The 7 rarest PS1 games ever released with value up to $10,000

If you’ve got some rare PS1 games in your collection, there’s a good chance that you could be sitting on a PlayStation goldmine right now.

Well, if you are actually sitting on a rare PS1 game worth huge amounts, you might want to get your backside off it right now, before that flimsy case gets a big crack in it.

Though, it’s probably unlikely that you’ve got a game worth over $10,000, but they do exist. The chances are that you may even have a retro title worth well over $100, and if so, wrap that baby up in bubble wrap and protect it at all costs, because you’ll never know how much that price might increase in the years ahead.

What makes a PS1 game rare?

The rarest of video games are unlikely to be the most popular. They are often very niche games that weren't mass produced like some of the biggest franchises during the original PlayStation era, such as Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Solid or Silent Hill.

Saying that, some of those more common games do hold a decent value. For example, a mint copy of Silent Hill could easily fetch well over $120/£150. Whereas the OG Resident Evil trilogy could easily fetch over $50/£50 each, with Metal Gear Solid coming in at a little less. Tomb Raider, on the other hand, as much as we love the series, have remained cheap and cheerful.

READ MORE: Ranking the 13 Best PlayStation games of all time

Here are the rarest PS1 games and how much they could be worth

Photobucket via Reddit

Elemental Gearbolt Assassin Case with an estimated value of $10,000+

There’s a good chance that you’ve never heard of the light gun shooter Elemental Gearbolt, because it was only ever released in the US and Japan, and nowhere else in the world - not even in Europe. Even if you imported the game, it would have been difficult to play it, because unlike the region-free consoles today, consoles back then, such as the PS1, were region-locked.

The standard version of this game is rare in itself and will cost you a pretty penny. A complete version of Elemental Gearbolt could easily cost $300. A factory sealed copy could fetch between $500 and $1,000. Even a loose disc can cost well over $100.

However, the Assassin Case Edition, an ultra-rare promotional version of the game, could cost you at least $10,000, if not double if it's pristine, sealed and graded.

Other than being an amazing bundle, there were only around 50 of this version ever produced as an E3 giveaway in 1998, so there’s every chance that you might not ever see one in the wild. This bundle included a copy of the game, a gold light gun, a memory card and a carrying case.

Harmful Part with an estimated value of up to $2,000

The Japan-exclusive Harmful Park is a side-scrolling shooter, perhaps not too dissimilar to the likes of SNK’s Metal Slug series. Very few copies of this were produced in the land of the rising sun, which explains why it will cost you a fair amount today.

For a mint sealed copy of Harmful Park, it can be worth up to $2,000, whereas a mint, opened, complete copy could be worth around $1,000. Even the loose disc could fetch $500, making it one of the most expensive singular discs on this list.

LSD: Dream Emulator with an estimated value of up to $1,500

Sharing a very similar name to a certain past time that may have been common in 1998, this Japan-exclusive is by no means as common, it’s fair to say. This quirky adventure game was very much one of a kind in terms of the experience it offered players, and over the years, it has garnered a cult following.

For obvious reasons, those who wanted to get a copy of LSD: Dream Emulator would have to import this game, which only raised its value. A mint sealed copy could fetch around $1,500, while a well-looked-after complete copy can cost you between $700 to $1,000. Whereas the disc on its own could cost at least $300.

Suikoden II - HD Remaster, Konami

Suikoden II with an estimated value of up to $1,000

Now, there’s a good chance that you may own and have at least played the Konami RPG sequel Suikoden II, especially as you can buy it digitally on modern consoles. While a mint copy of this game fetches around £150 to £200 in the UK, it’s said to have had fewer copies produced in North America and for a standard copy with a manual, it could cost at least $300 in the United States.

However, in the United States, a pristine copy with a manual, no marks on the case or disc, could cost at least $500. For a mint sealed graded copy, Suikoden II could fetch around $1,000, and even the disc alone could be worth over $100.

The Misadventures of Tron Bonne with an estimated value of up to $1,000

This obscure title is a spin-off of the ever-popular Mega Man series. It’s probably one of the most underrated games on this list, with not many copies produced or sold, despite being released in North America, Europe, and Japan.

What’s more, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne was released in 2000, the same year as the PlayStation 2. So by that point, many gamers had moved on from the PS1, which likely contributed towards its low sales and lack of reprint. A complete copy of this game can cost at least $600, if you’re lucky. While a sealed and graded copy can exceed $1,000, and over $250 for a loose disc.

Valkyrie Profile with an estimated value of up to $1,000

Yet another popular Square Enix RPG entry on this list, and despite being available in Europe and Japan, similar to Suikoden II, it wasn't mass produced in North America. It was also well-received at release, but also launched in 2000, when many PS1 gamers would have moved on to the next-gen console.

However, like Suikoden II, it’s available digitally on modern systems. For a mint, sealed copy, Valkyrie Profile could fetch upto $1,000. You're looking at between $500 and $700 for a complete copy with a manual, while the loose disc could fetch over $200.

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile with an estimated value of $1,000

Despite being somewhat of a flop at launch and generating low sales, the 2.5D platform shooter Klonoa: Door to Phantomile would later become a cult classic over the years. In case you’re wondering, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series was released in 2022 on modern PlayStation consoles and includes the PS1 OG, so it’s also easily accessible today.

If you have a sealed, graded copy of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, it could easily be worth around $1,000. A factory-sealed copy costs around $700, an opened but complete copy costs at least $300, while the loose disc can cost $150.

If you do own any games on this list, what will you do? Stick and wait for its value to increase, or cash in ASAP? Either way, it’s a nice dilemma to have.

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