The original Xbox was a big moment in gaming over 20 years ago, serving as Microsoft’s headfirst dive into the medium.
And while it was a bit rough around the edges — and obviously couldn’t overcome the Goliath that was the PlayStation 2 — it was still an admirable attempt that established Microsoft as a major player in the gaming space. It also introduced some franchises that would stand among the pantheon of gaming’s most iconic names, and it served as a quantum leap forward for online gaming.
With Microsoft’s continued commitment to backward compatibility on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, original Xbox games have not become as rare or expensive as their PlayStation 2 or GameCube counterparts. Still, that doesn’t mean every Xbox game is a walk in the park to find because there are certainly some games that might light your wallet on fire. Here are 10 of the rarest and most expensive Xbox games that are probably far less important than buying groceries this month.
As per usual, all prices are based on numbers provided by PriceCharting. Used prices are based on the “Loose Price” listing, while new prices are based on the “New Price” listing. Entries are ranked from lowest to highest by their respective “new” price.
10. Obscure
$300 New | $79 Used
How ironic that we’re kicking off this list with a game that’s literally called “Obscure.” For those who may not know what it is, Obscure is a cult classic survival horror game whose big selling point was its cooperative multiplayer element (and the fact that it had music from Sum 41…that’s what the box says, at least). While it did well enough to earn a sequel back in the day, it was snuffed out in sales for a couple of reasons, namely that small publisher DreamCatcher Interactive wasn’t able to produce quite as many copies of it. What’s more, the fact that it was released in 2005 in America, the same year as the Xbox 360, certainly wasn’t going to help its case.
Its cult classic status, however, has helped it fetch a pretty penny on the secondhand market. Grabbing a used copy will net you $79, while a new copy will put you down $300. That’s a pretty solid amount for a horror game that seems to be just “alright.” Luckily, though, it’s available alongside its sequel on Steam at a pretty affordable price (both are under $10), meaning you have an easier way to get the game if you’re so compelled. That said, the Steam version doesn’t have the Sum 41 music in it…that’s a pretty big dealbreaker if you ask me.
9. OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast
$309 New | $131 Used
The final game in the long-running OutRun series to see a physical release, OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast offered up the thrilling arcade racing gameplay of OutRun 2 with a bevy of single-player content to sweeten the deal. Unfortunately, finding it on Xbox is a pretty big ask. Being another late-released Xbox game (it was released in 2006) certainly didn’t help, and the game was published by Sega, a publisher in a territory (Japan) that has never really embraced the Xbox. Thus, this version surely had an extremely limited press run.
As a result, the price has taken a pretty notable hike as of late. Just grabbing a used copy of the game will bring you back $131, while going for the full gusto and grabbing a new copy will drain $309 from your wallet. It’s a shame because this is a great game that’s definitely worth your time, but for that amount of money? You’d probably be better served just getting a bunch of friends together and finding OutRun 2 in an arcade.
8. Def Jam: Fight for NY
$332 New | $70 Used
Now, let’s get into a game that’s sure to bring back some memories. Def Jam: Fight for NY is a cult classic among gamers, and its continued popularity has led to many curious players hoping to snag a copy for themselves. Across all consoles, though, it’s pretty expensive, and with the fact that a Platinum Hits version exists on Xbox, this original Black Label release is even more of a premium.
A used copy runs for around $70, which is not too far off from what current games cost today. A new copy, though, will drop you down $332. Would you believe it if you found out that the other three consoles aren’t any cheaper than this? New copies on the GameCube run for $316, while the PlayStation 2 version will set you back a massive $419. It’s sure to be a great time if you can find an affordable copy…but obviously, that’s a big “if.” One can only hope it gets a reissue on modern consoles at some point.
7. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
$387 New | $81 Used
That’s right: even one of the most acclaimed and popular fighting games of all time can be pretty hard to find. Even after several sequels, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is still hailed by fans as a crown jewel in the fighting game genre, and many still swear by it after all these years. It seems, though, that the Xbox had a far more limited press run, especially as more gamers flocked to the PS2 version. Between the PS2 and Dreamcast releases being considered the best versions, the Xbox version fell by the wayside a bit.
This has helped it gain a bit more prominence in resale prices, though. A used copy will cost you $82, while a new copy will go for a whopping $387. Ironically, though, that’s cheaper than the other console versions, as the Dreamcast release can go for as much as $500, while the PS2 version jumps up as high as $854. It probably helps that the game has not been re-released on modern platforms, and its Xbox Live Arcade/PlayStation Network versions have been de-listed. Here’s hoping it gets a modern release that can help fans get it for a more affordable price.
6. Halo Triple Pack
$425 New | $42 Used
Halo 3 might not have been ready until the release of the Xbox 360, but that didn’t stop Microsoft from going through with the Halo Triple Pack on the original Xbox…which obviously didn’t include the third game. No, this triple pack featured Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. Being that all three games are in their own individual boxes, it’s probably not obscenely hard to find a used copy, but finding an entirely sealed bundle is a different story.
Grabbing this used only sets you down $42, but if you can find a new copy, you’ll have to throw down $425. It’s a pretty big ask, one that only the staunchest of collectors should go for. The good news, though, is that used copies are available at a far more affordable price if you’re truly looking for that authentic experience. If not, Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One should suit you just fine.
5. Teen Titans
$480 New | $89 Used
Licensed games are fodder to end up on a list like this, and we’ve got our first example here with Teen Titans. This is an example of a game that received a massive upcharge largely because of its release timing: compared to the other console versions (which were released in May 2006), Teen Titans was released for Team Green in October, a full five months later. By that point, the Xbox 360 was almost a year old, which meant a game like this would always be behind the eight-ball.
As a result, used copies run for roughly $89, while new copies jump up to $480. This is in stark contrast to the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions, which still fetch a notable amount but nothing that borders too far into “unaffordable” territory. Thus, your best bet if looking for this game is to find it on another platform, though…it’s little more than an average beat ‘em up, so you might want to redirect your search elsewhere.
4. NBA Ballers [Platinum Hits]
$664 New | $66 Used
On its own, NBA Ballers is not an expensive game. You can find it on PlayStation 2 or Xbox for roughly $35 or under, and you’ll be treated to a pretty solid Midway basketball game if you do grab it. The Platinum Hits version, on the other hand? Yeah, good luck catching this one. While the original game was released in 2004, the Platinum Hits version came along around 2005 after the Xbox 360 had already been out. Thus, Microsoft and Midway probably didn’t bother giving it a large print run and it became a hard find, thus jacking up its price.
A used copy runs at around $66, which isn’t the worst price in the world. The $664 it would cost to get a new copy? Yeah, that’s a totally different beast altogether. This version is most likely only for those who absolutely NEED to have a full Platinum Hits collection. Otherwise, just grab a standard copy of the game and ball out with a few friends. You might even find that the game has aged pretty decently.
3. Futurama
$960 New | $159 Used
A Futurama game being rare? That can’t be right; surely, this game sold a good amount, right? Well, no. The Futurama game was released after the series had been canceled — the first time, because it’s been canceled more times than Brett Favre has retired — and was essentially seen as a “lost episode,” since it was released after the final episode had aired. By that point, with dwindling audience interest, Vivendi Universal didn’t go through the legwork of producing many copies, and thus, it became a pretty rare collector’s item.
Even just snagging a used copy of the game will set you back $159, while a new copy lands all the way up at $960. A decade ago, you may have been able to find this for something in the $30 range, but now, you’ll have to give up way more than that if you want it. What’s worse is that the game is not all that great to begin with, so a $159 minimum is a steep fine. Maybe you should spend your time and money on a game from creator Matt Groening’s other big series, The Simpsons.
2. Steel Battalion
$1,146 New | $292 Used
Here we have a special example of a rare game. Steel Battalion was an early Xbox game published by Capcom that gained notoriety for its insane controller. As pictured above, this controller had 44 input points/buttons and was meant to simulate the feeling of being inside a mech. Incredibly creative, but it was a large and expensive controller for a game that, mostly, played to a specific niche. Thus, only a few of these were created (somewhere around 2,000 units initially) and the price obviously skyrocketed.
Simply finding a used copy of this will drain $292 from your wallet, while a new copy will brush you back by a whopping $1,146. It’s sad because the game actually seemed to be pretty good and the controller added to the experience in a unique way, but it was always gonna be hard to sell something like this. If you’re able to find it for a decent price, go ahead and grab it, but don’t get your hopes up that those numbers will go down much.
1. Shrek Super Party [Watch Bundle]
$1,500 New | $395 Used
Oh dear…it’s returned. As previously noted in Twinfinite’s article discussing the worst GameCube games one could play, Shrek Super Party is a game this writer is all too familiar with. “Big Head Shrek,” as his friends refer to it, has become a source of night terrors, the kind with which I have trouble escaping. Monsieur Hood’s piercing smile can only make me cower in fear, and in spite of his short stature, Lord Farquaad’s equally terrifying expression has made him my sleep-paralysis demon.
It’s like everywhere I look, I see “Big Head Shrek.” And now, the information has come through that this life-altering game had an Xbox-exclusive Special Edition that came with a watch. Perhaps this is the key to purging the infidels that haunt me in my sleep. Surely, acquiring this watch bundle will keep the demons away, like garlic to a vampire. This is what needs to be bought in order to get a good night’s sleep…if it wasn’t so expensive.
Even getting a used copy of this bundle nets you $395, while a new copy will go for a whopping $1,500. There’s simply very little reason to spend four figures on any video game, let alone one this shockingly bad. Sure, the game is far more affordable on other platforms, but without that watch, it appears sleep will continue to be elusive. I’ll conquer you one day, Farquaad.
But until the demons are slain, what are some other rare and expensive Xbox games? Let us know in the comments!
