The most expensive retro games you can buy for less digitally

When consoles go out of business, it's usually a good time to buy video games because they're usually very cheap. Some gaming fans of the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond thought ahead and envisioned a world where new integrated video games could command a high price even if the game was bad.

This is why the collectibles market has blossomed over the past decade. Although it can be great to have a completely sealed copy Super Mario Bros. on the NES, there are simply easier ways to buy some of the rarest games of all time, thanks to digital marketplaces like Steam or PSN.

The following prices will be based on PriceCharting and will focus on brand new, sealed copies with which to compare the price.

Mister Mosquito (PS2)

One of the weirdest PS2 games ever

Mr. Mosquito is one of the weirdest games to ever grace the PS2, released in 2002 in North America, a year after Japan. As a mosquito, the goal of each mission was basically to drink the blood of one of the three members of the Yamada family without getting caught.

If these colossi were spotted, they would try to defeat the player, so it was part Shadow of the Colossus, even before that game came out, and part stealth. No one expected this obscure game to ever return, but out of the blue, it made its way digitally to the PS5 in 2024. Now fans are just waiting to get their hands on it. Mosquito 2: Let's Go Hawaiiwhich was never released outside of Japan on the PS2. Either way, the original is now expensive due to its relative obscurity.

Manhunt (PS2)

Devil's playground

Hunt for people is one of the most outrageous games ever released by Rockstar, featuring inmate James Earl Cash against his will in a snuff film. It was a stealth game where players got better the more gruesome their kills, from stabbing to grocery bags to using the electric chair. The goal was to escape this underground studio scene and also get revenge on the director.

It was first released for the PS2 in 2003, followed by a PC and Xbox port in 2004. The cheapest version to buy right now is on Steam, which is playable on the Steam Deck for anyone interested in a stealth game that maybe goes a little too far. The PS2 version with the original box is the one that fetches the highest price.

Breath Of Fire 4 (PS1)

Dragon Quest

Fire Breath 4 was a late PS1 release in 2000, followed by a PC port, but only in Japan and Europe. The game also made its way to the PS3, which also made it available for play on portable systems for a while, but not on modern systems like the PS4 and PS5. However, out of nowhere it hit GOG of all places in 2025 and is now very cheap compared to what the original PS1 copy cost.

It's one of the few RPGs on the PS1 that holds its own. It still looks good, and the turn-based combat system is also solid. Like everyone Breath of fire The game featured the silent protagonist Ryu learning to transform into various dragons along his journey, which is always the coolest feature of the combat.

Actor's Adventures (PS1)

To Hades!

The actor's adventures it's cheaper than most of the games on the list at just $5 on PSN. The game was originally released in 1997 for the PS1 and Sega Saturn. In 2025, it returned to the PS5, meaning players no longer have to shell out over a ton of money for the original PS1 copy unless they really want it as a collector's item.

The actor's adventures it was certainly never the biggest game of 1997, but it became an acclaimed top-down action-adventure experience based on Greek mythology. Players could choose between three characters, each with different weapons and skill sets, plus there was co-op. The raw power of the Actor was there. Atlanta and her bow and Jason had a slingshot and they were all on their way to fight Hades, not unlike the plot of a popular roguelike, Hades.

Alone In The Dark One Eyed Jack's Revenge (PS1)

In front of the Spencer Mansion

This game has a complicated naming history, so let's start from the beginning. Before Resident Evil, Alone in the dark made great strides in survival horror when the first game was released in 1992. Alone in the Dark 2 was released in Europe in 1993 for MS-DOS computers. PlayStation fans had to wait until 1996 for a port that was named Alone in the Dark: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge in North America, which is the version that commands such a higher price today.

Anyone interested in blasting zombies with a machine gun while exploring the mansion and its grounds will need to know what game they're buying on PSN. Even though it wasn't a North American title, it seems like Alone in the Dark 2 (1996) on PS5. It might not hold up as well as other PS1 survival horror games, but those interested in the history of the genre might want to give it a shot.

Resident Evil 2 (PS1)

Premiere of Leon and Claire

Resident Evil 2 is a game that needs no introduction as fans know it as the entry that introduced them to Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield along with Raccoon City as a location. Rookie cop Leon and college student Claire are both brought to Raccoon City for different reasons, but they share the horror of surviving together in a city full of zombies. Thanks to the 2019 remake, the PS1 version is now a bit dated, but very cheap to buy.

It was first released for the PS1 in 1998, followed by several ports. This included digital versions on the PS3 and most recently on the PS5 in 2025. Since the game went through so many versions on the PS1, including the DualShock version, this original cover is quite a bit higher online today.

ObsCure (PS2)

Faculty

A leap and bounds ahead of other games, Obscure is one of the most expensive PS2 games of all time. Oddly enough, it's also very cheap on Steam at just $7, though unfortunately it's not verified on Steam Deck. The game was originally released in Australia in 2004 before making its way to North America a year later on PC, PS2 and Xbox platforms.

Set in a high school, players can choose two of five protagonists to play as and switch between them as they explore their school full of infected creatures. Co-Op was also a feature along with an evolving story that took character deaths into account. For a special gem, Obscure it was ahead of its time and at least on PC it wasn't completely forgotten.