Old Gameboy games enjoy great popularity and there are definitely valuable specimens among them. However, not every Gameboy game is valuable just because it is old.
Valuable Gameboy games: Auctions
Gameboy games are sold mainly at auctions. There are also retro shops that sell old games, but the most valuable games do not necessarily go over the counter there. Among the most popular Gameboy classics are the Pokémon and Super Mario games.
- Pokémon Yellow is a 1st generation Pokémon game. It has some innovations in contrast to the Red and Blue editions. The yellow edition was released in the USA in 1999. It was auctioned off at Heritage Auctions for 78,000 dollars. This corresponds to a value of just under 71,500 euros.
- The game Pokémon Red was released in 1998 in the USA for the Gameboy. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue are 1st generation games and they were the first Pokémon games on the market. A copy of Pokémon Red Edition sold for $84,000 at an auction held by Heritage Auctions. Converted, this is just under 80,000 euros.
- However, the most expensive game from Nintendo is not a classic Gameboy game. Super Mario Bros. 3 was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990 in the USA. The game was auctioned off in 2020 at Heritage Auctions for 660,000 euros. That’s just under 605,000 euros.
Valuable Gameboy games: What makes them tick
Nintendo has been scoring points for years, especially with nostalgia. As a result, many adults nowadays have a Nintendo console and play the latest versions of their childhood games. This is probably also the reason why there are so many collectors who pay large sums for the retro games. However, there are some factors that a retro game has to meet in order to become the desire of the collectors.
- Criteria: One of the most important criteria is the popularity of the game. Real Gameboy classics like Super Mario or Pokémon enjoy great popularity. Accordingly, the first attempts of the games are valuable. Another criterion is the rarity of the games. The more often you find retro games, the less they are worth.
- Condition: Another important aspect is the condition. If the game is in very good condition and still has the original packaging, the value is correspondingly high. If the sticker is faded and the original packaging is missing, the demand is much lower. A game is even more valuable if it is still shrink-wrapped and the seal is unbroken. Such games are extremely rare and therefore also very valuable.
- Price lists: There are a lot of list prices from various video game websites. However, these cannot always be relied upon. To find out the rough value of a game, you should check online auctions.
- Grading: There are companies that specialise in grading video games. In this process, the collectible is graded by an independent company. When you have a game graded, it comes in a plastic case with a certificate. On this certificate is a score that reflects the condition of the game. Grading increases the value of a game in good condition. If you are interested, have it graded by a reputable company. This is because there are companies that are known for grading games disproportionately.
