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Competition cartridges for special events commend the highest prices since only two or three copies even exist. These competition carts are getting 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. 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 February 11, 2022, 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 that were not too overly pricey, 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.
22 The Legend Of Zelda, Majora’s Mask (Holographic Label) - $1,100
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.
21 Myriad 6-In-1/Caltron 6-In-1 - $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.
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The Caltron version is rare, but the Myriad version was limited to 888 copies. Each copy was numbered, and those who have a copy with matching serial numbers (for the cart, instructions, and box) the value is 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.
20 Hagane: The Final Conflict - $1,200
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.
19 Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages & Seasons – Limited Edition - $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.
18 MACS: Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator - $1,300
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 $1300. 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.
17 Extertainment Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer Combo - $1,350
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.
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With a price tag of more than $3000 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 $2700 and even loose copies are priced at $1350. Nostalgia value combined with the rarity of the game has kept the price fairly steady.
16 Peek-A-Boo Poker - $1,400
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.
15 Cheetahmen 2 - $1,500
The original Cheetahmen game appeared on the Action 52 cartridge for the NES. Action 52 is also a fairly rare game and was made famous 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.
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There were less than 2,000 of these produced, making them rare to find no matter where collectors look on the internet. There are a lot of reproduction Cheetahmen 2 cartridges out there, so those looking to buy one need to make sure it is genuine. These generally sell for about $1,500.00.
14 Amazing Tater - $1,500
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. Even loose copes are worth about $400. Part of the reason why is that it’s a Gameboy cartridge, and the iconic portable counsel is one of the Nintendo properties that collectors are always keen on finding.
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.
13 The Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak - $1,550
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.
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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 copy.
12 Duck Tales – Gold Cartridge Edition - $1,600
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. There is one for sale on eBay right now for $3,000.00 – at least it has free shipping.
11 Starfox Weekend Competition - $2,500
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.
10 Little Samson - $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.
9 Sonic Heroes & Super Monkey Ball Duo Pack - $2,750
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 $2,000.
8 Donkey Kong Country Competition Edition - $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.
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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 value is approximately $3,250.00.
7 Nintendo Campus Challenge 1992 - $4,000
This was a large, unusual-looking cartridge that looks 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.
6 Nintendo 64 Test Cartridge - $5,000
In the waning days of the Nintendo service centers, Nintendo sent them a test cartridge for the N64. These were used by technicians to isolate any problems a N64 console might be experiencing. By the time these were sent to the service centers many had been closed, and the few remaining centers were being phased out.
A copy of this ultra-rare cartridge is rarely available for sale. Many have made their way to their forever home. When one does become available for sale, expect to pay in the neighborhood of $5,000.
5 Legend Of Zelda Test Cartridge - $6,500
It wasn’t that long ago the Legend of Zelda Test Cartridge could be purchased for not that much. In this case, not the much being a few thousand dollars. Over the last year, this cartridge has gone up in value enough to not only put it on this list but put it near the top.
So what is the Legend of Zelda Test Cartridge? Back in the late 80s and early-to-mid 90s, Nintendo had service centers located across the country. At these service centers, Nintendo console owners could have their system checked and repaired. To assist the employees at these centers Nintendo provided test cartridges; these were meant to test the console for problems. Not long before these centers were closed some were sent a Zelda Test Cart. This is among the rarest original Nintendo games.
4 Stadium Events - $14,000
For many collectors, this cartridge is the Holy Grail of NES games. Stadium Events was a follow-up title for the Family Fun and Fitness accessory for the NES. Family fun and Fitness, from Bandai, was a large pad that plugged into the controller port. The reason this sounds like Nintendo’s Power Pad is because Nintendo liked this idea so much they purchased the concept from Bandai and re-branded the accessory.
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When this happened, all the Family Fun and Fitness pads and games were removed from store shelves. A copy of Stadium Events demands about $10,000.00, $21,200.00 for a complete in box copy, and about $28,500.00 for a sealed copy. This is the best example of how much a regular Nintendo game can be worth.
3 Nintendo World Championship – Gray Cartridge - $20,000
In 1990 Nintendo launched the Nintendo World Championship competition. In the U.S. there were 29 cities included in the tournament. These competitions used special NES cartridges that had parts of three games: Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris.
The contestants would play through the 3 games, and the winner was decided through an algorithm that factored in several criteria, such as time and points. These carts have become very sought after, and there isn’t a consensus on the number produced. The highest confirmed serial number is 353, and if collectors want to buy one be prepared to fork over about $20,000.00
