Gaming
Games
10 rare Xbox games that'll make you a fortune
If you've got any of these sitting around, you could be quids in.
Because its history doesn't go back as far as its rivals there aren't as many ultra-rare Xbox games around for collectors to save up for, but that doesn't mean there aren't some tasty exceptions. If you're lucky enough to have any of these in your collection, they're among the most valuable Xbox games around.
Tales Of Vesperia: Special Edition
Tales Of Vesperia's special edition is worth $180
© Bandai Namco
Bandai Namco's Xbox 360 RPG launched in two flavours – the standard edition and a $69.99 special edition which came in a fancy steelbook case and included a 10th anniversary soundtrack CD. As far as special editions go it wasn't exactly a massive package, but the game's cult following meant that they were snapped up quite quickly and, as a result, you can expect to pay up to around $180 for a perfect condition copy today.
Destiny: The Ghost Edition
Destiny: The Ghost Edition comes in a nice box
© Activision
Bungie and Activision's online shooter continues to have a rabid fanbase to this day, but when the game was released anyone who was a big fan from day one could buy the Ghost Edition, which came in a large box and included the game, a code for the first two expansion packs, an art book, a bunch of other little goodies and, best of all, a replica of Ghost – your robot companion in the game – that lights up and talks to you. Since the Xbox 360 version of the game was the last-gen version, fewer Ghost Editions were made – as such, 360 ones will set you back around $225 these days.
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis is hard to find
© Blue Tongue Entertainment
Not all rare Xbox games are special editions (although, let's face it, most of them are). Some are just good old-fashioned scarce. Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis was a fun strategy game, which tasked players with creating their own Jurassic Park. Released on the original Xbox back in 2003, it's now extremely difficult to find, and mint condition copies have sold for up to $240 online.
Mass Effect: Collector's Edition
The limited edition Mass Effect is worth over $200
© EA
Back before EA's Mass Effect series blew up and became a massive success, the first game launched alongside a limited Collector's Edition. The game came in a steelbook and was packaged with an art book and a novel. Much like Tales Of Vesperia it wasn't actually packed with loads of stuff, but the success of the game and the growth of the fanbase mean that sealed copies can still go for big money even though there were a decent number of copies made. We've seen mint ones selling for $260 online.
Assassin's Creed II: The Master Assassin's Edition
Assassin's Creed II, with an Ezio figure
© Ubisoft
Another limited edition set, the Master Assassin's Edition of Assassin's Creed II came with the game, an art book, a behind-the-scenes DVD, two special DLC areas in the game, and, best of all, a figurine of the game's hero Ezio. It's this figurine that keeps the game's price pretty high among collectors, and if you own a spotless Master Assassin's Edition you could get up to $290 for it.
Dragon Age Inquisition: Inquisitor's Edition
The Inquisitor's Edition came with loads of extras
© EA
Final Fantasy XV: Ultimate Collector's Edition
There are only 30,000 of these in existence
© Square Enix
The most recently-released game on this list, Final Fantasy XV only came out in November last year. It's another example of a special edition that was already expensive – its Ultimate Collector's Edition was limited to 30,000 worldwide and included all the stuff from the Deluxe Edition plus a two-disc steelbook with two Blu-rays, and an action figure from Japanese figurine maestros Play Arts. It launched at $269 and that price has since risen among eBayers to about $350.
Steel Battalion
This is surely the craziest controller ever
© Capcom
For a while, Steel Battalion was one of the titles people would use as an example of a rare and expensive game. It's no wonder – released on the original Xbox, this Capcom mech game came with an enormous custom controller which had around 40 buttons on it. The first run of the game was limited to only around 2,000 copies, but when those sold out newer batches were released – the difference was that the new controller's buttons were blue instead of green. Prices vary wildly for this one but a still sealed green-button version recently sold for $375.
Fallout 3: Survival Edition
The PIP-Boy 3000 model makes this valuable
© Bethesda
Fallout 3 launched nine years ago and came in three different versions. For starters, there was the normal version and a fancy Collector's Edition, which came with a metal lunchbox, a Vault-Boy bobblehead figure, an art book and a making-of DVD. This Collector's Edition didn't really increase in value much. The Survival Edition, though – which only came out in the US and could only be bought from Amazon – came with everything the Collector's Edition had as well as a model of the PIP-Boy 3000, which doubled as a digital clock. These were in strictly limited numbers so expect to pay up to $500 for a mint set.
Dead Space: Ultra Limited Edition
Dead Space is the most valuable Xbox game
© EA
Back in 2008, EA unleashed the terrifying Dead Space on the world. For any dedicated fans who were on board from the very beginning, EA made an Ultra Limited Edition, which consisted of just 1,000 copies and included the game, a Dead Space Downfall DVD movie, a lithograph, an art book, a graphic novel and a sew-on patch of the Ishimura ship's logo. Because EA made so few and didn't make any more when it sold out, this one continues to rise and rise in value. In April 2017, a sealed and unopened copy sold for a cool $1,000.
