They don't make 'em like they used to, and while the gaming industry is arguably bigger than ever, do you ever find yourselves getting misty-eyed about the old days? The '90s is when the gaming boom took off, and after DOOM kickstarted the first-person shooter trend, it's when home consoles really started to fly. While it's largely Microsoft versus Sony these days, the '90s was a close-fought race between the PlayStation and the Nintendo 64.
Later renamed as the PS1, the OG PlayStation gave us countless hours playing Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, and Metal Gear Solid. Everything goes in and out of fashion, and with a resurgence in love for physical media, PS1 games are becoming popular again.
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While your average edition of Spyro the Dragon probably won't be worth much, you could be sitting on an accidental goldmine of retro classics that might earn you a small fortune.
The Gamer has a list of the rarest PS1 games that you might have squirreled away somewhere, and if you were saving them for a rainy day, now could be the time to cash them in. The site notes that these prices are for sealed and unopened versions, but if you were a savvy collector back in the '90s, you might have them somewhere.
An unopened copy of 2001's Castlevania Chronicles can fetch $240, while a 2002 Spyro Collector's Edition could be worth a cool $255. These are on the lower end of the spectrum, but heading into the big leagues, the Top 5 are worth a pretty penny. So, what have we got?
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne - $1060
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As a prequel and spin-off to the first Mega Man Legends game, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne is a comedic offshoot that focuses on the fan-favorite pirate. Considering the title only had a limited production run, it means it can go for upwards of $1,000 online.
Starblade Alpha - Long Box Edition - $1085
When the PS1 first released, it's games came in long cases similar to the Sega Saturn. Although Sony quickly switched to jewel cases like the ones used for music CDs, some long box games have survived into the 2020s. Starblade Alpha wasn't a particularly good or popular game, but because most copies were released in the newer cases, long box editions can fetch a tidy sum.
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Final Fantasy 7 - $1175
Final Fantasy 7 is held as one of THE best games of all time, and it's not hard to see why. We've more recently seen the game remade for modern consoles and split into three parts. It isn't hard to find the original game, however, when it comes to the very first version instead of the generic PlayStation Classics copy, that's where the money is. If you've somehow got an unopened copy, you might want to think about selling it on.
Syphon Filter 3 "911 Edition" - $1425
Another game that wasn't particularly memorable was Bend Studio's Syphon Filter 3. Still, there's a rare variant version that's worth nearly $1,500 if you happen to have an unopened copy. The game was supposed to release on September 25, 2001, but it was delayed after the 9/11 attacks. The original cover art featured the American flag proudly flying, and while that was quickly swapped out following the September 11 terror attacks, the "911 Edition" is worth a lot.
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Resident Evil - $1765
Taking the top spot is an unopened copy of 1996's Resident Evil. Way back then, who'd have guessed that Capcom's zombie shooter would become the chart-topper it is today? Copies of Resident Evil aren't hard to find, but it's having a mint condition one that's where the money can be found. We don't blame your for blasting your way through the Spencer Mansion, but imagine if you're kept the game in its wrapper.
Video game costs are fluctuating all the time, and although things tend to be produced on such a mass scale these days, you might want to think about keeping your Collector's Edition Elden Ring in its box. You never know what it could be worth one day.