IN THIS ARTICLE
If there's one word that sums up what millennials today love the most, it's nostalgia. Collectively, we as a generation, love to revisit our childhoods — especially when it comes to TV, movies, fashion, and yes, video games.
From NES to N64 to Playstation and Atari, we could spend hours (or days) playing game after game. For those of us who held on to our collections but find them gathering dust due to busy schedules or lack of interest, you could be in for a sweet surprise. That's because there are rare gems hidden in these collections that could be worth some serious money now. While your beat-up, coverless copy of Super Mario 64 may not be worth anything more than the memories, you'd be surprised what is.
These are the consoles and video games worth money now.
Vintage video games worth $20-$100
1. "Digimon 3: Digimon World"
Released in 2002 for PS1, Digimon 3 is a role-playing video game that came third in the Digimon World series. The game's main character is Junior, who becomes trapped with his friends within the game and must find his way out. While not a huge fortune, it is currently selling for $41.
2. "Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games"
This game is on the newer side and was made for Nintendo Wii U. Popular Mario & Sonic characters like Bowser, Yoshi, Shadow, and Knuckles must compete through 17 different Olympic events in this sports competition game. This new copy in pristine condition is currently selling for $69.99.
3. "Metal Gear Solid"
Metal Gear Solid is an action-adventure video game for Nintendo Game Boy Color that was released in 2000. Rated "E" for everyone, lead character Snake is tasked with fighting off terrorists and seizing their weapons stash. This copy in good condition is currently going for $80.
Vintage video games worth $100+
4. "Return of the Ninja"
This 2001 Nintendo Game Boy Color video game is rated "E" for everyone and gives players a chance to play the role of a ninja whose "greatest weapon is stealth." If you can bare to part with your copy, it could fetch you as much as $164.
5. "Zatch Bell!: Mamodo Fury"
Based on the anime series Zatch Bell, this single-player video game features characters Kiyo and Zatch who are "one of 20 human and mamodo pairs available for multiplayer action, and each group has it's own spells and special affinities." Rated "T" for teens, this video game was released in 2006 and is now selling for $199.99.
6. "Black Crypt"
Black Crypt is a vintage and very rare item that is over 30 years old (it's literally on floppy disks!) If you're still in possession of this role-playing video game, it could be very valuable depending on its condition. This one is currently selling for $225.
7. "The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper!"
This action-adventure video game based on the classic cartoon series The Jetsons was released in 1992 for Nintendo NES. According to Moby Games, this spin-off game revolves around what happens when "George Jetson is ordered by his faithful employer Spacely Sprockets to put a stop to Mr. Cogswell's profit-making schemes; especially that of a dangerous mining facility on planet M38 is being built." If you're willing to sell your copy, it could be worth as much as $280!
8. "Espial"
Released by Tigervision in 1984 for Atari 2600, Espial is a rare shooter game that "puts you in the role of a space attack pilot flying over a gigantic star ship. Your mission is to destroy the star ship with your fighter's super powerful cursor scope missiles." If you're still hanging on to your copy (and it's still in good condition), this rare version is selling for $299.99!
9. "Super Mario 64"
Super Mario was one of the first games sold when the Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 and it was an immediate hit. 25 years later, one buyer made history earlier this year when they won the most pristine, never-been-opened copy of Super Mario 64. Their winning bid at auction? An eye-watering $1.56 million dollars.
Video game experts were shocked by this record-breaking bid. Valarie McLeckie, the consignment director for video games at Heritage Auctions, told the The New York Times that she was "blindsided" by the deal. “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the price that was realized would become a reality.”
If you don't have any of these specific games, don't worry. You can also look into bundling the games you do have for a larger sum (even if they're not super rare).
Video game consoles worth $100+
10. Nintendo NES
Just thinking of the original Nintendo game system brings us right back to our millennial childhoods — and clearly we're not alone. For those who are willing to part with their Nintendo NES systems (especially if they are in pristine condition and come complete with all wires, controllers, and even the iconic Orange & Gray "gun"), you could make $119.
11. Nintendo 64
If you're hanging on to your Nintendo 64 and not using it, now is the time to sell. A gently used (but still working) version with all wires and 4 remotes could fetch as much as $199.95!
Mom of two Dorothy M., told Mom.com her husband keeps his entire vintage video game collection (including his original NES and N64) in their two-bedroom apartment. "If it were up to me, I'd sell it all to clear out space for our girls and make a little money," she said. "But they are his most prized possessions so I know it's not happening. He loves them too much!"
12. Nintendo GameCube in Indigo Purple
She's fun, she's stylish, she's just a little bit different. The Nintendo GameCube in Indigo Purple was released in 2001 and could now be worth a whopping $199.97.
