In the ever-evolving world of video games, some titles stand out not just for their gameplay, but for their rarity and jaw-dropping price tags. While it may be hard to believe, there are a fair few nostalgic games out there that when sold, could see astronomical figures. Here’s a list of the 8 most valuable and rarest video games that have sent collectors and gamers into a frenzy.<\/p>\n
Price: $700-$10,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Created by an independent programmer and advertised in religious magazines, Red Sea Crossing is another rare game for the Atari 2600 that\u2019s worth a pretty penny or two today.<\/p>\n In this game, you play as Moses as he attempts to cross the Red Sea. With its biblical narrative and limited production, collectors are willing to shell out around anything from $700 for a loose copy to over $10,000 for a CIB (complete in box) game.<\/p>\n Reports claim that there were only 100 of these cartridges produced, so if you\u2019re lucky enough to find one stashed away in your home you could be in for a treat!<\/p>\n Price: $3,000-$16,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Joining the list is the Sega Genesis\/Mega Drive version of Tetris. While Tetris is a well-known classic, the Sega Genesis version is particularly rare due to its limited release.<\/p>\n Due to legal issues and Nintendo\u2019s exclusive rights to the game, the Sega Genesis\/Mega Drive never released a licensed version of Tetris. Luckily, Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov has confirmed that at least 10 unlicensed versions of the game are out there somewhere.<\/p>\n A complete, sealed copy can command a price of around $3,000-$16,000, making it a sought-after addition for collectors of both puzzle games and Sega history.<\/p>\n Price: $15,000-$35,000<\/strong><\/p>\n While Birthday Mania isn\u2019t as commonly known as Super Mario Bros, this unique title is known for its rarity.<\/p>\n Created by Anthony Tokar and advertised solely through the Newark-Star-Ledger, Birthday Mania allows players to play birthday-themed mini-games involving popping balloons and blowing out candles. Another fun quirk of Birthday Mania is the box, as it could be personalised with a birthday message or name.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no exact number of verified copies, but reports claim that there are less than 10 in existence. If you\u2019re lucky enough to find a copy it\u2019ll cost you between $15,000-$35,000, making it a valuable addition to any collector’s arsenal.<\/p>\n Price: $20,000 – $22,000<\/strong><\/p>\n An elusive gem in the NES library, the Nintendo Campus Challenge cartridge was created for a nationwide gaming competition in the early ’90s. Nintendo Campus Challenge is composed of Super Mario 3, PinBot, and Dr. Mario all on one cartridge.<\/p>\n All copies were thought to be destroyed\u2026 that was, until a copy was found in the garage of an ex-Nintendo employee. This rarity resurfaces occasionally in collector circles, with prices ranging from $20,000 to $22,000 or more, making it a sought-after prize for NES aficionados.<\/p>\n Price: $14,000-$33,000<\/strong><\/p>\n For Atari enthusiasts, Air Raid is a true collector’s dream. Released in limited quantities, Air Raid is similar to Space Invaders, as players are forced to defend two buildings from a bombing raid.<\/p>\n This shoot ’em up game is recognised for its distinctive blue T-shaped cartridge and finding a complete copy of Air Raid could set you back between $14,000-$33,000, making it one of the rarest video games for the Atari 2600.<\/p>\n Price: $20,000-$41,000\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Originally released by Bandai in 1987, this fitness game has become the holy grail of rare console games.<\/p>\n Nintendo bought the rights to Stadium Events in 1988 and re-released the game as WorldClass Track Meet, before pulling all copies of Stadium Events from shelves and destroying them.<\/p>\n It\u2019s said that 200 copies were sold in the year that the game was on the market and of those games, it\u2019s believed that only 20 are complete copies. A sealed Stadium Events can fetch up to a staggering $41,000 at auctions.<\/p>\n Price: $50,000<\/strong><\/p>\n Another Atari gem on our list is Gamma Attack, a space shooter that is as elusive as it is fascinating. Gamma Attack was created by Gammation Productions and up until a few years ago, the game was a mere rumour within the collectables industry\u2026 that was, until one was found.<\/p>\n Said to be the only copy of Gamma Attack in existence, it was put up for sale on eBay for $500,000 but was later valued at around $50,000<\/p>\n Price: $26,000-$100,000<\/strong><\/p>\n In 1990, Nintendo organised a global video game tournament and manufactured custom NES cartridges for the occasion.<\/p>\n The Nintendo World Championships cartridge for the NES contains a compilation of iconic games such as Super Mario Bros, Rad Racer, and Tetris, all with a special tournament timer ticking away. 90 copies were made in the standard grey while a further 26 were made in a gold colour ready to be given out as prizes in a Nintendo Power contest.<\/p>\n Today, this sought-after piece of gaming history can fetch a cool $26,000 or more if you\u2019ve got a gold cartridge. In fact, a gold cartridge version was sold in auction for a whopping $100,000 back in 2014.<\/p>\nTetris (Sega Genesis\/Mega Drive)<\/h2>\n
Birthday Mania (Atari 2600)<\/h2>\n
Nintendo Campus Challenge (NES)<\/h2>\n
Air Raid (Atari 2600)<\/h2>\n
Stadium Events (NES)<\/h2>\n
Gamma Attack (Atari 2600)<\/h2>\n
Nintendo World Championships (NES)<\/h2>\n
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