The most expensive retro games you can buy for less digitally

When a console goes out of business, it's usually a good time to buy video games. Because they are usually very affordable. Some gaming fans of the '80s, '90s, and beyond imagined a world where new, out-of-the-box video games could fetch high prices, even if they weren't very good.

This is why the collector market has blossomed over the past decade. Although it might be nice to have a completely sealed copy Super Mario Bros. The NES has an easier way to purchase some of the rarest games of all time, thanks to digital marketplaces like Steam and PSN.

The following prices are based on PriceCharting and focus on new, sealed products for price comparison.

Mr. Mosquito (PS2)

One of the strangest PS2 games of all time

Mr Mosquito Released in North America in 2002, a year after Japan, it's one of the strangest games to ever grace the PS2. As a mosquito, the goal of each mission was to essentially drink the blood of one of the three members of the Yamada family without getting caught.

When spotted, these giants will attempt to bash the player, so they were a part of Shadow of the Colossus and a stealth game even before the game was released. No one expected this obscure game to return, but then suddenly it was released digitally on PS5 in 2024. Now fans are just waiting to get their hands on it. Mosquito 2: Let's go to HawaiiIt was never released outside of Japan on the PS2. Either way, the original is relatively obscure at the moment, making it expensive.

Manhunt (PS2)

devil's playground

manhunt One of the most evil games to come out of Rockstar. The game involved inmate James Earl Cash participating in a snuff film against his will. From stabbings to grocery bags to using electric chairs, it was a stealth-centric game that got better the more murders players committed. The goal was to escape this underground studio set and get revenge on the director.

It was first released for PS2 in 2003, and for PC and Xbox in 2004. The cheapest version you can currently buy is on Steam, where anyone interested in a slightly over-the-top stealth game can play it on Steam Deck. The PS2 version with the original box art is the one that fetches the highest price.

Breath of Fire 4 (PS1)

dragon quest

Breath of Fire 4 was released late for the PS1 in 2000, followed by a PC port, but only in Japan and Europe. The game was also released on the PS3, making it playable on portable systems for a while, but not on newer systems like the PS4 or PS5. However, in 2025 it was released on GOG everywhere and is now incredibly affordable compared to the price of the original on PS1.

It's one of the few RPGs that survives in any way on the PS1. It still looks good, and the turn-based combat system is solid. like everyone breath of fire The game has a silent protagonist, Ryu, who has learned to transform into different dragons during his travels, which is always the coolest feature of the combat.

Herc's Adventures (PS1)

To Hades!

Herc's Adventure At just $5 on PSN, it's cheaper than most of the games on this list. The game was originally released in 1997 for the PS1 and Sega Saturn. It's returning for PS5 in 2025, so players no longer have to shell out a lot of money for an original PS1 copy unless they really want it as a collector's item.

Herc's Adventure It certainly wasn't the biggest game of 1997, but it became a respected top-down action-adventure game based on Greek mythology. Players can choose from three characters, each with different weapons and skill sets, and can also play cooperatively. There was Herc's mighty power. Atlanta and her bow, and Jason with his sling, and they all set out on a quest to battle Hades, not unlike the plot of the popular roguelike. brightness.

Alone in the Dark One Eyed Jack's Revenge (PS1)

Spencer Mansion Relocation

This game has a complicated naming history, so let's start at the beginning. before resident evil, alone in the dark When the first game was released in 1992, it was a huge step forward in the realm of survival horror. Alone in the dark 2 It was released in Europe in 1993 for MS-DOS computers. PlayStation fans had to wait until 1996 for a port. Alone in the Dark: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge In North America, this is the version that commands a much higher price these days.

Anyone interested in blasting zombies with a tommy gun while exploring the mansion and its grounds should know which games to buy on PSN. Although it was not a North American title, Alone in the Dark 2 (1996) On PS5. It's not as good as other survival horror games on the PS1, but anyone interested in the genre's history might want to give it a try.

Resident Evil 2 (PS1)

Leon and Claire Debut

resident evil 2 This is a game that needs no introduction, as fans know it as the entry that introduced Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield to the location along with Raccoon City. Rookie police officer Leon and college student Claire come to Raccoon City for different reasons, but they share the fear of surviving in a city full of zombies. Thanks to the 2019 remake, the PS1 version is now a little dated, but it's still very cheap to buy.

First released for the PS1 in 1998, several ports have been released since then. This included digital versions of the PS3 and, most recently, the PS5 in 2025. Since the game has gone through so many versions on the PS1, including a DualShock version, this original cover is a bit more highly regarded online these days.

Obscure (PS2)

faculty

A leap forward from other games, obscure One of the most expensive PS2 games of all time. Oddly enough, it's very cheap on Steam at $7. Unfortunately, it has not been verified on Steam Deck. The game was originally released in Australia in 2004 and was released in North America a year later on PC, PS2, and Xbox platforms.

Set in a high school, players can choose to play as two of five protagonists and switch between them as they navigate a school filled with infected creatures. Co-Op was also a feature, with an evolving story that took character deaths into account. For strange gems, obscure It was way ahead of its time, and at least it wasn't completely forgotten on the PC.