5 Rarest Video Games of All Time

Don’t expect to find these rare video games during a cursory browse through your local GameStop clearance rack. These games are rare because they weren’t produced in large numbers, came out on an obscure system, or were so popular that a game still in its original packing is difficult to find.

The first generations of hardcore video gamers are all grown up now and using their disposable income to reclaim the video game glory of their youths. If you have a copy of one of these rare games, you’re in luck. There’s probably a gamer out there willing to pay big bucks for your game.

5. Nintendo Campus Challenge 1991 (NES)

Created specifically for Nintendo’s Campus Challenge event in 1991, in which Nintendo toured different college campuses looking for the best NES players around the country, this game included Dr. Mario, Super Mario 3, and PinBot, and came with a six minute playing time limit. This game is super-rare: only one is known to exist. These games were created just for this event and then thrown away. The one in existence recently sold on eBay for just over $20,000.

4. Stadium Events (NES)

Because only 200 copies of this game were ever created, released at a handful of stores around the world, it is considered one of the rarest and most valuable video games in the world. Even though there are far fewer copies of Nintendo Campus Challenge 1991, Stadium Events is more playable and isn’t time-limited, so it is a more valuable video game. A copy of the Bandai version of Stadium Events, brand new in its package, sold at auction for just over $41,000.

3. Atlantis II (Atari 2600)

This rare sequel to popular Atari title Atlantis was only mailed to the world’s best Atlantis players. To get your copy of Atlantis II, you had to take a picture of your Atlantis high score and mail it to Atari. If your score was high enough, you got a copy of Atlantis II in the mail. Basically, Atlantis II is just a slightly harder version of Atlantis. New boxed copies of Atlantis II are so rare, they’re worth as much as $50,000.

2. 1990 Nintendo World Championships (NES)

Another rare Nintendo tournament title that’s worth a bundle in the box, the golden Nintendo World Championships cartridge has sold for as much as $20,000 at auction.

1. Ultimate 11 (Neo Geo)

For some reason, only 20 copies of this Neo Geo soccer game were ever produced. That’s why they sell for around $15,000 at auctions today.

For more on rare and valuable video games, check out GameStop on Twitter, GameStop on Facebook, and our article about 2011 free GameStop coupons.