The Rarest Game Boy Games (& How Much They’re Worth)

Highlights

• Game Boy‘s success led to collectible games worth thousands today – from Mega Man to Kid Dracula.
• Limited releases like Avenging Spirit and Killer Instinct demo boost value for collectors.
• Rare Game Boy ports like Spud’s Adventure and Amazing Tater are now the most valuable games.

As a collector with decades of gaming history under my belt, I must say that the world of vintage video games never ceases to amaze me. The prices these rare gems command today are nothing short of astounding!

The Game Boy wasn’t the initial portable gaming device, yet it became one of the most popular ones upon its launch in 1989. Alongside its successors like the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, they collectively sold over 100 million units. Although it couldn’t fully accommodate NES technology, it did manage to run 8-bit games with buttons and a directional pad inspired by the NES joypad.

The Game Boy console was discontinued back in 2003, but it continues to be highly valued by enthusiasts of vintage gaming consoles due to its significant role in shaping the history of console gaming by popularizing handheld devices. Additionally, for many gamers, the Game Boy served as their initial console, making its games increasingly sought-after collectibles. Since the release of the Game Boy was 35 years ago, many of these games have now become quite scarce.

Playing games like Pokemon Red, Blue, or Green, Super Mario Land, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, and Tetris on Game Boy was as simple as child’s play. These titles were part of a diverse collection that included cult classics, rarities, and unique gems valued anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. To keep things current, the list has been refreshed with some of the most elusive Game Boy titles currently available, along with updated price estimates for original releases to see if their value has appreciated or depreciated over time.

15 NIV Bible and The 20 Lost Levels of Joshua

It’ll Take a Miracle to Afford

The philosophy guiding Nintendo’s creation of the Game Boy was “innovative thinking using outdated technology,” and this was evident in its design. It featured monochrome graphics on a dim, olive-green screen that required direct sunlight or a specific angle to make images discernible. In busy scenes, the action could become blurry and difficult to follow. Despite these limitations, some developers saw potential in it as a platform for publishing books, such as Wisdom Tree with their controversial, unauthorized religious games.

They made the King James Bible available for the device, but added an NIV Bible and the 20 Mysterious Levels of Joshua – complete with a basic (albeit rough) video game – to its small text. Nowadays, it’s valued as a collector’s item, with new editions reaching a high of $1,735. CIB versions are more affordable at around $754.

14 The Flintstones: King Rock Treasure Island

Stone Cold Prices

In the ’90s, with the release of that awesome live-action movie and Cartoon Network’s heavy focus on Hanna-Barbera classics, The Flintstones saw a comeback. And you know what that meant? More games! Though most didn’t age well, collectors have always kept an eye out for The Flintstones: King Rock Treasure Island.

Introduced in 1993 by Taito, this was a straightforward platform game featuring Fred Flintstone discovering a treasure map and navigating through seven stages to uncover its destination. Finding a loose cartridge isn’t too difficult, but locating it in its original box (complete-in-box or CIB) or brand new has become progressively scarce. In its heyday of 2013, new packs were priced at $5,000 for collectors. Prices have since stabilized, but since 2022, both CIB and new prices have been on the rise. With scarcity being an issue, it’s unlikely that prices will drop below $860/$1,980.

13 Mega Man 4

A Different Beast from the NES Game

People often believe that Mega Man 4 on the Game Boy was merely a scaled-down version of its Nintendo Entertainment System counterpart. However, contrary to this assumption, the Game Boy Mega Man games followed an independent storyline. In contrast to the NES game’s antagonist Dr. Cossack, Mega Man 4 for the Game Boy focuses on battling against Dr. Wily, a new adversary named Ballade, and a combination of Robot Masters from both Mega Man 4 and Mega Man 5. Although the Game Boy’s screen is blurry and its sound is tinny, the gameplay successfully maintains the charm of the jump-and-shoot mechanics found in the NES version.

Over the past ten years, the prices of Loose and CIB items have generally doubled, although they’ve decreased slightly in recent years. A new one was virtually unobtainable just a few years ago due to sealed versions selling for close to $10,000 in mid-2022. Prices have since dropped, but there’s a possibility they could surge again. It’s important to note that this observation pertains only to the North American (NA) version. In contrast, European/PAL versions are much more affordable at $1,420, while their CIB counterparts hold a higher value than the NA version, at approximately $1,354.

12 Avenging Spirit

Back from the Dead

Avenging Spirit can be seen as an arcade precursor to Ghost Trick, or a spirit-filled adaptation of Paradroid. Upon being fatally shot, the protagonist seeks vengeance and rescues his girlfriend by battling enemies, or taking control of them directly through one of four playable characters. The game was unique yet intriguing, gathering enthusiasts even though it didn’t quite reach mass appeal to make its Game Boy version a must-have item. For many years, it remained one of the rarest games for collectors due to high demand and limited supply.

Despite persisting challenges in locating CIB (complete-in-box) versions, priced at $961.57, an unexpected drop in value has occurred, with new copies now going for as low as $60.60. This sudden decrease might be attributed to the game’s re-release by Limited Run and Ratalaika Games, which made the original arcade version available on contemporary consoles in 2022. However, prices remained elevated post-release. It seems this price drop could be temporary or possibly a glitch with PriceCharting, as the game experienced a similar brief dip in June 2023 that lasted only a month. Those who missed out on the Limited Run re-release should act swiftly if they wish to secure a copy.

11 Ninja Boy 2

A Space Adventure at Space-Age Prices

Culture Brain’s Chinese Hero series had a bit of an identity crisis on its journey to the west. The original arcade/NES game Chinese Hero retained its Chinese themes as Kung Fu Heroes. But it took them 5 years to make the sequel, Super Chinese 2, which became Little Ninja Brothers in the West. The action-RPG’s other Western follow-ups also stuck to the ninja theme with Ninja Boy and Ninja Boy 2 on the Game Boy.

1. Option: The first one is often available at relatively affordable rates, considering it was already a popular cult classic when initially released in 1990. On the other hand, the second game features Ryu and Jack battling aliens in space, which typically sells for around $1,100 complete-in-box (CIB) and an astonishing $2,530. This is nearly ten times the cost of Ninja Boy 1’s CIB price of $170, and a significant jump from its original New price of $392. That’s quite a steep price for an action game depicting Chinese warriors transformed into Japanese ninjas wielding swords in space.

10 Battletoads & Double Dragon

Beating Up The Bank Account

Rare’s hard-as-nails amphibian-based brawler met the Lee Brothers to form Battletoads & Double Dragon, where they had to team up to stop the Dark Queen and the Shadow Boss. The game was released on the Sega Genesis and Nintendo’s consoles to fair acclaim, though its difficult gameplay and wacky animations were definitely more Battletoads than Double Dragon. The Game Boy was the weakest of the ports thanks to its tiny screen blurring the hectic action, and the rough sound quality.

This made it rarer than its bigger ports, and thus more valuable to collectors. Picking it up loose is no problem for people who just want to play the game on real hardware. But if they want it boxed, they’re going to have to cough up nearly $1,250, then double that with change to nearly $3,000 for new copies. In the 2010s, CIB and New copies were barely going for more than $200-300, but they began spiking up to their current prices from late 2021 onward. If anyone invested in either version of the game in the past, they can get a lot if they can find a buyer now.

9 Metal Masters

Rise of the Pricetags

The game called “Metal Masters” originally took root on Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and IBM PC systems, making its debut before titles like “Virtua Fighter 4” and “Tekken 5.” What sets it apart is that players had the ability to personalize their characters, which was an innovative feature at the time. Earning credits from defeating opponents allowed players to purchase new body parts, arms, and legs to amplify their character’s power. However, this customization extends to the computer-controlled adversaries as well, including the villainous Baron Harkan who aims to construct a Super Robot and dominate not only the Metal Master tournaments but also the world.

The game was released for the Game Boy in 1993, but its distribution was limited, making it hard for collectors in the ’90s to find a copy. Even though Limited Run re-released the cartridges, they didn’t significantly lower the prices. In late 2021, new copies were selling for $1,721, but by 2022, the price dropped to $621. However, the game skyrocketed in price from 2023-2024, reaching an astounding $2,875. The situation hasn’t improved for complete-in-box (CIB) copies either, as they’ve almost quadrupled in value from $152 in 2023 to a current price of $1,250.

8 Sumo Fighter

Hundred Hand Slap, Thousand Dollar Value

Back in the early ’91, as a gamer, I was hard-pressed to find games with sumo wrestlers. Even in combat titles, they were few and far between. But the creative minds at KID decided to take a swing at it with “Sumo Fighter.” In this game, I took control of Bontaro, using his sumo-inspired moves like throws, slaps, palm thrusts, and more to vanquish adversaries, dodge traps and perils, and rescue my pal Kayo.

Back in the day, I was fortunate to snatch a Western release of a game from Japan, priced at around $189 brand new. This game, not so common in the West due to its unique subject matter, sumo wrestling, didn’t exactly fly off the shelves back then. However, those who did grab it have likely been rewarded handsomely, as its value has skyrocketed over time – it’s now worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars! Even used copies are hard to come by these days, fetching a neat $231 for sellers. This might just be one of the most valuable English adaptations of a Japanese game out there.

7 Mega Man 5

Vulnerable to Price Spikes

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that the Game Boy version of Mega Man 4 was a unique blend of elements from MM4 and MM5, crafting its own captivating narrative. Stepping into the sequel, Mega Man 5, offered a fresh tale with brand-new adversaries. This time around, I battled Terra, the Stardroids, a formidable gang of bosses named after planets, each armed with special attacks themed around their celestial namesakes. While these Game Boy Mega Man titles were solid games, they couldn’t quite match up to the epicness of the NES versions. Regrettably, they’ve been seldom re-released, with digital releases on the Nintendo 3DS eShop being their closest brush with a comeback, but unfortunately, that platform is no more.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed that the prices for the Loose and CIB (Complete In Box) versions of the Game Boy MM5 haven’t changed much over the years, which is manageable for die-hard fans like me. However, if you were dreaming of grabbing a brand new copy, I’ve got some unfortunate news – its value skyrocketed from $2,200 to an eye-watering £6,100 in just a month! While there’s a glimmer of hope that it might drop back down to around $2,000, those eager collectors out there will have to dust off their piggy banks once more.

6 Killer Instinct Not for Resale Demo

When Less Game is Worth More Money

The unique fighting game, Killer Instinct, originally intended for the Nintendo Ultra 64 console but delayed, paved its own path by emphasizing combo-intensive gameplay, vibrant 90s character designs, and humorous fatalities (such as Chief Thunder uppercutting Sabrewulf into a can of dog food). Unfortunately, its delay resulted in the loss of the ‘Ultra’ title for the console. As a result, it was ported to the SNES instead, and when that wasn’t enough for players, an even more condensed version was released on the Game Boy.

Even so, a copy of the Killer Instinct Not for Resale Demo managed to go for $1,528 at a sale in January 2024. The seller hadn’t even tested it and couldn’t confirm if it would work or not. But these old retail demos for the old Game Boy Kiosks can be tricky to find at the best of times. The KI one was one of the rarest, only making sparing appearances years prior. So, even if the cartridge ended up being a dud, it would still be worth a small fortune as a genuine dud.

5 Toxic Crusaders

Toxic to Credit Balances

Imagining if children’s cartoons were adapted from R-rated films like Rambo, Robocop, Killer Tomatoes, and Troma Entertainment’s The Toxic Avenger, it would have been quite a different scenario. Instead of portraying violent encounters, The Toxic Avenger (in the kids’ version named Toxic Crusaders) would make friends and fight against polluting villains in Tromaville, cleaning up the city rather than killing them brutally. This reimagined version became popular enough to spawn a side-scrolling beat ’em up game for systems like the Game Boy, Sega Genesis, and NES in 1992.

Although the television series successfully ventured abroad, the video games did not. This could explain why they are quite expensive to find today. The Genesis version is the most affordable, priced at around $73.30 for complete-in-box (CIB) copies, while the NES adaptation costs approximately $379.41. However, being one of the least sought-after games from a run that was region-restricted in the first place, the Game Boy version is priced at a staggering $1,700 for CIB editions and an eye-watering nearly $4,000 for sealed copies. That’s enough to finance another Troma film production, let alone purchase its video games.

4 Kid Dracula

Chibi Vampire, Big Prices

As a follow-up to the Famicom game of the same title, Kid Dracula served as the Western world’s exclusive encounter with Konami’s charming spin-off of the Castlevania franchise. The gameplay was reminiscent of a traditional Castlevania, tailored for a younger audience, though. Players battled adorable versions of horror creatures using attacks and magical spells to thwart the malevolent Galamoth, with only Death by his side to guide them. Kid Dracula received tips and heirlooms from Death, who was also the son of the esteemed Dracula.

Finding ‘Loose’ items is slightly less challenging than tracking down things like GB MM5 or Sumo Fighter. However, for those aiming to complete their collection, the cost is substantial at approximately $1,811. As late as the end of 2022, new pieces were priced around $2,040, but they skyrocketed in 2023. At its maximum, it reached $5,211 and has only recently decreased to $4,166. If sellers wish to maximize their profit, they should find a buyer promptly.

3 Spud’s Adventure

A Very Hot Potato

Hailing from Atlus, the creators of both Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, the game named Spud’s Adventure appears to share some similarities with the quirky title Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom. The resemblance is further emphasized by its damsel-in-distress character, Princess Mato. In this action RPG adventure, Spud embarks on a mission to rescue her from Devi. Despite its adorable theme, the game takes some unexpected dramatic turns. It’s safe to say that it shares little resemblance with the classic platformer, Super Mario.

The price of this game has always been high and hasn’t become affordable yet. As early as 2013, it was priced in the hundreds for used copies, and its current highest point is $606. Even though CIB copies dropped from $4,000 to $2,350 between 2015 and now, new ones are still valued in thousands, dropping slightly from $6,016 in 2022 to $5,405. For the time being, it seems that the price is not going down significantly, so its owners can rest assured that a drastic decrease isn’t imminent anytime soon.

2 F1 Pole Position

Accelerating in Cost

Originally titled F1 Pole Position from the Japanese game Nakajima Satoru F-1 Hero GB ’92: The Graded Driver, this Formula 1 Grand Prix racer is quite captivating, offering character profiles and intricate pixel art cutscenes that add to its visual appeal, making it one of the more attractive racing games for handheld devices. However, if you’re considering playing it, I would recommend obtaining its PAL release instead, as it’s significantly cheaper at around $12.29 for loose copies.

In 2018, the value of Loose NA copies surged to around $150 and since then, the price has climbed steadily, albeit gradually. Similarly, over the past six years, the prices for CIB (Complete in Box) and New copies have skyrocketed, rising from $286/$658 in 2018 to a current value of $2,499/$5,748. This suggests that investors could potentially reap significant returns. The price stability over the past two years is noteworthy, but given the high cost, it may be due to the limited number of games available compared to demand.

1 Amazing Tater

Amazing Prices

Additionally created by Atlus, the game titled Fantastic Potato shares a technical resemblance with Spud’s Journey, as both require players to shift crates, rotate wheels, and perform tasks like filling holes, unlocking gates, and completing levels. It was developed as a successor to Kwirk, where the main character, Spud, transforms from a potato into a tomato in the Western version. Unlike its predecessor, Kwirk can be purchased for $10 regardless of whether it’s North American or PAL region. However, Fantastic Potato is significantly scarce and consequently the most costly Game Boy game available on the market.

Back in 2014, you could buy loose cartridges of this game for just $24.99. However, its value began to increase from 2016 onwards. At its highest point, the game was worth:

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2024-08-18 17:55