The unique Xbox was a giant second in gaming over 20 years in the past, serving as Microsoft’s headfirst dive into the medium.
And whereas it was a bit tough across the edges — and clearly couldn’t overcome the Goliath that was the PlayStation 2 — it was nonetheless an admirable try that established Microsoft as a serious participant within the gaming house. It additionally launched some franchises that will stand among the many pantheon of gaming’s most iconic names, and it served as a quantum leap ahead for on-line gaming.
With Microsoft’s continued dedication to backward compatibility on the Xbox One and Xbox Sequence X|S, authentic Xbox video games haven’t develop into as uncommon or costly as their PlayStation 2 or GameCube counterparts. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply each Xbox recreation is a stroll within the park to search out as a result of there are actually some video games that may gentle your pockets on fireplace. Listed below are 10 of the rarest and costliest Xbox video games which are most likely far much less necessary than shopping for groceries this month.
As per normal, all costs are primarily based on numbers offered by PriceCharting. Used costs are primarily based on the “Free Value” itemizing, whereas new costs are primarily based on the “New Value” itemizing. Entries are ranked from lowest to highest by their respective “new” value.
10. Def Jam: Combat for NY
$349 New | $71 Used
Let’s ease into the checklist a bit with a recreation that’s certain to convey again some recollections. Def Jam: Combat for NY is a cult traditional amongst players, and its continued reputation has led to many curious gamers hoping to snag a duplicate for themselves. Throughout all consoles, although, it’s fairly costly, and with the truth that a Platinum Hits model exists on Xbox, this authentic Black Label launch is much more of a premium.
A used copy runs for round $71, which isn’t too far off from what present video games price as we speak. A brand new copy, although, will drop you down $349. Would you consider it if you happen to came upon that that is truly the most cost effective of the three consoles? New copies on the GameCube run for $350, whereas the PlayStation 2 model will set you again a large $498. It’s certain to be a good time if yow will discover an inexpensive copy…however clearly, that’s a giant “if.” One can solely hope it will get a reissue on fashionable consoles in some unspecified time in the future.
9. Halo Triple Pack
$350 New | $43 Used
Halo 3 won’t have been prepared till the discharge of the Xbox 360, however that didn’t cease Microsoft from going by way of with the Halo Triple Pack on the unique Xbox…which clearly didn’t embrace the third recreation. No, this triple pack featured Halo: Fight Advanced, Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. Being that each one three video games are in their very own particular person bins, it’s most likely not obscenely onerous to discover a used copy, however discovering a wholly sealed bundle is a special story.
Grabbing this used solely units you down $43, but when yow will discover a brand new copy, you’ll should throw down $350. It’s a fairly large ask, one which solely the staunchest of collectors ought to actually go for. The excellent news, although, is that used copies can be found at a much more inexpensive value if you happen to’re actually on the lookout for that genuine expertise. If not, Halo: The Grasp Chief Assortment on Xbox One ought to go well with you simply nice.
8. Silent Hill 2
$375 New | $35 Used
You won’t have anticipated a recreation like this to finish up right here, however sure, Silent Hill 2 is a fairly uncommon discover. Even regardless of its crucial acclaim and industrial success, costs for this recreation have been marked up by fairly a bit. It’d assist that the Xbox model served as an prolonged model of the unique recreation, and the later launch of a Platinum Hits model might have made the unique extra of a problem to search out.
Used copies are usually not too unhealthy, touchdown at round $35. It’s whenever you get to the brand new copies, which go for $375, that we begin seeing issues get wild. This isn’t restricted to the Xbox model, both: a brand new copy on PC will go for $428, whereas a brand new copy on the PlayStation 2 lands round $558. Perhaps discovering a used copy will go well with you effectively if you need the genuine expertise, however proceed with warning if you happen to’re on the lookout for a brand new copy…or hey, possibly look ahead to the upcoming remake.
7. Teen Titans
$480 New | $119 Used
Licensed video games are fodder to finish up on a listing like this, and we’ve obtained our first instance right here with Teen Titans. That is an instance of a recreation that acquired a large upcharge largely due to its launch timing: in comparison with the opposite console variations (which had been launched in Might 2006), Teen Titans was launched for workforce inexperienced in October, a full 5 months later. By that time, the Xbox 360 was virtually a 12 months previous, which meant a recreation like this was all the time gonna be behind the eight ball.
Because of this, used copies run for roughly $119, whereas new copies leap as much as $480. That is in stark distinction to the PlayStation 2 and GameCube variations, which nonetheless fetch a notable quantity however nothing that borders too far into “unaffordable” territory. Thus, your finest guess if on the lookout for this recreation is to search out it on one other platform, although…it’s little greater than a mean beat ‘em up, so that you may need to redirect your search elsewhere.
6. Yu-Gi-Oh: The Daybreak of Future [Platinum Hits]
$600 New | $13 Used
Persevering with into licensed recreation territory, we’ve obtained an attention-grabbing one, as Yu-Gi-Oh: The Daybreak of Future is an Xbox-exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh entry. It’s attention-grabbing in that it’s a recreation primarily based on a preferred Japanese franchise, revealed by the Japanese firm Konami…that wasn’t launched in Japan. Positive, it’s comprehensible as a result of the Xbox shouldn’t be standard in Japan, however…nonetheless unusual. Both approach, this didn’t deter it from promoting sufficient to make it to the Platinum Hits line, however such copies should not have been produced en masse as a result of it’s develop into fairly costly.
A used copy is extraordinarily inexpensive at $13, however discovering a brand new copy will drive you to cough up $600. Past potential rarity, it appears all variations of this recreation (Platinum Hits or in any other case) got here with some Restricted Version enjoying playing cards, a not-uncommon apply with Yu-Gi-Oh video games that’s been mentioned right here earlier than. Thus, your determination to chop off an arm and a leg may come all the way down to how a lot you care about these playing cards. A used copy is a lot inexpensive, certain, however provided that the sport doesn’t appear to be all too nice, you may simply be higher off discovering a extra pleasant Yu-Gi-Oh expertise elsewhere.
5. Halo: Fight Advanced [Not For Resale]
$765 New | $7 Used
The Halo franchise has made the checklist twice, and it most likely gained’t be too massive a shock to see a “Not For Resale” disc find yourself right here. Whereas these are sometimes used for console bundles or in-store promo models, this model of Halo: Fight Advanced appears to have been out there particularly for workers on the Microsoft Retailer. Naturally, this meant {that a} smaller variety of copies had been made, thus making this an much more attention-grabbing collector’s merchandise.
Apparently, used copies of this go for under $7. For no matter motive, although, a brand new copy prices someplace round $765. Fairly frankly, of the numerous “uncommon and costly” recreation lists this author has created right here, that’s one of many largest discrepancies between “used” and “new” costs thus far. It seems Microsoft workers most likely weren’t getting their unique variations of Halo simply to stare at them; it was a fairly big recreation, in spite of everything. Fortunately, there are about 50 other ways to play the unique Halo recreation at this level, so that you don’t must drop your lease cash on one thing like this.
4. NBA Ballers [Platinum Hits]
$803 New | $60 Used
By itself, NBA Ballers shouldn’t be an costly recreation. You will discover it on PlayStation 2 or Xbox for roughly $35 or beneath, and also you’ll be handled to a fairly strong Halfway basketball recreation if you happen to do seize it. The Platinum Hits model, however? Yeah, good luck catching this one. Whereas the unique recreation was launched in 2004, the Platinum Hits model appeared to come back alongside round 2005 after the Xbox 360 had already been out. Thus, Microsoft and Halfway most likely didn’t hassle giving it a big print run and it turned a tough discover, thus jacking up its value.
A used copy runs at round $60, which isn’t the worst value on this planet. The $803 it might price to get a brand new copy? Yeah, that’s a very completely different beast altogether. This model is most definitely solely for many who completely NEED to have a full Platinum Hits assortment. In any other case, simply seize a typical copy of the sport and ball out with a couple of pals. You may even discover that the sport has aged fairly decently.
3. Futurama
$923 New | $161 Used
A Futurama recreation being uncommon? That may’t be proper; certainly, this recreation bought an excellent quantity, proper? Properly, no. The Futurama recreation was launched after the sequence had been canceled — the primary time, as a result of it’s been canceled extra occasions than Brett Favre has retired — and was primarily seen as a “misplaced episode,” because it was launched after the ultimate episode had aired. By that time, with dwindling viewers curiosity, Vivendi Common didn’t undergo the legwork of manufacturing many copies, and thus, it turned a fairly uncommon collector’s merchandise.
Even simply snagging a used copy of the sport will set you again $161, whereas a brand new copy lands all the best way up at $923. A decade in the past, you’ll have been capable of finding this for one thing within the $30 vary, however now, you’ll have to surrender far more than that if you need it. What’s worse is that the sport shouldn’t be all that nice to start with, so a $191 minimal is a steep nice. Perhaps it’s best to spend your money and time on a recreation from creator Matt Groening’s different massive sequence, The Simpsons.
2. Metal Battalion
$1,150 New | $305 Used
Right here we’ve got a particular instance of a uncommon recreation. Metal Battalion was an early Xbox recreation revealed by Capcom that gained notoriety for its insane controller. As pictured above, this controller had 44 enter factors/buttons and was meant to simulate the sensation of being inside a mech. Extremely artistic, however it was a big and costly controller for a recreation that, principally, performed to a selected area of interest. Thus, only some of those had been created (someplace round 2,000 models initially) and the value clearly skyrocketed.
Merely discovering a used copy of this may drain $305 out of your pockets, whereas a brand new copy will brush you again by a whopping $1,150. It’s unhappy as a result of the sport truly appeared to be fairly good and the controller added to the expertise in a singular approach, however it was all the time gonna be onerous to promote one thing like this. In the event you’re capable of finding it for an honest value, go forward and seize it, however don’t get your hopes up that these numbers will go down a lot.
1. Shrek Tremendous Occasion [Watch Bundle]
$1,500 New | $395 Used
Oh expensive…it’s returned. As beforehand famous in Twinfinite’s article discussing the worst GameCube video games one might play, Shrek Tremendous Occasion is a recreation this author is all too acquainted with. “Huge Head Shrek,” as his pals seek advice from it, has develop into a supply of night time terrors, the sort with which I’ve hassle escaping. Monsieur Hood’s piercing smile can solely make me cower in concern, and regardless of his brief stature, Lord Farquaad’s equally terrifying expression has made him my sleep-paralysis demon.
It’s like all over the place I look, I see “Huge Head Shrek.” And now, the knowledge has come by way of that this life-altering recreation had an Xbox-exclusive Particular Version that got here with a watch. Maybe that is the important thing to purging the infidels that hang-out me in my sleep. Certainly, buying this watch bundle will maintain the demons away, like garlic to a vampire. That is what must be purchased with the intention to get an excellent night time’s sleep…if it wasn’t so costly.
Even getting a used copy of this bundle nets you $395, whereas a brand new copy will go for a whopping $1,500. There’s merely little or no motive to spend 4 figures on any online game, not to mention one this shockingly unhealthy. Positive, the sport is way extra inexpensive on different platforms, however with out that watch, it seems sleep will proceed to be elusive. I’ll conquer you someday, Farquaad.
However till the demons are slain, what are another uncommon and costly Xbox video games? Tell us within the feedback!