The Super Nintendo is a very popular gaming system with hundreds of great games. Many of the games for the SNES have gotten weird since their initial release. And some have even become very valuable collector’s items. Here is a list of the ten most expensive and rarest games for the Super NES.
1. Donkey Kong Country Competition – $400
The game was part of a promotional tournament at Blockbuster Video locations and was never released for public sale. Some Blockbuster stores gave away the games after the promotion or sold them in their sale bins. Because it was a limited edition item, it fetches a hefty premium compared to other Super Nintendo games.
2. Starfox Super Weekend – $220
Another limited edition game used in a Blockbuster promotion. Starfox Super Weekend was sold to a few rental customers, and Nintendo Power even sold a few extra copies to their subscribers. The game is just as hard to find as the #1 Donkey Kong cartridge, but it doesn’t command the same premium price.
3. Land – $70
Earthbound is the first game on the list that was sold to the general public. The game is not hard to find online, but it is very popular. It is a non-traditional RPG game with everyday household items used as weapons and a fun story. The game has a cult like following.
4. Black Queen Ogres Battle March – $62
Enix only printed 25,000 copies of this game, so it’s pretty hard to find. It is also a highly regarded RPG by critics, so many RPG fans are willing to pay a premium to play this rare game.
5. Ninja Gaiden Trilogy – $60
Ninja Gaiden Trilogy has all three NES Ninja Gaiden games on one cartridge with some slight graphical improvements. The game didn’t sell very well at first, but many gamers want the game now because it includes three great games for the price of one.
6. Castlevania Dracula X – $59
Dracula X is the last Castlevania game released on the Super NES, and like many series, the last game sells the worst. Castlevania collectors and fans help drive up the price of this rare game.
7. Harvest Moon – $57
Harvest Moon was released the same year as the Nintendo 64, so many players had already switched to the next system. Because of this, the game did not sell many copies. This is the first game in the Harvest Moon series, so many fans want to play the game that started it all.
8. EVO Quest for Eden – $56
EVO is not very rare at all, but it is very popular among fans of RPGs. It is a unique combination of platformer and role-playing game and is well regarded by critics. Popularity helps increase the price.
9. Chrono Trigger – $53
Chrono Trigger is not weird at all, but it is one of the best games of all time according to various sites. The stellar cast of developers, great story, and gameplay help this game stand the test of time. Sealed copies of Chrono Trigger have sold for over $1,200 on eBay.
10. Mega Man X3 – $49
X3 was one of only two games to use a special 3D chip in the SNES games. Because this chip made the game a bit weird and has some of the best graphics for the system, gamers are willing to pay a premium.
Now that you know the rarest and most expensive games for the Super Nintendo, be sure to keep an eye out for them when you go game shopping or when cleaning out your collection of old games. You don’t want to sell one of these for a couple of bucks at a garage sale when it’s a collector’s item.