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 significant participant within the gaming house. It additionally launched some franchises that might 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 Collection X|S, unique Xbox video games haven’t grow to be 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 which may gentle your pockets on fireplace. Listed below are 10 of the rarest and costliest Xbox video games which can be most likely far much less necessary than shopping for groceries this month.
As per normal, all costs are based mostly on numbers supplied by PriceCharting. Used costs are based mostly on the “Free Worth” itemizing, whereas new costs are based mostly on the “New Worth” itemizing. Entries are ranked from lowest to highest by their respective “new” value.
10. Obscure
$300 New | $79 Used
How ironic that we’re kicking off this record with a recreation that’s actually referred to as “Obscure.” For individuals who could not know what it’s, Obscure is a cult basic survival horror recreation whose huge promoting level was its cooperative multiplayer ingredient (and the truth that it had music from Sum 41…that’s what the field says, at the least). Whereas it did nicely sufficient to earn a sequel again within the day, it was snuffed out in gross sales for a few causes, specifically that small writer DreamCatcher Interactive wasn’t in a position to produce fairly as many copies of it. What’s extra, the truth that it was launched in 2005 in America, the identical 12 months because the Xbox 360, actually wasn’t going to assist its case.
Its cult basic standing, nevertheless, has helped it fetch a reasonably penny on the secondhand market. Grabbing a used copy will internet you $79, whereas a brand new copy will put you down $300. That’s a reasonably stable quantity for a horror recreation that appears to be simply “alright.” Fortunately, although, it’s accessible alongside its sequel on Steam at a reasonably reasonably priced value (each are underneath $10), which means you have got a neater strategy to get the sport if you happen to’re so compelled. That stated, the Steam model doesn’t have the Sum 41 music in it…that’s a fairly large dealbreaker if you happen to ask me.
9. OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast
$309 New | $131 Used
The ultimate recreation within the long-running OutRun sequence to see a bodily launch, OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast provided up the thrilling arcade racing gameplay of OutRun 2 with a bevy of single-player content material to sweeten the deal. Sadly, discovering it on Xbox is a fairly large ask. Being one other late-released Xbox recreation (it was launched in 2006) actually didn’t assist, and the sport was revealed by Sega, a writer in a territory (Japan) that has by no means actually embraced the Xbox. Thus, this model absolutely had an especially restricted press run.
In consequence, the worth has taken a reasonably notable hike as of late. Simply grabbing a used copy of the sport will carry you again $131, whereas going for the complete gusto and grabbing a brand new copy will drain $309 out of your pockets. It’s a disgrace as a result of it is a nice recreation that’s undoubtedly value your time, however for that sum of money? You’d most likely be higher served simply getting a bunch of associates collectively and discovering OutRun 2 in an arcade.
8. Def Jam: Battle for NY
$332 New | $70 Used
Now, let’s get right into a recreation that’s positive to carry again some recollections. Def Jam: Battle for NY is a cult basic amongst avid gamers, and its continued recognition 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 unique Black Label launch is much more of a premium.
A used copy runs for round $70, which isn’t too far off from what present video games value immediately. A brand new copy, although, will drop you down $332. Would you consider it if you happen to discovered that the opposite three consoles aren’t any cheaper than this? New copies on the GameCube run for $316, whereas the PlayStation 2 model will set you again a large $419. It’s positive to be a good time if you will discover an reasonably priced copy…however clearly, that’s a giant “if.” One can solely hope it will get a reissue on trendy consoles in some unspecified time in the future.
7. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
$387 New | $81 Used
That’s proper: even one of the vital acclaimed and widespread combating video games of all time will be fairly exhausting to search out. Even after a number of sequels, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 remains to be hailed by followers as a crown jewel within the combating recreation style, and plenty of nonetheless swear by it in spite of everything these years. It appears, although, that the Xbox had a much more restricted press run, particularly as extra avid gamers flocked to the PS2 model. Between the PS2 and Dreamcast releases being thought-about the very best variations, the Xbox model fell by the wayside a bit.
This has helped it acquire a bit extra prominence in resale costs, although. A used copy will value you $82, whereas a brand new copy will go for a whopping $387. Satirically, although, that’s cheaper than the opposite console variations, because the Dreamcast launch can go for as a lot as $500, whereas the PS2 model jumps up as excessive as $854. It most likely helps that the sport has not been re-released on trendy platforms, and its Xbox Dwell Arcade/PlayStation Community variations have been de-listed. Right here’s hoping it will get a contemporary launch that may assist followers get it for a extra reasonably priced value.
6. Halo Triple Pack
$425 New | $42 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 every one three video games are in their very own particular person bins, it’s most likely not obscenely exhausting to discover a used copy, however discovering a wholly sealed bundle is a unique story.
Grabbing this used solely units you down $42, but when you will discover a brand new copy, you’ll need to throw down $425. It’s a fairly large ask, one which solely the staunchest of collectors ought to go for. The excellent news, although, is that used copies can be found at a much more reasonably priced value if you happen to’re actually in search of that genuine expertise. If not, Halo: The Grasp Chief Assortment on Xbox One ought to swimsuit you simply fantastic.
5. Teen Titans
$480 New | $89 Used
Licensed video games are fodder to finish up on a listing like this, and we’ve received our first instance right here with Teen Titans. That is an instance of a recreation that obtained a large upcharge largely due to its launch timing: in comparison with the opposite console variations (which had been launched in Could 2006), Teen Titans was launched for Group Inexperienced in October, a full 5 months later. By that time, the Xbox 360 was nearly a 12 months previous, which meant a recreation like this might at all times be behind the eight-ball.
In consequence, used copies run for roughly $89, 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 greatest wager if in search of 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.
4. NBA Ballers [Platinum Hits]
$664 New | $66 Used
By itself, NBA Ballers just isn’t an costly recreation. You will discover it on PlayStation 2 or Xbox for roughly $35 or underneath, and also you’ll be handled to a reasonably stable Halfway basketball recreation if you happen to do seize it. The Platinum Hits model, alternatively? Yeah, good luck catching this one. Whereas the unique recreation was launched in 2004, the Platinum Hits model got here alongside round 2005 after the Xbox 360 had already been out. Thus, Microsoft and Halfway most likely didn’t trouble giving it a big print run and it turned a tough discover, thus jacking up its value.
A used copy runs at round $66, which isn’t the worst value on the earth. The $664 it will value to get a brand new copy? Yeah, that’s a very completely different beast altogether. This model is probably 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 just a few associates. You may even discover that the sport has aged fairly decently.
3. Futurama
$960 New | $159 Used
A Futurama recreation being uncommon? That may’t be proper; absolutely, this recreation bought a very good quantity, proper? Nicely, no. The Futurama recreation was launched after the sequence had been canceled — the primary time, as a result of it’s been canceled extra instances than Brett Favre has retired — and was basically 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 reasonably uncommon collector’s merchandise.
Even simply snagging a used copy of the sport will set you again $159, whereas a brand new copy lands all the best way up at $960. A decade in the past, you will 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’d like it. What’s worse is that the sport just isn’t all that nice to start with, so a $159 minimal is a steep fantastic. Possibly it is best to spend your money and time on a recreation from creator Matt Groening’s different huge sequence, The Simpsons.
2. Metal Battalion
$1,146 New | $292 Used
Right here we now have 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 inventive, nevertheless it was a big and costly controller for a recreation that, largely, performed to a particular area of interest. Thus, just a few of those had been created (someplace round 2,000 models initially) and the worth clearly skyrocketed.
Merely discovering a used copy of it will drain $292 out of your pockets, whereas a brand new copy will brush you again by a whopping $1,146. 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 means, nevertheless it was at all times gonna be exhausting to promote one thing like this. When 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 Social gathering [Watch Bundle]
$1,500 New | $395 Used
Oh pricey…it’s returned. As beforehand famous in Twinfinite’s article discussing the worst GameCube video games one might play, Shrek Tremendous Social gathering is a recreation this author is all too accustomed to. “Massive Head Shrek,” as his associates consult with it, has grow to be a supply of night time terrors, the type with which I’ve bother escaping. Monsieur Hood’s piercing smile can solely make me cower in concern, and regardless of his quick 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 “Massive 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. Absolutely, buying this watch bundle will preserve the demons away, like garlic to a vampire. That is what must be purchased as a way to get a very good 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 cause to spend 4 figures on any online game, not to mention one this shockingly unhealthy. Certain, the sport is much extra reasonably priced on different platforms, however with out that watch, it seems sleep will proceed to be elusive. I’ll conquer you at some point, Farquaad.
However till the demons are slain, what are another uncommon and costly Xbox video games? Tell us within the feedback!
