N64 Games Worth Money (and How to Tell If Yours Are)
Yes, some N64 games are worth money, and a few are worth a lot. Most common cartridges are worth a modest amount, but rental exclusives, late releases, niche games with small print runs, and anything complete in its box can be worth far more than people expect. The only way to know for your games is to check each one, by title, version, condition, and region.
This guide covers what makes Nintendo 64 games worth money, which titles collectors talk about most, and how to find out what the carts in your old console box are worth.
Are N64 games worth anything?
Most are worth something. The N64 has a much smaller library than the NES or SNES, and many of its games are still loved for local multiplayer, so demand stays steady. Big sellers like the Mario, Zelda, and Mario Kart games were made in huge numbers and are easy to find. The valuable ones tend to be games that few stores stocked, that came out near the end of the console's life, or that never got a reprint.
First, know which N64 version you have
Price guides treat each of these as a separate item, so note what you have:
- US and Canada (NTSC). Gray cartridges with an English label and a US-style box.
- PAL (Europe and Australia). Similar-looking carts, but with PAL boxes and, often, multi-language labels and manuals.
- Japan. Japanese labels and boxes. Some games were only released in Japan or only in PAL regions.
- Special carts. A few games came on colored cartridges, like the gold Zelda carts, and those are priced separately from the gray versions.
What makes an N64 game worth money
These are the same factors that drive value on almost any retro platform. Once you know them, you can look at a cart and get a rough sense of whether it might be special.
Rental exclusives
This one is special to the N64 era. A couple of games were distributed only through the Blockbuster rental chain and never reached regular store shelves. That kept the number of copies small, and boxed copies are even harder to find.
Late releases
By 2000 and 2001, the PlayStation 2 was out and the GameCube was on its way. N64 games released in those years were often made in small numbers, and some got little attention from stores.
Rarity and print run
Niche genres, like strategy, RPGs, and farming games, didn't sell like Mario. Those games often had small print runs, and fewer copies survived.
Player's Choice reprints
Nintendo reprinted its best sellers under the Player's Choice label, with a banner on the box. Reprints are easier to find than the original release, so collectors value them differently. A game that never got a reprint can be scarcer than its popularity suggests.
Completeness
N64 boxes were thin cardboard with a cardboard insert, and most were crushed or thrown away. Complete copies, with the box, insert, and manual, are much harder to find than loose carts, and often worth several times more. Some games also came with extras, like Donkey Kong 64 with its Expansion Pak, and a "complete" copy should include them. Our loose vs CIB vs new guide explains the three conditions in detail.
Condition and label
On a loose cart, the label is most of what a buyer judges. A clean, bright label is worth more than one that's faded, torn, or written on. Rental stickers and name labels usually lower the value.
Demand and franchise
Some series and studios have big collector followings: Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, Rare's games, and Konami's Goemon and Castlevania among them. A game from a popular series can be worth more than a rarer game nobody is looking for.
N64 games collectors look for
Collector guides and price lists keep naming the same kinds of titles. The examples below are commonly cited as sought-after. They're here to show the patterns above in action, not as a complete list, and what any copy is worth depends on its condition, version, and region.
Rental exclusives
- ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut. An enhanced version of ClayFighter 63⅓ available only as a Blockbuster rental. It's the go-to example of a valuable N64 game.
- Stunt Racer 64. Released only in North America and distributed through Blockbuster.
Late releases
- Bomberman 64: The Second Attack. Released late in the console's life, and many stores didn't carry it.
- Conker's Bad Fur Day. A late, mature-rated game from Rare that reached a smaller audience than its fame today suggests.
- Super Bowling. Released with little promotion shortly before the GameCube arrived.
Niche games with small print runs
- Snowboard Kids 2. It had a much smaller run than the first game and never got a Player's Choice reprint.
- Ogre Battle 64 and Harvest Moon 64. Well-liked games in niche genres with modest print runs.
- Worms Armageddon. The North American release was much smaller than the European one.
Notice the patterns: limited distribution, late timing, niche genres, no reprint, and complete copies. Those clues work for carts that aren't on any list too.
How to check what your N64 games are worth
Here's a quick routine for a box full of carts:
- Sort by region. US, PAL, and Japanese carts are priced separately.
- Note the condition. Loose, complete in box, or new. Look for boxes, inserts, manuals, and any extras that came with the game.
- Check for reprints. Look for a Player's Choice banner on the box.
- Look up each game, or scan it.
RetroWorth is built for this case. Point your phone at a cart's label and it identifies the game, even a loose cartridge with no box or barcode. You'll see an estimated value range for Loose, Complete in box, and New, and for US, EU, and JP versions. Scan the carts one after another. Each one goes into your collection, which shows the total estimated value. Scanning is free and the first 2 price checks are free; PRO unlocks every price.
The values are estimated ranges based on aggregated market sale data, not appraisals, and markets move. They're a reliable way to spot which carts deserve a closer look. For the full manual method, see how to check video game value.
Before you sell or buy: check it's genuine
Popular and valuable N64 games are copied often, and reproduction carts turn up regularly, sometimes sold as originals. An estimate assumes a genuine copy, and RetroWorth doesn't detect fakes. Before you rely on a high number, check the label print, the shell, the screws, and the board inside, and compare the cart with photos of a known original. Our guide to reproduction cartridges covers N64-specific checks.
Found your N64 at a garage sale or thrift store? Our guide to finding valuable games at thrift stores and garage sales shows what else to look for.
Common questions
Are loose N64 games worth anything?
Yes. Most N64 games are sold loose, and loose carts have a steady market. A loose cart of a sought-after game can still be worth a good amount. A complete copy of the same game is usually worth more.
Is a Player's Choice N64 game worth less?
Often, yes, because reprints are easier to find than the original release. A Player's Choice copy of a popular game still has buyers, though, especially when it's complete.
Are Japanese N64 games worth anything?
Yes. They're separate items with their own prices. Many are easy to find, but some games were only released in Japan and are sought after by collectors everywhere.
Why is my N64 game showing a low value?
Many N64 games sold millions of copies, so there are plenty to go around. A low value doesn't mean the game is bad, just that it's easy to find. Check its condition and version too: a complete, original-print copy can be a different story.