Top 10 Rarest Video Games of All-Time

The global video game market is a sprawling universe worth over $85 billion today, showcasing how far we’ve come since the first console, the Magnavox Odyssey, hit the scene in 1972. As technology evolved, countless games were created, and estimates suggest there may be over a million titles in existence, not even touching the surface of old PC and console games from beloved systems like the NES, SNES, and the Commodore 64. In this vast ocean of gaming, some titles stand out—not for their gameplay or story, but for their rarity. Here, we delve into 10 of the rarest video games of all time, each with its unique tale of scarcity and obsession among collectors.

1. Nintendo World Championships (1990)

Arguably one of the most famous rare games, the Nintendo World Championships cartridge was created for a gaming competition in 1990. Only 90 gold cartridges were originally produced, alongside a few silver ones. The game featured a combination of Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris, and the gold versions can fetch upwards of $30,000 at auction today.

2. Atari 2600 Air Raid

The game that defined the home console era, the Atari 2600, produced a rare gem known as Air Raid. Beyond its gameplay—if you can find it, that is—the real rarity lies in the game’s unique packaging: it came with an unusual handle-shaped cartridge. Only a handful of copies are known to exist, with sales exceeding $31,000 at auction.

3. Stadium Events (NES)

Another title bordering on mythical status is Stadium Events for the NES. Released in limited quantities in North America, this game was a competitor to the more familiar World Class Track Meet. After a brief release, the game was recalled and destroyed, making surviving copies extraordinarily hard to find. Prices can easily climb to $35,000 or more for a complete box copy.

4. Game Boy Pokémon Mini

Released exclusively in Japan, the Pokémon Mini was a gimmicky handheld system more than a success story. As many as 300 copies of its launch titles were produced, making them extremely scarce. To make matters worse, the only officially available Pokémon titles for this mini-console came in limited quantities, pushing their value into the hundreds of dollars.

5. Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride (Dreamcast)

This unusual variant of the popular Crazy Taxi series was produced as a promotional item for the now-defunct Blockbuster Video. Only 50 copies were made for the Dreamcast, leading to a fervent search among collectors. Prices can range from $1,200 to over $3,000 depending on condition.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Master Quest (GameCube)

Gamers who adore The Legend of Zelda series will recognize the Master Quest version of Ocarina of Time, available exclusively through a limited promotional disc on GameCube. Only distributed via GameStop and select other retailers, the scarcity and cult status of this game can lead to prices exceeding $500.

7. The Black Moon Chronicles: Volume 1 (PC)

This 1997 PC title, based on a popular comic book series, had a very limited run, leading collectors to search high and low for it. Its absence from digital storefronts and its rarity on physical media mean that copies commonly sell for $200 or more.

8. Super Mario Bros. (Factory-Sealed) (NES)

While Super Mario Bros. is one of the world’s most recognized video games, sealed copies of the original NES version are incredibly rare. A factory-sealed copy sold for nearly $2 million in 2021, sending shockwaves throughout the collecting community and earning it a spot in the Guinness World Records.

9. Nintendo’s “PlayStation” Prototype

Long before Sony became synonymous with gaming, it partnered with Nintendo to create a CD-ROM drive for the SNES. The prototype, often referred to as the “Nintendo PlayStation,” never made it to production, making it an unparalleled rarity. Only a handful exist, and one sold at auction for over $360,000—an artifact of what could have been.

10. Thrilla’s Universal Monster Battle (Game Boy)

This independently developed game had a short run with fewer than 50 copies created, primarily as a promotional item in 1994. It was never officially sold to the public, which drastically limits the number of surviving copies. Finding one will cost a collector thousands, as the search for this elusive title continues.