The Nintendo 64 brings back a lot of memories. For many of us, the N64 was the glory days of gaming, sitting with friends around an old TV, blowing on the cartridge when it didn’t work (even though that was horrible for the game!), munching on some snacks, and duking it out in Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros.
Nostalgia aside, the N64 also contained many notable games, many of which proved monumentally influential to the gaming industry. Some remain incredibly rare to this day, making them some of the most expensive N64 games ever.
Updated on April 14th, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: The Nintendo 64 is more than 20 years old, but it’s still regarded as one of the best video gaming consoles of all time. Reasons for this vary depending on who one asks, but no one can disregard its influence on modern gaming, and because of its design there are more than a few still in decent working order. Many of the rarest Nintendo 64 games are special editions or not-available-to-the-public versions, which include promotional materials and contest prizes, and others that were only available for a limited time. Some fetch a high price no matter what, mostly because of their brand names or their place in a popular franchise.
22 1080 Snowboarding (Not For Resale): $229.98
The game 1080 Snowboarding is still fondly remembered by N64 gamers to this day for being entertaining on its own and an inspiration for modern snowboarding games. A normal copy of 1080 Snowboarding doesn’t cost a lot at all, but a Not-For-Resale version is pricier.
A Not-For-Resale version of this game has historically sold for anywhere from $80 to $250, though recent sales put the realistic price at around $229.98, according to pricecharting.com. A brand-new, unopened version is the most expensive option, which is often the case with vintage games.
21 F1 Racing Championship: $305.00
Racing games took off in the 3D landscape of the late ’90s and early 2000s. One offering from the N64 lineup was F1 Racing Championship, which was also available for PC at the time. The game wasn’t super popular on the N64, though, and cartridges of the game have become a rarity.
According to pricecharting.com, the current price is close to $300, though its value is thanks to it being a rare N64 game. It’s estimated that a “new” copy of the game could fetch more than $1,000, but those that have a PAL system can find a version for $276.
20 SuperMario 64: $3,616.69
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It’s strange at first to see a common game that everyone owned selling for such a crazy price, but that’s part of the point. Prices for loose cartridges are normal, but this is the cost of an unopened version complete with all the packaging and user’s manual, making it one of the most expensive N64 games by far.
Most of the people who had this game actually opened up the box and played it. In fact, many wore it out given its popularity. As a result, the rarity of an untouched copy of a SuperMario 64 cartridge explains why the price is so high.
19 WWF No Mercy (USA): $444.23
Before the WWE was forced to change its name because of conflicts with the World Wildlife Fund, it was called the WWF. WWF No Mercy is still hailed as one of the best wrestling games of all time, and certainly of its era.
A complete, unopened cartridge of this game can run prices anywhere from $350 to $500, and according to pricecharting.com, the current price is $444.23. The cartridge must be a USA-1 version, though, so be sure to look closely before listing a copy.
18 Turok Rage Wars (Gray Cart): $1,145.09
Turok was an enormous franchise back in the day, but Turok Rage Wars never really struck it big. This was mostly due to its focus on multiplayer and its status as a non-canon entry in the Turok series. It also received middling reviews from critics.
This deadly combination effectively doomed the game from the outset. It didn’t really sell, and it is through this inability to sell that the game became one of the rarest N64 games. A gray copy of the game will run collectors about $1,145.09 on pricecharting.com and even loose, without packaging, is close to $700.
17 WCW Backstage Assault (Gray Cart): $154.98
WCW Backstage Assault is a wrestling video game developed by Kodiak Interactive and published by EA back in October of 2000. This game has special significance, as it was the final game published under the WCW name. Just three months later, the assets were bought by the WWF.
The game sold only 200,000 units, further adding to its significance. It’s incredibly difficult to find this game in the wild, and buying it through eBay will cost roughly $155. Gamers might be better off buying an actual wrestling ticket at that price unless they are dedicated collectors or wrestling fans.
16 Pokémon Snap (Not For Resale Version): $559.73
Everyone knows Pokémon Snap – it was one of the biggest video games of the time, released amid absolute Pokemon fever. However, there exists a “not for resale” version, which collectors can easily identify with the massive “not for resale” sticker plastered over the artwork.
This version is exceptionally hard to find, and buying one will cost in the neighborhood of $600. That’s a loose cartridge, without any packaging, and it’s estimated that a complete, unopened copy would cost twice as much.
15 Banjo-Tooie (PAL): $558.47
Banjo-Tooie is the follow-up to Rare’s legendary N64 title Banjo-Kazooie. The platformer follows Banjo and Kazooie as they attempt to stop the evil plan of a witch named Gruntilda. The game features various puzzles, collectibles, and a multiplayer mode for up to four players.
Both the original game and its sequel were released near the end of the N64’s lifespan, so they weren’t as popular as other titles. Eventually, the games received a higher demand, but they were no longer sold in stores. Those who find Banjo-Tooie or its predecessor will likely pay around $560 or more.
14 Turok 2 Seeds of Evil (Not For Resale): $350.00
The second Turok game for the Nintendo 64 Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is a continuation of the series that, on release, was one of the biggest FPS games out there. It’s since been remastered and brought to PC and modern consoles, but special editions of the original cartridge are much rarer.
The Not-For-Resale Demo version of the cartridge costs $350, according to pricecharting.com, and it’s by far the most expensive version of the game. Other ports cost as little as $10, so it’s obvious this is a question of a rare version as opposed to the game’s popularity.
13 Diddy Kong Racing (Not-For-Resale): $1000.00
Diddy Kong Racing is another title from Rare that happens to be a pretty rare find. Like the ever-popular Mario Kart, this racing game features multiple worlds with four racetracks each. Players can choose from a variety of vehicles, such as cars, hovercrafts, or airplanes. To this day, the game remains the N64’s eighth best-selling title and is now one of the most expensive N64 games.
As the years go on, Diddy Kong Racing becomes more and more valuable, and these days the Demo Copy is the most expensive of various options. All that exists are a few loose copies and they sell for more than $1,000.
12 Yoshi’s Story (International Version): $2,206.50
The Yoshi’s Story international version remains one of the hardest Nintendo 64 games to find. This version is a mix of all the different Yoshi’s Story iterations. It uses the artwork from the North American release, but it runs on the Japanese version of the game, which includes all Japanese text.
This specific cartridge has only popped up a few times in recent years, and the price has gone into excess of $2,000. This depends on the bidding and quality of the cartridge, and this is a loose price, which means without packaging, which makes it one of the most expensive N64 games.
11 Worms Armageddon: $1,234.85
Worms Armageddon is a turn-based tactics game from Team17. Despite initially being released exclusively on PC, it was ported to the Nintendo 64 in March 2000. Finding the cartridge isn’t very hard, and the cartridges themselves typically sell for about $200 or less through various online stores.
However, complete editions are significantly harder to find and are among the most expensive N64 games. The current price for a new version of Worms Armageddon can sell for more than $1,000 according to pricechating.com.
10 Harvest Moon: $1,059.91
Harvest Moon 64 is a farming simulator from Victor Interactive Software. It is the third installment in the Story of Seasons series. In this relaxing title, players are tasked with restoring and maintaining an abandoned farm, which was previously owned by their grandfather. There are several side quests as well, such as racing horses and selling crops.
The niche series was never produced in mass quantities, and it is especially difficult to come across in the U.S. It’s got a solid fanbase too, maybe even a cult following, and is currently selling for about $1,000.
9 Starfox 64: $1,141.60
A memorable classic that almost everyone experienced at one time or another, Starfox 64 was designed more to showcase the new concept of 3D games as opposed to being a thrilling story. It was still great and changed the face of gaming as the world knew it though, which is why copies of the game are selling for more than a thousand dollars these days.
Those who are just hoping for a loose copy of the game for the sake of nostalgia can pick one up for a mere $20 or even less depending on the quality. Collectors, on the other hand, might be willing to pay the high price of a new one.
8 Bomberman 64 The Second Attack: $1,100.00
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack is one of the rarest N64 titles due to a variety of combining factors. It received poor reviews, which significantly hurt its sales. It received minimal advertising from Hudson Soft, so no one knew it existed. Finally, it was released quite late in the console’s life cycle, in May 2000, with the GameCube’s arrival coming in November 2001.
Finding a complete edition of the game is exceedingly difficult, although it does pop up from time to time. Current prices have it hovering at about $1,100 but there are copies that sell for over $1,500 every now and again.
7 Stunt Racer 64: $440.00
Stunt Racer 64 remains one of the rarest games for the Nintendo 64. Even back in the day, this game failed to make an impact. It was overshadowed by the mighty behemoth that was Mario Kart 64. It was also released exclusively through Blockbuster video, adding to its incredible rarity.
A run-of-the-mill loose copy will run about $440, and that’s as cheap as it gets. When people are looking at complete editions, which means the box and manual included, the price increases up to more than $4,000 and beyond.
6 Super Bowling: $1,102.51
The fact that barely anybody has heard of Super Bowling is what makes the game so rare and expensive. Super Bowling was released in North America on January 15, 2001, close to the end of the console’s life. The N64’s successor, the GameCube, launched eight months later.
The niche aspect of bowling video games, combined with the console’s impending discontinuation, resulted in very few copies of the game being manufactured. As such, a copy can go for as little as $500, for the cartridge itself, to as much as $2,000 for a complete package, making it one of the few late N64 games worth money.
5 Conker’s Bad Fur Day: $599.99
Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a hilarious platformer that follows a drunken red squirrel named Conker who must get home to see his girlfriend. The game involves linear obstacles, puzzles, and fighting various enemies as the greedy forest creature collects cash to move on. With profanities, graphic violence, and vulgar humor, this game is meant for mature audiences only.
As one of the best games on the N64, this one is in pretty high demand. Sales, unfortunately, suffered when Conker’s Bad Fur Day was released the same year the console was discontinued. The price has gone up ever since, sitting now at $500 to $700.
4 Zelda Ocarina Of Time (Collector’s Edition): $1,418.47
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time received the collector’s edition treatment when the game was initially released in 1998. There was nothing extra that came with the game, but the cartridge was a special gold color. Additionally, the box was shiny gold with “Collector’s Edition” on it, making it one of the rarest N64 games.
Because it was only available for a short window at launch, this edition is much harder to find than the original N64 game. Zelda fans who are lucky to get their hands on it will pay upwards of $1,500 for a new copy.
3 Majora’s Mask (Not For Resale Gray): $8,100.00
Majora’s Mask certainly isn’t rare. It’s one of the best and most popular video games of all time. The gray “not for resale” cartridge, however, is a little different. Like all the other games of its kind, this cartridge of Majora’s Mask contains the typical artwork, only with an emblazoned red and white “not for resale” sticker. It is exceedingly rare, which explains the insane price.
Fans who just want a regular copy of the game should note that this price is only for the gray cartridge with the “Not-For-Resale” sticker. Many playable versions are available at more affordable prices.