cartridge is by far the rarest.

13 Starfox Weekend Competition

Average Price: $3,000

In the spring and summer of 1993, Nintendo began a worldwide competition. They had done this before, as readers will see, but with this competition, Nintendo chose their hit Starfox for the SNES. This cartridge had altered versions of the first two stages; there were also other minor changes. Players competed to get the highest score after five minutes of playing.

The rumor is that only around 2,000 of these cartridges were made, making this one of the rarer SNES cartridges. This cartridge sells for about $3,000. Good luck finding one for sale. Currently, as of the time of the second update, there are none available on eBay or Amazon.

12 Little Samson

Average Price: $2,500

Fun to play, colorful, and generally a great NES side-scrolling game, Little Samson fell victim to a weak promotional campaign and did poorly in its own time. The late release date in 1992 also didn't help, since the N64 got most of the media attention in the mid-1990s.

For a while, it fell into obscurity, but once it was rediscovered by collectors the trend never died down. Complete copies of the game are currently selling for more than $4500 for a complete used copy, with no new or sealed copies even known to exist or simply not for sale.

11 Sonic Heroes & Super Monkey Ball Duo Pack

Average Price: $3,000

This is actually two games bundled together in a duo pack, but this duo pack is one of the most expensive Nintendo Gamecube games. Sonic Heroes was okay; better than Sonic '06 (not saying much), but not nearly as good as the first three Sonic games. Super Monkey Ball is one of the best games for Gamecube.

Individually, these two games are not worth anywhere close to what the duo pack is worth. Both games can be purchased for around $20. The Sonic Heroes & Super Monkey Ball Duo Pack typically sells for well over $3,000.

10 Pokemon: Diamond And Pearl - Darkrai Distribution (Not For Resale)

Average Price: $3,000

This Nintendo DS card contains copies of Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl. It is best distinguished by the phrases, "Darkrai Distribution Only" and "Not For Resale" - both in red lettering in a white box. This is also referred to as the Toy'R Us version. There are different versions of this card depending on the region, so be sure to buy an NTSC card.

This (as of Nov. 2023) is the most valuable loose card in the Nintendo DS library. It's not even close; the second most valuable card (Zelda Twilight Princess - Preview Trailer) is worth $1,000 less than this promotional card.

9 Donkey Kong Country Competition Edition

Average Price: $3,250

This was a special version of the classic Donkey Kong Country that was used in the Nintendo PowerFest ’94 competition. Certain features of the game were changed for the competition. A timer was added, which for some reason is in the middle of the screen, and the available levels were changed slightly.

The cartridge itself looks very similar to the standard version. The only difference was that the top-right corner of the label says “Competition Edition” in a red triangle. Only 2,500 of these cartridges were made, and if collectors manage to locate a copy, their current value is approximately $3,250.

8 Nintendo Campus Challenge 1992

Average Price: $4,000

This was a large, unusual-looking cartridge that looked more like an add-on for the SNES when inserted into the cartridge slot. This cartridge was used for the Campus Challenge in 1992, which was a competition held on 35 college campuses in North America. The cart had limited versions of 3 classic SNES games: Super Mario World, Pilotwings, and F-Zero.

The cartridge also had an input for a phone jack, so it could relay information to a server at Nintendo’s headquarters. There are only two of these confirmed to exist, with a rumored third copy somewhere out there waiting to be found. The value of these cartridges is estimated at $4,000.00.