Video games have gone from a fun hobby I played as a kid to a big business. Whether it’s tournaments with big payouts or collectors selling vintage games, there is no doubt money is being made in this industry. It makes me wish I could go back and save some of my favorite games of my youth — I could be rich right now!
1. Red Sea Crossing (1983)
A niche game for the Christian community, this game had players trying to get Moses past the Red Sea while dodging obstacles. Only 100 copies were made for the original Atari gaming console, so if you come across a copy of this game at an estate sale, snatch it up. Some collectors have paid upwards of $10,000 for this silly little game.
2. Air Raid (1982)
Another game for the Atari system that could pad your wallet is the game Air Raid. The game was published as a limited release before Atari really began to take off in 1983. Today, there are only known to be around fourteen copies of Air Raid. Collectors are actively trying to find more because one was recently sold for $10,000.
3. Nintendo Campus Challenge (1991)
In 1991, Nintendo had a college campus competition where students could play other students head-on in games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Pin-Bot, and Dr Mario. The game was a promo explicitly made for the competition. After the match, Nintendo made direct orders to destroy all existing game cartridges. Luckily, one employee took matters into their own hands and kept one, and as of today, that is the only one known to still exist. It was sold on eBay for about $20,000.
4. Stadium Events (1986)
Stadium Events was an original game published by Bandai and came with a fitness mat one would use to play the game. Nintendo bought the rights to the game, strictly for the mat, and ordered all the Stadium Event games to be erased. As we all know, that didn’t happen, and some are still on the market. Experts predict twenty copies might be available, and some have sold for $20,000.
5. Nintendo World Championship 1990 (Grey/Gold)
Nintendo started experimenting with gaming competitions in the early ’90s, with games like Super Mario Bros, Tetris, and Rad Racer. A 30-city tournament was hosted to determine which gamers could score the highest. Winners of the different age brackets won a Grey edition of the game; 90 were passed out. The Gold Games were given the World Champions. Grey editions have been found for $10,000, while Gold can fetch six figures.
6. Contra (1988)
Contra was an instant hit when Nintendo released it in 1988. The run-and-shoot style game drew comparisons to some of the biggest movies like Rambo and Commando. Like many others, I spent hours with my friends trying to beat this game. That’s why it is hard to find a mint condition of Contra. But, if you do, you will be rewarded with a big payday, possibly in the six-figure range.
7. Twisted Metal (1995)
This vehicle combat game that became super popular for PlayStation is seeing a resurgence due to a TV show with the same name. Fans of collecting video games are mainly after the older, longer-style boxes PlayStation games used to come in. Twisted Metal came in the long box and the newer compact boxes. If you find a closed long box edition, check out the auctions because they could be worth some serious coin.
8. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Sometimes, an item becomes valuable for the simple reason that someone messed something up. Case in point: there are two covers to this game. One has the word “Bros.” above Mario’s hat. This is most common. The rare ones have a mess up, where “Bros.” is covering Mario’s hand, and that is what has collectors paying an arm and a leg to try to collect. Believe it or not, one sold for $156,000.
9. Final Fantasy (1987)
Final Fantasy is one of the greatest video game franchises of all time. I’m sure there are plenty of copies of the original game around, but none in the condition that one recently sold for six figures. It’s too bad we can’t go back in time and buy a couple of these games and sit on them for thirty years.
10. Resident Evil (1996)
Another example of the appeal of the older PlayStation long boxes is the game Resident Evil. It was an instant hit and cemented PlayStation as a gaming console that would be around for the long run. Sealed copies in the long box take a lot of work to come by. That may be why one buyer bought a game package for $264,000. That’s a lot of money for a game you can’t even play.
11. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987)
Arguably, there wasn’t a bigger sports star of the ’80s and early ’90s than Mike Tyson. The guy was a world champion, and his video game was one of the hottest sellers. Kids everywhere would gather around, trying to knock out their competitors like Tyson did in the ring. In 2021, a copy of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! in the closest condition to mint possible, sold for $300,000. I’m weak in the knees thinking about it.
12. The Legend of Zelda (1986)
A trademark game in the Nintendo series, The Legend of Zelda, defined a generation of video game players. The reason this edition sold for $800,000 is a gain and mishap in the marketing department. The game cartridge that has five screws instead of three might make this piece the rarest on the planet. Experts predict it is one of a kind, thus earning that pricey figure at auction.
Source: CulturedVultures.
