For those of us who grew up in the ’80s, the golden age of arcade video games, will remember the joy of spending countless hours in front of screens, clearing levels after levels. Now, as a nostalgic adult, you might be wondering which of those games are worth big bucks today. So, here’s a list of 10 retro video games from the ’80s that could make you a small fortune.
1. Stadium Events (NES)
Stadium Events, released by Bandai in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), is one of the rarest games in the world. It was pulled from shelves soon after its release when Nintendo bought the rights and rebranded it as “World Class Track Meet”. A sealed copy of Stadium Events can fetch you up to $41,300.
2. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Who doesn’t remember playing Super Mario Bros.? This iconic game from Nintendo, released in 1985, is a classic. A sealed, mint condition copy of this game recently sold for a whopping $114,000 at auction.
3. The Legend of Zelda (NES)
The Legend of Zelda, another classic from Nintendo, debuted in 1986. The first production run of the game came in a shiny gold cartridge, which is now highly sought after by collectors. A sealed copy of the gold cartridge version can go for upwards of $30,000.
4. Mega Man (NES)
Mega Man, released by Capcom in 1987, is a popular game that has spawned numerous sequels. The original Mega Man game is quite rare, and a sealed copy can fetch around $75,000 at auction.
5. Final Fantasy (NES)
The first installment of the long-running Final Fantasy series debuted in 1987. It’s a highly sought-after game, and a sealed copy can sell for up to $50,000.
6. Gauntlet (Atari 2600)
Gauntlet, released by Atari in 1985, is a rare game due to the console’s short lifespan. A sealed copy of this game can fetch anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.
7. Double Dragon (NES)
An iconic beat ’em up game, Double Dragon, was released in 1987 by Technōs Japan. A sealed copy of this game can demand up to $20,000 at auction.
8. Metroid (NES)
Metroid, another classic from Nintendo, debuted in 1986. The game was highly influential and spawned a successful franchise. A sealed copy of this game can fetch upwards of $20,000.
9. Contra (NES)
Contra, released by Konami in 1987, is a run and gun action game. It’s one of the most iconic games of the ’80s. A sealed copy of Contra can go for $10,000 to $20,000 at auction.
10. Castlevania (NES)
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Castlevania, released by Konami in 1986, is a gothic horror action-adventure game. A sealed copy of this game can fetch around $10,000 to $15,000 at auction.
So there you have it, fellow game lovers. If you have one of these gems tucked away in your attic, you could be sitting on a goldmine.