You could be sitting on a fortune if you still own any of these iconic 90s video games

James Moorhouse
2026-01-26T10:13:35.198Z
Entertainment

Nostalgia is where the money is at

Nostalgia seems to be bigger than ever right now and anyone who's kept hold of some of the treasures of their youth might just be sitting on a fortune.

You can't really blame people for being nostalgic for a time where we had somewhat affordable housing, bills and groceries, and there wasn't a constant threat of world war hanging over our heads.

And as many of us think fondly back to our childhoods, where we weren't constantly working and were free to play outside with our friends, it's no surprise that more and more things from that era continue to boom in popularity.

We've already seen the price of things like vinyl records, film cameras and Pokémon cards go through the roof as people yearn for happier memories from their youth, and video games could be the latest treasures that might just earn you the big bucks.

We're all a bit nostalgic for our childhoods (Getty Stock Images)

For me, it was things like Mario Kart, Crash Bandicoot and Rayman which dominated car journeys or cold evenings spent on the Nintendo DS or PlayStation One, and I'm pretty sure I've still got my old devices and games collecting dust up in my attic.

But sadly, it seems as if the video games which are now worth the most amounts are mainly ones that were released before I was born, with certain classics fetching eye-watering prices at auction.

You might not be shocked to hear that it's Japanese gaming company Nintendo that dominates this market, with its Super Mario titles proving particularly popular.

Crucially, you'll need to have had the forethought to keep the games in a sealed copy all these years if you want to fetch anywhere near that amount in an auction, but I'm sure even a used copy would still earn a pretty penny if you've managed to keep it in good working condition.

Super Mario 64 $1.56 million (£1.1m)

In 2021, a sealed copy of 1996's Super Mario 64 became one of the most expensive video games ever sold as one buyer with too much money and time on their hands decided to spend $1.56 million (£1.1m) on it. They clearly haven't heard of a magic thing called an emulator.

If you want to pick up a copy yourself, you can probably find them on eBay or other auction sites for less than £50, and that might well be worth it if you manage to collect all the stars in the classic game, which was the first in the Super Mario franchise to feature 3D gameplay.

Of course, younger fans may well remember that the game was remastered on Nintendo DS in 2004, and physical copies of that arguably better version can be found online for less than £20.

Super Mario 64 is a classic but I wouldn't pay $1 million for it (Getty Stock Images)

Other expensive titles include 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog, 1990's John Madden Football and 1987's The Legend of Zelda, which sold for $430,500 (£315k), $480,000 (£350k) and $870,000 (£636k) respectively.

Sonic the Hedgehog $430,500 (£315k)

1991 was the year where the world was first introduced to the super speedy Sonic and fans are no doubt keen to get their hands on this first ever meeting with him, considering the sheer amount of video games and films, featuring Jim Carrey, that he's now featured in.

The world was introduce to Sonic in 1991 (Heritage Auctions)

Copies on Sega Mega Drive are a little harder to come by given it's now 35 years old but if you're willing to spend, you can easily find yourself a copy on eBay again.

John Madden's Football $480,000 (£350k)

Named after the legendary NFL coach, this game series is of course still going in 2026, with Madden released by EA Sports every year, in the same vein as FIFA (now EAFC).

The original Madden game is a collector's classic (Heritage Auctions)

It shifted to the Madden NFL branding in 1993 but sold more than 150 million copies, and became a massive hit when the Sega Genesis was released all the way back in 1990.

Legend of Zelda $870,000 (£636k)

The common theme here is just how popular these series continue to be in 2026, with fans understandably keen to get their hands on original copies, even if that means spending extortionate amounts.

The first Legend of Zelda game is also beloved (Heritage Auctions)

This iconic 1987 NES version had the same premise as many of the more modern iterations, as Link goes on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda.

NES Super Mario Bros $2,000,000 (£1.46million)

The most expensive sale in history came not through an auction but on an investment website, where perhaps the highest graded copy of the 1985 Super Mario Bros was sold for $2 million.

We might never see a sale this big again (Heritage Auctions)

This marks perhaps the holy grail of video game sales and we might never see another reach that incredibly high level, unless you've still got a copy at home that you're waiting until the 50th anniversary to sell.

It's not just video games that are going for a hefty amount however, as some of your favourite Blu-ray DVDs from the Noughties might just help you raise enough to quit your job and escape the 9-5 matrix.