As one of the most popular franchises in the world, it's no surprise that Pokémon games are some of the most valuable (and expensive) video games anyone can have in their collection. While many of the series' titles go for a decent amount, some of them are much more valuable than others, and some can sell for some truly surprising prices. So which games in the long-running Pokémon series are worth the most?
The Pokémon series burst onto the scene back in 1996, and despite the occasional misstep, the video games have only grown in popularity over the past 25 years. This is most apparent with the most recent titles, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Despite being run of the mill remakes that generated relatively little hype by Pokémon standards they still sold incredibly well. It's clear that the Pokémon games' success and popularity will not be slowing down any time soon.
With so much popularity and fanfare to its name, it's no wonder that many of the Pokémon games are so valuable. Even used, copies of many of the series' older titles will fetch a decent price on the internet, but having unopened copies of some of the rarer games is where the real money is at. It's unlikely that many fans would have an unopened copy of an older Pokémon title lying around in their closet somewhere, but if they did, it's essentially like finding a winning lottery ticket in some cases. Here are those cases.
Pokémon Red Is One Of The Most Expensive Pokémon Games
It's only fitting that the game that started it all would be one of the most valuable. Pokémon Red and Blue released in 1996 and were the first games in the series for the United States. Oddly enough, Japan received Pokémon Green rather than Blue, but Red released in both territories. Both Blue and Green versions can fetch a pretty penny as well, but Pokémon Red is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the first generation of Pokémon games. Prices of course fluctuate, but towards the end of 2021 factory sealed versions of Pokémon Red could be sold from anywhere between $2000 and $4000. Again, while it's extremely unlikely that anyone other than hardcore collectors would possess a factory-sealed version of the game, it's still incredible to think of a Pokémon game selling for that much.
However, with a series like Pokémon that got its best year in 2020, it makes sense that the original games would be worth so much. After all, these are the games that started the Pokémon phenomenon; they truly are a piece of game history considering they were the beginning of one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the entire world. On top of that, the amount of nostalgia that many gamers have for the original Gen. 1 games is essentially unrivaled. There's a reason that Game Freak has repeatedly gone back to the Kanto well so many times over the years, as it knows how strong that nostalgia is.
But why is Red specifically worth so much more than its Gen. 1 counterparts? It's hard to say for sure of course, but it might have something to do with the fact that its cover mascot's popularity is almost unmatched. As popular as Blue's Blastoise and Green's Venusaur are, neither compare to the iconicity of Charizard, who in many eyes is second only to Pikachu when it comes to most recognizable Pokémon.
Pokémon Emerald Is Both One Of The Best & Most Valuable Games
Pokémon Emerald, the updated version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire is another one of the most valuable games in the series. While on average it might not sell for quite as much as Pokémon Red, a factory-sealed copy of Pokémon Emerald can still sell for easily more than $2000 dollars, as Pricecharting.com has recorded a rapid rise in its value over the last two years. The reason for Emerald's high value might not be quite as obvious as Pokémon Red's, but it's still pretty apparent why this game is so highly sought after. For starters, it might not be as old as Red, but it still released in 2004, which means it's quickly approaching its 20-year anniversary. Nostalgia for Gen. 3 might not reach the heights of Gen. 1, but it's still pretty close.
On top of that, Pokémon Emerald is widely considered to be one of the best games in the entire series. It expanded upon the original Gen. 3 games, which are hugely popular in their own right, and was the first time that a Pokémon game featured the Battle Frontier. The Battle Frontier introduced a substantial amount of postgame content and replayability to the series, and to this day remains a fan-favorite feature, despite Game Freak's apparent reluctance to ever bring it back. Pokémon Emerald's sterling reputation and lasting legacy is probably a huge reason why it remains one of the most valuable games of the franchise.
The Pokémon HeartGold Bundle Is Pokémon At Its Most Expensive
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver might just be the most popular games in the entire series, but that's only part of the reason why they can be so valuable nowadays. The games were a great success when they first released, as they revamped the beloved Gen. 2 games in some of the best possible ways. They allowed players to venture across Johto and Kanto just as the originals did, only now they were upgraded with significantly better graphics, substantial quality of life improvements, and even allowed Pokémon to follow the player around, which remains one of the most popular features in the series today.
The fact that they're some of the best Pokémon games is part of the reason Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver retain so much value, but if someone really wants to make money off of these games they'll have to get their hands on one of the bundles. When HeartGold and SoulSilver released, they came packaged with a PokéWalker accessory that allowed players to take their Pokémon on walks away from their Nintendo DS system. However, an additional bundle option also came packaged with a Ho-Oh figurine for the HeartGold version or a Lugia one for SoulSilver. These bundles are obviously extremely difficult to find these days, but a factory sealed complete bundle for the HeartGold version can easily sell for north of $4000. Who would have thought a tiny Ho-Oh figurine could add enough value to make HeartGold one of the most expensive Pokémon games?
Source: Pricecharting.com