The Rarest NES Games Ever (And Why They’re So Rare)

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen my fair share of gaming history, I can’t help but feel a tinge of nostalgia when I come across these rare and forgotten NES titles. The stories behind them are as fascinating as the games themselves, each one a testament to the highs and lows of the industry.

The eight-bit console produced by Nintendo is filled with scarcely found, high-priced games that, despite their old-fashioned characteristics, are still highly sought after and frequently sell for more than contemporary games with flashy features. Over time, and due to its unique and obscure games, the NES has become a preferred platform among collectors eager to display their valuable gaming relics.

As a collector, I’ve found that just like some software hidden within plastic casings, these vintage game carts carry captivating tales behind them. These stories frequently shed light on why they’re so elusive and highly valued. Although there are numerous games priced quite steeply, a select few stand out as exceptional when it comes to scarcity and value, particularly when still in their original packaging.

All prices were taken from PriceCharting.com, and were accurate at the time of publication.

23 Chip N’ Dale Rescue Rangers 2

Capcom Could Not Rescue It From Poor Sales

Revisiting the fond memories of ’80s and ’90s children, this delightful and playful platformer, modeled after the Disney cartoon, follows the adventures of two chipmunk superheroes as they navigate through vibrant, quirky settings. Essentially, players will guide these characters from point A to B, leaping, dodging, and collecting items while steering clear of a variety of enemies that fans will recall. This could be considered a Disney-inspired take on the classic Mario gameplay.

This new game adopts a more straightforward, single-path structure compared to its earlier version, and includes multiplayer options for easier accessibility – an attempt to make it more popular than Capcom had planned. Originally released in 1994, this sequel arrived quite late to the NES collection, much like many prized NES artifacts today. As the Super Nintendo was already well-established when it came out in the West, it received a warm welcome from those who played it, though its gameplay was generally seen as simple and straightforward.

22 Sqoon

This Game Was Alien To Most NES Players

Created by the less known Japanese studio Home Date (now Magical Company), Sqoon is a side-scrolling shooter game in which players defend Earth from invading aliens hailing from Neptune. To satisfy their appetite for “human livestock,” they disrupt Earth’s equilibrium by causing the polar ice caps to melt and, of course, sending minions to assault the pink submarine fighters.

As a gaming enthusiast, I remember when this game was attempted to be adapted into a Manga, but it didn’t quite catch on, especially in the United States. One reason might have been that technical issues were handled by another studio (Broderbund), as Sqoon’s publisher lacked an American branch at the time. This could have made it harder for the game to gain traction in the U.S. market.

21 Myriad 6-In-1

A Myriad Of Duds

This unique collection could be labeled as a gaming surrealistic vision, with undertones of mysterious Atari adventures instead of NES-style ones. The creation was produced by NTDEC (also known as Caltron Industries), which ceased operations just a year following the 1992 launch of this game. Inside the cartridge are six separate games, featuring the cheesy sci-fi shooter Cosmos Cop and the peculiar Balloon Monster.

In a bid to make these previously individual games more appealing, the studio grouped them together into one less well-known 6-pack collection, known as the 6 in 1 cartridge. It appears that the philosophy here was ‘more is better’, yet this varied assortment failed to prevent critics from harshly criticizing the entire set for being only slightly above the standard quality of first-generation NES games.

But while knocked for offering cheap-feeling NES and arcade clones, this cart’s now ironically among one of the most valuable loose.

20 Kid Klown In Night Mayor World

Kemco’s Klown Game Didn’t Cut It

In this side-scrolling action game, the character known as Kid Klown, or Mickey Mouse, moves ahead, relying on his faithful balloons for high leaps, hovering, and even offensive maneuvers. His goal is to save his loved ones during their journey towards the circus and face off against the humorous villain called “Night Mayor”.

The game offers a series of distinctive themed levels filled with creatures aiming to defeat Klown. Following these stages is an extra chaotic bonus level and numerous boss battles. Sadly, due to its late release in a crowded platforming genre, the vibrant Kemco game wasn’t widely noticed by NES gamers. By April 1993, when it came out, many had already shifted their focus to the SNES.

19 Duck Tales 2

Owners Of A New Copy Could Be Diving In Piles Of Cash

Drawing inspiration from the animated series sensation of the early ’90s, Capcom probably anticipated that this Duck Tales sequel would at least moderately succeed in sales. However, its somewhat rigid controls and non-linear structure may have dampened enthusiasm, as these elements felt outdated by the time it was released in late 1993.

Although it followed a familiar formula, Duck Tales 2 still managed to establish itself as a capable platformer. It showcased some stunning, colorful graphics (for NES) and offered a rich platforming experience that motivated players to delve into the cartoony environments.

18 Stack Up

Stack Up Countless Bills With A New Copy

In the time when the American gaming market was still cautious following the Atari crash, Nintendo chose to present their NES as more of a toy. This led to the introduction of R.O.B. the Robot, a cumbersome accessory designed to work with specific games. One of the launch titles was this peculiar block-sorting “game.

As a fan, I’d say that “Stack Up” presents a unique challenge where you, as a professor, navigate arrows to arrange blocks based on color and patterns. Remarkably, R.O.B., the robotic assistant, follows suit. Although the game may not offer an abundance of entertainment (it seems more like a sneak peek), it showcases an intriguing concept – and what’s more, it’s quite valuable!

Back in the ’80s, this concept probably didn’t impress gamers as much, given that the technology was more advanced and exciting at that time. This made the game hard to find, especially since it came with a clunky robot. The original version of “Stack Up” is quite rare and can be sold for over $1000.

17 Donkey Kong Jr. Math

The Math Just Doesn’t Add Up

It’s surprising that a game starring Nintendo’s renowned ape character, Donkey Kong Jr., would be relatively unknown, but that seems to be the case for the educational game titled “Donkey Kong Jr. Math“. The ‘Edu-tainment’ genre wasn’t particularly popular in the 80s as it often struggled to balance education and entertainment effectively… However, some studios are starting to make innovative attempts in this area nowadays.

It’s no wonder that this mathematical spin-off of a less well-known sequel didn’t set sales records. The game was slow, unremarkable, and not particularly educational due to its fundamental equations. However, its value for money is somewhat appealing, as it retails at a price point that’s almost three thousand dollars.

16 Cowboy Kid

A Gun-Slinging Hoot

Drawing influence from Konami’s Goemon series, this less well-known adventure stars a cowboy who battles enemies while traversing traditional Western landscapes, complete with shooting and hacking actions. The game, titled Cowboy Kid, exhibits decent performance, particularly in its thrilling cooperative mode. However, the theme of confrontation with Native Americans raises some concerns, at least to an extent.

The unusual artwork on the American version, reminiscent of low-budget Western films rather than games, might be one reason for its failure to connect with audiences. Its inconsistent hit detection and unbalanced gameplay progression could also have contributed to its lackluster reception. Nowadays, a boxed copy of this game can fetch prices exceeding $1,000, indicating its rarity and high demand among collectors. While it’s not quite a gold rush, finding a Complete-in-Box (CIB) copy places it among the top echelon of such items.

15 Mighty Final Fight

It Hasn’t Aged Too Mightily

Enthusiasts of Capcom’s street fighting series might emphasize the gritty realism that makes these games appealing. In light of this, the unusual spin-off strays from the essence of the primary Final Fight series. Instead, it presents overly humorous, almost cartoonish characters.

The simple and quirky design, along with an incongruous leveling system, made this spin-off seem like an overlooked project not only for the studio but also for fans. However, despite the original NES cartridge being relatively unknown, the game gained renewed popularity through a 2006 adaptation on the Game Boy Advance titled “Capcom Mini-Mix“.

14 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

Commands A Bodacious Price With Its Box

Previously, there was an engaging combat game that carried some similarities to Street Fighter but featured Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This NES title unfortunately came out late in the market, after the Super Nintendo had already been launched. As a result, it didn’t receive as much attention as the classic brawler game, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time”.

Additionally, the game “Tournament Fighter” had several variations and regional launches. Interestingly, it’s quite unusual, but Japan didn’t receive a release for this NES “Turtles” game, making it even more rare and hard-to-find.

13 Wacky Races

Collectors Race To Retail Shops To Get This One

This NES game developed by Atlus, not to be mistaken with the vibrant PlayStation game from 2000, had a challenging path to success due to its basis on a relatively unknown Hanna-Barbera cartoon with the same name. The title’s deception didn’t aid its cause either. In essence, it’s a platformer rather than a racing game, contrary to what one might expect from the title.

Although it wasn’t a top-tier game like Super Mario, it still delivered competent platforming that was often challenging, spanning over three distinct regions. In this game, players take on the role of the humorous dog Muttley who can jump, bite, and even use his tail to glide across wide gaps while collecting bones and competing against other racers.

12 Power Blade 2

Button-Mashing Masculinity

Back in the day when pixelated graphics ruled, I remember Taito had a unique talent for producing fewer cartridges for the NES system. Games like this action-packed title were among those that didn’t make it to the shelves as plentifully as we gamers would have liked.

Similar to its 1990 forerunner, this stronger follow-up follows the gameplay formula of Mega Man, where combat is a test of endurance in shooting games. Players don a powerful “cyborg” suit and fight off numerous opponents, eventually acquiring suits that enable swimming, armor enhancement, and even the ability to climb on ceilings.

11 Zombie Nation

A Spooky Premise And Spookier Price

In the far, post-apocalyptic year of 1999 on Earth, an extraterrestrial being arrives via meteorite, causing chaos and transforming humans into zombies. The protagonist, Kamakubi, a peculiar floating head character, is assigned to navigate treacherous urban landscapes, recover a samurai sword, and annihilate the alien origin. Although the game’s dark and unusual elements may surprise some players, its core gameplay mechanics can be compared to a horror-infused version of the classic shoot ’em up game, R-Type.

Due to its dark storyline and challenging mechanics, it’s not surprising that Zombie Nation didn’t achieve much popularity on Nintendo’s kid-friendly system. Yet, this game has made a comeback with a release for the Switch and Windows in October 2021.

10 Bubble Bobble Part 2

A Hidden Multiplayer Gem On NES

Originally released slightly after the NES’s US debut, Bubble Bobble was quite popular. However, its sequel arrived when it was already too late, as the gameplay wasn’t as captivating and the cartridge was among the last produced for the NES before developers started focusing on the SNES instead.

Therefore, it was rather uncommon for gamers to come across these games except when they visited a rental store that was selling them, since it seemed that Taito’s games were more frequently available at such establishments.

9 The Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak

A Dinosauric Value

This side-scrolling game, modeled after the popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon, entered the NES market later than expected, releasing long after the Super Nintendo had debuted. Consequently, its somewhat primitive feel became even more archaic. To add to this, it was said to be exclusively available at Blockbuster Video for much of its lifespan, which only served to distance it from the gaming market further.

Initially, those fortunate enough to acquire this vintage item were often astonished to discover a robust foundation for a classic platformer. The title boasts vibrant settings, reliable gameplay mechanics, and an entertaining feature allowing you to alternate between Fred and Barney, each character equipped with distinct weaponry and abilities.

8 Snow Brothers

Bubble Bobble – But With Snowballs

It’s unfortunate that this transformed arcade game has fallen into obscurity, since its multiplayer cooperative play is quite enjoyable. However, most gamers in 1991 didn’t seem to agree, as it never gained much traction and was overshadowed by the numerous excellent NES games available at the time.

Back in the day when I was all about gaming, the hype surrounding the SNES release was undeniable. However, it seemed like similar games, such as Bubble Bobble, stole the spotlight. To make matters worse, the developers of Snow Brothers, Toaplan, faced financial troubles and closed up shop in ’94. This unfortunate combination resulted in a brief, limited release for the NES version of Snow Brothers.

7 Bonk’s Adventure

Finding This New Would Be An Adventure

The scarcity of Bonk’s Adventure is largely due to its multiple versions and adaptations, each making it less common than it potentially could have been. Originally, the TurboGrafx-16 console was the primary platform for Bonk’s Adventure, but when it was moved to the NES, the unusual Mario clone featuring a caveman with a big head became somewhat of a secondary consideration and wasn’t widely distributed.

The game didn’t initially see a resurgence, but rather experienced it when it became one of the pioneering titles for Nintendo’s Wii Virtual Console in 2006. Interestingly, this newer version actually garnered it significantly more attention and players than its initial NES launch.

6 Panic Restaurant

A Fever Dream Of Food-Based Platforming

As a gamer, it’s pretty obvious that a challenging platformer filled with kitchen-dwelling monster munchkins might struggle to set the gaming world ablaze. However, there’s a deeper reason behind its scarcity than just a lack of popularity.

Due to unfortunate timing, this game created by Taito came out on an older Nintendo console about half a year after they introduced their Super NES. As a result, it arrived late to the gathering, which impacted its sales significantly. This poor performance in the market is believed to be the primary reason for the limited production of cartridges for this game.

5 Little Samson

Little Protagonist; Massive Price

If you were a gaming enthusiast or collector, it would have been a significant find if you were a fan or collector of Japanese publisher Taito. Acquiring a game published by Taito towards the end of the NES’s lifespan likely means you would possess an exceptionally rare and sought-after cartridge.

Unlike most games of its kind, “Little Samson” wasn’t just a hidden gem; it received an official wide release. However, despite this, it failed to capture an audience. The game was released towards the end of 1992 and lacked significant promotion by the publisher, which might have hindered its success. Additionally, its resemblance to the highly successful “Mega Man” could have also worked against it.

4 Cheetahmen 2

TMNT, This Is Not

As a long-time gamer, I’d say this peculiar side-scroller you’re referring to might have been seen as an unsuccessful attempt at an “unofficial” version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a title only remembered by diehard NES enthusiasts from the old days. The Cheetahmen series, in gaming lore, is more of a curiosity than a game that truly works. The developers behind it seemed to have bitten off more than they could chew when creating it, and this shows in its almost non-functional mechanics and glitches.

The original version can be discovered within an uncommon NES game called “Action 52”. A sequel was conceptualized and partially fabricated yet left unfinished. In reality, no official completed game cartridges have been produced; instead, there are approximately 1,500 in circulation that contain the unfinished game in plain casing. The simple gold label is the only distinguishing feature on these bare carts, with the title being hastily affixed. Finding the box for this game, if you can find it at all, is quite a challenge!

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2024-09-30 17:56