If the ’90s still feel like they were “just a few years ago,” brace yourself—you’re officially vintage. From beepers to Beanie Babies, the decade that gave us boy bands, butterfly clips, and the birth of the internet is now a collector’s dream. As nostalgia for the pre-digital era grows, prices for certain ’90s favorites have started climbing fast.
So before you declutter your childhood closet or toss out that old console, check again. These seven collectibles from the ’90s are already skyrocketing in value—and yes, some could be worth more than your first car.
Pokémon Cards
Pokémon mania may have started on the playground, but it’s taken over the collector’s market. First-edition cards from the original 1999 set—especially holographic Charizard—are worth thousands. Even less-rare cards are increasing in value as new generations rediscover the franchise.
Cards in mint condition, sealed booster packs, and complete sets bring in the biggest money. Some collectors are even grading cards through PSA or Beckett to preserve their worth. If you’ve got an old binder full of them, you’re not sitting on pocket monsters—you’re sitting on profit.
Beanie Babies
They were cute, affordable, and absolutely everywhere in the ’90s—and now, the right ones are making a comeback. While most Beanie Babies are worth little more than nostalgia, rare misprints and limited editions are the exception.
Models like “Princess Diana,” “Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant,” and “Claude the Crab” can fetch hundreds or even thousands online if they’re pristine. The key is condition and those little paper tags. If yours still has the tag protector you bought in 1998, congratulations—you were a visionary.
VHS Tapes
Streaming may have killed the rental store, but it’s made VHS collectibles cool again. Original tapes of cult classics and Disney “Black Diamond” editions are selling for shocking prices, especially if they’re sealed. Horror and action films are particularly hot, with some rare titles reaching four figures.
Collectors love the nostalgia and the physicality of VHS—each box feels like a time capsule. Even home-recorded tapes can surprise if they capture rare TV broadcasts or commercials. So before you donate that box in the attic, check those spines—Blockbuster-era relics are back in business.
Video Game Consoles
The Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and early PlayStation systems are now vintage collectibles in their own right. Consoles in working condition, especially with original packaging and controllers, have seen their values soar in the last few years.
Games like Super Smash Bros., Final Fantasy VII, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are worth hundreds—sometimes thousands—when unopened. Even well-loved systems can sell for good money to retro gamers looking to relive their childhoods. If you ever blew dust out of a cartridge, it might just pay off.
Polly Pocket
They were tiny, adorable, and impossible to vacuum up—but collectors can’t get enough of them today. Original Polly Pocket compacts from the early ’90s, made by Bluebird Toys, are now selling for hundreds, especially complete sets with their miniature figures.
Disney-themed versions and rare color variations are the most sought-after. Condition is everything—scratches or missing dolls can drastically lower value. If you’ve still got your childhood collection tucked in a box somewhere, it’s time to cash in on those tiny treasures.
Comic Books
While Golden and Silver Age comics get most of the attention, ’90s issues are quietly rising in value. Key first appearances—like Deadpool in New Mutants #98 or Venom in The Amazing Spider-Man #300—have seen huge jumps at auction.
Signed editions, foil covers, and limited releases are particularly popular. Even mainstream titles from publishers like Image and Marvel are climbing as collectors fill gaps in their ‘90s nostalgia runs. Don’t underestimate those flashy covers—they might be more than a blast from the past.
Lego Sets
Before Lego was a pop-culture empire, it was a beloved toy that kids rarely kept complete. That’s exactly why ’90s sets—especially Star Wars, Pirates, and Castle collections—are so valuable today.
Sealed sets are gold, but even used ones with instructions can command big prices. The rarer the theme, the higher the demand. A complete 1999 Millennium Falcon set, for instance, has sold for thousands online. Turns out those colorful bricks weren’t just toys—they were tiny investments.
The ’90s were an unforgettable mix of simplicity and innovation—and collectors are willing to pay for the memories. From trading cards to VHS tapes, what once filled toy chests and bedroom shelves is now funding vacations and down payments. Moral of the story? Never underestimate the value of your childhood junk drawer.